Table of Contents

Registration Nos. 002-11101

811-00242

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933   
Pre-Effective Amendment No.       
Post-Effective Amendment No. 211   

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940   
Amendment No. 139   

(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

 

 

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

399 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code (617) 449-2810

 

 

Russell Kane, Esq.

NGAM Distribution, L.P.

399 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copy to:

John M. Loder, Esq.

Ropes & Gray

800 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

 

 

 

Approximate Date of Public Offering

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

 

  Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
  On (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
  On March 31, 2017 pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
  75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
  On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

  This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Prospectus

March 31, 2017



Class A

Class C

Class N

Class T

Class Y

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

LSCAX

LSCCX

[   ]

[  ]

LSCYX

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has not approved or disapproved of the Fund's shares or determined whether this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a crime.

Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.


Table of Contents

Front Cover

Front Cover

Fund Summary

1

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

1

Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

6

More Information About the Fund

6

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

6

More Information About the Fund's Strategies

9

Management Team

10

Meet the Fund's Investment Adviser

10

Meet the Fund's Portfolio Managers

10

Additional Information

11

Fund Services

11

Investing in the Fund

11

How Sales Charges Are Calculated

12

Compensation to Securities Dealers

15

It's Easy to Open an Account

16

Minimum Balance Policy

16

Self-Servicing Your Account

16

Buying Shares

17

Selling Shares

18

Selling Shares in Writing

19

Exchanging or Converting Shares

19

Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares

20

Restructuring and Liquidations

21

How Fund Shares Are Priced

22

Dividends and Distributions

23

Tax Consequences

24

Additional Investor Services

25

Financial Performance

27

Appendix A - Financial Intermediary Specific Sales Load Waivers

28

Back Cover

Back Cover

Fund shares are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested.


Fund Summary

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

Investment Goal

The Fund's investment goal is high total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation.

Fund Fees & Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Natixis Fund Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section "How Sales Charges Are Calculated" on page [ ] of the Prospectus, in Appendix A to the Prospectus and on page [ ] in the section "Reduced Sales Charges" of the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

Shareholder Fees

 

(fees paid directly from your investment)

Class A

Class C

Class N

Class T

Class Y

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

5.75

%

None

None

2.50

%

None

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, as applicable)

None  1

1.00

%

None

None

None

Redemption fees

None

None

None

None

None

1   A 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") may apply to certain purchases of Class A shares of $1,000,000 or more that are redeemed within eighteen months of the date of purchase.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Class A

Class C

Class N

Class T

Class Y

Management fees

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Other expenses

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Total annual fund operating expenses

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement  1 , ,2

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

1   Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis Sayles" or the "Adviser") has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund's total annual fund operating expenses to [ ]%, [ ]%, [ ]%, [ ] and [ ]% of the Fund's average daily net assets for Class A, C, N, T and Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through March 31, 2018 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund's Board of Trustees. The Fund's Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below the applicable expense limitations for Class A, C, N, T and Y shares. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fee/expense was waived/reimbursed.

2   NGAM Advisors has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to reimburse any and all transfer agency expenses for Class N shares. This undertaking is in effect through [ ] and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund's Board of Trustees.

Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same, except that the example is based on Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement for the first year and on the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for the remaining periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

If shares are redeemed:

1 year

3 years

5 years

10 years

Class A

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

Class C

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

Class N

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

Class T

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

Class Y

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

 

1


Table of Contents

 

Fund Summary

 

If shares are not redeemed:

1 year

3 years

5 years

10 years

Class C

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

$

[  ]

  

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was [  ]% of the average value of its portfolio.

Investments, Risks and Performance

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in income-producing equity securities. Equity securities purchased by the Fund may include common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, interests in real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks, among others. A significant majority of the equity securities purchased by the Fund will be traded on a U.S. exchange and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Fund's non-U.S. equity investments, which will consist generally of American Depositary Receipts, but may include direct foreign investments as well, will be limited to 20% of the Fund's assets. Although certain equity securities purchased by the Fund may be issued by domestic companies incorporated outside of the United States, the Adviser does not consider these securities to be foreign if they are included in U.S. equity indices published by S&P Global Ratings or Russell Investments.

In deciding which securities to buy and sell, the Adviser seeks to identify companies that it believes are, among other things, attractively valued based on the Adviser's estimate of intrinsic value and have a strong track-record and/or potential for high dividend yield. The Adviser generally emphasizes high dividend yielding securities, but also attempts to balance risk and return and assess the future dividend paying ability of the issuers of such securities. The Adviser expects that the Fund's yield, which reflects the level of dividends paid by the Fund, will exceed the yield of the S&P 500 ® Index under normal market conditions. The Adviser generally seeks to find value by selecting individual stocks that it believes are attractive, rather than by attempting to achieve investment growth by rotating the Fund's holdings among various sectors of the economy.

The Fund may also purchase and sell (write) options for hedging and investment purposes and invest in securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ("Rule 144A securities"). Except as provided above, the Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments.

Principal Investment Risks

The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund.

Credit/Counterparty Risk: Credit/Counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer or the guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. The Fund will be subject to credit risks with respect to the counterparties of its derivative transactions. Many of the protections afforded to participants on organized exchanges, such as the performance guarantee of an exchange clearinghouse, are not available in connection with over-the-counter ("OTC") derivative transactions, such as OTC options. As a result, in instances when the Fund enters into OTC derivative transactions, the Fund will be subject to the risk that its direct counterparties will not perform their obligations under the transactions and that the Fund will sustain losses or be unable to realize gains.

Currency Risk: Fluctuations in the exchange rates between different currencies may negatively affect an investment. The Fund may be subject to currency risk because it may invest in currency-related instruments and may invest in securities or other instruments denominated in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies. The Fund may elect not to hedge currency risk, or may hedge such risk imperfectly, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged.

Derivatives Risk: Derivative instruments (such as those in which the Fund may invest, including options) are subject to changes in the value of the underlying assets or indices on which such instruments are based. There is no guarantee that the use of derivatives will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. Even a small investment in derivatives may give rise to leverage risk and can have a significant impact on the Fund's exposure to securities market values, interest rates or currency exchange rates. It is possible that the Fund's liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, and involves greater risks than are involved in hedging. The use of derivatives may cause the Fund to incur losses greater than those that would have occurred had derivatives not been used. The Fund's use of derivatives involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is greater for OTC derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, that risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with changes in the value of relevant assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, allocation risk and the risk of losing more than the initial margin required to initiate derivatives positions. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. The Fund's derivative counterparties may experience financial difficulties or otherwise be unwilling or unable to honor their obligations, possibly resulting in losses to the Fund.

 

2


Table of Contents

Fund Summary

Equity Securities Risk: The value of the Fund's investments in equity securities could be subject to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and periods of below-average performance in individual securities or in the equity market as a whole. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks. Value stocks also present the risk that their lower valuations fairly reflect their business prospects and that investors will not agree that the stocks represent favorable investment opportunities, and they may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during any given period. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer's bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock. Rule 144A securities may be less liquid than other equity securities.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit and information risks. The Fund's investments in foreign securities also are subject to foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign currency-related risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity.

Large Investor Risk: Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. Redemptions by a large investor can affect the performance of the Fund, may increase realized capital gains, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders and may increase transaction costs. These transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund's expenses.

Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in the Fund's investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Fund's exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of the Fund's investments when it needs to dispose of them. If the Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities, are generally subject to greater liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. Non-exchange traded derivatives are generally subject to greater liquidity risk as well. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value the Fund's investments.

Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund's portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result.

Market/Issuer Risk: The market value of the Fund's investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund's investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers' goods and services.

REITs Risk:   Investments in the real estate industry, including REITs, are particularly sensitive to economic downturns and are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs are also subject to default and prepayment risk. Many REITs are highly leveraged, increasing their risk. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund.

Valuation Risk: This is the risk that the Fund has valued certain securities at a higher price than the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments, such as derivatives, that may be illiquid or may become illiquid.

 

3


Table of Contents

Fund Summary

Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table

The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by comparing the Fund's one-year and life-of-fund performance with two broad measures of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at ngam.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.

The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund's shares. A sales charge will reduce your return.

Total Returns for Class A Shares

 

Highest Quarterly Return:
[ ] Quarter [ ] ,[ ]%


Lowest Quarterly Return:
[ ] Quarter [ ],[ ]%

 

Average Annual Total Returns

(for the periods ended December 31, 2016)

Past 1 Year

Life of Fund
(3/30/12)

Class A - Return Before Taxes

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Return After Taxes on Distributions

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Class C - Return Before Taxes

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Class T - Return Before Taxes

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Class Y - Return Before Taxes

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

S&P 500‌ ® Index

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

Russell 1000‌ ® Value Index

[  ]

  %

[  ]

  %

The Fund did not have Class N or Class T shares outstanding during the periods shown above. Prior to the inception of Class T shares ([ ]), performance is that of Class A shares adjusted to reflect the different sales charge applicable to Class T shares. The returns of Class N shares would have been substantially similar to the returns of the Fund's other share classes because they would have been invested in the same portfolio of securities and would only differ to the extent the other share classes did not have the same expenses.

The Fund revised its investment strategies on October 15, 2014 and July 18, 2016; performance may have been different had the current investment strategies been in place for all periods shown.

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after tax-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. Index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes.

Management

Investment Adviser

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis Sayles")

Portfolio Managers

Arthur J. Barry, CFA ® , Vice President of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2012.

Adam C. Liebhoff, Vice President of the Adviser, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since 2014.

 

4


Table of Contents

Fund Summary

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Class A and C Shares

The following chart shows the investment minimums for various types of accounts:

 

Type of Account

Minimum Initial Purchase

Minimum Subsequent Purchase

Any account other than those listed below

$

2,500

$

100

For shareholders participating in Natixis Funds' Investment Builder Program

$

1,000

$

50

For Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP-IRA and Keogh plans using the Natixis Funds' prototype document (direct accounts, not held through intermediary)

$

1,000

$

100

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts using the Natixis Funds' prototype document (direct accounts, not held through intermediary)

$

500

$

100

Class N Shares

Class N shares of the Fund are subject to a $1,000,000 initial investment minimum. There is no initial investment minimum for certain retirement plans and funds of funds that are distributed by NGAM Distribution, L.P. There is no subsequent investment minimum for these shares.

Class T Shares

Class T shares of the Fund may only be purchased by investors who are investing through an authorized third-party, such as a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, that has entered into a selling agreement with NGAM Distribution, L.P. Investors may not hold Class T shares directly with the Fund. Class T shares are subject to a minimum initial investment of $2,500 and a minimum subsequent investment of $100.  Not all financial intermediaries make Class T shares available to their clients.

Class Y Shares

Class Y shares of the Fund may be purchased by the following entities at the following investment minimums.

A minimum initial investment of $100,000 and the minimum subsequent investment of $100 for:

Other mutual funds, endowments, foundations, bank trust departments or trust companies.

There is no initial or subsequent investment minimum for:

Wrap Fee Programs of certain broker-dealers, the advisers or NGAM Distribution, L.P. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your wrap fee program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees.

Certain Retirement Plans .

Certain Individual Retirement Accounts if the amounts invested represent rollover distributions from investments by any of the retirement plans invested in the Fund.

Clients of a Registered Investment Adviser  where the Registered Investment Adviser receives an advisory, management, or consulting fee.

Fund Trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans.

Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, certain wrap fee programs, retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and accounts of registered investment advisers may be subject to the investment minimums described above.

The Fund's shares are available for purchase and are redeemable on any business day through your investment dealer, directly from the Fund by writing to the Fund at Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579, by exchange, by wire, by internet at ngam.natixis.com (certain restrictions may apply), through the Automated Clearing House system, or, in the case of redemptions, by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by the Systematic Withdrawal Plan. See section "How Fund Shares are Priced" for details.

Tax Information

Fund distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains, except for distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax law generally. Investments in such tax-advantaged plans will generally be taxed only upon withdrawal of monies from the tax-advantaged arrangement.

 

5


Table of Contents

Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of the Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.

More Information About the Fund

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

Investment Goal

The Fund's investment goal is high total return through a combination of current income and capital appreciation. The Fund's investment goal is non-fundamental and may be changed without shareholder approval. The Fund will provide 60 days' prior notice to shareholders before changing the investment goal.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in income-producing equity securities. Equity securities purchased by the Fund may include common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, interests in real estate investment trusts ("REITs") and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks, among others. A significant majority of the equity securities purchased by the Fund will be traded on a U.S. exchange and denominated in U.S. dollars. The Fund's non-U.S. equity investments, which will consist generally of American Depositary Receipts, but may include direct foreign investments as well, will be limited to 20% of the Fund's assets. Although certain equity securities purchased by the Fund may be issued by domestic companies incorporated outside of the United States, the Adviser does not consider these securities to be foreign if they are included in U.S. equity indices published by S&P Global Ratings or Russell Investments.

In deciding which securities to buy and sell, the Adviser seeks to identify companies that it believes are, among other things, attractively valued based on the Adviser's estimate of intrinsic value and have a strong track-record and/or potential for high dividend yield. The Adviser generally emphasizes high dividend yielding securities, but also attempts to balance risk and return and assess the future dividend paying ability of the issuers of such securities. The Adviser expects that the Fund's yield, which reflects the level of dividends paid by the Fund, will exceed the yield of the S&P 500 ® Index under normal market conditions. The Adviser generally seeks to find value by selecting individual stocks that it believes are attractive, rather than by attempting to achieve investment growth by rotating the Fund's holdings among various sectors of the economy.

The Fund may also purchase and sell (write) options for hedging and investment purposes and invest in securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 ("Rule 144A securities"). Except as provided above, the Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments.

 

6


Table of Contents

Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

Principal Investment Risks

The Fund has principal investment strategies that come with inherent risks. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized in the Fund Summary under "Principal Investment Risks." The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. The following provides more information about some of the risks to which the Fund may be subject because of its investments in various types of securities or engagement in various practices.

Credit/Counterparty Risk

Credit/Counterparty risk is the risk that the issuer or the guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. The Fund will be subject to credit risks with respect to the counterparties of its derivatives transactions. Many of the protections afforded to participants on organized exchanges, such as the performance guarantee of an exchange clearing house, are not available in connection with over-the-counter ("OTC") derivatives transactions, such as foreign currency transactions. As a result, in instances when the Fund enters into OTC derivative transactions, the Fund will be subject to the risk that its direct counterparties will not perform their obligations under the transactions and that the Fund will sustain losses or be unable to realize gains. Additionally, when the Fund enters into cleared derivatives transactions, the Fund will be subject to the credit risk of the clearinghouse and clearing member through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivatives transactions.  Additionally, when the Fund enters into cleared derivatives transactions, the Fund will be subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and clearing member through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit risk of its original counterparty to the derivatives transactions.

Currency Risk

Currency Risk is the risk that fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies or between two or more foreign currencies may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decline.  The Fund may be subject to currency risk because it may invest in currency-related instruments and may invest in securities or other instruments denominated in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies.  Loomis Sayles may elect not to hedge currency risk or may hedge imperfectly, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged.  The market for some (or all) currencies may from time to time have low trading volume and become illiquid, which may prevent the Fund from effecting positions or from promptly liquidating unfavorable positions in such markets, thus subjecting the Fund to substantial losses.

Derivatives Risk

As described herein and in the SAI, the use of derivative instruments (such as those in which the Fund may invest, including options) involves special risks. Derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends upon or is derived from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index. There is no guarantee that the use of derivatives will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. Even a small investment in derivatives may give rise to leverage risk and can have a significant impact on the Fund's exposure to securities markets values, interest rates or currency exchange rates. It is possible that the Fund's liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund's use of derivatives involves other risks, such as the credit and counterparty risk relating to a broker, futures commission merchant or other party to a derivative contract (which is greater for OTC derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate as expected with relevant assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk and the risk of losing more than the initial margin required to initiate derivatives positions. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. The use of derivatives may cause the Fund to incur losses greater than those which would have occurred had derivatives not been used. It is possible that the Fund's liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. To the extent that the Fund uses a derivative for purposes other than as a hedge, or if the Fund hedges imperfectly, the Fund is directly exposed to the risks of that derivative and any loss generated by the derivative will not be offset by a gain. When used, derivatives may affect the amount, timing or character of distributions payable to, and thus taxes payable by, shareholders.

Equity Securities Risk

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the market value (or price) of the securities  the Fund holds. You may lose money on your investment due to unpredictable declines in the value of individual securities and/or periods of below-average performance in individual securities,  industries or in the equity market as a whole. This may impact the Fund's performance and may result in higher portfolio turnover, which may increase the tax liability to taxable shareholders and the expenses incurred by the Fund. The market value of a security can change daily due to political, economic and other events that affect the securities markets generally, as well as those that affect particular companies or governments. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, will vary depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund's equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response to such trends and developments. Securities issued in IPOs tend to involve greater market risk than other equity securities due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history. Rule 144A securities may be less liquid than other securities. Small-capitalization and emerging growth companies may be subject to more abrupt price movements, limited markets and less liquidity than larger, more established companies, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund's portfolio. Value stocks can perform differently from the market as a whole and from other types of stocks. Value stocks also present the risk that their lower valuations fairly reflect their business prospects and that investors will not agree that the stocks represent favorable investment opportunities, and they may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during any given period. Common stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer's bonds generally take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred stock or common stock.

 

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Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

Foreign Securities Risk

Foreign securities risk is the risk associated with investments in issuers located in foreign countries. The Fund's investments in 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 issuers and a small number of securities. In addition, foreign companies often are not subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. companies. Reporting, accounting and auditing standards of foreign countries differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards. Many countries, including developed nations and emerging markets, are faced with concerns about high government debt levels, credit rating downgrades, the future of the euro as a common currency, possible government debt restructuring and related issues, all of which may cause the value of the Fund's non-U.S. investments to decline. Nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, the imposition of sanctions by the U.S. government, political changes or diplomatic developments may also cause the value of the Fund's non-U.S. investments to decline. When imposed, foreign withholding or other taxes reduce the Fund's return on foreign securities. In the event of nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation, the Fund could lose its entire foreign investment. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to these risks to a greater extent than those in more developed markets and securities of developed market companies that conduct substantial business in emerging markets may also be subject to greater risk. These risks also apply to securities of foreign issuers traded in the United States or through depositary receipt programs such as ADRs. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a specific geographic region, the Fund may have more exposure to regional political, economic, environmental, credit and information risks. In addition, foreign securities may be subject to increased credit risk because of the potential difficulties of requiring foreign entities to honor their contractual commitments.

Large Investor Risk

Ownership of shares of the Fund may be concentrated in one or a few large investors. Such investors may redeem shares in large quantities or on a frequent basis. If a large investor redeems a portion or all of its investment in the Fund or redeems frequently, the Fund may be forced to sell investments at unfavorable times or prices, which can affect the performance of the Fund and may increase realized capital gains. In addition, such transactions may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders if the Fund's sales of investments result in gains, and also may increase transaction costs. These transactions potentially limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). Such transactions may also increase the Fund's expenses or could result in the Fund's current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund's expense ratios.

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund may be unable to find a buyer for its investments when it seeks to sell them or to receive the price it expects. Decreases in the number of financial institutions willing to make markets in the Funds' investments or in their capacity or willingness to transact may increase the Funds' exposure to this risk. Events that may lead to increased redemptions, such as market disruptions or increases in interest rates, may also negatively impact the liquidity of the Fund's investments when it needs to dispose of them. If the Fund is forced to sell its investments at an unfavorable time and/or under adverse conditions in order to meet redemption requests, such sales could negatively affect the Fund. Securities acquired in a private placement, such as Rule 144A securities, are generally subject to greater liquidity risk because they are subject to strict restrictions on resale and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. Non-exchange traded derivatives are generally subject to greater liquidity risk as well. Liquidity issues may also make it difficult to value the Fund's investments. In some cases, especially during periods of market turmoil, a redemption may dilute the interest of the remaining shareholders.

Management Risk

Management risk is the risk that the portfolio managers' investment techniques could fail to achieve the Fund's objective and could cause your investment in the Fund to lose value. The Fund is subject to management risk because the Fund is actively managed. The portfolio managers will apply their investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that such decisions will produce the desired results. For example, securities that the portfolio managers expect to appreciate in value may, in fact, decline. Similarly, in some cases, derivative and other investment techniques may be unavailable or the portfolio managers may determine not to use them, even under market conditions where their use could have benefitted the Fund.

 

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Investment Goals, Strategies and Risks

Market/Issuer Risk

The market value of the Fund's investments will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon overall market and economic conditions, as well as, a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuers of the Fund's investments, such as management performance, financial condition and demand for the issuers' goods and services. 

REITs Risk

The Fund's performance may be dependent in part on the performance of the real estate market and the real estate industry in general. The real estate industry is particularly sensitive to economic downturns. Securities of companies in the real estate industry, including REITs, are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes and tax laws, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry also may be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws. In addition, the value of a REIT is affected by changes in the value of the properties owned by the REIT or the mortgage loans held by the REIT. REITs also are subject to default and prepayment risk. REITs are dependent upon cash flow from their investments to repay financing costs and also on the ability of the REITs' managers. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund.

Valuation Risk

This is the risk that the Fund has valued certain instruments at a higher price than the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments, such as derivatives, which may be illiquid or which may become illiquid.

More Information About the Fund's Strategies

Temporary Defensive Measures
As a temporary defensive measure, the Fund may hold any portion of its assets in cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies or multinational currency units) and/or invest in money market instruments or high quality debt securities as its Adviser deems appropriate. The Fund may miss certain investment opportunities if it uses defensive strategies and thus may not achieve its investment goal.

Securities Lending

The Fund may lend a portion of its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions provided a number of conditions are satisfied, including that the loan is fully collateralized. Please see "Investment Strategies" in the SAI for details. When the Fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned and the Fund will also receive a fee or interest on the collateral. These fees or interest are income to the Fund, although the Fund often must share the income with the securities lending agent and/or the borrower. Securities lending involves, among other risks, 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. The Fund may pay lending fees to the party arranging the loan.

In addition, any investment of cash is generally at the sole risk of the Fund. Any income or gains and losses from investing and reinvesting any cash collateral delivered by a borrower pursuant to a loan are generally at the Fund's risk, and to the extent any such losses reduce the amount of cash below the amount required to be returned to the borrower upon the termination of any loan, the Fund may be required by the securities lending agent to pay or cause to be paid to such borrower an amount equal to such shortfall in cash, possibly requiring it to liquidate other portfolio securities to satisfy its obligations. The Fund's securities lending activities are implemented pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees and are subject to Board oversight.

Percentage Investment Limitations

Except as set forth in the SAI, the percentage limitations set forth in this Prospectus and the SAI apply at the time an investment is made and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment.

Portfolio Holdings

A description of the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the section "Portfolio Holdings Information" in the SAI.

A "snapshot" of the Fund's investments may be found in its annual and semiannual reports. In addition a list of the Fund's full portfolio holdings, which is updated monthly after an aging period of at least 30 days for the Fund, is available on the Fund's website at ngam.natixis.com/holdings. These holdings will remain accessible on the website until the Fund files its Form N-CSR or Form N-Q with the SEC for the period that includes the date of the information.  In addition, a list of the Fund's top 10 holdings as of the month-end is generally available within 7 business days after the month-end on the Fund's website at ngam.natixis.com/performance.

Cybersecurity and Technology

The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems, which are subject to a number of different threats and risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. These risks include, among others, theft, misuse, and improper release of confidential or highly sensitive information relating to the Fund and its shareholders, as well as compromises or failures to systems, networks, devices and applications relating to the operations of the Fund and its service providers. Power outages, natural disasters, equipment

 

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Management Team

malfunctions and processing errors that threaten these systems, as well as market events that occur at a pace that overloads these systems, may also disrupt business operations or impact critical data. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders, impede business transactions, violate privacy and other laws, subject the Fund to certain regulatory penalties and reputational damage, and increase compliance costs and expenses. Although the Fund has developed processes and risk management systems designed to reduce these risks, the Fund does not directly control the cybersecurity defenses, operational and technology plans and systems of its service providers, financial intermediaries and companies in which it invests or with which it does business.

Management Team

Meet the Fund's Investment Adviser

The Natixis Funds family currently includes [32] mutual funds. The Natixis Funds family had combined assets of $[  ] billion as of December 31, 2016. Natixis Funds are distributed through NGAM Distribution, L.P. (the "Distributor").

Adviser

Loomis Sayles,  located at One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, serves as Adviser to the Fund. Founded in 1926, Loomis Sayles is one of the oldest investment advisory firms in the United States with over $[ ] billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2016.

The aggregate advisory fee paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016, after waiver, as a percentage of the Fund's average daily net
assets is [ ]%.

A discussion of the factors considered by the Fund's Board of Trustees in approving the Fund's investment advisory contract is available in the Fund's most
recent semi-annual report for the period ended May 31.

Portfolio Trades

In placing portfolio trades,  Loomis Sayles may use brokerage firms that market the Fund's shares or are affiliated with Natixis US or Loomis Sayles. In placing trades,  Loomis Sayles will seek to obtain the best combination of price and execution, which involves a number of subjective factors. Such portfolio trades are subject to applicable regulatory restrictions and related procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.

Meet the Fund's Portfolio Managers

The following persons have had primary responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio since the dates stated below.

Arthur J. Barry, CFA  — Arthur J. Barry has co-managed the Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund since its inception in 2012. Mr. Barry, Vice President of Loomis Sayles, began his investment career in 1994 and joined the firm in 2005. Prior to joining Loomis Sayles, Mr. Barry was a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at State Street Research & Management Company from 2003 to 2005 and Senior Portfolio Manager at INVESCO Capital Management from 2001 to 2003. Mr. Barry received a B.S. from Lehigh University and an M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst ® and has over 23 years of investment management experience.

Adam C. Liebhoff – Adam Liebhoff has served as co-portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund since 2014. Mr. Liebhoff, Vice President of Loomis Sayles, began his investment career in 1998 and joined Loomis Sayles in 2007. He rejoined the firm after serving as a First Vice President, financial analyst and portfolio manager - mid cap value at Anchor Capital, LLC from August 2014 to September 2014. From 2007 until July 2014, he served as an equity analyst and senior equity analyst for the large cap value team at Loomis Sayles. Mr. Liebhoff received a B.A. from Hobart College and an M.B.A. from Cornell University and has 16 years of investment experience.

 

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Fund Services

Additional Information

The Fund enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Adviser, the Distributor and the Fund's custodian and transfer agent, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended to be third-party beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce such arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy thereunder against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Fund.

This Prospectus provides information concerning the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. None of this Prospectus, the SAI or any contract that is an exhibit to the Fund's registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Fund and any investor, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by applicable federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

Fund Services

Investing in the Fund

Choosing a Share Class

Each class has different costs associated with buying, selling and holding Fund shares, which allows you to choose the class that best meets your needs. Which class is best for you depends upon a number of factors, including the size of your investment and how long you intend to hold your shares. Certain share classes and certain shareholder features may not be available to you if you hold your shares through a financial intermediary. Your financial representative can help you decide which class of shares is most appropriate for you. The Fund may engage financial intermediaries to receive purchase, exchange and sell orders on its behalf. Accounts established directly with the Fund will be serviced by the Fund's transfer agent. The Fund, the Fund's transfer agent and the Distributor do not provide investment advice.

Class A Shares

You pay a sales charge when you buy Class A shares. There are several ways to reduce this charge. See the section "How Sales Charges Are Calculated."

You pay lower annual expenses than Class C shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share. However, where front-end sales charges are applicable, returns are earned on a smaller amount of your investment.

You pay higher expenses than Class N and Class Y shares.

You do not pay a sales charge if your total investment reaches $1 million or more, but you may pay a charge on redemptions if you redeem these shares within 18 months of purchase.

Class C Shares

You do not pay a sales charge when you buy Class C shares. All of your money goes to work for you right away.

You pay higher annual expenses than Class A, Class N, Class T and Class Y shares.     

You may pay a sales charge on redemptions if you sell your Class C shares within one year of purchase.

Investors will not be permitted to purchase $1 million or more of Class C shares as a single investment per account. There may be certain exceptions to this restriction for omnibus and other nominee accounts. Investors may want to consider the lower operating expense of Class A shares in such instances. You may pay a charge on redemptions if you redeem Class A shares within 18 months of purchase.

Class N Shares

You have a minimum initial investment of $1,000,000. There are several ways to waive this minimum. See the section "Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares."

You do not pay a sales charge when you buy Class N shares. All of your money goes to work for you right away.

You do not pay a sales charge on redemptions.

You pay lower annual expenses than Class A, Class C and Class T shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share.

You may pay lower annual expenses than Class Y shares.

Class T Shares

The shares are available to a limited type of investor. See the section "Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares."

You pay a sales charge when you buy Class T shares. This charge is reduced for purchases of $250,000 or more . See the section "How Sales Charges Are Calculated."

You pay lower annual expenses than Class C shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share. However, where front-end sales charges are applicable, returns are earned on a smaller amount of your investment.

You pay higher expenses than Class N and Class Y shares.

Class Y Shares

The shares are available to a limited type of investor. See the section "Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares."

You have a minimum initial investment of $100,000. There are several ways to waive this minimum. See the section "Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares."

 

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Fund Services

You do not pay a sales charge when you buy Class Y shares. All of your money goes to work for you right away.

You do not pay a sales charge on redemptions.

You pay lower annual expenses than Class A, Class C and Class T shares, giving you the potential for higher returns per share.

You may pay higher annual expenses than Class N shares.

For information about the Fund's expenses, see the section "Fund Fees & Expenses" in the Fund Summary.

Certificates

Certificates will not be issued or honored for any class of shares.

Certain Retirement Plans

Natixis Funds defines "Certain Retirement Plans" as it relates to load waivers, share class eligibility, and account minimums as follows:

Certain Retirement Plans includes 401(k) plans, 457 plans, 401(a) plans (including profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans), 403(b) and 403(b)(7) plans, defined benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, Taft Hartley multi-employer plans and retiree health benefit plans. The accounts must be plan level omnibus accounts to qualify.

Certain Retirement Plans does not include individual retirement plan accounts such as IRAs, SIMPLE, SEP, SARSEP, Roth IRA, etc. Any retirement plan accounts registered in the name of a participant would not qualify.

How Sales Charges Are Calculated

Class A Shares

The price that you pay when you buy Class A shares (the "offering price") is their net asset value ("NAV") plus a sales charge (sometimes called a "front-end sales charge"), which varies depending upon the size of your purchase:

Class A Sales Charges  * , **

Your Investment

                      As a % of offering price

                      As a % of your investment

Less than $50,000

5.75

%

[  ]

  %

$50,000 -  $99,999

4.50

%

[  ]

  %

$100,000 - $249,999

3.50

%

[  ]

  %

$250,000 - $499,999

2.50

%

[ ]

%

$500,000 - $999,999

2.00

%

[ ]

%

$1,000,000 or more  ***

0.00

%

[  ]

  %

*   Due to rounding, the actual sales charge for a particular transaction may be higher or lower than the rates listed above.

**   Not imposed on shares that are purchased with reinvested dividends or other distributions.

***   For purchases of Class A shares of the Fund of $1 million or more, there is no front-end sales charge, but a CDSC of 1.00% may apply to redemptions of your shares within 18 months of the date of purchase. See the section "How the CDSC is Applied to Your Shares."

If you invest in Class A shares through a financial intermediary, it is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure that you obtain the proper "breakpoint" discount. At the time of purchase you must inform the Distributor and the financial intermediary of the existence of other accounts in which there are holdings eligible to be aggregated to meet sales load breakpoints of the Fund. You may be required to provide certain records and information, such as account statements, with respect to all of your accounts that hold shares, including accounts with other financial intermediaries and your family members' and other related party accounts, in order to verify your eligibility for a reduced sales charge. If the Distributor is not notified that you are eligible for a reduced sales charge, the Distributor will be unable to ensure that the reduction is applied to your account. Additional information concerning sales load breakpoints is available from your financial intermediary, by visiting the Fund's website at ngam.natixis.com (click on "Sales Charges" at the bottom of the home page) or in the SAI.

Reducing Front-End Sales Charges
There are several ways you can lower your sales charge for Class A shares, including:

Letter of Intent — By signing a Letter of Intent, you may purchase Class A shares of any Natixis Fund over a 13-month period but pay sales charges as if you had purchased all shares at once. This program can save you money if you plan to invest  $100,000 or more (or $50,000 or more for the Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund and the Vaughan Nelson Select Fund) within 13 months.

Cumulative Purchase Discount — You may be entitled to a reduced sales charge if your "total investment" reaches a breakpoint for a reduced sales charge. The total investment is determined by adding the amount of your current purchase in the Fund, including the applicable sales charge, to the current public offering price of all series and classes of shares of the Natixis Funds held by you in one or more accounts. If your total investment exceeds a sales charge breakpoint in the table above, the lower sales charge applies to the entire amount of your current purchase in the Fund.

 

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Fund Services

Combining Accounts — This allows you to combine shares of multiple Natixis Funds and classes for purposes of calculating your sales charge.

Individual Accounts: You may elect to combine your purchase(s) and your total investment, as defined above, with the purchases and total investment of your spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, in-laws (of those previously mentioned), individual retirement accounts, sole proprietorships, single trust estates and any other individuals acceptable to the Distributor.


Retirement Plan Accounts: The Distributor may, at its discretion, combine the purchase(s) and total investment of all qualified participants in the same retirement plan for purposes of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge.


In most instances, individual accounts may not be linked with certain retirement plan accounts for the purposes of calculating sales charges. Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees ("SIMPLE IRA") contributions will automatically be linked with those of other participants in the same SIMPLE IRA Plan (Class A shares only). SIMPLE IRA accounts may not be linked with any other Natixis Fund account for rights of accumulation. Please refer to the SAI for more detailed information on combining accounts.

Eliminating Front-End Sales Charges and CDSCs

Class A shares may be offered without front-end sales charges or a CDSC to the following individuals and institutions:

Clients of a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor and has been approved by the Distributor to offer Fund shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee;

Any government entity that is prohibited from paying a sales charge or commission to purchase mutual fund shares;

All employees of financial intermediaries under arrangements with the Distributor (this also applies to spouses and children under the age of 21 of those mentioned);

Fund trustees, former trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned);

Certain retirement plans. The availability of this pricing may depend upon the policies and procedures of your specific financial intermediary; consult your financial adviser;

Non-discretionary and non-retirement accounts of bank trust departments or trust companies, but only if they principally engage in banking or trust activities;

Clients of an adviser or subadviser to any Natixis Fund with investments of $25,000 or more in the Natixis Funds;

Clients of NGAM Advisors that invest in a Natixis Fund that does not offer Class Y shares;

Wrap Fee Programs of certain broker-dealers, the advisers or the Distributor. Please consult your financial representative to determine if your wrap fee program is subject to additional or different conditions or fees; and

Registered Investment Advisers investing on behalf of clients in exchange for an advisory, management or consulting fee.

In order to receive Class A shares without a front-end sales charge or a CDSC, you must notify the appropriate Fund of your eligibility at the time of purchase. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, a sales charge or a CDSC may be assessed; please consult your financial representative.

The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load ("CDSC") waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser's responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser's financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. Please see Appendix A to this prospectus for information regarding eligibility for load waivers and discounts available through specific financial intermediaries, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund's prospectus or SAI.

 

Repurchasing Fund Shares

You may apply proceeds from redeeming Class A shares of the Fund to repurchase Class A shares of any Natixis Fund without paying a front-end sales charge. To qualify, you must reinvest some or all of the proceeds within 120 days after your redemption and notify Natixis Funds in writing (directly or through your financial representative) at the time of reinvestment that you are taking advantage of this privilege. You may reinvest your proceeds by returning your original redemption check or sending a new check for some or all of the redemption amount. Please note: for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a redemption generally is treated as a sale that involves tax consequences, even if the proceeds are later reinvested. Please consult your tax adviser to discuss how a redemption would affect you.

Eliminating the CDSC

As long as the Distributor is notified at the time you sell, the CDSC for Class A shares will generally be eliminated in the following cases: (1) to make distributions from certain retirement plans (to pay plan participants or beneficiaries due to death, disability, separation from service, normal or early retirement, loans from the plan, hardship withdrawals, return of excess contributions, or required minimum distributions at age 70 1/2 (an individual

 

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Fund Services

participant's voluntary distribution or a total plan termination or total plan redemption may incur a CDSC); (2) to make payments through a systematic withdrawal plan; (3) due to shareholder death or disability; (4) to return excess IRA contributions; or (5) to make required minimum distributions at age 70 ½ (applies only to the amount necessary to meet the required minimum distributions).

Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, a CDSC may be assessed, notwithstanding the exemptions above; please consult your financial representative. Please see the SAI for more information on eliminating or reducing front-end sales charges and the CDSC.

Class C Shares

The offering price of Class C shares is their NAV without a front-end sales charge. Class C shares are subject to a CDSC of 1.00% on redemptions made within one year of the date of their acquisition. The holding period for determining the CDSC will continue to run after an exchange to Class C shares of another Natixis Fund.

Class C Contingent Deferred Sales Charges

Year Since Purchase

CDSC on Shares Being Sold

1st

1.00%

Thereafter

0.00%

Eliminating the CDSC

The availability of certain CDSC waivers will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of CDSC waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser's responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser's financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from the Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. Please see Appendix A to this prospectus for information regarding eligibility for CDSC discounts available through specific financial intermediaries.

As long as the Distributor is notified at the time you sell, the CDSC for Class C shares will generally be eliminated in the following cases: (1) to make distributions from certain retirement plans (to pay plan participants or beneficiaries due to death, disability, separation from service, normal or early retirement, loans from the plan, hardship withdrawals, return of excess contributions, or required minimum distributions at age 70 1/2 (an individual participant's voluntary distribution or a total plan termination or total plan redemption may incur a CDSC); (2) to make payments through a systematic withdrawal plan; (3) due to shareholder death or disability; (4) to return excess IRA contributions; or (5) to make required minimum distributions at age 70 ½ (applies only to the amount necessary to meet the required minimum distributions).

Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, a CDSC may be assessed, notwithstanding the exemptions above; please consult your financial representative. Please see the SAI for more information on eliminating or reducing front-end sales charges and the CDSC.

How the CDSC is Applied to Your Shares

The CDSC is a sales charge you pay when you redeem certain Fund shares. The CDSC:

 Is calculated based on the number of shares you are selling;

 Calculation is based on either your original purchase price or the current NAV of the shares being sold, whichever is lower in order to minimize your CDSC;

 Is deducted from the proceeds of the redemption unless you request, at the time of the redemption, that it be deducted from the amount remaining in your account; and

 Applies to redemptions made within the time frame shown above for each class.

A CDSC will not be charged on:

Increases in NAV above the purchase price;

Shares you acquired by reinvesting your dividends or capital gains distributions; or

Exchanges. However, the original purchase date of the shares from which the exchange is made determines if the newly acquired shares are subject to the CDSC when they are sold.

To minimize the amount of the CDSC you may pay when you redeem shares, the relevant Fund will first redeem shares acquired through reinvested dividends and capital gain distributions. Shares will be sold in the order in which they were purchased (earliest to latest).

Class N and Class Y Shares

The offering price of Class N and Class Y shares is their NAV without a front-end load sales charge. No CDSC applies when you redeem your shares. You must meet eligibility criteria in order to invest in Class N or Class Y shares.

Class T Shares

The offering price of Class T shares is their NAV plus a front-end sales charge, which varies depending upon the size of your purchase:

 

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Class T Sales Charges  * , **

Your Investment

                      As a % of offering price

                      As a % of your investment

Less than $250,000

2.50%

[  ]%

$250,000 - $499,999

2.00%

[ ]%

$500,000 - $999,999

1.50%

[ ]%

$1,000,000 or more

1.00%

[  ]%

*   Due to rounding, the actual sales charge for a particular transaction may be higher or lower than the rates listed above.

**   Not imposed on shares that are purchased with reinvested dividends or other distributions.

Eliminating Front-End Sales Charges

Class T shares are available for purchase by certain clients of certain financial intermediaries with the front-end sales charge waived. Please see Appendix A to this prospectus for details.

Compensation to Securities Dealers
As part of its business strategy, the Fund pays securities dealers and other financial institutions (collectively, "dealers") that sell its shares. This compensation originates from two sources: sales charges (front-end or deferred) and 12b-1 fees (comprising the annual service and/or distribution fees paid under a plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act). The sales charges, some or all of which may be paid to dealers, are discussed in the section "How Sales Charges Are Calculated" and dealer commissions are disclosed in the SAI. Class A, Class C and Class T shares pay an annual service fee each of 0.25% of their respective average daily net assets.  Class C shares are subject to an annual distribution fee of 0.75% of their average daily net assets. Generally, the 12b-1 fees are paid to securities dealers on a quarterly basis, but may be paid on other schedules. The SAI includes additional information about the payment of some or all of such fees to dealers. Because these distribution fees and service (12b-1) fees are paid out of the Fund's assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees for Class C  shares will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying the front-end sales charge and service fees on Class A or Class T shares. Similarly, over time the fees for Class A, Class C and Class T shares will increase the cost of your investment and will cost you more than an investment in Class N or Class Y shares.

In addition, the Fund may make payments to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder services to shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts (for example, 401(k) plans) or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents to compensate those intermediaries for services they provide to such shareholders, including, but not limited to, sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, similar shareholder or participant recordkeeping, shareholder or participant reporting, or shareholder or participant transaction processing ("recordkeeping and processing-related services"). The actual payments, and the services provided, vary from firm to firm. These fees are paid by the Fund in light of the fact that other costs may be avoided by the Fund where the intermediary, not the Fund's service provider, provides services to Fund shareholders.

The Distributor, the Fund's Adviser and each of their respective affiliates may, out of their own resources, which generally come directly or indirectly from fees paid by the Fund, make payments to certain dealers and other financial intermediaries that satisfy certain criteria established from time to time by the Distributor. Payments may vary based on sales, the amount of assets a dealer's or intermediary's clients have invested in the Fund, and other factors. These payments may also take the form of sponsorship of seminars or informational meetings or payments for attendance by persons associated with a dealer or intermediary at informational meetings. The Distributor and its affiliates may also make payments for recordkeeping and processing-related services to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares. These payments may be in addition to payments made by the Fund for similar services.

The payments described in this section, which may be significant to the dealers and the financial intermediaries, may create an incentive for a dealer or financial intermediary or their representatives to recommend or sell shares of the Fund or a particular share class over other mutual funds or share classes. Additionally, these payments may result in the Fund receiving certain marketing or servicing advantages that are not generally available to mutual funds that do not make such payments, including placement on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or in other sales programs. These payments, which are in addition to any amounts you may pay your dealer or other financial intermediary, may create potential conflicts of interest between an investor and a dealer or other financial intermediary who is recommending a particular mutual fund over other mutual funds. Before investing, you should consult with your financial representative and review carefully any disclosure by the dealer or other financial intermediary as to what monies it receives from mutual funds and their advisers and distributors, as well as how your financial representative is compensated. Please see the SAI for additional information about payments made by the Distributor and its affiliates to dealers and intermediaries.

 

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It's Easy to Open an Account

To Open an Account with Natixis Funds:

1.

Read this Prospectus carefully. The Fund is generally available for purchase in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Distributor, the Fund will only accept accounts from U.S. citizens with a U.S. address (including an APO or FPO address) or resident aliens with a U.S. address (including an APO or FPO address) and a U.S. taxpayer identification number.  U.S. citizens living abroad are not allowed to purchase shares in the Fund.

2.

Determine how much you wish to invest. See the information regarding investment minimums for accounts in the section "Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares."

For Class A and Class C Shares, the Distributor, at its sole discretion, may lower investment minimums for accounts associated with wrap fee programs sponsored by certain broker-dealers and investment advisers and for accounts associated with certain retirement plans. For Class Y, minimums are waived for such accounts.

The Distributor, at its sole discretion, may waive the investment minimums for new accounts being established into existing Corporate Retirement Plans and existing SEP-IRA, SARSEP, SIMPLE and Keogh Plans using the Natixis Funds' prototype document.

The Fund is not available to new SIMPLE IRA plans using the Natixis Funds prototype document.

Class A and Class Y shares of the Fund are available to Fund trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds and other individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (this also applies to any spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) with no initial or subsequent investment minimum.

At the discretion of NGAM Advisors, clients of NGAM Advisors and its affiliates may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below the stated minimums. At the discretion of Loomis Sayles, employees and clients of Loomis Sayles may purchase Class Y shares of the Fund below stated minimums.

3.

Complete the appropriate parts of the applicable account application, carefully following the instructions. If you have any questions, please call your financial representative or Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478. For more information on Natixis Funds' investment programs, refer to the section "Additional Investor Services" in this Prospectus.

4.

Use the sections of this Prospectus that follow as your guide for purchasing shares.

Minimum Balance Policy

For Class A, Class C and Class T shares, in order to address the relatively higher costs of servicing smaller fund positions, on an annual basis the Fund may close an account and send the account holder the proceeds if the account falls below $50 for direct accounts and $500 for networked accounts. The valuation of account balances for this purpose and liquidation itself generally occur during October of each calendar year, although they may occur at another date in the year.

Certain accounts, such as accounts using the Natixis Funds' prototype document (including IRAs, Keogh Plans, 403(b)(7) plans and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts) and accounts associated with wrap fee programs or certain retirement accounts, are excepted from the liquidation. However, the Fund reserves the right to liquidate any account with a balance of one share or less regardless of the account type or share class. Due to operational limitations, the Fund's ability to apply the Minimum Balance Policy to shareholder accounts held through an intermediary in an omnibus fashion may be limited. The Fund may work with these intermediaries to enforce the Minimum Balance Policy on these accounts as can best be applied per the timing and constraints of the intermediaries account record keeping systems.

Self-Servicing Your Account

(Excludes Class N and Class T shares)

Buying or selling shares is easy with the services described below (certain restrictions may apply):

Natixis Funds Personal Access Line ®

800-225-5478, press 1

Natixis Funds Website:

ngam.natixis.com

You have access to your account 24 hours a day by calling the Personal Access Line ® from a touch-tone telephone or by visiting us online. Using these customer service options, you may:

purchase, exchange or redeem shares in your existing accounts;

review your account balance, recent transactions, current net asset value per share and recent performance;

order duplicate account statements; and

obtain tax information.

Please see the following pages for other ways to buy, exchange or sell your shares.

 

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Buying Shares

The Fund is generally available for purchase in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Except to the extent otherwise permitted by the Distributor, the Fund will only accept investments from U.S. citizens with a U.S. address (including an APO or FPO address) or resident aliens with a U.S. address (including an APO or FPO address) and a U.S. taxpayer identification number. U.S. citizens living abroad are not allowed to purchase shares in the Fund.  Class N and Class T shares are not eligible to be exchanged or purchased through the website or through the Personal Access Line ® .

Opening an Account

Adding to an Account

Through Your Investment Dealer

Call your investment dealer for information about opening or adding to an account. Dealers may also charge you a processing or servicing fee in connection with the purchase of Fund shares.

By Mail

Make out a check in U.S. dollars for the investment amount, payable to "Natixis Funds." Third party checks, "starter" checks and credit card convenience checks will not be accepted. However, third party checks under $10,000 may be accepted.

Mail the check with your completed application to Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579 , or the overnight address,   330 West 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-1514 .

Redemption proceeds may not be available immediately upon redemption of shares purchased by check. See the section "Selling Restrictions."

Make out a check in U.S. dollars for the investment amount, payable to "Natixis Funds."  Third party checks, "starter" checks and credit card convenience checks will not be accepted. However, third party checks under $10,000 may be accepted. Uncashed redemption checks from your account may be accepted.

Complete the investment slip from an account statement or include a letter specifying the Fund name, your class of shares, your account number and the registered account name(s).

Redemption proceeds may not be available immediately upon the redemption of shares purchased by check.  See the section "Selling Restrictions."

By Exchange  ( See the section "Exchanging Shares" for more details .)

Call your investment dealer or Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or visit ngam.natixis.com to 1) obtain a current prospectus for the fund into which you are exchanging and 2) request an exchange.

In writing: Mail request to Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579 , or the overnight address,   330 West 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-1514 .

Call your investment dealer or Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or visit ngam.natixis.com to request an exchange.

In writing: Mail request to Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579 , or the overnight address,   330 West 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-1514 .

By Wire

Mail your completed application to Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579. Call Natixis Funds at (800) 225-5478 to obtain an account number and wire transfer instructions. Your bank may charge you for such a transfer.

Call Natixis Funds at (800) 225-5478 to obtain wire transfer instructions. At the time of the wire transfer, you will need to include the Fund name, your class of shares, your account number and the registered account owner name(s).  Your bank may charge you for such a transfer.

Through Automated Clearing House ("ACH")

You must have an existing Natixis Funds account with an ACH eligible bank account already on file with the Funds. If you have an existing Natixis Funds account but have not signed up for the ACH system, please call Natixis Funds or visit ngam.natixis.com for a Service Options Form. A medallion signature guarantee may be required to add this privilege.

Call your investment dealer or Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 to 1) obtain a current prospectus for the fund into which you are investing, and 2) request the purchase into a new fund.

Redemption proceeds may not be available immediately upon redemption for shares purchased through ACH. See the section "Selling Restrictions."

Call Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or visit ngam.natixis.com to add shares to your account through ACH.

If you have not signed up for the ACH system, please call Natixis Funds or visit ngam.natixis.com for a Service Options Form.  A medallion signature guarantee may be required to add this privilege.

Redemption proceeds may not be available immediately upon redemption for shares purchased through ACH.  See the section "Selling Restrictions."

Automatic Investing Through Investment Builder

Although you cannot open an account through Investment Builder, you may add this feature by selecting it on your account application.  The Fund minimum must be met in order to establish an account.

Ask your bank or credit union whether it is a member of the ACH system.

If you have not signed up for Investment Builder, please call Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or visit ngam.natixis.com for a Service Options Form.  A medallion signature guarantee may be required to add this privilege.

See the section "Additional Investor Services."

Redemption proceeds may not be available immediately upon redemption for shares purchased through ACH. See the section "Selling Restrictions."

 

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Selling Shares

To Sell Some or All of Your Shares

Certain restrictions may apply. Redemption proceeds may not be available immediately upon redemption for shares purchased by check, through ACH or Investment Builder. See the section "Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares." Generally, a transaction fee will be charged for expedited payment of redemption proceeds of $5.50 for wire transfers, $50 for international wire transfers or $20.50 for overnight delivery. These fees are subject to change.  Class N and Class T shares are not eligible to be exchanged or redeemed through the website or through the Personal Access Line ® .

Redemptions totaling more than $100,000 from a single fund/account cannot be processed on the same day unless the proceeds of the redemption are sent via pre-established banking information on the account. Please see the "Selling Shares in Writing" section for more information.

Through Your Investment Dealer

Call your investment dealer for information. Dealers may also charge you a processing or service fee in connection with the redemption of Fund shares.

By Mail

Write a letter to request a redemption. Specify the name of your Fund, class of shares, account number, the exact registered account name(s), the number of shares or the dollar amount to be redeemed and the method by which you wish to receive your proceeds. Additional materials may be required. See the section "Selling Shares in Writing."

The request must be signed by all of the owners of the shares and must include the capacity in which they are signing, if appropriate.

Mail your request by regular mail to   Natixis Funds, P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579 or by   registered ,   express or   certified mail to   Natixis Funds, 330 West 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-1514 .

Proceeds (less any applicable CDSC) will be delivered by the method chosen in your letter. Proceeds delivered by mail will generally be mailed to you within three business days after the request is received in good order, although it may take longer. See the sections "Selling Shares in Writing" and "Selling Restrictions."

By Exchange
(See the section "Exchanging Shares" for more details.)

Obtain a current prospectus for the fund into which you are exchanging by calling your investment dealer or Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or visit ngam.natixis.com.

Call Natixis Funds or visit ngam.natixis.com to request an exchange.

By Wire

Complete the "Bank Information" section on your account application.

Call Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478, visit ngam.natixis.com or indicate in your redemption request letter (see above) that you wish to have your proceeds wired to your bank.

Proceeds (less any applicable CDSC) will generally be wired on the next business day, although it may take longer. See the sections "Selling Shares in Writing" and "Selling Restrictions." A wire fee will be deducted from the proceeds. Your bank may charge you a fee to receive the wire. If you have not signed up for banking information on your application, please call Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or visit ngam.natixis.com for a Service Options Form. A medallion signature guarantee may be required to add this privilege.

Through ACH

Ask your bank or credit union whether it is a member of the ACH system.

Complete the "Bank Information" section on your account application.

If you have not signed up for the ACH system on your application, please call Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or visit ngam.natixis.com for a Service Options Form. A medallion signature guarantee may be required to add this privilege.

Call Natixis Funds or visit ngam.natixis.com to request an ACH redemption or indicate in your redemption letter that you wish to have your proceeds sent to your bank through ACH.

Proceeds (less any applicable CDSC) will generally arrive at your bank within three business days, although it may take longer. See the sections "Selling Shares in Writing" and "Selling Restrictions."

By Telephone

Call Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 to choose the method you wish to use to redeem your shares. You may receive your proceeds (less any applicable CDSC) by mail, by wire or through ACH (see above), subject to certain restrictions. See the sections "Selling Shares in Writing" and "Selling Restrictions."

Redemptions by check totalling more than $100,000 per day from a single fund/account must be done in writing.

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan
(See the section "Additional Investor Services" for more details.)

Call Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or your financial representative for more information.

 

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Selling Shares in Writing

If you wish to redeem your shares in writing, all owners of the shares must sign the redemption request in the exact names in which the shares are registered and indicate any special capacity in which they are signing. In certain situations, you will be required to make your request to sell shares in writing. In these instances, a letter of instruction signed by the authorized owner is necessary. In certain situations, we also may require a medallion signature guarantee or additional documentation.

A medallion signature guarantee protects you against fraudulent orders and is necessary if:

you are selling shares totalling more than $100,000 per day from a single fund/account and you are requesting the proceeds by check (this does not apply to IRA transfer of assets to a new custodian);

your address of record or bank account information has been changed within the past 30 days;

a proceeds check for any amount is either mailed to an address other than the address of record or not payable to the registered owner(s); or

the proceeds are sent by wire or ACH to a bank account not already on file with the fund account.

A notary public cannot provide a medallion signature guarantee. The Fund will only accept medallion signature guarantees bearing the STAMP2000 Medallion imprint. A medallion signature guarantee can be obtained from one of the following sources:

a financial representative or securities dealer;

a federal savings bank, cooperative or other type of bank;

a savings and loan or other thrift institution;

a credit union; or

a securities exchange or clearing agency.

In some situations additional documentation may be necessary. Please contact your financial representative or Natixis Funds regarding documentation requirements.

Exchanging or Converting Shares

In general, you may exchange Class A, Class C, Class N or Class Y shares of the Fund for shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund or Loomis Sayles Fund that offers such class of shares, without paying a sales charge or a CDSC, if applicable (see the sections "Buying Shares" and "Selling Shares") subject to restrictions noted below. Class T shares of the Fund do not have exchange privileges. The exchange must be for at least the minimum to open an account (or the total NAV of your account, whichever is less), or, once the fund minimum is met, exchanges under the Automatic Exchange Plan must be made for at least $100 (see the section "Additional Investor Services"). You may exchange Class Y shares of the Fund, subject to minimum investment requirements, for Institutional Class shares of any series of Loomis Sayles Funds that offers Institutional Class shares subject to certain restrictions noted below. The exchange must be for at least the minimum to open an account (or the total NAV of your account, whichever is less). All exchanges are subject to the eligibility requirements of the fund into which you are exchanging and any other limits on sales of or exchanges into that fund. The exchange privilege may be exercised only in those states where shares of such funds may be legally sold. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, an exchange of Fund shares for shares of another fund is generally treated as a sale on which gain or loss may be recognized. Subject to the applicable rules of the SEC, the Board of Trustees reserves the right to modify the exchange privilege at any time. Before requesting an exchange into any other fund, please read its prospectus carefully. You may be unable to hold your shares through the same financial intermediary if you engage in certain share exchanges. You should contact your financial intermediary for further details. Please refer to the SAI for more detailed information on exchanging Fund shares.  Class N shares are not eligible to be exchanged through the website or through the Personal Access Line®.

In certain limited circumstances, accounts participating in wrap fee programs or held through a registered investment adviser may convert Class Y shares of the Fund for Class A shares of the Fund. Class Y shares may be converted to Class A shares of the Fund if the Class Y shares are held in an investment option or program that no longer permits the use of Class Y shares in that option or program or if the shareholder otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in Class Y shares. Conversions from Class Y shares to Class A shares will not be subject to an initial sales charge; however, future purchases may be subject to a sales charge, if applicable. In order to convert shares, a representative of the wrap fee program or a registered investment adviser must follow the procedures set forth by the Distributor.

Accounts participating in or moving into wrap-fee programs or held through a registered investment adviser may convert Class A shares of the Fund to Class Y shares of the Fund and may also convert Class C shares of the Fund to Class A shares or Class Y shares of the Fund. Any account with an outstanding CDSC liability will be assessed the CDSC before converting to either Class A or Class Y shares. Accounts converting from Class C shares to Class A shares will not be subject to any Class A sales charges as a result of the initial conversion or any subsequent purchases of Class A shares. In order to convert shares, a representative of the wrap-fee program or registered investment adviser must follow the procedures set forth by the Distributor.

Class A shares of the Fund acquired by Fund trustees, former Fund trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds, individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (including spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned), Natixis and Natixis affiliate benefit plans (collectively, "Natixis affiliated shareholders") may be converted to Class Y shares of the Fund without payment of a CDSC.

 

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Class A or Class Y shares of the Fund may be converted, subject to minimum investment requirements, to Class N shares of the same Fund. Any account with an outstanding CDSC liability will be assessed the CDSC before converting to Class N shares. In order to exchange shares, an account holder must follow the procedures set forth by the Distributor.

Shares of any class of the Fund may be converted to Class T shares of the Fund, provided you meet the eligibility requirements for investing in Class T shares. Any account with an outstanding CDSC liability will be assessed the CDSC before converting to Class T shares. Accounts converting to Class T shares will not be subject to an initial sales charge; however, future purchases may be subject to a sales charge, if applicable.

Class T shares of the Fund may be converted to any class of the Fund provided the shareholder meets the eligibility requirements of the share class they are converting into and if the Class T shares are held in an investment option or program that no longer permits the use of Class T shares in that option or program or if the shareholder otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in Class T shares. Conversions from Class T shares to Class A shares will not be subject to an initial sales charge; however, future purchases may be subject to a sales charge, if applicable.

The Fund reserves the right to refuse any conversion request. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, your ability to convert share classes of the same fund may be limited. Please consult your financial representative for more information. A conversion of shares to shares of a different class in the same fund generally should not be a taxable event for a shareholder.

Cost Basis Reporting. Upon the redemption or exchange of your shares in the Fund, or, if you purchased your shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, your financial intermediary will be required to provide you and the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") with cost basis and certain other related tax information about the Fund shares you redeemed or exchanged. The cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased, including through dividend reimbursement, on or after January 1, 2012. Please contact the Fund at 800-225-5478, visit ngam.natixis.com or consult your financial intermediary, as appropriate, for more information regarding available methods for cost basis reporting and how to select a particular method. Please also consult your tax adviser to determine which available cost basis method is best for you.

Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares

The Fund discourages excessive short-term trading that may be detrimental to the Fund and its shareholders. Frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by shareholders may present certain risks for other shareholders in the Fund. This includes the risk of diluting the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders, interfering with the efficient management of the Fund's portfolio and increasing brokerage and administrative costs. Funds investing in securities that require special valuation processes (such as foreign securities, below investment grade securities or small-cap securities), also may have increased exposure to these risks. The Board of Trustees has adopted the following policies to address and discourage such trading.

The Fund reserves the right to suspend or change the terms of purchasing or exchanging shares. The Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase or exchange order for any reason, including if the transaction is deemed not to be in the best interests of the Fund's other shareholders or possibly disruptive to the management of the Fund. A shareholder whose exchange order has been rejected may still redeem its shares by submitting a redemption request as described under "Selling Shares."

Limits on Frequent Trading. Excessive trading activity in the Fund is measured by the number of round trip transactions in a shareholder's account. A round trip is defined as (1) a purchase (including a purchase by exchange) into the Fund followed by a redemption (including a redemption by exchange) of any amount out of the same Fund; or (2) a redemption (including a redemption by exchange) out of the Fund followed by a purchase (including a purchase by exchange) of any amount into the same Fund. Two round trip transactions in the Fund within a rolling 90-day period is considered to be excessive and will constitute a violation of the Fund's trading limitations. After the detection of a first violation, the Fund or the Distributor will issue the shareholder and his or her financial intermediary, if any, a written warning. After the detection of a second violation ( i.e. , two more round trip transactions in the Fund within a rolling 90-day period), the Fund or the Distributor will restrict the account from making subsequent purchases (including purchases by exchange) for 90 days. After the detection of a third violation, the Fund or the Distributor will permanently restrict the account and any other accounts under the shareholder's control in any Natixis Fund from making subsequent purchases (including purchases by exchange). The above limits are applicable whether a shareholder holds shares directly with the Fund or indirectly through a financial intermediary, such as a broker, bank, investment adviser, recordkeeper for retirement plan participants, or other third party. The preceding is not an exclusive description of activities that the Fund and the Distributor may consider to be excessive and, at its discretion, the Fund and the Distributor may restrict or prohibit transactions by such identified shareholders or intermediaries.

Notwithstanding the above, certain financial intermediaries, such as retirement plan administrators, may monitor and restrict the frequency of purchase and redemption transactions in a manner different from that described above. The policies of these intermediaries may be more or less restrictive than the generally applicable policies described above. The Fund may choose to rely on a financial intermediary's restrictions on frequent trading in place of the Fund's own restrictions if the Fund determines, at its discretion, that the financial intermediary's restrictions provide reasonable protection for the Fund from excessive short-term trading activity. Please contact your financial representative for additional information regarding their policies for limiting the frequent trading of Fund shares.

This policy also does not apply with respect to shares purchased by certain funds-of-funds or similar asset allocation programs that rebalance their investments only infrequently. To be eligible for this exemption, the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program must identify itself to and receive prior written approval from the Fund or the Distributor. The Fund and the Distributor may request additional information to enable them to determine that the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program is not designed to and/or is not serving as a vehicle for disruptive short-term trading, which may include requests for (i) written assurances from the sponsor or investment manager of the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program that it enforces the Fund's frequent trading policy on

 

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investors or another policy reasonably designed to deter disruptive short-term trading in Fund shares, and/or (ii) data regarding transactions by investors in the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program, for periods and on a frequency determined by the Fund and the Distributor, so that the Fund can monitor compliance by such investors with the trading limitations of the Fund or of the fund-of-funds or asset allocation program. Under certain circumstances, waivers to these conditions (including waivers to permit more frequent rebalancing) may be approved for programs that in the Fund's opinion are not vehicles for market timing and are not likely to engage in abusive trading.

Trade Activity Monitoring. Trading activity is monitored selectively on a daily basis in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities. If the Fund or the Distributor believes that a shareholder or financial intermediary has engaged in excessive, short-term trading activity, it may, at its discretion, request that the shareholder or financial intermediary stop such activities or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the accounts. At its discretion, the Fund and the Distributor, as well as an adviser to the Fund may ban trading in an account if, in their judgment, a shareholder or financial intermediary has engaged in short-term transactions that, while not necessarily in violation of the Fund's stated policies on frequent trading, are harmful to the Fund or its shareholders. The Fund and the Distributor also reserve the right to notify financial intermediaries of the shareholder's trading activity.

Accounts Held by Financial Intermediaries. The ability of the Fund and the Distributor to monitor trades that are placed by omnibus or other nominee accounts is severely limited in those instances in which the financial intermediary maintains the record of the Fund's underlying beneficial owners. In general, the Fund and the Distributor will review trading activity at the omnibus account level. If the Fund and the Distributor detect suspicious activity, they may request and receive personal identifying information and transaction histories for some or all underlying shareholders (including plan participants) to determine whether such shareholders have engaged in excessive short-term trading activity. If the Fund believes that a shareholder has engaged in excessive short-term trading activity in violation of the Fund's policies through an omnibus account, the Fund will attempt to limit transactions by the underlying shareholder that engaged in such trading, although it may be unable to do so. The Fund may also limit or prohibit additional purchases of Fund shares by an intermediary. Investors should not assume the Fund will be able to detect or prevent all trading practices that may disadvantage the Fund.

Purchase Restrictions

The Fund is required by federal regulations to obtain certain personal information from you and to use that information to verify your identity. The Fund may not be able to open your account if the requested information is not provided.  The Fund reserves the right to refuse to open an account, close an account and redeem your shares at the then-current price or take other such steps that the Fund deems necessary to comply with federal regulations if your identity cannot be verified.

Selling Restrictions

The table below describes restrictions placed on selling shares of the Fund.  Please see the SAI for additional information regarding redemption payment policies.

Restriction

Situation

The Fund may suspend the right of redemption or postpone payment for more than 7 days:

When the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") is closed (other than a weekend/holiday) as permitted by the SEC.

During an emergency as permitted by the SEC.

During any other period permitted by the SEC.

The Fund reserves the right to suspend account services or refuse transaction requests:

With a notice of a dispute between registered owners or death of a registered owner.

With suspicion/evidence of a fraudulent act.

The Fund may pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution in kind of readily marketable securities in lieu of cash or may take up to 7 days to pay a redemption request in order to raise capital:

When it is detrimental for a Fund to make cash payments as determined in the sole discretion of the Adviser or Subadviser.

The Fund may withhold redemption proceeds for 10 days from the purchase date:

When redemptions are made within 10 calendar days of purchase by check or ACH to allow the check or ACH transaction to clear.

Although most redemptions are made in cash, as described in the SAI, the Fund reserves the right to redeem shares in kind. If a shareholder receives a distribution in kind, the shareholder will bear the market risk associated with the distributed securities and may incur brokerage or other charges in converting the securities to cash.

Restructuring and Liquidations

Investors should note that the Fund reserves the right to merge or reorganize at any time, or to cease operations or liquidate itself. At any time prior to the liquidation of the Fund, shareholders may redeem their shares of the Fund pursuant to the procedures set forth under "Selling Shares." The proceeds from any such redemption will be the net asset value of the Fund's shares. Shareholders may also exchange their shares, subject to investment minimums and other restrictions on exchanges as described under "Exchanging or Converting Shares." For federal income tax purposes, an exchange of the Fund's shares for shares of another Natixis Fund or Loomis Sayles Fund is generally treated as a sale on which a gain or loss may be recognized.

 

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Retirement Accounts.  Absent an instruction to the contrary prior to the liquidation date of a fund, for shares of a fund held using a Natixis Funds' prototype document, in individual retirement accounts, in custodial accounts under a SEP, SIMPLE, SARSEP or 403(b) plan, or in certain other retirement accounts, NGAM Distribution, L.P. will exchange any shares remaining in the fund on the liquidation date for shares of Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund (or, if that fund is no longer then in existence, in another comparable Natixis Funds or Loomis Sayles Fund) at net asset value, unless contrary instructions are timely received prior to the liquidation. Please refer to your plan documents or contact your plan administrator or plan sponsor to determine whether the preceding sentence applies to you.

 

How Fund Shares Are Priced

NAV is the price of one share of the Fund without a sales charge, and is calculated each business day using this formula:



The NAV of Fund shares is determined pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, as summarized below:

A share's NAV is determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") on the days the NYSE is open for trading. This is normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time. The Fund's shares will not be priced on the days on which the NYSE is closed for trading. In addition, the Fund's shares will not be priced on the holidays listed in the SAI. See the section "Net Asset Value" in the SAI for more details.

The price you pay for purchasing, redeeming or exchanging a share will be based upon the NAV next calculated (plus or minus applicable sales charges as described earlier in the Fund Summary) after your order is received by the transfer agent, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., (rather than when the order arrives at the P.O. box) "in good order" (meaning that the order is complete and contains all necessary information). 1

Requests received by the Fund after the NYSE closes will be processed based upon the NAV determined at the close of regular trading on the next day that the NYSE is open. If the transfer agent receives the order in good order prior to market close (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), the shareholder will receive that day's NAV. Under limited circumstances, the Distributor may enter into contractual agreements pursuant to which orders received by your investment dealer before the Fund determines its NAV and transmitted to the transfer agent prior to market open on the next business day are processed at the NAV determined on the day the order was received by your investment dealer. Please contact your investment dealer to determine whether it has entered into such a contractual agreement. If your investment dealer has not entered into such a contractual agreement, your order will be processed at the NAV next determined after your investment dealer submits the order to the Fund.

If the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may have NAV changes on days when you cannot buy or sell its shares.

1   Please see the section "Buying Shares," which provides additional information regarding who can receive a purchase order.

Generally, during times of substantial economic or market change, it may be difficult to place your order by phone.  During these times, you may send your order by mail as described in the sections "Buying Shares" and "Selling Shares."

Fund securities and other investments are valued at market value based on market quotations obtained or determined by independent pricing services recommended by the Adviser and approved by the Board of Trustees. Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser pursuant to procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, as described below. Market value is determined as follows:

Equity securities (including shares of closed-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs")), exchange traded notes, rights, and warrants — listed equity securities are valued at the last sale price quoted on the exchange where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by an independent pricing service. Securities traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Global Market and NASDAQ Capital Market are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price ("NOCP"), or if lacking an NOCP, at the most recent bid quotations on the applicable NASDAQ Market. Unlisted equity securities (except unlisted preferred equity securities discussed below) are valued at the last sale price quoted in the market where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by an independent pricing service. If there is no sale price or closing bid quotation available, unlisted equity securities will be valued using evaluated bids furnished by an independent pricing service, if available. In some foreign markets, an official close price and a last sale price may be available from the foreign exchange or market. In those cases, the official close price is used. If a right is not traded on any exchange, its value is based on the market value of the underlying security, less the cost to subscribe to the underlying security (e.g., to exercise the right), adjusted for the subscription ratio. If a warrant is not traded on any exchange, a price is obtained from a broker-dealer. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Fund's fair value policies described below.

Debt securities and unlisted preferred equity securities — evaluated bids furnished to the Fund by an independent pricing service using market information, transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

Senior Loans — bid prices supplied by an independent pricing service, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

 

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Bilateral Swaps — bilateral credit default swaps are valued based on mid prices (between the bid price and the ask price) supplied by an independent pricing service. Bilateral interest rate swaps and bilateral standardized commodity and equity index total return swaps are valued based on prices supplied by an independent pricing service. If prices from an independent pricing service are not available, prices from a broker-dealer may be used.

Centrally Cleared Swaps — settlement prices of the clearinghouse on which the contracts were traded or prices obtained from broker-dealers.

Options — domestic exchange-traded single name equity options contracts (including options on ETFs) are valued at the mean of the National Best Bid and Offer quotations. Foreign exchange-traded single name equity options contracts are valued at the most recent settlement price. Options contracts on domestic indices shall be priced at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations as of the close of trading on the Chicago Board Options Exchange ("CBOE"). On the last business day of the month, the Fund will fair value the S&P 500 ® index options using the closing rotation values published by the CBOE. Options contracts on foreign indices are priced at the most recent settlement price. Options on futures contracts are valued using the current settlement price on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. Other exchange-traded options are valued at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. Over-the-counter ("OTC") currency options and swaptions are valued at mid prices (between the bid and the ask price) supplied by an independent pricing service, if available. Other OTC options contracts (including currency options and swaptions not priced through an independent pricing service) are valued based on prices obtained from broker-dealers. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Fund's fair value policies described below.

Futures —  most recent settlement price on the exchange on which the Adviser believes that, over time, they are traded most extensively. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Fund's fair value policies as described below. 

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts — interpolated rates determined based on information provided by an independent pricing service.

Foreign denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates supplied by an independent pricing service. Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. The Fund may also value securities and other investments at fair value in other circumstances such as when extraordinary events occur after the close of a foreign market but prior to the close of the NYSE. This may include situations relating to a single issuer (such as a declaration of bankruptcy or a delisting of the issuer's security from the primary market on which it has traded) as well as events affecting the securities markets in general (such as market disruptions or closings and significant fluctuations in U.S. and/or foreign markets). When fair valuing its securities or other investments, the Fund may, among other things, use modeling tools or other processes that may take into account factors such as securities or other market activity and/or significant events that occur after the close of the foreign market and before the time the Fund's NAV is calculated. Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security, 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 securities. In addition, the use of fair value pricing may not always result in adjustments to the prices of securities held by the Fund. Valuations for securities traded in the OTC market may be based on factors such as market information, transactions for comparable securities, various relationships between securities or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers. Evaluated prices from an independent pricing service may require subjective determinations and may be different than actual market prices or prices provided by other pricing services.

Trading in some of the portfolio securities or other investments of the Fund takes place in various markets outside the United States on days and at times other than when the NYSE is open for trading. Therefore, the calculation of the Fund's NAV does not take place at the same time as the prices of many of its portfolio securities or other investments are determined, and the value of the Fund's portfolio may change on days when the Fund is not open for business and its shares may not be purchased or redeemed.

Dividends and Distributions 

The Fund generally distributes annually all or substantially all of its net investment income (other than capital gains) in the form of dividends. The following table shows when the Fund expects to distribute dividends. The Fund expects to distribute all or substantially all of its net realized long- and short-term capital gains annually (or, in the case of short-term gains, more frequently than annually if determined by the Fund to be in the best interest of shareholders), after applying any capital loss carryovers. To the extent permitted by law, the Board of Trustees may adopt a different schedule for making distributions as long as payments are made at least annually.

Dividend Payment Schedule

Quarterly

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

Distributions will automatically be reinvested in shares of the same class of the distributing Fund at NAV unless you select one of the following alternatives:

Participate in the Dividend Diversification Program, which allows you to have all dividends and distributions automatically invested at NAV in shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund registered in your name. Certain investment minimums and restrictions may apply. For more information about the program, see the section "Additional Investor Services;"

Receive distributions from dividends and interest in cash while reinvesting distributions from capital gains in additional shares of the same class of the Fund, or in the same class of another Natixis Fund; or

Receive all distributions in cash.

 

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Fund Services

If a dividend or capital gain distribution check remains uncashed for six months and your account is still open, the Fund will reinvest the dividend or distribution in additional shares of the Fund promptly after making this determination and the check will be canceled. In addition, future dividends and capital gain distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund unless you subsequently contact the Fund and request to receive distributions by check.

For more information or to change your distribution option, contact Natixis Funds in writing or call 800-225-5478.

If you earn more than $10 annually in taxable income from a Natixis Fund held in a non-retirement plan account, you will receive a Form 1099 to help you report the prior calendar year's distributions on your U.S. federal income tax return. This information will also be reported to the IRS. Be sure to keep this Form 1099 as a permanent record. A fee may be charged for any duplicate information requested.

Tax Consequences

Except as noted, the discussion below addresses only the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Fund and does not address any non-U.S., state or local tax consequences.

The Fund intends to meet all requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), necessary to qualify each year for treatment as a "regulated investment company" and thus does not expect to pay any U.S. federal income tax on income and capital gains that are timely distributed to shareholders.

Unless otherwise noted, the discussion below, to the extent it describes shareholder-level tax consequences, pertains solely to taxable shareholders. 

Taxation of Distributions from the Fund. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable to Fund shareholders as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Distributions attributable to the excess of net long-term capital gains from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for more than one year over net short-term capital losses from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for one year or less, and that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends ("Capital Gain Dividends") generally will be taxable to a shareholder receiving such distributions as long-term capital gain includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates. Distributions attributable to the excess of net short-term capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less over net long-term capital losses will be taxable as ordinary income. The Fund's transactions in options or other derivatives or short sales may cause a larger portion of distributions to be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income than would be the case absent such transactions. 

Distributions of investment income properly reported by the Fund as derived from "qualified dividend income" will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the reduced rates applicable to net capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund levels. Income generated by investments in fixed-income securities, derivatives and REITs generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. 

A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax is imposed on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates to the extent their income exceeds certain threshold amounts. Net investment income generally includes for this purpose dividends, including any Capital Gain Dividends but not including exempt interest dividends, paid by the Fund, and net capital gains recognized on the sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable disposition of shares of the Fund.

Fund distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. In addition, Fund distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder's investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid for his or her shares). Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of shares purchased at a time when the Fund's NAV reflects gains that are either unrealized or realized but not distributed.

Dividends and distributions declared by a Fund and payable to shareholders of record in October, November or December of one year and paid in January of the next year generally are taxable in the year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the year in which the distributions are received.

Dividends derived from interest on securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, if any, may be exempt from state and local income taxes. Each Fund will advise shareholders annually of the proportion of its dividends that are derived from such interest.

Fund distributions to retirement plans and other investors that qualify for tax-advantaged treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws generally will not be taxable, although distributions by retirement plans to their participants may be taxable. Special tax rules apply to investments through such retirement plans. If your investment is through such a plan, you should consult your tax adviser to determine the suitability of the Fund as an investment through your plan and the tax treatment of distributions to you (including distributions of amounts attributable to an investment in the Fund) from the plan.

Redemption, Sale or Exchange of Fund Shares. A redemption, sale or exchange of Fund shares (including an exchange of Fund shares for shares of another Natixis Fund or Loomis Sayles Fund) is a taxable event and generally will result in recognition of gain or loss. Gain or loss, if any, recognized by a shareholder on a redemption, sale, exchange or other disposition of Fund shares generally will be taxed as long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder held the shares for more than one year, and as short-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder held the shares for one year or less, assuming in each case that the shareholder held the shares as capital assets. Short-term capital gains generally are taxed at the rates applicable to ordinary income. Any loss realized upon a disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, capital loss to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received by the shareholder with respect to the shares. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

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Fund Services

Taxation of Certain Fund Investments. The Fund's investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes. In that case, the Fund's yield on those securities would be decreased. If the Fund invests more than 50% of its assets in foreign securities, it generally may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. In addition, the Fund's investments in foreign securities or foreign currencies may be subject to special tax rules that have the effect of increasing or accelerating the Fund's recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of the Fund's distributions to shareholders. Because the Fund invests in foreign securities, shareholders should consult their tax advisers about the consequences of their investment under foreign laws. 

The Fund's investments in certain debt obligations (those issued with "OID" or having accrued with market discount, as described in the SAI), derivatives, or REITs may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income in excess of the cash generated by such investments. Thus, the Fund could be required to liquidate investments, including at times when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy the distribution requirements applicable to regulated investment companies under the Code. In addition, the Fund's investments in derivatives may affect the amount, timing or character of distributions to shareholders. In particular, a Fund's transactions in options or other derivatives or short sales may cause a larger portion of distributions to be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income than would be the case absent such transactions.

Backup Withholding. The Fund is required in certain circumstances to apply backup withholding on taxable dividends, redemption proceeds and certain other payments that are paid to any shareholder who does not furnish to the Fund certain information and certifications or who is otherwise subject to backup withholding. The current backup withholding tax rate is 28%.

Please see the SAI for additional information on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Fund.

You should consult your tax adviser for more information on your own situation, including possible U.S. federal, state, local, foreign or other applicable taxes.

Additional Investor Services

Retirement Plans

Natixis Funds offer a range of retirement plans, including Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, IRAs, SEPs and other pension and profit sharing plans. Refer to the section "It's Easy to Open an Account" for investment minimums. For more information about our Retirement Plans, call us at 800-225-5478.

Investment Builder Program

(Excludes Class N and Class T shares)

This is Natixis Funds' automatic investment plan. Once you meet the Fund minimum, you may authorize automatic monthly transfers of $50 or more per Fund from your bank checking or savings account to purchase shares of one or more Natixis Funds. For instructions on how to join the Investment Builder Program, please refer to the section "Buying Shares."

Dividend Diversification Program

(Excludes Class N and Class T shares)

This program allows you to have all dividends and any other distributions automatically invested in shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund subject to the eligibility requirements of that other fund and to state securities law requirements. The fund minimum must be met in the new fund prior to establishing the dividend diversification program. Shares will be purchased at the selected fund's NAV without a front-end sales charge or CDSC on the ex dividend date. Before establishing a Dividend Diversification Program into any other Natixis Fund, please read its prospectus carefully.

Automatic Exchange Plan

(Excludes Class N and Class T shares)

Natixis Funds have an automatic exchange plan under which shares of a class of a Natixis Fund are automatically exchanged each month for shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund. The fund minimum must be met prior to establishing an automatic exchange plan. There is no fee for exchanges made under this plan. Please see the section "Exchanging Shares" above and refer to the SAI for more information on the Automatic Exchange Plan.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan

(Excludes Class N and Class T shares)

This plan allows you to redeem shares and receive payments from the Fund on a regular schedule. Redemptions of shares that are part of the Systematic Withdrawal Plan are not subject to a CDSC, however, the amount or percentage you specify in the plan may not exceed, on an annualized basis, 10% of the value of your Fund account based upon the value of your Fund account on the day you establish your plan. For information on establishing a Systematic Withdrawal Plan, please refer to the section "Selling Shares."

Natixis Funds Personal Access Line®
(Excludes Class N and Class T shares)
This automated customer service system allows you to have access to your account 24 hours a day by calling 800-225-5478, and pressing 1. With a touch-tone telephone, you can obtain information about your current account balance, recent transactions, Fund prices and recent performance. You may also use Personal Access Line® to purchase, exchange or redeem shares in any of your existing accounts. Certain restrictions may apply.

 

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Fund Services

Natixis Funds Website

(Excludes Class N and Class T shares)

Visit us at ngam.natixis.com to review your account balance and recent transactions, to view current net asset value per share and performance information or to order duplicate account statements and tax information. You may also go online to purchase, exchange or redeem shares in your existing accounts. Certain restrictions may apply.

 

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Financial Performance

Financial Performance

The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance for the last five years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the return that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by [  ], an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Fund's financial statements, is included in the Fund's annual report to shareholders. The annual report is incorporated by reference into the SAI, both of which are available free of charge upon request from the Distributor.

The Class N and Class T shares of the Fund are newly formed and have no performance history as of the date of this prospectus. Therefore, the financial highlights tables included are for Class A, Class C and Class Y shares only. 

 

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Appendix A - Financial Intermediary Specific Sales Load Waivers

Appendix A - Financial Intermediary Specific Sales Load Waivers

Set forth below is information regarding sales load waivers and discounts available at specific financial intermediaries which are not affiliated with the Fund, the Adviser and/or the Distributor. In all instances, it is the purchaser's responsibility to notify the financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales load waivers or discounts.

Merrill Lynch

Effective April 10, 2017, shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund's prospectus or SAI.

Front-end Sales Load Waivers on Class A Shares available at Merrill Lynch

Employer-sponsored retirement, deferred compensation and employee benefit plans (including health savings accounts) and trusts used to fund those plans, provided that the shares are not held in a commission-based brokerage account and shares are held for the benefit of the plan;

Shares purchased by or through a 529 Plan;

Shares purchased through a Merrill Lynch affiliated investment advisory program;

Shares purchased by third party investment advisors on behalf of their advisory clients through Merrill Lynch's platform;

Shares of funds purchased through the Merrill Edge Self-Directed platform (if applicable);

Shares purchased through reinvestment of capital gains distributions and dividend reinvestment when purchasing shares of the same fund (but not any other fund within the fund family);

Shares exchanged from Class C (i.e. level-load) shares of the same fund in the month of or following the 10-year anniversary of the purchase date;

Employees and registered representatives of Merrill Lynch or its affiliates and their family members;

Directors or Trustees of the Fund, and employees of the Fund's investment adviser or any of its affiliates, as described in the prospectus; and

Shares purchased from the proceeds of redemptions within the same fund family, provided (1) the repurchase occurs within 90 days following the redemption, (2) the redemption and purchase occur in the same account, and (3) redeemed shares were subject to a front-end or deferred sales load (known as Rights of Reinstatement).

CDSC Waivers on Class A and Class C Shares available at Merrill Lynch

Death or disability of the shareholder;

Shares sold as part of a systematic withdrawal plan as described in the Fund's prospectus;

Return of excess contributions from an IRA Account;

Shares sold as part of a required minimum distribution for IRA and retirement accounts due to the shareholder reaching age 70½;

Shares sold to pay Merrill Lynch fees but only if the transaction is initiated by Merrill Lynch;

Shares acquired through a right of reinstatement; and

Shares held in retirement brokerage accounts, that are exchanged for a lower cost share class due to transfer to a fee based account or platform.

Front-end load Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

Breakpoints as described in this prospectus;

Rights of Accumulation (ROA) which entitle shareholders to breakpoint discounts will be automatically calculated based on the aggregated holding of fund family assets held by accounts within the purchaser's household at Merrill Lynch. Eligible fund family assets not held at Merrill Lynch may be included in the ROA calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets; and

Letters of Intent (LOI) which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, through Merrill Lynch, over a 13-month period of time (if applicable).

[Financial Intermediary]

Class T Shares

Class T shares are available for purchase by [FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY] clients with the front-end sales charge waived as follows:

Employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer-sponsored 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans and defined benefit plans). For purposes of this provision, employer-sponsored retirement plans do not include SEP IRAs, Simple IRAs, SAR-SEPs or Keogh plans; however, these plans are eligible to purchase Class T shares through a transactional brokerage account.

[FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY] employee and employee-related accounts according to [FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY]'s account linking rules.

Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same fund.

 

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Appendix A - Financial Intermediary Specific Sales Load Waivers

Mutual fund shares exchanged from an existing position in the same fund as part of a share class exchange instituted by [FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY].

[Additional financial intermediary-specific sales charge waivers, if any, to be inserted.]

 

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If you would like more information about the Fund, the following documents are available free upon request:

Annual and Semiannual Reports —Provide additional information about the Fund's investments. The annual report includes a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

Statement of Additional Information (SAI) —Provides more detailed information about the Fund and its investment limitations and policies. The SAI has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference.

For a free copy of the Fund's annual or semiannual reports or its SAI, to request other information about the Fund, and to make shareholder inquiries generally, contact your financial representative, visit the Fund's website at ngam.natixis.com or call the Fund at 800-225-5478.

Important Notice Regarding Delivery of Shareholder Documents:

In our continuing effort to reduce your Fund's expenses and the amount of mail that you receive from us, we will combine mailings of prospectuses, annual or semiannual reports and proxy statements to your household. If more than one family member in your household owns the same fund or funds described in a single prospectus, report or proxy statement, you will receive one mailing unless you request otherwise. Additional copies of our prospectuses, reports or proxy statements may be obtained at any time by calling 800-225-5478. If you are currently receiving multiple mailings to your household and would like to receive only one mailing or if you wish to receive separate mailings for each member of your household in the future, please call us at the telephone number listed above and we will resume separate mailings within 30 days of your request.

Your financial representative or Natixis Funds will also be happy to answer your questions or to provide any additional information that you may require.

Information about the Fund, including its reports and SAI, can be reviewed and copied at the Public Reference Room of the SEC in Washington, D.C. Text-only copies of the Fund's reports and SAI are available free from the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at: www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may also be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.

Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

Portfolio Holdings —A description of the Fund's policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund's portfolio securities is available in the SAI.

Investment Company Act File No. 811-00242

XDI51-0317


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LOGO

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

[March 31, 2017]

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

LOOMIS SAYLES DIVIDEND INCOME FUND (“Dividend Income Fund” or “Fund”)

Class A (LSCAX), Class C (LSCCX), Class N ([            ]), Class T ([            ]) and Class Y (LSCYX)

This Statement of Additional Information (“Statement”) contains specific information that may be useful to investors but that is not included in the Statutory Prospectus of the Fund. This Statement is not a prospectus and is authorized for distribution only when accompanied or preceded by the Fund’s Summary or Statutory Prospectus, each dated March 31, 2017 (the “Prospectus”), as from time to time revised or supplemented. This Statement should be read together with the Prospectus. Investors may obtain the Prospectus without charge from NGAM Distribution, L.P. (the “Distributor”), Prospectus Fulfillment Desk, 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 or by visiting the Fund’s website at ngam.natixis.com.

The Fund’s financial statements and accompanying notes that appear in the Fund’s annual and semiannual reports are incorporated by reference into this Statement. The Fund’s annual and semiannual reports contain additional performance information and are available upon request and without charge by calling 800-225-5478 or by visiting the Fund’s website at ngam.natixis.com.

XAL33-0317


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     PAGE  

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

     3   

FUND CHARGES AND EXPENSES

     4   

OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES

     6   

THE TRUST

     7   

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

     7   

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITIONS

     46   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

     46   

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

     46   

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

     48   

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

     58   

OTHER ARRANGEMENTS

     64   

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

     65   

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

     67   

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST

     70   

VOTING RIGHTS

     71   

SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY

     72   

HOW TO BUY SHARES

     72   

REDEMPTIONS

     73   

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

     74   

NET ASSET VALUE

     80   

REDUCED SALES CHARGES

     82   

DISTRIBUTIONS

     84   

TAXES

     85   

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

     96   

THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION

     97   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     97   

APPENDIX

     A-1   

 

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INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The following is a description of restrictions on the investments to be made by the Fund. The restrictions marked with an asterisk (*) are fundamental policies that may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)). The other restrictions set forth below are not fundamental policies and may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). Except in the case of restrictions marked with a dagger (†) below, the percentages set forth below and the percentage limitations set forth in each Prospectus apply at the time an investment is made and shall not be considered violated unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of such investment. The Dividend Income Fund has elected to be classified as a diversified series of an open-end investment company.

Dividend Income Fund

Dividend Income Fund may not:

 

*(1) Purchase any security (other than U.S. government securities) if, as a result, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets (taken at current value) would be invested in any one industry. For purposes of this restriction, telephone, gas and electric public utilities are each regarded as separate industries, finance companies whose financing activities are related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry of their parents, finance companies whose financing activities are not related primarily to the activities of their parent companies are classified in the industry the Fund’s adviser believes is the most applicable to such finance companies, and each foreign country’s government (together with all sub-divisions thereof) will be considered a separate industry. For purposes of this restriction, securities and other obligations of issuers in the banking industry are considered to be one industry and asset-backed securities are not considered to be bank obligations.

 

*(2) Make short sales of securities or maintain a short position, except that the Fund may make any short sales or maintain any short positions where the short sales or short positions would not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.

 

*(3)† Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.

 

*(4) Make loans, except that the Fund may purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies, provided however, this restriction does not apply to repurchase agreements or loans of portfolio securities.

 

*(5) Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers except that, in the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws.

 

*(6) Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities of issuers that deal in real estate, securities that are secured by interests in real estate, and securities that represent interests in real estate, and it may acquire and dispose of real estate or interests in real estate acquired through the exercise of its rights as a holder of debt obligations secured by real estate or interests therein.

 

*(7) Issue senior securities, except for permitted borrowings or as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act.

Dividend Income Fund may :

 

*(8) Purchase and sell commodities to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

 

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General Notes on Investment Restrictions

In addition to temporary borrowing, and subject to any stricter restrictions on borrowing applicable to the Fund, the Fund may borrow from any bank, provided that immediately after any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings by the Fund and provided further, that in the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300%, the Fund shall, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) thereafter or such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to such an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowing shall be at least 300%. With respect to restrictions on borrowing, the 1940 Act limits the Fund’s ability to borrow money on a non-temporary basis if such borrowings constitute “senior securities.” The Fund may also borrow money or engage in economically similar transactions if those transactions do not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act.

Where applicable, the foregoing investment restrictions shall be interpreted based upon no-action letters and other pronouncements of the staff of the SEC. Under current pronouncements, certain positions ( e.g. , reverse repurchase agreements) are excluded from the definition of “senior security” so long as the Fund maintains adequate cover, segregation of assets or otherwise. Similarly, a short sale will not be considered a senior security if the Fund takes certain steps contemplated by SEC staff pronouncements, such as ensuring the short sale transaction is adequately covered.

The Fund may not purchase any illiquid security if, as a result, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets (based on current value) would then be invested in such securities. This policy may be changed without a shareholder vote. The staff of the SEC is presently of the view that repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are subject to this restriction. Until that position is revised, modified or rescinded, the Fund will conduct its operations in a manner consistent with this view. This limitation on investment in illiquid securities does not apply to certain securities which might otherwise be considered illiquid, including securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and certain commercial paper, which the Fund’s Adviser has determined to be liquid under procedures approved by the Board. Similarly, the Fund will not consider a security to be a restricted security for purposes of its investment restrictions if it is determined to be liquid under such procedures.

For purposes of the foregoing restrictions, the Fund does not consider a swap or other derivative contract on one or more securities, indices, currencies or interest rates to be a commodity or a commodity contract, nor, consistent with the position of the SEC, does the Fund consider such swap contracts to involve the issuance of a senior security, provided the Fund designates on its records or segregates with its custodian or otherwise designates liquid assets (marked to market on a daily basis) sufficient to meet its obligations under such contracts.

FUND CHARGES AND EXPENSES

Advisory Fees

Pursuant to an advisory agreement, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles” or the “Adviser”) has agreed, subject to the supervision of the Board, to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of and to provide a range of administrative services to the Fund.

For the services described in the advisory agreement, the Fund has agreed to pay Loomis Sayles an advisory fee at the annual rate set forth in the following table:

 

Fund

  Date of
Agreement
    Advisory Fee Payable by Fund to Loomis Sayles
(as a % of average daily net assets of the Fund)
 

Dividend Income Fund

    March 28, 2012        0.60

The Adviser has given a binding contractual undertaking to all classes of the Fund to waive its advisory fee and, if necessary, to reimburse certain expenses related to operating the Fund in order to limit the Fund’s expenses, exclusive of acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, and organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses, to the annual rates indicated below. The undertakings are in effect through March 31, 2018, may be terminated before then only with the consent of the

 

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Board and are reevaluated on an annual basis. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, expenses it has borne through the undertaking described above (whether through waiver of its advisory fee or otherwise) to the extent that a class’s expenses in later periods fall below the annual rate set forth in the relevant undertaking. The Adviser will not be entitled to recover any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fee/expense was waived/reimbursed.

 

Fund

   Expense Limit     Date of Undertaking  

Dividend Income Fund

    

Class A

     [     ]%      [            ]   

Class C

     [     ]%      [            ]   

Class N

     [     ]%      [            ]   

Class T

     [     ]%      [            ]   

Class Y

     [     ]%      [            ]   

Payment of Advisory Fees

The following tables show the total advisory fees paid by the Fund for the last three fiscal years:

DIVIDEND INCOME FUND

 

     Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/14
     Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/15
     Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/16
 

Total Advisory Fee

   $ 134,355       $ 135,460       $ [            

Amount Waived

   $ 105,069       $ 105,460       $ [            

Total Paid

   $ 30,391       $ 61,064       $ [            

Brokerage Commissions

Set forth below are the amounts the Fund paid in brokerage commissions during the last three fiscal years and the amounts the Fund placed in brokerage transactions and paid in brokerage commissions to brokers providing research services for each fiscal year.

For a description of how transactions in portfolio securities are effected and how the Fund’s Adviser selects brokers, see the section entitled “Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage” in this Statement.

 

     Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/14
     Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/15
     Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/16
 

Dividend Income Fund

        

Aggregate Brokerage Commission

   $ 19,299       $ 21,936       $ [            

Directed Transactions

   $ 25,269,021       $ 22,398,019       $ [            

Commissions Directed Transactions

   $ 18,363       $ 19,444       $ [            

Regular Broker-Dealers

The table below contains the aggregate value of securities of the Fund’s “regular broker-dealers” 1 (or the parent of the regular broker-dealers) held by the Fund, if any, as of the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016.

 

Fund

   Regular Broker-Dealer      Aggregate Value of Securities of Each Regular
Broker or Dealer (or its Parent) Held by Fund
 

Dividend Income Fund

     [                        $ [            
1 “Regular Broker-Dealers” are defined by the SEC as: (a) one of the ten brokers or dealers that received the greatest dollar amount of brokerage commissions by virtue of direct or indirect participation in the company’s portfolio transactions during the company’s most recent fiscal year; (b) one of the ten brokers or dealers that engaged as principal in the largest dollar amount of portfolio transactions of the investment company during the company’s most recent fiscal year; or (c) one of the ten brokers or dealers that sold the largest dollar amount of securities of the investment company during the company’s most recent fiscal year.

 

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Sales Charges and Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

As explained in this Statement, the Class A, Class C and Class T shares of the Fund pay NGAM Distribution, L.P. (the “Distributor”) fees under plans adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (each a “Plan” and, together, the “Plans”). The following table shows the amounts of Rule 12b-1 fees paid by the Fund under the Plans during the last three fiscal years, as applicable. Class T shares of the Fund are newly formed and thus the Fund has not paid any Rule 12b-1 fees under the Class T shares Plan as of the date of this Statement. The anticipated benefits to the Fund of the Plans include the ability to attract and maintain assets. See the section “Distribution Agreement and Rule 12b-1 Plans” for more information.

 

Fund

   Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/14
     Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/15
     Fiscal Year Ended
11/30/16
 

Dividend Income Fund

        

Class A

   $ 15,934       $ 23,991       $ [            

Class C

   $ 23,488       $ 27,456       $ [            

Total

   $ 39,422       $ 51,447       $ [            

For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016, the Distributor used the Rule 12b-1 fees paid by the Fund under the Plans as follows:

 

Fund

   Compensation to
Broker-Dealers
     Retained
by Distributor
     Total  

Dividend Income Fund

   $ [                $ [                $ [            

OWNERSHIP OF FUND SHARES

As of March 1, 2017, to the Trust’s knowledge, the following persons owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the indicated classes of the Fund set forth below. 1

 

Fund

   Shareholder and Address      Ownership Percentage  

Dividend Income Fund

  

(Class A)

     [                  [     ]% 

(Class C)

     [                  [     ]% 

(Class Y)

     [                  [     ]% 
1   Such ownership may be beneficially held by individuals or entities other than the owner listed. To the extent that any listed shareholder beneficially owns more than 25% of the Fund, it may be deemed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. The effect of such control may be to reduce the ability of other shareholders of the Fund to take actions requiring the affirmative vote of holders of a plurality or majority of the Fund’s shares without the approval of the controlling shareholder.

The Fund may experience large and/or frequent redemptions or investments due to transactions in Fund shares by funds of funds, other large shareholders or similarly managed accounts. While it is impossible to predict the overall effect of these transactions over time, there could be an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance. In the event of such redemptions or investments, the Fund could be required to sell securities or to invest cash at a time when it may not otherwise desire to do so. Such transactions may increase the Fund’s brokerage and/or other transaction costs. In addition, when funds of funds or other investors own a substantial portion of the Fund’s shares, a large redemption could cause actual expenses to increase, or could result in the Fund’s current expenses being allocated over a smaller asset base, leading to an increase in the Fund’s expense ratio. Redemptions by a large investor may increase realized capital gains, may accelerate the realization of taxable income to shareholders and may limit the use of any capital loss carryforwards and certain other losses to offset future realized capital gains (if any). The impact of these transactions is likely to be greater when a fund of funds or other significant investor purchases, redeems, or owns a substantial portion of the Fund’s shares. When possible, the Fund’s Adviser will consider how to minimize these potential adverse effects, and may take such actions as it deems appropriate to address potential adverse effects, including redemption of shares in-kind rather than in cash or carrying out the transactions over a period of time, although there can be no assurance that such actions will be successful.

 

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THE TRUST

Natixis Funds Trust II (the “Trust”) is registered with the SEC as an open-end management investment company. The Trust is organized as a Massachusetts business trust under the laws of Massachusetts pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated May 6, 1931, as last amended and restated on June 2, 2005 (the “Declaration of Trust”), and consisted of a single Fund (now the Natixis Oakmark Fund) until January 1989, when the Trust was reorganized as a “series” company as described in Section 18(f)(2) of the 1940 Act. Currently, each series (with the exception of ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund, Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund, Vaughan Nelson Select Fund and Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund) of the Trust is diversified. The name of the Trust has changed several times since its organization as noted below:

 

Name of Trust

 

Date

Investment Trust of Boston   May 1931 to November 1988
Investment Trust of Boston Funds   December 1988 to April 1992
TNE Funds Trust   April 1992 to March 1994
New England Funds Trust II   April 1994 to January 2000
Nvest Funds Trust II   January 2000 to April 2001
CDC Nvest Funds Trust II   May 2001 to April 2005
IXIS Advisor Funds Trust II   April 2005 to August 2007
Natixis Funds Trust II   August 2007 to present

Prior to October 16, 2014, the name of Dividend Income Fund was “Loomis Sayles Capital Income Fund.”

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

Investment Strategies

The descriptions below summarize and describe certain investment strategies, including particular types of securities, instruments or specific practices that may be used by the Adviser in managing the Fund. The Fund’s principal strategies are described in its Prospectus. This Statement describes some of the non-principal strategies the Fund may use, in addition to providing additional information, including related risks, about their principal strategies. The list of securities or other instruments under each category below is not intended to be an exclusive list of securities, instruments and practices for investment. Unless a strategy, practice or security is specifically prohibited by the investment restrictions listed in the Prospectus, in the section “Investment Restrictions” in this Statement or under applicable law, the Fund may engage in each of the strategies and invest in securities and instruments in addition to those listed below. The Adviser may invest in a general category listed below and, where applicable, with particular emphasis on a certain type of security, but investment is not limited to the categories listed below or the securities specifically enumerated under each category. The Fund is not required to engage in a particular transaction or invest in any security or instrument, even if to do so might benefit the Fund. The Adviser may invest in some securities under a given category as a primary strategy and in other securities under the same category as a secondary strategy. The Adviser may invest in any security that falls under the specific category, including securities that are not listed below. The Prospectus and/or this Statement will be updated if the Fund begins to engage in investment practices that are not described in the Prospectus and/or this Statement.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (“ARM”) Securities

The Fund may invest in ARMs. An ARM, like a traditional mortgage security, is an interest in a pool of mortgage loans that provides investors with payments consisting of both principal and interest as mortgage loans in the underlying mortgage pool are paid off by the borrowers. ARMs have interest rates that are reset at periodic intervals, usually by reference to some interest rate index or market interest rate. Although the rate adjustment feature may act as a buffer to reduce sharp changes in the value of adjustable rate securities, these securities are still subject to changes in value based on changes in market interest rates or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because the interest rates are reset only periodically, changes in the interest rate on ARMs may lag behind changes

 

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in prevailing market interest rates. Also, some ARMs (or the underlying mortgages) are subject to caps or floors that limit the maximum change in interest rate during a specified period or over the life of the security. As a result, changes in the interest rate on an ARM may not fully reflect changes in prevailing market interest rates during certain periods. Because of the resetting of interest rates, ARMs are less likely than non-adjustable rate securities of comparable quality and maturity to increase significantly in value when market interest rates fall. In addition, the Fund will not benefit from increases in interest rates to the extent that interest rates rise to the point where they cause the current coupon of the underlying ARM to exceed a cap rate for a particular mortgage. See the section “Mortgage-Related Securities” for more information on the risks involved in ARMs.

Asset-Backed Securities

The Fund may invest in 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. Mortgage-backed securities are a type of asset-backed security. The securitization techniques used to develop mortgage securities are also applied to a broad range of other assets. Through the use of trusts and special purpose vehicles, assets, such as automobile and credit card receivables, are securitized in pass-through structures similar to mortgage pass-through structures or in a pay-through structure similar to a collateralized mortgage obligation (“CMO”) structure (described below). Generally, the issuers of asset-backed bonds, notes or pass-through certificates are special purpose entities and do not have any significant assets other than the receivables securing such obligations. In general, the collateral supporting asset-backed securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans. Instruments backed by pools of receivables are similar to mortgage-backed securities in that they are subject to unscheduled prepayments of principal prior to maturity. When the obligations are prepaid, the Fund will ordinarily reinvest the prepaid amounts in securities, the yields of which reflect interest rates prevailing at the time. Therefore, the Fund’s ability to maintain a portfolio that includes high-yielding asset-backed securities will be adversely affected to the extent that prepayments of principal must be reinvested in securities that have lower yields than the prepaid obligations. Moreover, prepayments of securities purchased at a premium could result in a realized loss. The value of some mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities in which the Fund may invest may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and the ability of the Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of the Adviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. These types of securities may also decline for reasons associated with the underlying collateral. Asset-backed securities involve risks similar to those described in the section “Mortgage-Related Securities.” The Fund may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which are interests in the excess cash flow remaining after the issuer makes required payments on the securities and pays related administrative expenses. The total amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rate on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual performance of the underlying assets. Among other things, such performance is influenced by the amount and timing of losses incurred on the assets and leasing and disposition activity of the asset manager.

The Fund may also gain exposure to asset-backed securities through entering into credit default swaps or other derivative instruments related to this asset class. For example, the Fund may enter into credit default swaps on asset-backed securities, which are indices made up of tranches of asset-backed securities, each with different credit ratings. Utilizing asset-backed securities, one can either gain synthetic risk exposure to a portfolio of such securities by “selling protection” or take a short position by “buying protection.” The protection buyer pays a monthly premium to the protection seller, and the seller agrees to cover any principal losses and interest shortfalls of the referenced underlying asset-backed securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to asset-backed securities are subject to the risks associated with asset-backed securities generally, as well as the risks of derivative transactions. See the section “Derivative Instruments” below.

Bank-Issued Investments

The Fund may invest a portion of their assets in certificates of deposit (certificates representing the obligation of a bank to repay funds deposited with it for a specified period of time), time deposits (non-negotiable deposits maintained in a bank for a specified period of time up to seven days at a stated interest rate), bankers’ acceptances (credit instruments evidencing the obligation of a bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer) and other securities and instruments issued by domestic banks, foreign branches of domestic banks, foreign subsidiaries of domestic banks and domestic and foreign branches of foreign banks.

 

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U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued by foreign branches of domestic banks or foreign branches of foreign banks (“Eurodollar” obligations) and other foreign obligations involve special investment risks, including the possibility that (i) liquidity could be impaired because of future political and economic developments, (ii) the obligations may be less marketable than comparable domestic obligations of domestic issuers, (iii) a foreign jurisdiction might impose withholding or other taxes on interest income payable on those obligations, (iv) deposits may be seized or nationalized, (v) foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls may be adopted which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on those obligations, (vi) the selection of foreign obligations may be more difficult because there may be less information publicly available concerning foreign issuers, (vii) there may be difficulties in enforcing a judgment against a foreign issuer, or (viii) the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements applicable to foreign issuers may differ from those applicable to domestic issuers. In addition, foreign banks are not subject to examination by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”)

The Fund may invest in CMOs. CMOs are securities backed by a portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities held under indentures. CMOs may be issued either by U.S. government instrumentalities or by non-governmental entities. CMOs are not direct obligations of the U.S. government. The issuer’s obligation to make interest and principal payments is secured by the underlying portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities. CMOs are issued with a number of classes or series, which have different maturities and which may represent interests in some or all of the interest or principal on the underlying collateral or a combination thereof. CMOs of different classes generally are retired in sequence as the underlying mortgage loans in the mortgage pool are repaid. In the event of sufficient early prepayments on such mortgages, the class or series of CMO first to mature generally will be retired prior to its maturity. Thus, the early retirement of a particular class or series of CMO held by the Fund would have a similar effect to the prepayment of mortgages underlying a mortgage pass-through security. CMOs and other asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities may be considered derivative securities. CMOs involve risks similar to those described in the section “Mortgage-Related Securities.”

Commodities

Commodities are assets that have tangible properties, such as oil, metals, livestock or agricultural products. Historically, commodity investments have had a relatively high correlation with changes in inflation and a relatively low correlation to stock and bond returns. Commodity-related securities and other instruments provide exposure, which may include long and/or short exposure, to the investment returns of physical commodities that trade in commodities markets, without investing directly in physical commodities. The Fund may invest in commodity-related securities and other instruments, such as structured notes, swap agreements, options, futures and options on futures that derive value from the price movement of commodities, or some other readily measurable economic variable dependent upon changes in the value of commodities or the commodities markets. However, investments in commodity-linked instruments do not generally provide a claim on the underlying commodity. In addition, the ability of The Fund to invest directly in commodities and in certain commodity-related securities and other instruments is subject to significant limitations in order to enable the Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”). See the section “Taxes” below for more information.

The value of commodity-related instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, volatility of the underlying benchmark, changes in interest rates or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as droughts, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs and international economic, political and regulatory developments. The value of commodity-related instruments will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related index. Investments in commodity-related instruments may be subject to greater volatility than non-commodity-based investments. A highly liquid secondary market may not exist for certain commodity-related instruments, and there can be no assurance that one will develop. Commodity-related instruments are also subject to credit and interest rate risks that in general affect the values of debt securities. The Fund may lose money on its commodity investments.

 

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Convertible Securities

The Fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities include corporate bonds, notes or preferred stocks of U.S. or foreign issuers that can be converted into (exchanged for) common stocks or other equity securities. Convertible securities also include other securities, such as warrants, that provide an opportunity for equity participation. Since convertible securities may be converted into equity securities, their values will normally vary in some proportion with those of the underlying equity securities. Convertible securities usually provide a higher yield than the underlying equity, however, so that the price decline of a convertible security may sometimes be less substantial than that of the underlying equity security. Convertible securities generally are subject to the same risks as non-convertible fixed-income securities, but usually provide a lower yield than comparable fixed-income securities. Many convertible securities are relatively illiquid.

Corporate Reorganizations

The Fund may invest in securities for which a tender or exchange offer has been made or announced and in securities of companies for which a merger, consolidation, liquidation or reorganization proposal has been announced if, in the judgment of the Adviser or Subadviser, there is a reasonable prospect of capital appreciation significantly greater than the brokerage and other transaction expenses involved. The primary risk of such investments is that if the contemplated transaction is abandoned, revised, delayed or becomes subject to unanticipated uncertainties, the market price of the securities may decline below the purchase price paid by the Fund.

In general, securities which are the subject of such an offer or proposal sell at a premium to their historic market price immediately prior to the announcement of the offer or proposal. However, the increased market price of such securities may also discount what the stated or appraised value of the security would be if the contemplated transaction were approved or consummated. Such investments may be advantageous when the discount significantly overstates the risk of the contingencies involved; significantly undervalues the securities, assets or cash to be received by shareholders of the prospective company as a result of the contemplated transaction; or fails adequately to recognize the possibility that the offer or proposal may be replaced or superseded by an offer or proposal of greater value. The evaluation of such contingencies requires unusually broad knowledge and experience on the part of the Adviser or Subadviser, which must appraise not only the value of the issuer and its component businesses, but also the financial resources and business motivation of the offer or proposal as well as the dynamics of the business climate when the offer or proposal is in process.

Cybersecurity, Operational and Technology Risk

The Fund, its service providers, and other market participants increasingly depend on complex information technology and communications systems to conduct business functions. These systems are subject to a number of different threats or risks that could adversely affect the Fund and its shareholders. These risks include theft, loss, misuse, improper release, corruption and destruction of, or unauthorized access to, confidential or highly sensitive information data relating to the Fund and its shareholders; and compromises or failures to systems, networks, devices and applications relating to the operations of the Fund and its service providers. Power outages, natural disasters, equipment malfunctions and processing errors that threaten these systems, as well as market events that occur at a pace that overloads these systems, may also disrupt business operations or impact critical data. Cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues may result in, among other things, financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders; the inability of the Fund to transact business with its shareholders or to engage in portfolio transactions; delays or mistakes in the calculation of the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) or other materials provided to shareholders; the inability to process transactions with shareholders or other parties; violations of privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties and reputational damage; and compliance and remediation costs, legal fees and other expenses. The Fund’s service providers (including, but not limited to, the Fund’s investment adviser, any sub-advisers, administrator, transfer agent, and custodian), financial intermediaries, companies in which the Fund invests and parties with which the Fund engages in portfolio or other transactions also may be adversely impacted by cybersecurity and other operational and technology risks, resulting in losses to the Fund or its shareholders. Furthermore, as a result of breaches in cybersecurity or other operational and technology disruptions or failures, an exchange or market may close or issue trading halts on specific securities or the entire market, which may result in the Fund being, among other things, unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments or unable to accurately price its investments. The Fund has developed processes and risk management systems

 

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designed to reduce the risks associated with cybersecurity and other operational and technology issues. However, there is no guarantee that those measures will be effective, particularly since the Fund does not directly control the cybersecurity defenses and operational and technology plans and systems of its service providers, financial intermediaries and companies in which it invests or with which it does business.

Debt Securities

The Fund may invest in debt securities. Debt securities are used by issuers to borrow money. The issuer usually pays a fixed, variable or floating rate of interest and must repay the amount borrowed at the maturity of the security. Some debt securities, such as zero-coupon securities, do not pay interest but are sold at a discount from their face values. Debt securities include corporate bonds, government securities and mortgage- and other asset-backed securities. Debt securities include a broad array of short-, medium- and long-term obligations issued by the U.S. or foreign governments, government or international agencies and instrumentalities, and corporate issuers of various types. Some debt securities represent uncollateralized obligations of their issuers; in other cases, the securities may be backed by specific assets (such as mortgages or other receivables) that have been set aside as collateral for the issuer’s obligation. Debt securities generally involve an obligation of the issuer to pay interest or dividends on either a current basis or at the maturity of the securities, as well as the obligation to repay the principal amount of the security at maturity.

Debt securities are subject to market risk and credit/counterparty risk. Credit/counterparty risk relates to the ability of the issuer to make payments of principal and interest and includes the risk of default. Sometimes, an issuer may make these payments from money raised through a variety of sources, including, with respect to issuers of municipal securities, (i) the issuer’s general taxing power, (ii) a specific type of tax, such as a property tax or (iii) a particular facility or project such as a highway. The ability of an issuer to make these payments could be affected by general economic conditions, issues specific to the issuer, litigation, legislation or other political events, the bankruptcy of the issuer, war, natural disasters, terrorism or other major events. U.S. government securities are not generally perceived to involve credit/counterparty risks to the same extent as investments in other types of fixed-income securities; as a result, the yields available from U.S. government securities generally are lower than the yields available from corporate and municipal debt securities. Market risk is the risk that the value of the security will fall because of changes in market rates of interest. Generally, the value of debt securities falls when market rates of interest are rising. Some debt securities also involve prepayment or call risk. This is the risk that the issuer will repay the Fund the principal on the security before it is due, thus depriving the Fund of a favorable stream of future interest payments.

Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income of the Fund that invests in debt securities for any particular period. Fluctuations in the value of the Fund’s investments in debt securities will cause the Fund’s NAV to increase or decrease.

Derivative Instruments

The Fund may, but is not required to, use a number of derivative instruments for risk management purposes or as part of its investment strategies. 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 stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities, related indices and other assets. For additional information about the use of derivatives in connection with foreign currency transactions, see the section “Foreign Currency Transactions.” The Adviser may decide not to employ any of these strategies and there is no assurance that any derivatives strategy used by the Fund will succeed. In addition, 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. Examples of derivative instruments that the Fund may use include (but are not limited to) options and warrants, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, structured notes, zero-strike warrants and options, swap agreements (including interest rate and credit default swaps), swaptions and debt-linked and equity-linked securities.

Transactions in certain derivatives are subject to clearance on a clearinghouse, while other derivatives are subject to risks of trading in the over-the-counter markets or on non-U.S. exchanges. In addition, the U.S. government has enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), which includes

 

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provisions for regulation of the derivatives market, including new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements. The European Union (and some other countries) are implementing similar requirements that will affect a Fund when it enters into derivatives transactions with a counterparty organized in that country or otherwise subject to that country’s derivatives regulations. Because these requirements are new and evolving (and some of the rules are not yet final), their ultimate impact remains unclear. These regulatory changes could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions (including because certain types of derivatives transactions may no longer be available to the Fund) and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions (including through increased margin requirements), and the Fund may be unable to execute its investment strategy as a result.

Additionally, the new requirements may result in increased uncertainty about credit/counterparty risk, and they may also limit the flexibility of the Fund to protect its interests in the event of an insolvency of a derivatives counterparty. In the event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency, the Fund’s ability to exercise remedies, such as the termination of transactions, netting of obligations and realization on collateral, could be stayed or eliminated under new special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union and various other jurisdictions. Such regimes provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty. In particular, with respect to counterparties who are subject to such proceedings in the European Union, the liabilities of such counterparties to the Fund could be reduced, eliminated, or converted to equity in such counterparties (sometimes referred to as a “bail in”). The regulation of derivatives transactions and funds that engage in such transactions is an evolving area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action.

Derivatives involve special risks, including credit/counterparty risk, illiquidity, difficulties in valuation, leverage risk and, to the extent the Adviser’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of derivatives could result in significantly greater losses or lower income or gains than if they had not been used. The Fund’’s derivative counterparties may experience financial difficulties or otherwise be unwilling or unable to honor their obligations, possibly resulting in losses to the Fund. Losses resulting from the use of derivatives will reduce the Fund’s NAV, and possibly income, and the losses may be significantly greater than if derivatives had not been used. The degree of the Fund’s use of derivatives may be limited by certain provisions of the Code. When used, derivatives may affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions payable to, and thus taxes payable by, shareholders. See the subsection “Certain Additional Risks of Derivative Instruments” below for additional information about the risks relating to derivative instruments.

Several types of derivative instruments in which the Fund may invest are described in more detail below. However, the Fund is not limited to investments in these instruments and may decide not to employ any or all of these strategies.

Asset Segregation and Coverage

The Fund will segregate with its custodian or otherwise designate on its records liquid assets in an amount the Fund believes to be adequate to ensure that it has sufficient liquid assets to meet its obligations under its derivatives contracts and similar transactions, or the Fund may engage in other measures to “cover” its obligations with respect to such transactions. The amounts that are segregated or designated may be based on the notional value of the derivative or on the daily mark-to-market obligation under the derivatives contract and may be reduced by amounts on deposit with the applicable broker or counterparty to the derivatives transaction. The Fund may segregate amounts in addition to the amounts described above. In certain circumstances, the Fund may enter into an offsetting position rather than segregating or designating liquid assets ( e.g., the Fund may cover a written put option with a purchased put option with the same or higher exercise price). Although the Adviser will attempt to ensure that the Fund has sufficient liquid assets to cover its obligations under its derivatives contracts, it is possible that the Fund’s liquid assets may be insufficient to support such obligations under its derivatives positions. The Fund may modify its asset segregation policies from time to time.

Futures Contracts

Futures transactions involve the Fund’s buying or selling futures contracts. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a particular security, commodity, currency or other asset, or group or index of securities, commodities, currencies or other assets for a specified price on a specified future date. A futures contract

 

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creates an obligation by the seller to deliver and the buyer to take delivery of the type of instrument or cash (depending on whether the contract calls for physical delivery or cash settlement) at the time and in the amount specified in the contract. In the case of futures on an index, the seller and buyer agree to settle in cash, at a future date, based on the difference in value of the contract between the date it is opened and the settlement date. The value of each contract is equal to the value of the index from time to time multiplied by a specified dollar amount. For example, S&P 500 ® Index futures may trade in contracts with a value equal to $250 multiplied by the S&P 500 ® Index.

When a trader, such as the Fund, enters into a futures contract, it is required to deposit with (or for the benefit of) its broker as “initial margin” an amount of cash or short-term, high-quality/liquid securities (such as U.S. Treasury bills or high-quality tax-exempt bonds acceptable to the broker) equal to approximately 2% to 5% of the delivery or settlement price of the contract (depending on applicable exchange rules). Initial margin is held to secure the performance of the holder of the futures contract. As the value of the contract changes, the value of futures contract positions increases or declines. At the end of each trading day, the amount of such increase and decline is received and paid respectively by and to the holders of these positions. The amount received or paid is known as “variation margin.”

The gain or loss on a futures position is equal to the net variation margin received or paid over the time the position is held, plus or minus the amount received or paid when the position is closed, minus brokerage commissions and other transaction costs. Should the value of the assets in the margin account drop below the minimum amount required to be maintained, or “maintenance margin,” the Fund will be required to deposit additional assets to the account.

Although many futures contracts call for the delivery (or acceptance) of the specified instrument, futures are usually closed out before the settlement date through the purchase (or sale) of a comparable contract. If the price of the sale of the futures contract by the Fund is less than the price of the offsetting purchase, the Fund will realize a loss. A futures sale is closed by purchasing a futures contract for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument or commodity and with the same delivery date. Similarly, a futures purchase is closed by the purchaser selling an offsetting futures contract.

Futures contract prices, and the prices of the related contracts in which the Fund may trade, are highly volatile. Such prices are influenced by, among other things: changing supply and demand relationships; government trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and policies; national and international political and economic events; and changes in interest rates. In addition, governments from time to time intervene, directly and by regulation, in these markets, with the specific intention of influencing such prices. The effect of such intervention is often heightened by a group of governments acting in concert.

Furthermore, the low margin deposits normally required in futures trading permit an extremely high degree of leverage. Accordingly, a relatively small price movement in a futures contract can result in immediate and substantial losses to the investor. As an added risk in these volatile and highly leveraged markets, it is not always possible to liquidate futures positions to prevent further losses or recognize unrealized gains. Illiquidity can arise due to daily price limits taking effect or to market disruptions. Futures positions may be illiquid because certain commodity exchanges limit fluctuations in certain futures contract prices during a single day by regulations referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” or “daily limits.” Under such daily limits, during a single trading day no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limits. Once the price of a particular futures contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in that contract can neither be taken nor liquidated unless traders are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. Futures prices have occasionally moved beyond the daily limits for several consecutive days with little or no trading. The inability to liquidate futures positions creates the possibility of the Fund being unable to control its losses. If the Fund was to borrow money to use for trading purposes, the effects of such leverage would be magnified. The rights of any lenders to the Fund to receive payments of interest or repayments of principal will be senior to those of the investors and the terms of any loan agreements may contain provisions that limit certain activities of the Fund. The Fund may also be unable to utilize all cash available to it if certain margin requirements cannot be netted across exchanges, or alternatively if financing is unavailable. Physical delivery of commodities can result in temporary illiquidity and the Fund may incur additional charges associated with the holding and safekeeping of any such commodities.

 

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Index Futures Contracts

In the case of futures on an index, the seller and buyer agree to settle in cash, at a future date, based on the difference in value of the contract between the date it is opened and the settlement date. The value of each contract is equal to the value of the index from time to time multiplied by a specified dollar amount. For example, S&P 500 ® Index futures may trade in contracts with a value equal to $250 multiplied by the S&P 500 ® Index. The price of index futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the relevant index due to certain market distortions. One such distortion stems from the fact that all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal relationship between the index and futures markets. Another market distortion results from the deposit requirements in the futures market being less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, and as a result the futures market may attract more speculators than does the securities market. A third distortion is caused by the fact that trading hours for foreign stock index futures may not correspond perfectly to hours of trading on the foreign exchange to which a particular foreign stock index futures contract relates. This may result in a disparity between the price of index futures and the value of the relevant index due to the lack of continuous arbitrage between the index futures price and the value of the underlying index. Finally, hedging transactions using stock indices involve the risk that movements in the price of the index may not correlate with price movements of the particular portfolio securities being hedged.

Options

Options transactions may involve the Fund’s buying or writing (selling) options on securities, futures contracts, securities indices (including futures on securities indices) or currencies. The Fund may engage in these transactions either to enhance investment return or to hedge against changes in the value of other assets that it owns or intends to acquire.

Options can generally be classified as either “call” or “put” options. There are two parties to a typical options transaction: the “writer” (seller) and the “buyer.” A call option gives the buyer the right to buy a security or other asset (such as an amount of currency or a futures contract) from, and a put option gives the buyer the right to sell a security or other asset to, the option writer at a specified price, on or before a specified date. The buyer of an option pays a premium when purchasing the option, which reduces the return on the underlying security or other asset if the option is exercised, and results in a loss if the option expires unexercised. The writer of an option receives a premium from writing an option, which may increase its return if the option expires or is closed out at a profit. An “American-style” option allows exercise of the option at any time during the term of the option. A “European-style” option allows an option to be exercised only at a specific time or times, such as the end of its term. Options may be traded on or off an established securities or options exchange.

If the holder (writer) of an option wishes to terminate its position, it may seek to effect a closing sale transaction by selling (buying) an option identical to the option previously purchased. The effect of the purchase is that the previous option position will be canceled. The Fund will realize a profit from closing out an option if the price received for selling the offsetting position is more than the premium paid to purchase the option; the Fund will realize a loss from closing out an option transaction if the price received for selling the offsetting option is less than the premium paid to purchase the option. Since premiums on options having an exercise price close to the value of the underlying securities or futures contracts usually have a time value component ( i.e. , a value that diminishes as the time within which the option can be exercised grows shorter), the value of an options contract may change as a result of the lapse of time even though the value of the futures contract or security underlying the option (and of the security or other asset deliverable under the futures contract) has not changed. As an alternative to purchasing call and put options on index futures, the Fund may purchase or sell call or put options on the underlying indices themselves. Such options would be used in a manner similar to the use of options on index futures.

Warrants and Rights

The Fund may invest in warrants and rights. A warrant is an instrument that gives the holder a right to purchase a given number of shares of a particular security at a specified price until a stated expiration date. Buying a warrant generally can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an investment of equivalent amounts in the underlying common stock. The market value of a warrant does not necessarily move with the value of the

 

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underlying securities. If a holder does not sell the warrant, it risks the loss of its entire investment if the market price of the underlying security does not, before the expiration date, exceed the exercise price of the warrant. Investment in warrants is a speculative activity. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights (other than the right to purchase the underlying securities) with respect to the assets of the issuer. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe for shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price.

The Fund may invest in low exercise price call warrants, which are equity call warrants with an exercise price that is very low relative to the market price of the underlying instrument at the time of issue. Low exercise price call warrants are typically used to gain exposure to stocks in difficult to access local markets. The warrants typically have a strike price set such that the value of the warrants will be identical to the price of the underlying stock. The value of the warrants is correlated with the value of the underlying stock price and therefore, the risk and return profile of the warrants is similar to owning the underlying securities. In addition, the owner of the warrant is subject to the risk that the issuer of the warrant ( i.e. , the counterparty) will default on its obligations under the warrant. The warrants have no voting rights. Dividends issued to the warrant issuer by the underlying company will generally be distributed to the warrant holders, net of any taxes or commissions imposed by the local jurisdiction in respect of the receipt of such amount. Low exercise price call warrants are typically sold in private placement transactions, may be illiquid and may be classified as derivative instruments.

Options on Foreign Currencies

As described in the section “Foreign Currency Transactions,” the Fund may buy and write options on foreign currencies in a manner similar to that in which futures or forward contracts on foreign currencies will be utilized. In addition, options on foreign currencies may be used to hedge against adverse changes in foreign currency conversion rates. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which portfolio securities are denominated will reduce the U.S. dollar value of such securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. In order to protect against such diminutions in the value of the portfolio securities, the Fund may buy put options on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency declines, the Fund will have the right to sell such currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars, thereby offsetting, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its portfolio.

Conversely, when a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated is projected, thereby increasing the cost of such securities, the Fund may buy call options on the foreign currency. The purchase of such options could offset, at least partially, the effects of the adverse movements in exchange rates. As in the case of other types of options, however, the benefit to the Fund from purchases of foreign currency options will be reduced by the amount of the premium and related transaction costs. In addition, if currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent desired, the Fund could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options that would require the Fund to forego a portion or all of the benefits of advantageous changes in those rates.

The Fund may also write options on foreign currencies. For example, to hedge against a potential decline in the U.S. dollar due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, the Fund could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency. If the decline expected by the Fund occurs, the option will most likely not be exercised and the diminution in value of portfolio securities will be offset at least in part by the amount of the premium received. Similarly, instead of purchasing a call option to hedge against a potential increase in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired, the Fund could write a put option on the relevant currency which, if rates move in the manner projected by the Fund, will expire unexercised and allow the Fund to hedge the increased cost up to the amount of the premium. If exchange rates do not move in the expected direction, the option may be exercised and the Fund would be required to buy or sell the underlying currency at a loss, which may not be fully offset by the amount of the premium. Through the writing of options on foreign currencies, the Fund also may lose all or a portion of the benefits that might otherwise have been obtained from favorable movements in exchange rates.

 

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Options on Indices

The Fund may transact in options on indices (“index options”). Put and call index options are similar to puts and calls on securities or futures contracts except that all settlements are in cash and gain or loss at expiration depends on changes in the index in question rather than on price movements in individual securities or futures contracts. When the Fund writes an index call option, it receives a premium and undertakes the obligation that, prior to the expiration date (or, upon the expiration date for European-style options), the purchaser of the call, upon exercise of the call, will receive from the Fund an amount of cash if the exercise settlement value of the relevant index is greater than the exercise price of the call. The manner of determining “exercise settlement value” for a particular option series is fixed by the options market on which the series is traded. S&P 500 ® Index options, for example, have a settlement value that is calculated using the opening sales price in the primary market of each component security on the last business day (usually a Friday) before the expiration date. The amount of cash is equal to the difference between the exercise settlement value of the index and the exercise price of the call times a specified multiple (“multiplier”). When the Fund buys an index call option, it pays a premium and has the same rights as to such call as are indicated above. When the Fund buys an index put option, it pays a premium and has the right, prior to the expiration date (or upon the expiration date for European-style options), to collect, upon the Fund’s exercise of the put, an amount of cash equal to the difference between the exercise price of the option and the exercise settlement value of the index, times a multiplier, similar to that described above for calls, if the exercise settlement value is less than the exercise price. When the Fund writes an index put option, it receives a premium and the purchaser of the put has the right, prior to the expiration date, to require the Fund to deliver to it an amount of cash equal to the difference between the exercise settlement value of the index and exercise price times the multiplier if the closing level is less than the exercise price.

Exchange-Traded and Over-the-Counter Options

The Fund may purchase or write both exchange-traded and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options. OTC options differ from exchange-traded options in that they are two-party contracts, with price and other terms negotiated between buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-traded options.

An exchange-traded option may be closed out only on an exchange that generally provides a liquid secondary market for an option of the same series. If a liquid secondary market for an exchange-traded option does not exist, it might not be possible to effect a closing transaction with respect to a particular option, with the result that the Fund would have to exercise the option in order to consummate the transaction. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (i) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities; (iv) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (v) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”) or other clearing organization may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (vi) one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

An OTC option (an option not traded on an established exchange) may be closed out only by agreement with the other party to the original option transaction. With OTC options, the Fund is at risk that the other party to the transaction will default on its obligations or will not permit the Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity. While the Fund will seek to enter into OTC options only with dealers who agree to or are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to liquidate an OTC option at a favorable price at any time prior to its expiration. OTC options are not subject to the protections afforded purchasers of listed options by the OCC or other clearing organizations.

Index Warrants

The Fund may purchase put warrants and call warrants whose values vary depending on the change in the value of one or more specified securities indices (“index warrants”). Index warrants generally are issued by banks or other financial institutions and give the holder the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to receive upon exercise of the warrant a cash payment from the issuer based on the value of the underlying index at the time of exercise. In general, if the value of the underlying index rises above the exercise price of the index warrant, the holder of a call warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the warrant; if the value of the underlying index

 

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falls, the holder of a put warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the exercise price of the warrant and the value of the index. The holder of a warrant would not be entitled to any payments from the issuer at a time when, in the case of a call warrant, the exercise price is more than the value of the underlying index, or in the case of a put warrant, the exercise price is less than the value of the underlying index. If the Fund was not to exercise an index warrant prior to its expiration, then the Fund would lose the amount of the purchase price paid by it for the warrant. The Fund will normally use index warrants in a manner similar to its use of options on securities indices.

Forward Contracts

The Fund may invest in forward contracts. Forward contracts are transactions involving the Fund’s obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency or other asset at a future date at a specified price. For example, forward contracts may be used when the Adviser anticipates that particular foreign currencies will appreciate or depreciate in value or to take advantage of the expected relationships between various currencies, regardless of whether securities denominated in such currencies are held in the Fund’s investment portfolio. Forward contracts may also be used by the Fund for hedging purposes to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates, such as when the Fund anticipates purchasing or selling a foreign security. This technique would allow the Fund to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of the investment. Forward contracts also may be used to attempt to protect the value of the Fund’s existing holdings of foreign securities. There may be, however, imperfect correlation between the Fund’s foreign securities holdings and the forward contracts entered into with respect to such holdings. The cost to the Fund of engaging in forward contracts varies with factors such as the currency involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing.

Forward contracts are not traded on exchanges and are not standardized; rather, banks and dealers act as principals in these markets negotiating each transaction on an individual basis. Trading in forward contracts is generally unregulated. There is no limitation on the daily price movements of forward contracts. Principals in the forward markets have no obligation to continue to make markets in the forward contracts traded. There have been periods during which certain banks or dealers have refused to quote prices for forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which they are prepared to buy and that at which they are prepared to sell. Disruptions can occur in the forward markets because of unusually high trading volume, political intervention or other factors. For example, the imposition of credit controls by governmental authorities might limit forward trading, to the possible detriment of the Fund.

Forward contracts are subject to many of the same risks as options, warrants and futures contracts described above. In addition, the effect of changes in the dollar value of a foreign currency on the dollar value of the Fund’s assets and on the net investment income available for distribution may be favorable or unfavorable. The Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies, and the Fund will be subject to increased illiquidity and credit/counterparty risk because forward contracts are not traded on an exchange and often are not standardized. The Fund may also be required to liquidate portfolio assets, or may incur increased currency conversion costs, to compensate for a decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency occurring between the time when the Fund declares and pays a dividend, or between the time when the Fund accrues and pays an operating expense in U.S. dollars.

Additionally, in its forward trading, the Fund is subject to the risk of the bankruptcy of, or the inability or refusal to perform with respect to its forward contracts by, the principals with which the Fund trades. Funds on deposit with such principals are generally not protected by the same segregation requirements imposed on Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulated commodity brokers in respect of customer funds on deposit with them. The Fund may place forward trades through agents, so that the insolvency or bankruptcy of such agents could also subject the Fund to the risk of loss.

 

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Swap Transactions

The Fund may enter into a variety of swap agreements, including, but not limited to, interest rate, index, commodity, equity-linked, credit default, credit-linked and currency exchange swaps. Depending on the structure of the swap agreement, the Fund may enter into swap transactions to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to gain exposure to one or more securities, currencies, commodities or interest rates, to protect against or attempt to take advantage of currency fluctuations, to manage duration, to protect against any increase in the price of securities that the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, to efficiently gain exposure to certain markets to add economic leverage to the Fund’s portfolio or to shift the Fund’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another.

Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to a number of years. 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 generally are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” such as 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. In a typical interest rate swap, for example, one party agrees to make regular payments equal to a floating interest rate times a “notional principal amount,” in return for payments equal to a fixed rate times the same amount, for the term of the swap agreement. The “notional principal amount” of a swap transaction is the agreed-upon basis for calculating the payments that the parties agree to exchange ( i.e. , the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate) in a particular foreign currency or commodity or in a “basket” of securities. Under most swap agreements, payments by the parties will be exchanged on a “net basis,” and a party will receive or pay, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments.

Swap agreements are sophisticated financial instruments that typically involve a small investment of cash relative to the magnitude of risks assumed. Swaps can be highly volatile and may have a considerable impact on the Fund’s performance, as the potential gain or loss on any swap transaction is not subject to any fixed limit. The Fund’s successful use of swap agreements will depend on the Adviser’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Because swaps are two-party contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to 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. The Fund may also suffer losses if it is unable to terminate (or terminate at the time and price desired) outstanding swap agreements (either by assignment or other disposition) or reduce its exposure through offsetting transactions.

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. When a counterparty’s obligations are not fully secured by collateral, then the Fund is essentially an unsecured creditor of the counterparty. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there is no assurance that a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations pursuant to such contracts or that, in the event of default, the Fund will succeed in enforcing contractual remedies. Credit/counterparty risk still exists even if a counterparty’s obligations are secured by collateral because the Fund’s interest in collateral may not be perfected or additional collateral may not be promptly posted as required. Credit/counterparty risk also may be more pronounced if a counterparty’s obligations exceed the amount of collateral held by the Fund (if any), the Fund is unable to exercise its interest in collateral upon default by the counterparty, or the termination value of the instrument varies significantly from the marked-to-market value of the instrument.

Credit/counterparty risk with respect to derivatives will be affected by new rules and regulations affecting the derivatives market. Some derivatives transactions are required to be centrally cleared, and a party to a cleared derivatives transaction is subject to the credit/counterparty risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared position, rather than the credit/counterparty risk of its original counterparty to the derivative transaction. Credit/counterparty risk of market participants with respect to derivatives that are centrally cleared is concentrated in a few clearing houses, and it is not clear how an insolvency proceeding of a clearing house would be conducted and what impact an insolvency of a clearing house would have on the financial system. A clearing member is obligated by contract and by applicable regulation to segregate all funds received from customers with respect to cleared derivatives transactions from the clearing member’s proprietary assets. However, all funds and other property received by a clearing broker from its customers generally are held by the clearing broker on a commingled basis in an omnibus account, and the clearing member may invest those funds in certain instruments permitted under the applicable regulations. The assets of the Fund might not be fully protected in the

 

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event of the bankruptcy of the Fund’s clearing member, because the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of the clearing broker’s customers for a relevant account class. Also, the clearing member is required to transfer to the clearing organization the amount of margin required by the clearing organization for cleared derivatives, which amounts generally are held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization for all customers of the clearing member. Regulations promulgated by the CFTC require that the clearing member notify the clearing house of the amount of initial margin provided by the clearing member to the clearing organization that is attributable to each customer. However, if the clearing member does not provide accurate reporting, the Fund is subject to the risk that a clearing organization will use the Fund’s assets held in an omnibus account at the clearing organization to satisfy payment obligations of a defaulting customer of the clearing member to the clearing organization. In addition, clearing members generally provide to the clearing organization the net amount of variation margin required for cleared swaps for all of its customers in the aggregate, rather than the gross amount of each customer. The Fund is therefore subject to the risk that a clearing organization will not make variation margin payments owed to the Fund if another customer of the clearing member has suffered a loss and is in default, and the risk that the Fund will be required to provide additional variation margin to the clearing house before the clearing house will move the Fund’s cleared derivatives transactions to another clearing member. In addition, if a clearing member does not comply with the applicable regulations or its agreement with the Fund, or in the event of fraud or misappropriation of customer assets by a clearing member, the Fund could have only an unsecured creditor claim in an insolvency of the clearing member with respect to the margin held by the clearing member.

Additionally, U.S. regulators, the European Union and certain other jurisdictions have adopted minimum margin and capital requirements for uncleared OTC derivatives transactions. It is expected that these regulations will have a material impact on the Fund’s use of uncleared derivatives. These rules will impose minimum margin requirements on derivatives transactions between the Fund and its swap counterparties and may increase the amount of margin the Fund is required to provide. They will impose regulatory requirements on the timing of transferring margin, which may accelerate the Fund’s’ current margin process. They will also effectively require changes to typical derivatives margin documentation. It is expected that the Fund will become subject to variation margin requirements under such rules in 2017 and initial margin requirements under such rules in 2020.

Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act established a framework for the regulation of OTC swap markets in the United States; the framework outlined the joint responsibility of the CFTC and the SEC in regulating swaps. The CFTC is responsible for the regulation of swaps, the SEC is responsible for the regulation of security-based swaps and jointly they are both responsible for the regulation of mixed swaps.

The Fund may also enter into swaptions. The Fund may engage in swap options for hedging purposes or to manage and mitigate credit and interest rate risk. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options. The use of swap options involves risks, including, among others, (i) imperfect correlation between movements of the price of the swap options and the price of the securities, indices or other assets serving as reference instruments for the swap option, reducing the effectiveness of the instrument for hedging or investment purposes, (ii) the absence of a liquid market to sell a swap option, which could result in difficulty closing a position, (iii) the exacerbation of losses incurred due to changes in the market value of the securities to which they relate, and (iv) counterparty risk.

Credit Default Swaps

The Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements, which may have as reference obligations one or more debt securities or an index of such securities. In a credit default swap, one party (the “protection buyer”) is obligated to pay the other party (the “protection seller”) a stream of payments over the term of the contract, provided that no credit event, such as a default or a downgrade in credit rating, occurs on the reference obligation. If a credit event occurs, the protection seller must generally pay the protection buyer the “par value” (the agreed-upon notional value) of the referenced debt obligation in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable reference obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending upon the terms of the swap.

The Fund may be either the protection buyer or protection seller in a credit default swap. If the Fund is a protection buyer, such Fund would pay the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract and would not recover any of those payments if no credit event were to occur. However, if a credit event occurs, the Fund that is a protection buyer has the right to deliver the referenced debt obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending on the terms of the swap, and receive the par value of such debt obligations from the counterparty protection seller. As a protection seller, the Fund would receive fixed payments throughout the term of the contract if no credit event

 

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occurs. If a credit event occurs, however, the value of the obligation received by the Fund ( e.g. , bonds which defaulted), plus the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the par value of the obligation, or cash received, resulting in a loss to the protection seller. Furthermore, the Fund that is a protection seller would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because such Fund will have investment exposure to the notional amount of the swap.

Credit default swap agreements are subject to greater risk than a direct investment in the reference obligation. Like all swap agreements, credit default swaps are subject to liquidity, credit and counterparty risks. In addition, collateral posting requirements are individually negotiated and there is no regulatory requirement that a counterparty post collateral to secure its obligations or a specified amount of cash, depending upon the terms of the swap, under a credit default swap. Furthermore, there is no requirement that a party be informed in advance when a credit default swap agreement is sold. Accordingly, the Fund may have difficulty identifying the party responsible for payment of its claims. The notional value of credit default swaps with respect to a particular investment is often larger than the total par value of such investment outstanding and, in event of a default, there may be difficulties in making the required deliveries of the reference investments, possibly delaying payments.

If a counterparty’s credit becomes significantly impaired, multiple requests for collateral posting in a short period of time could increase the risk that the Fund may not receive adequate collateral. There is no readily available market for trading credit default swaps. The Fund generally may exit its obligations under a credit default swap only by terminating the contract and paying applicable breakage fees, or by entering into an offsetting credit default swap position, which may cause the Fund to incur more losses.

Loan Based Derivatives

The Fund may invest in derivative instruments that provide exposure to one or more credit default swaps. For example, the Fund may invest in a derivative instrument known as the Loan-Only Credit Default Swap Index (“LCDX”), a tradable index with 100 equally-weighted underlying single-name loan-only credit default swaps (“LCDS”). Each underlying LCDS references an issuer whose loans trade in the secondary leveraged loan market. The Fund can either buy the index (take on credit exposure) or sell the index (pass credit exposure to a counterparty). While investing in these types of derivatives will increase the universe of debt securities to which the Fund is exposed, such investments entail additional risks, such as those discussed below, that are not typically associated with investments in other debt securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to loans are subject to the risks associated with loans generally, as well as the risks of derivative transactions.

Investment Pools of Swap Contracts

The Fund may invest in publicly or privately issued interests in investment pools whose underlying assets are credit default, credit-linked, interest rate, currency exchange, equity-linked or other types of swap contracts and related underlying securities or securities loan agreements. The pools’ investment results may be designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified securities index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single security. These types of pools are often used to gain exposure to multiple securities with less of an investment than would be required to invest directly in the individual securities. They may also be used to gain exposure to foreign securities markets without investing in the foreign securities themselves and/or the relevant foreign market. To the extent that the Fund invests in pools of swap contracts and related underlying securities or securities loan agreements whose performance corresponds to the performance of a foreign securities index or one or more foreign securities, investing in such pools will involve risks similar to the risks of investing in foreign securities. See the section “Foreign Securities” below. In addition to the risks associated with investing in swaps generally, an investing Fund bears the risks and costs generally associated with investing in pooled investment vehicles, such as paying the fees and expenses of the pool and the risk that the pool or the operator of the pool may default on its obligations to the holder of interests in the pool, such as the Fund. Interests in privately offered investment pools of swap contracts may be considered illiquid and, except to the extent that such interests are deemed liquid under the Fund’s policies, subject to the Fund’s restriction on investments in illiquid securities.

Swap Execution Facilities

Certain derivatives contracts are required to be executed through swap execution facilities (“SEFs”). A SEF is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. Such requirements may make it more difficult and costly for investment

 

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funds, such as the Fund, to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions. Trading swaps on a SEF may offer certain advantages over traditional bilateral over-the-counter trading, such as ease of execution, price transparency, increased liquidity and/or favorable pricing. Execution through a SEF is not, however, without additional costs and risks, as parties are required to comply with SEF and CFTC rules and regulations, including disclosure and recordkeeping obligations, and SEF rights of inspection, among others. SEFs typically charge fees, and if the Fund executes derivatives on a SEF through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. The Fund also may be required to indemnify a SEF, or a broker intermediary who executes swaps on a SEF on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the SEF. In addition, the Fund may be subject to execution risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared, and no clearing member is willing to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. In that case, the transaction might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of any increase in the value of the transaction after the time of the trade.

Structured Notes

The Fund may invest in a broad category of instruments known as “structured notes.” These instruments are debt obligations issued by industrial corporations, financial institutions or governmental or international agencies. Traditional debt obligations typically obligate the issuer to repay the principal plus a specified rate of interest. Structured notes, by contrast, obligate the issuer to pay amounts of principal or interest that are determined by reference to changes in some external factor or factors, or the principal and interest rate may vary from the stated rate because of changes in these factors. For example, the issuer’s obligations could be determined by reference to changes in the value of a commodity (such as gold or oil) or commodity index, a foreign currency, an index of securities (such as the S&P 500 ® Index) or an interest rate (such as the U.S. Treasury bill rate). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations are determined by reference to changes over time in the difference (or “spread”) between two or more external factors (such as the U.S. prime lending rate and the total return of the stock market in a particular country, as measured by a stock index). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations may fluctuate inversely with changes in an external factor or factors (for example, if the U.S. prime lending rate goes up, the issuer’s interest payment obligations are reduced). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations may be determined by some multiple of the change in an external factor or factors (for example, three times the change in the U.S. Treasury bill rate). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations remain fixed (as with a traditional debt instrument) so long as an external factor or factors do not change by more than the specified amount (for example, if the value of a stock index does not exceed some specified maximum), but if the external factor or factors change by more than the specified amount, the issuer’s obligations may be sharply reduced.

Structured notes can serve many different purposes in the management of the Fund. For example, they can be used to increase the Fund’s exposure to changes in the value of assets that the Fund would not ordinarily purchase directly (such as commodities or stocks traded in a market that is not open to U.S. investors). They can also be used to hedge the risks associated with other investments the Fund holds. For example, if a structured note has an interest rate that fluctuates inversely with general changes in a country’s stock market index, the value of the structured note would generally move in the opposite direction to the value of holdings of stocks in that market, thus moderating the effect of stock market movements on the value of the Fund’s portfolio as a whole.

Structured notes involve special risks. As with any debt obligation, structured notes involve the risk that the issuer will become insolvent or otherwise default on its payment obligations. This risk is in addition to the risk that the issuer’s obligations (and thus the value of the Fund’s investment) will be reduced because of adverse changes in the external factor or factors to which the obligations are linked. The value of structured notes will in many cases be more volatile (that is, will change more rapidly or severely) than the value of traditional debt instruments. Volatility will be especially high if the issuer’s obligations are determined by reference to some multiple of the change in the external factor or factors. Many structured notes have limited or no liquidity, so that the Fund would be unable to dispose of the investment prior to maturity. As with all investments, successful use of structured notes depends in significant part on the accuracy of the Adviser’s analysis of the issuer’s creditworthiness and financial prospects, and of the Adviser’s forecast as to changes in relevant economic and financial market conditions and factors. In instances where the issuer of a structured note is a foreign entity, the usual risks associated with investments in foreign securities (described below) apply. Structured notes may be considered derivative securities.

 

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Credit/Counterparty Risk

The Fund will be exposed to the credit risk of the counterparties with which, or the brokers, dealers and exchanges through which, it deals, whether it engages in exchange traded or off-exchange transactions. Transactions entered into by the Fund may be executed on various U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges, and may be cleared and settled through various clearinghouses, custodians, depositories and prime brokers throughout the world. There can be no assurance that a failure by any such entity will not lead to a loss to a Fund. To the extent a Fund engages in cleared derivatives transactions, it will be subject to the credit risk of the clearing house and the clearing member through which it holds its cleared position. If the Fund engages in cleared futures transactions, it will also be exposed to the credit risk of its futures commission merchant (“FCM”). If the Fund’s FCM becomes bankrupt or insolvent, or otherwise defaults on its obligations to the Fund, the Fund may not receive all amounts owed to it in respect of its trading, even if the clearinghouse fully discharges all of its obligations. The Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”) requires an FCM to segregate all funds received from its customers with respect to regulated futures transactions from such FCM’s proprietary funds. If an FCM were not to do so to the full extent required by law, the assets of an account might not be fully protected in the event of the bankruptcy of an FCM. Furthermore, in the event of an FCM’s bankruptcy, the Fund would be limited to recovering only a pro rata share of all available funds segregated on behalf of an FCM’s combined customer accounts, even if certain property held by an FCM is specifically traceable to the Fund (for example, U.S. Treasury bills deposited by the Fund). FCM bankruptcies have occurred in which customers were unable to recover from the FCM’s estate the full amount of their funds on deposit with such FCM and owing to them. Such situations could arise due to various factors, or a combination of factors, including inadequate FCM capitalization, inadequate controls on customer trading and inadequate customer capital. In addition, in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of a clearinghouse, the Fund might experience a loss of funds deposited through its FCM as margin with the clearinghouse, a loss of unrealized profits on its open positions and the loss of funds owed to it as realized profits on closed positions. Such a bankruptcy or insolvency might also cause a substantial delay before the Fund could obtain the return of funds owed to it by an FCM who is a member of such clearinghouse.

The Fund may also engage in bilateral derivative transactions, which are not centrally cleared. Because bilateral derivative and other transactions are traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships, the Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under the related contracts. Although the Fund intends to enter into transactions only with counterparties which the Advisor believes to be creditworthy, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will not default and that the Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction as a result. In situations where the Fund is required to post margin or other collateral with a counterparty, the counterparty may fail to segregate the collateral or may commingle the collateral with the counterparty’s own assets. As a result, in the event of the counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency, the Fund’s collateral may be subject to conflicting claims of the counterparty’s creditors, and the Fund may be exposed to the risk of a court treating the Fund as a general unsecured creditor of the counterparty, rather than as the owner of the collateral.

The Fund is subject to the risk that issuers of the instruments in which it invests and trades may default on their obligations under those instruments, and that certain events may occur that have an immediate and significant adverse effect on the value of those instruments. There can be no assurance that an issuer of an instrument in which the Fund invests will not default, or that an event that has an immediate and significant adverse effect on the value of an instrument will not occur, and that the Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction as a result.

As described above, in the event of a counterparty’s (or its affiliate’s) insolvency, the Fund’s ability to exercise remedies could be stayed or eliminated under new special resolution regimes adopted in the United States, the European Union and various other jurisdictions. Such regimes provide government authorities with broad authority to intervene when a financial institution is experiencing financial difficulty and may prohibit the Fund from exercising termination rights based on the financial institution’s insolvency.

Transactions entered into by the Fund may be executed on various U.S. and non-U.S. exchanges, and may be cleared and settled through various clearinghouses, custodians, depositories and prime brokers throughout the world. Although the Fund attempts to execute, clear and settle the transactions through entities the Adviser believes to be sound, there can be no assurance that a failure by any such entity will not lead to a loss to the Fund.

Contracts for Differences

The Fund may enter into contracts for differences. “Contracts for differences” are swap arrangements in which the Fund may agree with a counterparty that its return (or loss) will be based on the relative performance of two different groups or “baskets” of securities. For example, as to one of the baskets, the Fund’s return is based on theoretical long futures positions in the securities comprising that basket, and as to the other basket, the Fund’s

 

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return is based on theoretical short futures positions in the securities comprising that other basket. The notional sizes of the baskets will not necessarily be the same, which can give rise to investment leverage. The Fund may also use actual long and short futures positions to achieve the market exposure(s) as contracts for differences. The Fund may enter into swaps and contracts for differences for investment return, hedging, risk management and for investment leverage.

Interest Rate Caps, Floors and Collars

The Fund may use interest rate caps, floors and collars for the same purposes or similar purposes for which it uses interest rate futures contracts and related options. Interest rate caps, floors and collars are similar to interest rate swap contracts because the payment obligations are measured by changes in interest rates as applied to a notional amount and because they are generally individually negotiated with a specific counterparty. The purchase of an interest rate cap entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specific index exceeds a specified interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate cap. The purchase of an interest rate floor entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index falls below specified interest rates, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate floor. The purchase of an interest rate collar entitles the purchaser, to the extent that a specified index exceeds or falls below a specified interest rate, to receive payments of interest on a notional principal amount from the party selling the interest rate collar.

Hybrid Instruments

The Fund may invest in hybrid instruments. A hybrid instrument is a type of derivative that combines a traditional stock or bond 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 currency or securities index, 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 economically similar to 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 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 NAV 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 and therefore are subject to many of the same risks as investments in those underlying securities, instruments or commodities. For more information, see the sections “Commodities” and “Structured Notes.”

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.

 

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Certain Additional Risks of Derivative Instruments

As described in the Prospectus, the Fund intends to use derivative instruments, including several of the instruments described above, as part of its investment practices as well as for risk management purposes. Although the Adviser may seek to use these transactions to achieve the Fund’s investment goals, no assurance can be given that the use of these transactions will achieve this result. Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any time. The ability of the Fund to utilize these derivative instruments successfully will depend on the Adviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. Furthermore, the Fund’s use of certain derivatives may in some cases involve forms of financial leverage, which involves risk and may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Leveraging may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements when it may not be advantageous to do so. To the extent that the Fund is not able to close out a leveraged position because of market illiquidity, its liquidity may be impaired to the extent that it has a substantial portion of liquid assets segregated or earmarked to cover obligations. The Fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these strategies, techniques and instruments. Use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, involving greater risks than are involved in hedging. A short exposure through a derivative may present additional risks. If the value of the asset, asset class or index on which the Fund has obtained a short exposure increases, the Fund will incur a loss. Moreover, the potential loss from a short exposure is theoretically unlimited.

The value of some derivative instruments in which the Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates or other economic factors and the ability of the Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of the Adviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts such factors and has taken positions in derivative instruments contrary to prevailing market trends, the Fund could be exposed to the risk of loss. If the Adviser incorrectly forecasts interest rates, market values or other economic factors in using 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. To the extent that the Fund gains exposure to an asset class using derivative instruments backed by a collateral portfolio of other securities, changes in the value of those other securities may result in greater or lesser exposure to that asset class than would have resulted from a direct investment in securities comprising that asset class.

The use of derivative instruments, including, but not limited to, the futures contracts, options and warrants, forward currency contracts and swap transactions described above, involves risks in addition to those described above or in the Prospectus. Although the Adviser may seek to use these transactions to achieve the Fund’s investment goals, no assurance can be given that the use of these transactions will achieve this result. One risk arises because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the price of derivatives contracts and movements in the price of the securities, indices or other assets serving as reference instruments for the derivative. The Fund’s derivative strategies will not be fully effective unless the Fund can compensate for such imperfect correlation. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to effect such compensation. For example, the correlation between the price movement of the derivatives contract and the hedged security may be distorted due to differences in the nature of the relevant markets. If the price of the futures contract moves more than the price of the hedged security, the Fund would experience either a loss or a gain on the derivative that is not completely offset by movements in the price of the hedged securities. For example, in an attempt to compensate for imperfect price movement correlations, the Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts in a greater dollar amount than the hedged securities if the price movement volatility of the hedged securities is historically greater than the volatility of the futures contract. Conversely, the Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts in a smaller dollar amount than the hedged securities if the volatility of the price of hedged securities is historically less than that of the futures contracts. The use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered a speculative activity, and involves greater risks than are involved in hedging. With respect to certain derivative transactions ( e.g. short positions in which the Fund does not hold the instrument to which the short position relates), the potential risk of loss to the Fund is theoretically unlimited.

 

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The price of index futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the relevant index due to certain market distortions. One such distortion stems from the fact that all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions, which could distort the normal relationship between the index and futures markets. Another market distortion results from the deposit requirements in the futures market being less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, and as a result the futures market may attract more speculators than does the securities market. A third distortion is caused by the fact that trading hours for foreign stock index futures may not correspond perfectly to hours of trading on the foreign exchange to which a particular foreign stock index futures contract relates. This may result in a disparity between the price of index futures and the value of the relevant index due to the lack of continuous arbitrage between the index futures price and the value of the underlying index. Finally, hedging transactions using stock indices involve the risk that movements in the price of the index may not correlate with price movements of the particular portfolio securities being hedged.

Price movement correlation in derivative transactions also may be distorted by the illiquidity of the derivatives markets and the participation of speculators in such markets. If an insufficient number of contracts are traded, commercial users may not deal in derivatives because they do not want to assume the risk that they may not be able to close out their positions within a reasonable amount of time. In such instances, derivatives market prices may be driven by different forces than those driving the market in the underlying securities, and price spreads between these markets may widen. The participation of speculators in the market enhances its liquidity. Nonetheless, the presence of speculators may create temporary price distortions unrelated to the market in the underlying securities.

Positions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts may be established or closed out only on an exchange or board of trade. There is no assurance that a liquid market on an exchange or board of trade will exist for any particular contract or at any particular time. The liquidity of markets in futures contracts and options on futures contracts may be adversely affected by “daily price fluctuation limits” established by commodity exchanges that limit the amount of fluctuation in a futures or options price during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in a contract, no trades may be entered into at a price beyond the limit, which may prevent the liquidation of open futures or options positions. Prices have in the past exceeded the daily limit on a number of consecutive trading days. If there is not a liquid market at a particular time, it may not be possible to close a futures or options position at such time, and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin. However, if futures or options are used to hedge portfolio securities, an increase in the price of the securities, if any, may partially or completely offset losses on the futures contract.

Income earned by the Fund from its options activities generally will be treated as capital gain and, if not offset by net recognized capital losses incurred by the Fund, will be distributed to shareholders in taxable distributions. Although gain from options transactions may hedge against a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities, that gain, to the extent not offset by losses, will be distributed in light of certain tax considerations and will constitute a distribution of that portion of the value preserved against decline.

The value of the Fund’s derivative instruments may fluctuate based on a variety of market and economic factors. In some cases, the fluctuations may offset (or be offset by) changes in the value of securities or derivatives held in the Fund’s portfolio. All transactions in derivatives involve the possible risk of loss to the Fund of all or a significant part of the value of its investment. In some cases, the risk of loss may exceed the amount of the Fund’s investment. When the Fund writes a call option or sells a futures contract without holding the underlying securities, currencies or futures contracts, its potential loss is unlimited.

The risks of the Fund’s use of index warrants generally are similar to those relating to its use of index options. Unlike most index options, however, index warrants are issued in limited amounts and are not obligations of a regulated clearing agency, but are backed only by the credit of the bank or other institution which issues the warrant. Also, index warrants generally have longer terms than index options. Although the Fund will normally invest only in exchange-listed warrants, index warrants are not likely to be as liquid as certain index options backed by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the terms of index warrants may limit the Fund’s ability to exercise the warrants at such time, or in such quantities, as the Fund would otherwise wish to do.

The successful use of derivatives will usually depend on the Adviser’s ability to forecast securities market, currency or other financial market movements correctly. For example, the Fund’s ability to hedge against adverse changes in the value of securities held in its portfolio through options and futures also depends on the degree of correlation between changes in the value of futures or options positions and changes in the values of the portfolio securities.

 

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The successful use of certain other derivatives also depends on the availability of a liquid secondary market to enable the Fund to close its positions on a timely basis. There can be no assurance that such a market will exist at any particular time. Furthermore, the Fund’s use of certain derivatives may in some cases involve forms of financial leverage, which involves risk and may increase the volatility of the Fund’s NAV. Leveraging may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements when it may not be advantageous to do so. To the extent the Fund is not able to close out a leveraged position because of market illiquidity, its liquidity may be impaired to the extent that it has a substantial portion of liquid assets segregated or earmarked to cover obligations.

In the case of options that are not OTC options, the Fund is at risk that the other party to the transaction will default on its obligations, or will not permit the Fund to terminate the transaction before its scheduled maturity.

The derivatives markets of some foreign countries are small compared to those of the United States and characterized in some cases by less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, derivatives that are traded on foreign exchanges may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, may be subject to less detailed reporting requirements, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign 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. Furthermore, investments in options in foreign markets are subject to many of the same risks as other foreign investments. See the section “Foreign Securities.”

Risk of 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 part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment goals. It is impossible to fully predict the effects of 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 completely restrict the ability of the Fund to use these instruments as a part of its investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the Fund engages in derivative transactions could also prevent the Fund from using these instruments or affect the pricing or other factors relating to these instruments, or may change the availability of certain investments.

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. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act was signed into law on July 21, 2010. The Dodd-Frank Act has and will continue to change the way in which the U.S. financial system is supervised and regulated. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act sets forth a legislative framework for OTC derivatives, such as swaps, in which the Fund may invest. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act makes broad changes to the OTC derivatives market and grants significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to regulate OTC derivatives and market participants. Pursuant to such authority, rules have been enacted that currently require clearing of many OTC derivatives transactions and may require clearing of additional OTC derivatives transactions in the future and that impose minimum margin and capital requirements for uncleared OTC derivatives transactions. Similar regulations are being adopted in other jurisdictions around the world.

These and other new rules and regulations could, among other things, further restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund or otherwise limiting liquidity. The implementation of the clearing requirement has increased the costs of derivatives transactions for the Fund, since each Fund has to pay fees to its clearing members and is typically required to post more margin for cleared derivatives than it has historically posted for bilateral derivatives. The costs of derivatives transactions are expected to increase further as clearing members raise their fees to cover the costs of additional capital requirements and other regulatory changes applicable to the clearing members. These rules and regulations are new and evolving, so their potential impact on the Fund and the financial system are not yet known. While the new rules and regulations and central clearing of some derivatives transactions are designed to reduce systemic risk (i.e., the risk that the interdependence of large derivatives dealers could cause them to suffer liquidity, solvency or other challenges simultaneously), there is no assurance that they will achieve that result, and in the meantime, as noted above, central clearing and related requirements expose the Fund to new kinds of costs and risks.

 

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The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. 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.

In addition, the SEC has issued a proposed rule under the 1940 Act providing for the regulation of registered investment companies’ use of derivatives and certain related instruments. The ultimate impact, if any, and the timing of possible regulation remains unclear, but the proposed rule, if adopted, could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions and/or increase the costs of such derivatives transactions such that the Fund may be unable to implement its investment strategy.

Additional Risk Factors in Cleared Derivatives Transactions

Under recently adopted rules and regulations, transactions in some types of swaps (including interest rate swaps and credit default index swaps on North American and European indices) are required to be centrally cleared. In a cleared derivatives transaction, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house, rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of a clearing house and only a member of a clearing house can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members. In a cleared derivatives transaction, the Fund will make payments (including margin payments) to and receive payments from a clearing house through its accounts at clearing members. Clearing members guarantee performance of their clients’ obligations to the clearing house.

In some ways, centrally cleared derivative arrangements are less favorable to the Fund than bilateral arrangements. For example, the Fund may be required to provide greater amounts of margin for cleared derivatives transactions than for bilateral derivatives transactions. Also, in contrast to bilateral derivatives transactions, following a period of notice to the Fund, a clearing member generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time or increases in margin requirements above the margin that the clearing member required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing transactions or to terminate transactions at any time. Any increase in margin requirements or termination by the clearing member or the clearing house could interfere with the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Further, any increase in margin requirements by a clearing member could also expose the Fund to greater credit risk to its clearing member, because margin for cleared derivatives transactions in excess of clearing house margin requirements typically is held by the clearing member. Also, the Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or that the Adviser expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. While the documentation in place between the Fund and its clearing members generally provides that the clearing members will accept for clearing all transactions submitted for clearing that are within credit limits (specified in advance) for the Fund, the Fund is still subject to the risk that no clearing member will be willing or able to clear a transaction. In those cases, the transaction might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of the transaction, including loss of an increase in the value of the transaction and/or loss of hedging protection offered by the transaction. In addition, the documentation governing the relationship between the Fund and the clearing members is developed by the clearing members and generally is less favorable to the Fund than typical bilateral derivatives documentation. For example, this documentation generally includes a one-way indemnity by the Fund in favor of the clearing member, indemnifying the clearing member against losses it incurs in connection with acting as the Fund’s clearing member, and the documentation typically does not give the Fund any rights to exercise remedies if the clearing member defaults or becomes insolvent.

Some types of cleared derivatives are required to be executed on an exchange or on a SEF. A SEF is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. While this execution requirement is designed to increase transparency and liquidity in the cleared derivatives market, trading on a SEF can create additional costs and risks for the Fund. For example, SEFs typically charge fees, and if the Fund executes derivatives on a SEF through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. Also, the Fund may indemnify a SEF, or a broker intermediary who executes cleared derivatives on a SEF on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the SEF. See the subsection “Swap Execution Facilities” above for additional information.

 

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These and other new rules and regulations could, among other things, further restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in, or increase the cost to the Fund of, derivatives transactions, for example, by making some types of derivatives no longer available to the Fund, increasing margin or capital requirements, or otherwise limiting liquidity or increasing transaction costs. These regulations are new and evolving, so their potential impact on the Fund and the financial system are not yet known. While the new regulations and the central clearing of some derivatives transactions are designed to reduce systemic risk ( i.e., the risk that the interdependence of large derivatives dealers could cause a number of those dealers to suffer liquidity, solvency or other challenges simultaneously), there is no assurance that the new clearing mechanisms will achieve that result, and in the meantime, as noted above, central clearing and related requirements may expose the Fund to new kinds of risks and costs.

Other Derivatives; Future Developments

The above discussion relates to the Fund’s proposed use of certain types of derivatives currently available. However, the Fund is not limited to the transactions described above. In addition, the relevant markets and related regulations are constantly changing and, in the future, the Fund may use derivatives not currently available or widely in use.

As of the date of this Statement, the Adviser has claimed an exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” (a “CPO”) under the CEA pursuant to Rule 4.5 under the CEA (the “exclusion”) promulgated by the CFTC with respect to its operation of the Fund. Accordingly, the Adviser (with respect to the Fund) is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA. To remain eligible for the exclusion, the Fund will be limited in its ability to use certain financial instruments regulated under the CEA (“commodity interests”), including futures and options on futures and certain swaps transactions. In the event that the Fund’s investments in commodity interests are not within the thresholds set forth in the exclusion, the Adviser may be required to register as a CPO and/or “commodity trading advisor” with the CFTC with respect to the Fund. The Adviser’s eligibility to claim the exclusion with respect to the Fund will be based upon, among other things, the level and scope of the Fund’s investment in commodity interests, the purposes of such investments and the manner in which the Fund holds out its use of commodity interests. The Fund’s ability to invest in commodity interests (including, but not limited to, futures and swaps on broad-based securities indexes and interest rates) is limited by the Adviser’s intention to operate the Fund in a manner that would permit the Adviser to continue to claim the exclusion under Rule 4.5, which may adversely affect the Fund’s total return. In the event the Adviser becomes unable to rely on the exclusion in Rule 4.5 and is required to register with the CFTC as a CPO with respect to the Fund, the Fund’s expenses may increase, adversely affecting the Fund’s total return.

Equity Securities

The Fund may invest in equity securities. Common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants, securities convertible into common or preferred stocks and similar securities, together called “equity securities,” are generally volatile and more risky than some other forms of investment. Equity securities of companies with relatively small market capitalizations may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more established companies than the broad equity market indices generally. Common stock and other equity securities may take the form of stock in corporations, partnership interests, interests in limited liability companies and other direct or indirect interests in business organizations.

Equity securities are securities that represent an ownership interest (or the right to acquire such an interest) in a company and may include common and preferred stocks, securities exercisable for, or convertible into, common or preferred stocks, such as warrants, convertible debt securities and convertible preferred stock, and other equity-like interests in an entity. Equity securities may take the form of stock in a corporation, limited partnership interests, interests in limited liability companies, depositary receipts, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or other trusts and other similar securities. Common stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event that an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and other debt securities generally take precedence over holders of preferred stock, whose claims take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

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While offering greater potential for long-term growth, equity securities generally are more volatile and more risky than some other forms of investment, particularly debt securities. The value of your investment in a fund that invests in equity securities may decrease, potentially by a significant amount. The Fund may invest in equity securities of companies with relatively small market capitalizations. Securities of such companies may be more volatile than the securities of larger, more established companies and the broad equity market indices. See the section “Market Capitalizations” below. The Fund’s investments may include securities traded OTC as well as those traded on a securities exchange. Some securities, particularly OTC securities, may be more difficult to sell under some market conditions.

The Fund may invest in growth stocks and value stocks. Growth stocks are those stocks of companies that the Adviser believes have earnings that will grow faster than the economy as a whole. Growth stocks typically trade at higher multiples of current earnings than other stocks. As a result, the values of growth stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the values of other stocks. If the Adviser’s assessment of the prospects for a company’s earnings growth is wrong, or if its judgment of how other investors will value the company’s earnings growth is wrong, then the price of that company’s stock may fall or may not approach the value that the Adviser has placed on it.

Value stocks are those stocks of companies that are not expected to experience significant earnings growth, but that the Adviser or Subadviser believes are undervalued compared to their true worth. These companies may have experienced adverse business developments or may be subject to special risks that have caused their stocks to be out of favor. If the Adviser’s or Subadviser’s assessment of a company’s prospects is wrong, or if other investors do not eventually recognize the value of the company, then the price of the company’s stock may fall or may not approach the value that the Adviser or Subadviser has placed on it.

Many stocks may have both “growth” and “value” characteristics, and for some stocks it may be unclear under which category, if any, the stock should be characterized.

Fixed-Income Securities

The Fund may invest in fixed-income securities. Fixed-income securities pay a specified rate of interest or dividends, or a rate that is adjusted periodically by reference to some specified index or market rate. Fixed-income securities include securities issued by federal, state, local and foreign governments and related agencies, and by a wide range of private or corporate issuers. Fixed-income securities include, among others, bonds, debentures, notes, bills and commercial paper. Because interest rates vary, it is impossible to predict the income of the Fund for any particular period. In addition, the prices of fixed-income securities generally vary inversely with changes in interest rates. Prices of fixed-income securities may also be affected by items related to a particular issue or to the debt markets generally. The NAV of the Fund’s shares will vary as a result of changes in the value of the securities in the Fund’s portfolio.

Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities.

To be considered investment grade quality, at least one of the three major rating agencies (Fitch Investor Services, Inc. (“Fitch”), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or ’S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”)) must have rated the security in one of its respective top four rating categories at the time the Fund acquires the security or, if the security is unrated, Loomis Sayles must have determined it to be of comparable quality.

Below Investment Grade Fixed-Income Securities .

Below investment grade fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”) are rated below investment grade quality. To be considered below investment grade quality, none of the three major rating agencies (Fitch, Moody’s and S&P) must have rated the security in one of its respective top four rating categories at the time the Fund acquires the security or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser must have determined it to be of comparable quality.

Below investment grade fixed income securities are subject to greater credit/counterparty risk and market risk than higher-quality fixed-income securities. Below investment grade fixed-income securities are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the ability of the issuer to make timely principal and interest payments. If the Fund invests in below investment grade fixed-income securities, the Fund’s achievement of its objective may be more dependent on Loomis Sayles’ own credit analysis than is the case with funds that invest in higher-quality

 

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fixed-income securities. The market for below investment grade fixed-income securities may be more severely affected than some other financial markets by economic recession or substantial interest rate increases, by changing public perceptions of this market, or by legislation that limits the ability of certain categories of financial institutions to invest in these securities. In addition, the secondary market may be less liquid for below investment grade fixed-income securities. This lack of liquidity at certain times may affect the values of these securities and may make the evaluation and sale of these securities more difficult. Below investment grade fixed-income securities may be in poor standing or in default and typically have speculative characteristics.

For more information about the ratings services’ descriptions of the various ratings categories, see Appendix A. The Fund may continue to hold fixed-income securities that are downgraded in quality subsequent to their purchase if Loomis Sayles believes it would be advantageous to do so.

Foreign Securities

The Fund may invest in foreign securities. Foreign securities may include, among other things, securities of issuers organized or headquartered outside the U.S. as well as obligations of supranational entities. In addition to the risks associated with investing in securities generally, such investments present additional risks not typically associated with investments in comparable securities of U.S. issuers. Investments in emerging markets may be subject to these risks to a greater extent than those in more developed markets, as described more fully under the section “Emerging Markets.”

There may be less information publicly available about a foreign corporate or government issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and foreign corporate issuers are not generally subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the United States. The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. Foreign brokerage commissions and securities custody costs are often higher than those in the United States, and judgments against foreign entities may be more difficult to obtain and enforce. With respect to certain foreign countries, there is a possibility of governmental expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic developments that could affect the value of investments in those countries. If the Fund’s portfolio is over-weighted in a certain geographic region, any negative development affecting that region will have a greater impact on the Fund than a fund that is not over-weighted in that region. The receipt of interest on foreign government securities may depend on the availability of tax or other revenues to satisfy the issuer’s obligations.

Since most foreign securities are denominated in foreign currencies or traded primarily in securities markets in which settlements are made in foreign currencies, the value of these investments and the net investment income available for distribution to shareholders of the Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations. To the extent the Fund may purchase securities denominated in foreign currencies, a change in the value of any such currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a change in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets and the Fund’s income available for distribution. The recent global economic crisis has caused many European countries to experience serious fiscal difficulties, including bankruptcy, public budget deficits, recession, sovereign default, restructuring of government debt, credit rating downgrades and an overall weakening of the banking and financial sectors. In addition, some European economies may depend on others for assistance, and the inability of such economies to achieve the reforms or objectives upon which that assistance is conditioned may result in deeper and/or longer financial downturns among the eurozone nations. Recent events in the eurozone have called into question the long-term viability of the euro as a shared currency among the eurozone nations. Moreover, strict fiscal and monetary controls imposed by the European Economic and Monetary Union as well as any other requirements it may impose on member countries may significantly impact such countries and limit them from implementing their own economic policies to some degree. As the result of economic, political, regulatory or other actions taken in response to this crisis, including any discontinuation of the euro as the shared currency among the eurozone nations or the implementation of capital controls or the restructuring of financial institutions, the Fund’s euro-denominated investments may become difficult to value, the Fund may be unable to dispose of investments or repatriate investment proceeds, the Fund’s ability to operate its strategy in connection with euro-denominated securities may be significantly impaired and the value of the Fund’s euro-denominated investments may decline significantly and unpredictably. In June 2016, the United Kingdom approved a referendum to leave the European Union, all the ramifications of which are yet to be known and include a range of possible political, regulatory, economic and market outcomes that are difficult to predict. Should other countries seek to leave the European Union or if the European Union dissolves, the world’s security markets will likely be significantly disrupted and the aforementioned risks more pronounced.

 

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Although the Fund’s income may be received or realized in foreign currencies, the Fund will be required to compute and distribute its income in U.S. dollars. Therefore, if the value of a currency relative to the U.S. dollar declines after the Fund’s income has been earned in that currency, translated into U.S. dollars and declared as a dividend, but before payment of such dividend, the Fund could be required to liquidate portfolio securities to pay such dividend. Similarly, if the value of a currency relative to the U.S. dollar declines between the time the Fund incurs expenses or other obligations in U.S. dollars and the time such expenses or obligations are paid, the amount of such currency required to be converted into U.S. dollars in order to pay such expenses in U.S. dollars will be greater than the equivalent amount in such currency of such expenses at the time they were incurred.

In addition, because the Fund may invest in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than a fund investing in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by the Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of the Fund’s shares by virtue of their transaction, if those prices reflect the fair value of the foreign securities. Although the Fund has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating its NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. The Fund’s securities may change in price in days on which the U.S. markets are closed and the Fund does not calculate its NAVs or sell or redeem its shares. For more information on how the Fund uses fair value pricing, see the section “Net Asset Value.”

Foreign withholding or other taxes imposed on the Fund’s investments in foreign securities will reduce the Fund’s return on those securities. In certain circumstances, the Fund may be able to elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. See the section “Taxes.”

Depositary Receipts

The Fund may invest in foreign equity securities by purchasing “depositary receipts.” Depositary receipts are instruments issued by banks that represent an interest in equity securities held by arrangement with the bank. Depositary receipts can be either “sponsored” or “unsponsored.” Sponsored depositary receipts are issued by a bank in cooperation with the issuer of the underlying equity securities. Unsponsored depositary receipts are arranged without involvement by the issuer of the underlying equity securities and, therefore, less information about the issuer of the underlying equity securities may be available and the price may be more volatile than in the case of sponsored depositary receipts. American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) are depositary receipts that are bought and sold in the United States and are typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities by a foreign corporation. All depositary receipts, including those denominated in U.S. dollars, will be subject to foreign currency risk. European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) are depositary receipts that are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies which evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by either a foreign or United States corporation. All depositary receipts, including those denominated in U.S. dollars, will be subject to foreign currency risk.

The effect of changes in the dollar value of a foreign currency on the dollar value of the Fund’s assets and on the net investment income available for distribution may be favorable or unfavorable. The Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. In addition, the Fund may be required to liquidate portfolio assets or may incur increased currency conversion costs to compensate for a decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency occurring between the time when the Fund declares and pays a dividend, or between the time when the Fund accrues and pays an operating expense in U.S. dollars.

Because the Fund may invest in depositary receipts, changes in foreign economies and political climates are more likely to affect the Fund than a mutual fund that invests exclusively in U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision of foreign markets, resulting in non-uniform accounting practices and less publicly available information. If the Fund’s portfolio is over-weighted in a certain geographic region, any negative development affecting that region will have a greater impact on the Fund than a fund that is not over-weighted in that region.

 

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Emerging Markets

Investments in foreign securities may include investments in emerging or developing countries, whose economies or securities markets are not yet highly developed. The same or similar risks are seen in investments in companies that are located in developed markets but derive substantial revenues from emerging markets. The risks associated with investing in foreign securities are often heightened for investments in emerging market countries. These heightened risks include (i) greater risks of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization, and less social, political and economic stability; (ii) the small size of the markets for securities of emerging market issuers and the oftentimes low or nonexistent volume of trading, resulting in lack of liquidity and in price volatility; (iii) certain national policies that may restrict the Fund’s investment opportunities, including restrictions on investing in issuers or industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests or currency transfer restrictions; (iv) an economy’s dependence on revenues from particular commodities or on international aid or development assistance; (v) the absence of developed legal structures governing private or foreign investment and private property and/or less developed custodial and deposit systems and delays and disruptions in securities settlement procedures; and (vi) risks associated with the imposition of sanctions by the U.S. government. The Fund’s purchase and sale of portfolio securities in certain emerging market countries may be constrained by limitations as to daily changes in the prices of listed securities, periodic trading or settlement volume and/or limitations on aggregate holdings of foreign investors. In certain cases, such limitations may be computed based upon the aggregate trading by or holdings of the Fund, the Adviser and its affiliates, and its respective clients and other service providers. The Fund may not be able to sell securities in circumstances where price, trading or settlement volume limitations have been reached. These limitations may have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance and may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund’s investment to the extent that it invests in certain emerging market countries. In addition, some emerging market countries may have fixed or managed currencies that are not free-floating against the U.S. dollar. Further, certain emerging market countries’ currencies may not be internationally traded. Certain of these currencies have experienced a steady devaluation relative to the U.S. dollar. If the Fund does not hedge the U.S. dollar value of securities it owns denominated in currencies that are devalued, the Fund’s NAV will be adversely affected. 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 adverse effects on the economies and securities markets of certain of these countries. In determining whether to invest in securities of foreign issuers, the Adviser may consider the likely effects of foreign taxes on the net yield available to the Fund and its shareholders. Compliance with foreign tax laws may reduce the Fund’s net income available for distribution to shareholders.

For the purposes of determining whether a particular country is considered a developed or emerging market, the Fund will use a country’s sovereign quality rating. An emerging market country is defined as a country which carries a sovereign quality rating below investment grade by either S&P or Moody’s, or is unrated by both S&P and Moody’s. Thus, an emerging market security is defined as a security which is issued by sovereign or corporate entities domiciled in an emerging market country as defined above.

Supranational Entities

The Fund may invest in securities issued by supranational entities, such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly called the “World Bank”), the Asian Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. The governmental members of these supranational entities are “stockholders” that typically make capital contributions to support or promote such entities’ economic reconstruction or development activities and may be committed to make additional capital contributions if the entity is unable to repay its borrowings. A supranational entity’s lending activities may be limited to a percentage of its total capital, reserves and net income. There can be no assurance that the constituent governments will be able or willing to honor their commitments to those entities, with the result that the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities, and the Fund may lose money on such investments. Obligations of supranational entities that are denominated in foreign currencies will also be subject to the risks associated with investments in foreign currencies, as described in the sections “Foreign Securities” and “Foreign Currency Transactions.”

 

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Foreign Currency Transactions

The Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions. Many foreign securities in the Fund’s portfolio will be denominated in foreign currencies or traded in securities markets in which settlements are made in foreign currencies. Any income on such investments is generally paid to the Fund in foreign currencies. The value of these foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar varies continually, causing changes in the dollar value of the Fund’s portfolio investments (even if the local market price of the investments is unchanged) and changes in the dollar value of the Fund’s income available for distribution to its shareholders. The effect of changes in the dollar value of a foreign currency on the dollar value of the Fund’s assets and on the net investment income available for distribution may be favorable or unfavorable.

To protect against a change in the foreign currency exchange rate between the date on which the Fund contracts to purchase or sell a security and the settlement date for the purchase or sale, to gain exposure to one or more foreign currencies or to “lock in” the equivalent of a dividend or interest payment in another currency, the Fund might purchase or sell a foreign currency on a spot ( i.e. , cash) basis at the prevailing spot rate or may enter into futures contracts on an exchange.

If conditions warrant, the Fund may also enter into contracts with banks or broker-dealers to purchase or sell foreign currencies at a future date (“forward contracts”). Forward contracts are subject to many of the same risks as derivatives described in the section “Derivative Instruments.” Forward contracts 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. In addition, the effect of changes in the dollar value of a foreign currency on the dollar value of the Fund’s assets and on the net investment income available for distribution may be favorable or unfavorable. The Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies, and the Fund will be subject to increased illiquidity and credit/counterparty risk because forward contracts are not traded on an exchange and often are not standardized. The Fund may also be required to liquidate portfolio assets or may incur increased currency conversion costs to compensate for a decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency occurring between the time when the Fund declares and pays a dividend, or between the time when the Fund accrues and pays an operating expense in U.S. dollars.

In addition, the Fund may buy and write options on foreign currencies in a manner similar to that in which futures or forward contracts on foreign currencies will be utilized. The Fund may use options on foreign currencies to hedge against adverse changes in foreign currency conversion rates. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which portfolio securities are denominated will reduce the U.S. dollar value of such securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. In order to protect against such diminutions in the value of the portfolio securities, the Fund may buy put options on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency declines, the Fund will have the right to sell such currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars, thereby offsetting, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its portfolio.

Conversely, when a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated is projected, thereby increasing the cost of such securities, the Fund may buy call options on the foreign currency. The purchase of such options could offset, at least partially, the effects of the adverse movements in exchange rates. As in the case of other types of options, however, the benefit to the Fund from purchases of foreign currency options will be reduced by the amount of the premium and related transaction costs. In addition, if currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent desired, the Fund could sustain losses or lesser gains on transactions in foreign currency options that would require the Fund to forego a portion or all of the benefits of advantageous changes in those rates.

The Fund may also write options on foreign currencies. For example, to hedge against a potential decline in the U.S. dollar due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, the Fund could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency. If the decline expected by the Fund occurs, the option will most likely not be exercised and the diminution in value of portfolio securities be offset at least in part by the amount of the premium received. Similarly, instead of purchasing a call option to hedge against a potential increase in the U.S. dollar cost of securities to be acquired, the Fund could write a put option on the relevant currency which, if rates move in the manner projected by the Fund, will expire unexercised and allow the Fund to hedge the increased cost up to the amount of the premium. If exchange rates do not move in the expected direction, the option may be exercised and the Fund would be required to buy or sell the underlying currency at a loss, which may not be fully offset by the amount of the premium. Through the writing of options on foreign currencies, the Fund also may lose all or a portion of the benefits that might otherwise have been obtained from favorable movements in exchange rates.

 

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The Adviser may decide not to engage in currency transactions, and there is no assurance that any currency strategy used by the Fund will succeed. In addition, suitable currency transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in these transactions when they would be beneficial. The foreign currency transactions in which the Fund may engage involve risks similar to those described in the section “Derivative Instruments.”

The Fund’s use of currency transactions may be limited by tax considerations. Transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency denominated debt 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 and may affect the timing or amount of distributions to shareholders.

Transactions in non-U.S. currencies are also subject to many of the risks of investing in non-U.S. securities described in the section “Foreign Securities.” Because the Fund may invest in foreign securities and foreign currencies, changes in foreign economies and political climates are more likely to affect the Fund than a mutual fund that invests exclusively in U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision of foreign markets, resulting in non-uniform accounting practices and less publicly available information. If the Fund’s portfolio is over-weighted in a certain geographic region, any negative development affecting that region will have a greater impact on the Fund than a fund that is not over-weighted in that region.

Illiquid Securities

The Fund may purchase illiquid securities. Illiquid securities are those that are not readily resalable. Securities whose disposition is restricted by federal securities laws may be considered illiquid. Securities generally will be considered “illiquid” if such securities cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the price at which the Fund has valued the securities. Investment in illiquid securities involves the risk that the Fund may be unable to sell such a security at the desired time or at the price at which the Fund values the security. Also, the Fund may incur expenses, losses or delays in the process of registering restricted securities prior to resale.

Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper are treated as illiquid, unless the Adviser has determined, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board, that the particular issue is liquid. See the section “Rule 144A Securities and Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper” for additional information on these instruments.

Inflation-Linked and Inflation-Indexed Securities

The Fund may invest in inflation-linked securities. Inflation-linked securities are fixed-income securities whose principal values are adjusted periodically according to the rate of inflation. These securities generally have maturities of ten or thirty years and interest is payable semiannually. The principal amount of these securities increases with increases in the price index used as a reference value for the securities. In addition, the amounts payable as coupon interest payments increase when the price index increases because the interest amount is calculated by multiplying the principal amount (as adjusted) by a fixed coupon rate.

Although inflation-linked securities protect their holders from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may result in a decline in value. The values of inflation-linked securities generally fluctuate in response to changes to real interest rates, which are in turn tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If inflation were to rise at a rate faster than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of the inflation-linked securities. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in the value of inflation-linked securities. If inflation is lower than expected during a period in which the Fund holds inflation-linked securities, the Fund may earn less on such securities than on a conventional security. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in inflation-linked securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the price index used as a reference for the securities. There can be no assurance that the price index used for an inflation-linked security will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Inflation-linked and inflation-indexed securities include Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities issued by the U.S. government (see the section “U.S. Government Securities” for additional information), but also may include securities issued by state, local and non-U.S. governments and corporations and supranational entities.

 

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The Fund’s investments in inflation-indexed securities can cause the Fund to accrue income for U.S. federal income tax purposes without a corresponding receipt of cash; the Fund may be required to dispose of portfolio securities (including when not otherwise advantageous to do so) in order to obtain sufficient cash to meet its distribution requirements for eligibility to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Code.

Initial Public Offerings (“IPO”)

The Fund may purchase securities of companies that are offered pursuant to an IPO. An IPO is a company’s first offering of stock to the public in the primary market, typically to raise additional capital. The Fund may purchase a “hot” IPO (also known as a “hot issue”), which is an IPO that is oversubscribed and, as a result, is an investment opportunity of limited availability. As a consequence, the price at which these IPO shares open in the secondary market may be significantly higher than the original IPO price. IPO securities tend to involve greater risk due, in part, to public perception and the lack of publicly available information and trading history. There is the possibility of losses resulting from the difference between the issue price and potential diminished value of the stock once traded in the secondary market. The Fund’s investment in IPO securities may have a significant impact on the Fund’s performance and may result in significant capital gains.

Investment Companies

The Fund may invest in other investment companies. Investment companies, including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) such as “iShares ® ,” “SPDRs ® ” and “Vanguard ETFs ® ,” are essentially pools of securities. Investing in other investment companies involves substantially the same risks as investing directly in the underlying securities, but may involve additional expenses at the investment company level, such as investment advisory fees and operating expenses. In some cases, investing in an investment company may involve the payment of a premium over the value of the assets held in that investment company’s portfolio. In other circumstances, the market value of an investment company’s shares may be less than the NAV per share of the investment company. As an investor in another investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of the investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, and the Fund’s shareholders will bear such expenses indirectly, in addition to similar fees and expenses of the Fund. The Fund may also be exposed to the risks associated with the underlying investment company’s investments.

Despite the possibility of greater fees and expenses, investment in other investment companies may be attractive nonetheless for several reasons, especially in connection with foreign investments. Because of restrictions on direct investment by U.S. entities in certain countries, investing indirectly in such countries (by purchasing shares of another fund that is permitted to invest in such countries) may be the most practical and efficient way for the Fund to invest in such countries. In other cases, when the Adviser desires to make only a relatively small investment in a particular country, investing through another fund that holds a diversified portfolio in that country may be more effective than investing directly in issuers in that country. In addition, it may be efficient for the Fund to gain exposure to particular market segments by investing in shares of one or more investment companies.

ETFs. The Fund may invest in shares of ETFs. An ETF is an investment company that is generally registered under the 1940 Act that holds a portfolio of securities designed to track the performance of a particular index. The ETF may be actively managed. ETFs sell and redeem their shares at NAV in large blocks (typically 50,000 of its shares or more) called “creation units.” Shares representing fractional interests in these creation units are listed for trading on national securities exchanges and can be purchased and sold in the secondary market in lots of any size at any time during the trading day. ETFs sometimes also refer to entities that are not registered under the 1940 Act that invest directly in commodities or other assets ( e.g. , gold bullion). Investments in ETFs involve certain inherent risks generally associated with investments in a broadly-based portfolio of securities, including risks that the general level of stock prices may decline, thereby adversely affecting the value of each unit of the ETF or other instrument. In addition, an ETF may not fully replicate the performance of its benchmark index because of the temporary unavailability of certain index securities in the secondary market or discrepancies between the ETF and the index with respect to the weighting of securities or number of stocks held.

 

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Market Capitalizations

The Fund may invest in companies with small, medium or large market capitalizations. Large capitalization companies generally are large companies that have been in existence for a number of years and are well established in their market. Middle market capitalization companies generally are medium-sized companies that are not as established as large capitalization companies, may be more volatile and are subject to many of the same risks as smaller capitalization companies.

Small Capitalization Companies

The Fund may invest in companies with relatively small market capitalizations. Such investments may involve greater risk than is usually associated with more established companies. These companies often have sales and earnings growth rates that exceed those of companies with larger market capitalization. Such growth rates may in turn be reflected in more rapid share price appreciation. However, companies with smaller market capitalization often have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and may be dependent upon a relatively small management group. These securities may have limited marketability and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic movements in price than securities of companies with larger market capitalization or market averages in general. To the extent that the Fund invests in companies with relatively small market capitalizations, the value of its stock portfolio may fluctuate more widely than broad market averages.

Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”)

The Fund may invest in MLPs, which are limited partnerships the ownership units of which are publicly traded. MLPs may be treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as described in the section “Taxes” herein. MLPs often own or own interests in, properties or businesses that are related to oil and gas industries, including pipelines, although MLPs may invest in other types of investments, including credit-related investments. Generally, an MLP is operated under the supervision of one or more managing general partners. Limited partners (like the Fund when it invests in an MLP) are not involved in the day-to-day management of the partnership. The Fund also may invest in companies that serve (or the affiliates of which serve) as the general partner of an MLP.

Investments in MLPs are generally subject to many of the risks that apply to partnerships. For example, holders of the units of MLPs will generally have limited control and limited voting rights on matters affecting the partnership. There may be fewer corporate protections afforded to investors in an MLP than investors in a corporation. Conflicts of interest may exist among unit holders, subordinated unit holders and the general partner of an MLP, including those arising from incentive distribution payments. The general partner of an MLP may have limited call rights that may require the Fund to sell its units of such MLP at a time or price that is not advantageous, which may lower the Fund’s return or result in a loss. The Fund may also be required to repay to an MLP distributions that are incorrectly distributed to the Fund, and in certain circumstances holders of MLP units may be responsible for the obligations of the MLP. In addition, should an MLP fail to meet the current legal requirements for treatment as a partnership, or if there are changes to the tax law, an MLP could be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In that case, the MLP would be obligated to pay tax at the entity level, and distributions to the Fund would be taxed as dividend income. This could result in a significant reduction in the income to the Fund from an investment in an MLP. MLPs that concentrate in a particular industry or region are subject to risks associated with such industry or region. MLPs holding credit-related investments are subject to interest rate risk and the risk of default on payment obligations by debt issuers. Investments held by MLPs may be illiquid and are subject to equity risk. MLP units may trade infrequently and in limited volume, and they may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than securities of larger or more broadly based companies.

The Fund’s investments in MLPs can bear on or be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC.

The Fund may also hold investments in limited liability companies that have many of the same characteristics and are subject to many of the same risks as MLPs.

Money Market Instruments

The Fund may invest in money market instruments as described in its Prospectus. Money market instruments are high-quality, short-term securities. The Fund’s money market investments at the time of purchase (other than U.S. government securities as defined below and repurchase agreements relating thereto) generally will be rated at the

 

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time of purchase in the two highest short-term rating categories as rated by a major credit agency or, if unrated, will be of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser. The Fund may invest in instruments of lesser quality and does not have any minimum credit quality restriction. Money market instruments maturing in less than one year may yield less than obligations of comparable quality having longer maturities.

Although changes in interest rates can change the market value of a security, the Fund expects those changes to be minimal with respect to these securities, which may be purchased by the Fund for defensive purposes. The Fund’s money market investments may be issued by U.S. banks, foreign banks (including their U.S. branches) or foreign branches and subsidiaries of U.S. banks. Obligations of foreign banks may be subject to foreign economic, political and legal risks. Such risks include foreign economic and political developments, foreign governmental restrictions that may adversely affect payment of principal and interest on the obligations, foreign withholding and other taxes on interest income, difficulties in obtaining and enforcing a judgment against a foreign obligor, exchange control regulations (including currency blockage) and the expropriation or nationalization of assets or deposits. Foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks are not necessarily subject to the same or similar regulatory requirements that apply to domestic banks. For instance, such branches and banks may not be subject to the types of requirements imposed on domestic banks with respect to mandatory reserves, loan limitations, examinations, accounting, auditing, record keeping and the public availability of information. Obligations of such branches or banks will be purchased only when the Adviser believes the risks are minimal. The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities that include all securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities (“U.S. government securities”). Some U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. U.S. government securities that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States are considered riskier than those that are. See the section “U.S. Government Securities” for additional information.

Although the Fund may invest in money market instruments, they are not money market funds and therefore are not subject to the portfolio quality, maturity and NAV requirements applicable to money market funds. The Fund will not seek to maintain a stable NAV. The Fund also will not be required to comply with the rating restrictions applicable to money market funds, and will not necessarily sell an investment in cases where a security’s rating has been downgraded.

Considerations of liquidity, safety and preservation of capital may preclude the Fund from investing in money market instruments paying the highest available yield at a particular time. In addition, the Fund’s ability to trade money market securities may be constrained by the collateral and asset coverage requirements related to the Fund’s other investments. As a result, the Fund may need to buy or sell money market instruments at inopportune times. In addition, even though money market instruments generally are considered to be high-quality and a low-risk investment, recently a number of issuers of money market and money market-type instruments have experienced financial difficulties, leading in some cases to rating downgrades and decreases in the value of their securities. In addition, during the recent global financial downturn, many money market instruments that were thought to be highly liquid became illiquid. If the Fund’s money market instruments become illiquid, the Fund may be unable to satisfy certain of its obligations or may only be able to do so by selling other securities at prices or times that may be disadvantageous to do so.

Mortgage-Related Securities

The Fund may invest in mortgage-related securities, such as Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) certificates, which differ from traditional debt securities. Among the major differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently, usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans generally may be prepaid at any time. As a result, if the Fund purchases these assets at a premium, a faster-than-expected prepayment rate will tend to reduce yield to maturity, and a slower-than-expected prepayment rate may have the opposite effect of increasing yield to maturity. If the Fund purchases mortgage-related securities at a discount, faster-than-expected prepayments will tend to increase, and slower-than-expected prepayments tend to reduce, yield to maturity. Prepayments, and resulting amounts available for reinvestment by the Fund, are likely to be greater during a period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates. Accelerated prepayments on securities purchased at a premium may result in a loss of principal if the premium has not been fully amortized at the time of prepayment. Although these securities will decrease in value as a result of increases in interest rates generally, they are likely to appreciate less than other fixed-income securities when interest rates decline because of the risk of prepayments. In addition, an increase in interest rates would increase the inherent volatility of the Fund by increasing the average life of the Fund’s portfolio securities.

 

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The value of some mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities in which the Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and the ability of the Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of the Adviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. These types of securities may also decline for reasons associated with the underlying collateral. The risk of non-payment is greater for mortgage-related securities that are backed by mortgage pools that contain “subprime” or “Alt-A” loans (loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories, less documentation or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans), but a level of risk exists for all loans. Market factors adversely affecting mortgage loan repayments may include a general economic downturn, 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. Securities issued by the GNMA and the FNMA and similar issuers may also be exposed to risks described in the section “U.S. Government Securities.”

The Fund also may gain exposure to mortgage-related securities through entering into credit default swaps or other derivative instruments related to this asset class. For example, the Fund may enter into credit default swaps on CMBX, which are indices made up of tranches of commercial mortgage-backed securities, each with different credit ratings. Utilizing CMBX, one can either gain synthetic risk exposure to a portfolio of such securities by “selling protection” or take a short position by “buying protection.” The protection buyer pays a monthly premium to the protection seller, and the seller agrees to cover any principal losses and interest shortfalls of the referenced underlying mortgage-backed securities. Credit default swaps and other derivative instruments related to mortgage-related securities are subject to the risks associated with mortgage-related securities generally, as well as the risks of derivative transactions. See the section “Derivative Instruments.”

Mortgage Dollar Rolls

The Fund may enter into mortgage dollar rolls. A dollar roll involves the sale of a security by the Fund and its agreement to repurchase the instrument at a specified time and price, and may be considered a form of borrowing for some purposes. The Fund will designate on its records or segregate with its custodian bank assets determined to be liquid in an amount sufficient to meet its obligations under the transactions. A dollar roll involves potential risks of loss that are different from those related to the securities underlying the transactions. The Fund may be required to purchase securities at a higher price than may otherwise be available on the open market. Since the counterparty in the transaction is required to deliver a similar, but not identical, security to the Fund, the security that the Fund is required to buy under the dollar roll may be worth less than an identical security. There is no assurance that the Fund’s use of the cash that it receives from a dollar roll will provide a return that exceeds borrowing costs.

Municipal Obligations

The Fund may purchase municipal obligations. The term “municipal obligations” generally is understood to include debt obligations issued by municipalities to obtain funds for various public purposes, the income from which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, excluded from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, if the proceeds from private activity bonds are used for the construction, repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, the interest paid on such bonds may be excluded from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, although current federal tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of these issues. The Fund’s distributions of any interest it earns on municipal obligations will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

The two principal classifications of municipal obligations are “general obligation” and “revenue” bonds. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its faith, credit, and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue bonds are payable 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, but not from the general taxing power. Private activity bonds are revenue bonds that are issued by municipalities and other public authorities to finance development of industrial or other facilities for use by private enterprise. The private enterprise (and/or any guarantor) pays the principal and interest on the bond; the user does not pledge its faith, credit and taxing power for repayment. The credit and quality of private activity bonds are usually tied to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Sizable investments in these obligations could involve an increased risk to the Fund should any of the

 

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related facilities experience financial difficulties. Private activity bonds are in most cases revenue bonds and do not generally carry the pledge of the credit of the issuing municipality. There are, of course, variations in the security of municipal obligations, both within a particular classification and between classifications.

Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political changes as well as uncertainties in the municipal market related to taxation, legislative changes, or the rights of municipal security holders. Because many municipal securities are issued to finance similar projects, especially those relating to education, health care, transportation and utilities, conditions in those sectors can affect the overall municipal market. In addition, changes in the financial condition of an individual municipal insurer can affect the overall municipal market.

Original Issue Discount (“OID”) Securities  

The Fund may invest in OID securities. OID securities are securities that have OID as defined in section 1273 of the Code and that generate OID inclusions in the holder’s taxable income under section 1272 of the Code. Generally, OID is the excess of a security’s stated redemption price at maturity over the issue price. OID securities generally include any securities issued with a term exceeding one year at a discount to redemption price, including but not limited to pay-in-kind securities and zero-coupon securities. In general, for tax purposes, the amount of the OID is treated as interest income and is included in the Fund’s income 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 security. In order to satisfy a requirement for qualification for treatment as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must distribute each year at least 90% of its net investment income, including the OID accrued on OID securities. Because the Fund will not, on a current basis, receive cash payments from the issuer of an OID security in respect of accrued OID, in some years the Fund may have to distribute cash obtained from other sources in order to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement under the Code and, further, to eliminate tax at the fund level. Such cash might be obtained from selling other portfolio holdings of the Fund. In some circumstances, such sales might be necessary in order to satisfy cash distribution requirements even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for the Fund to sell such securities at such time.

Pay-in-Kind Securities

The Fund may invest in pay-in-kind securities. Pay-in-kind securities pay dividends or interest in the form of additional securities of the issuer, rather than in cash. These securities are usually issued and traded at a discount from their face amounts. The amount of the discount varies depending on various factors, such as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of pay-in-kind securities generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than are other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality. The Fund would be required to distribute the income on these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund would 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. The Fund would be required to distribute income on these instruments as they accrue, even though the Fund would 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.

Preferred Stock

The Fund may invest in preferred stock. Preferred stock pays dividends at a specified rate and generally has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the issuer’s assets, but is junior to the debt securities of the issuer in those same respects. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, dividends on preferred stock generally are payable at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors. Shareholders may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid. The market prices of preferred stocks are subject to changes in interest rates and are more sensitive to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than are the prices of debt securities. Under normal circumstances, preferred stock does not carry voting rights.

 

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Private Placements

The Fund may invest in securities that are purchased in private placements. While private placements may offer opportunities for investment that are not otherwise available on the open market, these securities may be subject to restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for these securities, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, the Fund could find it more difficult or impossible to sell the securities when the Adviser believes that it is advisable to do so, or may be able to sell the securities only at prices lower than if the securities were more widely held. At times, it also may be more difficult to determine the fair value of the securities for purposes of computing the Fund’s NAV.

The absence of a trading market can make it difficult to ascertain a market value for illiquid investments such as private placements. Disposing of illiquid investments may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it may be difficult or impossible for the Fund to sell the illiquid securities promptly at an acceptable price. The Fund may have to bear the extra expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delay in effecting the registration. In addition, market quotations are typically less readily available (if at all) for these securities. The judgment of the Adviser may at times play a greater role in valuing these securities than in the case of unrestricted securities.

The Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act when reselling privately issued securities to the public. As such, the Fund may be liable to purchasers of the securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer, or the prospectus forming a part of the registration statement, is materially inaccurate or misleading.

Privatizations

The Fund may participate in privatizations. In a number of countries around the world, governments have undertaken to sell to investors interests in enterprises that are historically government owned or controlled. These transactions are known as “privatizations” and may in some cases represent opportunities for significant capital appreciation. In some cases, the ability of U.S. investors, such as the Fund, to participate in privatizations may be limited by local law, and the terms of participation for U.S. investors may be less advantageous than those for local investors. In addition, there is no assurance that privatized enterprises will be successful, or that an investment in such an enterprise will retain its value or appreciate in value.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

The Fund may invest in REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in either real estate or real estate-related loans. REITs involve certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general (such as possible declines in the value of real estate, lack of availability of mortgage funds, or extended vacancies of property). Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended and changes in interest rates. REITs whose underlying assets are concentrated in properties used by a particular industry, such as health care, are also subject to risks associated with such industry. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency, risks of default by borrowers, and self-liquidation. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for the favorable tax treatment available to REITs under the Code and failing to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act.

REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks, including prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. If the REIT invests in adjustable rate mortgage loans the interest rates on which are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investments in such loans will gradually align themselves to reflect changes in market interest rates. This causes the value of such investments to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations. REITs may have limited financial resources, may trade less frequently and in a limited volume, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than more widely held securities.

The Fund’s investment in a REIT may result in the Fund making distributions that constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, distributions by the Fund from REITs will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction, or, generally, for treatment as qualified dividend income.

 

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Real Estate Securities

The Fund may invest in securities of companies in the real estate industry, including REITs, and are therefore subject to the special risks associated with the real estate market and the real estate industry in general. Companies in the real estate industry are considered to be those that (i) have principal activity involving the development, ownership, construction, management or sale of real estate; (ii) have significant real estate holdings, such as hospitality companies, supermarkets and mining, lumber and paper companies; and/or (iii) provide products or services related to the real estate industry, such as financial institutions that make and/or service mortgage loans and manufacturers or distributors of building supplies. Securities of companies in the real estate industry are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. Companies in the real estate industry may also be subject to liabilities under environmental and hazardous waste laws.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. Under a repurchase agreement, the Fund purchases a security and obtains a simultaneous commitment from the seller (a bank or, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, a recognized securities dealer) to repurchase the security at an agreed-upon price and date (usually seven days or less from the date of the original purchase). The resale price is in excess of the purchase price and reflects an agreed-upon market interest rate unrelated to the coupon rate on the purchased security. Repurchase agreements are economically similar to collateralized loans by the Fund. Such transactions afford the Fund the opportunity to earn a return on temporarily available cash at relatively low market risk. The Fund does not have percentage limitations on how much of its total assets may be invested in repurchase agreements. The Fund may use repurchase agreements for cash management and temporary defensive purposes. The Fund may invest in a repurchase agreement that does not produce a positive return to the Fund if the Adviser believes it is appropriate to do so under the circumstances (for example, to help protect the Fund’s uninvested cash against the risk of loss during periods of market turmoil). While the underlying security may be a bill, certificate of indebtedness, note or bond issued by an agency, authority or instrumentality of the U.S. government, the obligation of the seller is not guaranteed by the U.S. government and there is a risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the underlying security. In such event, the Fund would attempt to exercise rights with respect to the underlying security, including possible disposition in the market. However, the Fund may be subject to various delays and risks of loss, including (a) possible declines in the value of the underlying security during the period while the Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto; (b) possible reduced levels of income and lack of access to income during this period; and (c) inability to enforce rights and the expenses involved in the attempted enforcement, for example, against a counterparty undergoing financial distress.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Other Borrowings

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement the Fund transfers possession of a portfolio instrument to another person, such as a financial institution, broker or dealer, in return for cash, and agrees that on a stipulated date in the future the Fund will repurchase the portfolio instrument by remitting the original consideration plus interest at an agreed-upon rate. The ability to use reverse repurchase agreements may enable, but does not ensure the ability of, the Fund to avoid selling portfolio instruments at a time when a sale may be deemed to be disadvantageous. When effecting reverse repurchase agreements, assets of the Fund in a dollar amount sufficient to make payment of the obligations to be purchased are segregated on the Fund’s records at the trade date and maintained until the transaction is settled. Reverse repurchase agreements are economically similar to secured borrowings by the Fund.

Dollar Rolls

Dollar rolls are a special type of reverse repurchase agreement in which the portfolio instrument transferred by the Fund is a mortgage-related security. The Fund gives up the cash flows during the transaction period but has use of the cash proceeds.

Rule 144A Securities and Section 4(a)(2) Commercial Paper

The Fund may purchase Rule 144A securities. Rule 144A Securities are privately offered securities that can be resold only to certain qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Fund may also purchase commercial paper issued under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or similar debt obligations.

 

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Commercial paper is generally considered to be short-term unsecured debt of corporations. Investing in Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the level of the Fund’s illiquidity to the extent that qualified institutional buyers become, for a time, uninterested in purchasing these securities. Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper are treated as illiquid unless the Adviser has determined, under guidelines established by the Board, that the particular issue is liquid. Under the guidelines, the Adviser considers such factors as: (1) the frequency of the trades and quotes for a security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades in the security.

Securities Lending

The Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers or other financial institutions under contracts calling for the deposit by the borrower with the Fund’s custodian of collateral equal to at least the market value of the securities loaned, marked to market on a daily basis. The Fund will continue to benefit from interest or dividends on the securities loaned (although the payment characteristics may change) and may also earn a return from the collateral, which may include shares of a money market fund subject to any investment restrictions listed in this Statement. Under some securities lending arrangements the Fund may receive a set fee for keeping its securities available for lending. Any voting rights, or rights to consent, relating to securities loaned pass to the borrower. However, if a material event (as determined by the Adviser) affecting the investment occurs, the Fund may seek to recall the securities so that the securities may be voted by the Fund, although the Adviser may not know of such event in time to recall the securities or may be unable to recall the securities in time to vote them. The Fund pays various fees in connection with such loans, including fees to the party arranging the loans, shipping fees and custodian and placement fees approved by the Board or persons acting pursuant to the direction of the Board.

Securities loans must be fully collateralized at all times, but involve some credit/counterparty risk to the Fund if the borrower or the party (if any) guaranteeing the loan should default on its obligation and the Fund is delayed in or prevented from recovering the collateral. In addition, any investment of cash collateral is generally at the sole risk of the Fund. Any income or gains and losses from investing and reinvesting any cash collateral delivered by a borrower pursuant to a loan generally are at the Fund’s risk, and to the extent any such losses reduce the amount of cash below the amount required to be returned to the borrower upon the termination of any loan, the Fund may be required by the securities lending agent to pay or cause to be paid to such borrower an amount equal to such shortfall in cash.

Short-Term Trading

The Fund may, consistent with its investment objectives, engage in portfolio trading in anticipation of, or in response to, changing economic or market conditions and trends. These policies may result in higher turnover rates in the Fund’s portfolio, which may produce higher transaction costs and the realization of taxable capital gains (including short-term gains, which generally are taxed to individuals at ordinary income rates). Portfolio turnover considerations will not limit the Adviser’s investment discretion in managing the Fund’s assets. The Fund anticipates that its portfolio turnover rates will vary significantly from time to time depending on the volatility of economic and market conditions.

Step-Coupon Securities

The Fund may invest in step-coupon securities. Step-coupon securities trade at a discount from their face value and pay coupon interest. The coupon rate is low for an initial period and then increases to a higher coupon rate thereafter. Market values of these types of securities generally fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than conventional interest-paying securities of comparable term and quality. Under many market conditions, investments in such securities may be illiquid, making it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.

“To Be Announced” Securities

The Fund may buy securities in a “to be announced” transaction. In a “to be announced” transaction, the Fund commits to purchase securities for which all specific information is not yet known at the time of the trade. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, the adviser may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it has been entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In these cases, the Fund may realize a short-term capital gain or loss. Securities purchased on a “to be announced” basis have similar risks to when-issued securities.

 

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The Fund will not accrue interest on the security between the time the Fund enters into the commitment and the time the security is delivered. When the Fund buys a security on a “to be announced” basis, it assumes the risks of ownership of the underlying securities. For example, the Fund is subject to the risk that market rates of interest will increase before the time the security is delivered or that the security will otherwise decrease in value. If the Fund has outstanding obligations to purchase securities on a “to be announced” basis, it will designate liquid assets on the Fund’s records in an amount sufficient to satisfy these obligations. Future regulatory changes may limit the ability of the Fund to engage in “to be announced” transactions to the extent desired.”

“Stripped” Securities

The Fund may invest in stripped securities, which are usually structured with two or more classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distribution on a pool of U.S. government or foreign government securities or mortgage assets. In some cases, one class will receive all of the interest (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Stripped securities commonly have greater market volatility than other types of fixed-income securities. In the case of stripped mortgage securities, if the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to recoup fully its investments in IOs. Stripped securities may be illiquid. Stripped securities may be considered derivative securities, discussed in the section “Derivative Instruments.”

U.S. Government Securities

The Fund may invest in some or all of the following U.S. government securities:

U.S. Treasury Bills – Direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury that are issued in maturities of one year or less. No interest is paid on Treasury bills; instead, they are issued at a discount and repaid at full face value when they mature. They are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

U.S. Treasury Notes and Bonds – Direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury issued in maturities that vary between one and thirty years, with interest normally payable every six months. These obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

U.S. Treasury Floating Rate Notes – Treasury Floating Rate Notes are new instruments authorized by amendments to the U.S. Treasury’s marketable securities auction rules. As with other floating rate securities, at certain intervals the interest payment on a Treasury Floating Rate Note will increase when the applicable index increases, and will decrease when the applicable index decreases. Treasury Floating Rate Notes are a relatively new type of financial instrument. As such, there is no significant trading history of these securities, and there can be no assurance that a liquid market in these securities 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.

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) – Fixed-income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. The interest rate on TIPS is fixed at issuance, but over the life of the bond this interest may be paid on an increasing or decreasing principal value that has been adjusted for inflation. Although repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity is guaranteed, the market value of TIPS is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate.

“Ginnie Maes” – Debt securities issued by a mortgage banker or other mortgagee that represent an interest in a pool of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration or the Rural Housing Service or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. The GNMA guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest when such payments are due, whether or not these amounts are collected by the issuer of these certificates on the underlying mortgages. It is generally understood that a guarantee by GNMA is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Mortgages included in single family or multi-family residential mortgage pools backing an issue of Ginnie Maes have a maximum maturity of 30 years. Scheduled payments of principal and interest are made to the registered holders of Ginnie Maes (such as the Fund) each month. Unscheduled prepayments may be made by homeowners, or as a result of a default. Prepayments are passed through to the registered holder (such as the Fund, which reinvest any prepayments) of Ginnie Maes along with regular monthly payments of principal and interest.

 

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“Fannie Maes” – The FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders that purchases residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers, including state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual funds savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions and mortgage banks. Fannie Maes are pass-through securities issued by FNMA that are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA, but these obligations are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

“Freddie Macs” – The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) is a corporate instrumentality of the U.S. government. Freddie Macs are participation certificates issued by FHLMC that represent an interest in residential mortgages from FHLMC’s National Portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but these obligations are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

U.S. government securities generally do not involve the credit risks associated with investments in other types of fixed-income securities, although, as a result, the yields available from U.S. government securities generally are lower than the yields available from corporate fixed-income securities. Like other debt securities, however, 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 NAV. Because the magnitude of these fluctuations generally will be greater at times when the Fund’s average maturity is longer, under certain market conditions the Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, accept lower current income from short-term investments rather than investing in higher yielding long-term securities. Securities such as those issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the relevant entity ( e.g. , FNMA or FHLMC) but have not been backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Instead, they have been supported only by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations. An event affecting the guaranteeing entity could adversely affect the payment of principal or interest or both on the security, and therefore, these types of securities should be considered to be riskier than U.S. government securities.

S&P downgraded its long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States from “AAA” to “AA+” on August 5, 2011. The downgrade by S&P and other possible downgrades in the future may result in increased volatility or liquidity risk, higher interest rates and lower prices for U.S. government securities and increased costs for all kinds of debt. The value of the Fund’s shares may be adversely affected by S&P’s downgrade or any future downgrades of the U.S. government’s credit rating given that the Fund may invest in U.S. government securities.

In September 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship. The companies remain in conservatorship, and the effect that this conservatorship will have on the companies’ debt and equity securities is unclear. Although the U.S. government has recently provided financial support to FNMA and FHLMC, there can be no assurance that it will support these or other government-sponsored enterprises in the future. In addition, any such government support may benefit the holders of only certain classes of an issuer’s securities.

The values of TIPS generally fluctuate in response to changes in real interest rates, which are in turn tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If inflation were to rise at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of TIPS. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increased at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in the value of TIPS. If inflation is lower than expected during the period the Fund holds TIPS, the Fund may earn less on the TIPS than on a conventional bond. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in TIPS may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bonds’ inflation measure. There can be no assurance that the inflation index for TIPS will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services.

See the section “Mortgage-Related Securities” for additional information on these securities.

 

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When-Issued Securities

A when-issued security involves the Fund entering into a commitment to buy a security before the security has been issued. The Fund’s payment obligation and the interest rate on the security are determined when the Fund enters into the commitment. The security is typically delivered to the Fund 15 to 120 days later. No interest accrues on the security between the time the Fund enters into the commitment and the time the security is delivered. If the value of the security being purchased falls between the time the Fund commits to buy it and the payment date, the Fund may sustain a loss. The risk of this loss is in addition to the Fund’s risk of loss on the securities actually in its portfolio at the time. In addition, when the Fund buys a security on a when-issued basis, it is subject to the risk that market rates of interest will increase before the time the security is delivered, with the result that the yield on the security delivered to the Fund may be lower than the yield available on other, comparable securities at the time of delivery. If the Fund has outstanding obligations to buy when-issued securities, it will either designate on the Fund’s records or segregate at its custodian bank liquid assets in an amount sufficient to satisfy these obligations.

Variable and Floating Rate Instruments

The Fund may purchase variable and floating rate instruments (including senior loans, which are discussed in the section “Senior Loans, Loan Participations and Assignments” above). These instruments may include variable amount master demand notes, which are unsecured demand notes that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary in addition to providing for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. These instruments may also include leveraged inverse floating rate debt instruments, or “inverse floaters.” The interest rate of an inverse floater resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest on a security or interest to which it is related. An inverse floater may be considered to be leveraged to the extent that its interest rate varies by a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the change in the index rate of interest, and is subject to many of the same risks as derivatives. The higher degree of leverage inherent in inverse floaters is associated with greater volatility in their market values. Certain of these investments may be illiquid. The absence of an active secondary market with respect to these investments could make it difficult for the Fund to dispose of a variable or floating rate note if the issuer defaulted on its payment obligation or during periods that the Fund is not entitled to exercise its demand rights, and the Fund could, for these or other reasons, suffer a loss with respect to such instruments.

When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Securities

To reduce the risk of changes in interest rates and securities prices, the Fund may purchase securities on a forward commitment or when-issued or delayed delivery basis, which means delivery and payment take place a number of days after the date of the commitment to purchase. The payment obligation and the interest rate receivable with respect to such purchases are fixed when the Fund enters into the commitment, but the Fund does not make payment until it receives delivery from the counterparty. An Adviser or Subadviser will commit to purchase such securities only with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but the Adviser or Subadviser may sell these securities before the settlement date if it is deemed advisable.

Securities purchased on a forward commitment or when-issued or delayed delivery basis are subject to changes in value, generally changing in the same way, i.e. , appreciating when interest rates decline and depreciating when interest rates rise, based upon the public’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and changes, real or anticipated, in the level of interest rates. Securities so purchased may expose the Fund to risks because they may experience such fluctuations prior to their actual delivery. Purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis can involve the additional risk that the yield available in the market when the delivery takes place actually may be higher than that obtained in the transaction itself. Purchasing securities on a forward commitment or when-issued or delayed delivery basis when the Adviser or Subadviser is fully or almost fully invested may result in greater potential fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s net assets. In addition, there is a risk that securities purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis may not be delivered and that the purchaser of securities sold by the Fund on a forward commitment basis will not honor its purchase obligation. In such cases, the Fund may incur a loss.

Zero-Coupon Securities

The Fund may invest in zero-coupon 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; the holder generally is entitled to receive the par value of the security at maturity. These securities are issued and traded at a discount from their face amounts. The amount of the discount varies depending on such factors as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of zero-coupon securities generally are

 

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more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than are other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality. The Fund’s investment in zero-coupon securities will require the Fund to accrue income without a corresponding receipt of cash; the Fund may be required to dispose of portfolio securities (including when not otherwise advantageous to do so) in order to obtain sufficient cash to meet its distribution requirements for treatment as a RIC under the Code.

TEMPORARY DEFENSIVE POSITIONS

The Fund has the flexibility to respond promptly to changes in market and economic conditions. In the interest of preserving shareholders’ capital, Loomis Sayles may employ a temporary defensive strategy if it determines such a strategy to be warranted. Pursuant to such a defensive strategy, the Fund may temporarily hold cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies or multinational currency units) and/or invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, high-quality debt securities or money market instruments of U.S. or foreign issuers. It is impossible to predict whether, when or for how long the Fund will employ temporary defensive strategies. The use of temporary defensive strategies may prevent the Fund from achieving its goal.

In addition, pending investment of proceeds from new sales of Fund shares or to meet ordinary daily cash needs, the Fund may temporarily hold cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies or multinational currency units) and may invest any portion of its assets in money market or other short-term high-quality debt instruments.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate for a fiscal year is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the fiscal year, in each case excluding securities having maturity dates at acquisition of one year or less. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, which will be borne directly by the Fund, thereby decreasing the Fund’s total return. High portfolio turnover also may give rise to additional taxable income for the Fund’s shareholders, including through the realization of short-term capital gains which are typically taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates, and therefore can result in higher taxes for shareholders that hold their shares in taxable accounts. It is impossible to predict with certainty whether future portfolio turnover rates will be higher or lower than those experienced during past periods.

Generally, the Fund intends to invest for long-term purposes. However, the rate of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions, and it will not be a limiting factor when the Fund’s Adviser believes that portfolio changes are appropriate. The Fund anticipates that its portfolio turnover rate will vary from time to time depending on the volatility of economic, market and other conditions. The rate of portfolio turnover will not be a limiting factor when the Adviser believes that portfolio changes are appropriate.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION

The Board has adopted policies to limit the disclosure of portfolio holdings information and to ensure equal access to such information, except in certain circumstances as approved by the Board. These policies are summarized below. Generally, portfolio holdings information will not be disclosed until it is first posted on the Fund’s website at ngam.natixis.com. Generally, full portfolio holdings information will not be posted until it has aged at least 30 days. A list of the Fund’s top 10 holdings generally will be available on a monthly basis within 7 business days after month-end. Any holdings information that is released must clearly indicate the date of the information, and must state that due to active management, the Fund may or may not still invest in the securities listed. Portfolio characteristics, such as industry/sector breakdown, current yield, quality breakdown, duration, average price-earnings ratio and other similar information may be provided on a current basis. However, portfolio characteristics do not include references to specific portfolio holdings.

The Board has approved exceptions to the general policy on the sharing of portfolio holdings information as in the best interests of the Fund, as follows:

 

  (1) Disclosure of portfolio holdings posted on the Fund’s website, provided that information is shared no sooner than the next day following the day on which the information is posted;

 

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  (2) Disclosure to firms offering industry-wide services, provided that the firm has agreed in writing to maintain the confidentiality of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Entities that receive information pursuant to this exception include Lipper (monthly disclosure of full portfolio holdings, provided six days after month-end); and FactSet (daily disclosure of full portfolio holdings, provided the next business day);

 

  (3) Disclosure (subject to a written confidentiality provision) to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. as part of the proxy voting recordkeeping services provided to the Fund, and to Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) and Glass Lewis & Co., LLC as part of the proxy voting administration and research services, respectively, provided to the Advisers (votable portfolio holdings of issuers as of record date for shareholder meetings);

 

  (4) Disclosure to employees of each Adviser, principal underwriter, administrator, custodian, financial printer, Fund accounting agent, independent registered public accountants, Fund counsel and Independent Trustees’ counsel, as well as to broker-dealers executing and third-party firms analyzing the trading costs of portfolio transactions for the Fund, provided that such disclosure is made for bona fide business purposes;

 

  (5) Other disclosures made for non-investment purposes, but only if approved in writing in advance by an officer of the Fund. Such exceptions will be reported to the Board.

With respect to items (2) through (4) above, disclosure is made pursuant to procedures that have been approved by the Board, and may be made by employees of the Fund’s Adviser, administrator or custodian. With respect to (5) above, approval will be granted only when the officer determines that the Fund has a legitimate business reason for sharing the portfolio holdings information and the recipients are subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the information. As of the date of this Statement, the only entities that receive information pursuant to this exception are:

 

Entity

  

Holdings

  

Frequency

  

Purpose

Barra Portfolio Manager

   Full portfolio holdings    Daily    Performing certain functions related to the research, reporting, strategy development, portfolio construction and performance and risk attribution

Barclays Capital

   Full portfolio holdings    As needed    Analytics and scenario analysis

Bloomberg

   Full portfolio holdings    Daily, provided next business day    Attribution analysis

Electra Information Systems, Inc.

   Full portfolio holdings    Daily    Certain electronic reconciliations of portfolio holdings of the Funds

Ernst & Young LLP

   Foreign equity holdings    Annually, or more frequently as needed    Performing certain functions related to the production of the Funds; Federal income and excise tax returns

RR Donnelley

   Full portfolio holdings    Quarterly, or more frequently as needed    Certain functions related to the production of the Funds’ semi-annual financial statements, quarterly Form N-Q filings and other related items

Financial Recovery Technologies

   Full portfolio holdings    Daily, provided next business day    Monitoring and processing any applicable class action lawsuits

Yield Book

   Full portfolio holdings    As needed    Portfolio analytics

Although the Trust may enter into written confidentiality agreements, in other circumstances, such as those described in (4) above, the obligation to keep information confidential may be based on common law, professional or statutory duties of confidentiality. Common law, professional or statutory duties of confidentiality, including the duty not to trade on the information, may not be as clearly delineated and may be more difficult to enforce than contractual duties. The Fund’s officers determine on a case-by-case basis whether it is appropriate for the Fund to rely on such common law, professional or statutory duties. The Board exercises oversight of the disclosure of

 

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portfolio holdings by, among other things, receiving and reviewing reports from the Fund’s chief compliance officer regarding any material issues concerning the Fund’s disclosure of portfolio holdings or from officers of the Fund in connection with proposed new exceptions or new disclosures pursuant to item (6) above. Notwithstanding the above, there is no assurance that the Fund’s policies on the sharing of portfolio holdings information will protect the Fund from the potential misuse of holdings by individuals or firms in possession of that information.

Other registered investment companies that are advised or sub-advised by the Adviser may be subject to different portfolio holdings disclosure policies, and neither the Adviser nor the Board exercises control over such policies or disclosure. In addition, separate account clients of the Adviser have access to their portfolio holdings and are not subject to the Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure policies. Some of the funds that are advised or sub-advised by the Adviser and some of the separate accounts managed by the Adviser may have investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar or identical to the Fund’s, and therefore potentially substantially similar, and in certain cases nearly identical, portfolio holdings as the Fund.

In addition, any disclosures of portfolio holdings information by the Fund or the Adviser must be consistent with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws, the Fund’s and the Adviser’s fiduciary duty to shareholders, and the Fund’s code of ethics. The Fund’s policies expressly prohibit the sharing of portfolio holdings information if the Fund, the Adviser, or any other affiliated party receives compensation or other consideration in connection with such arrangement. The term “consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Fund or in other funds or accounts managed by the Adviser or by any affiliated person of the Adviser.

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

The Trust is governed by the Board, which is responsible for generally overseeing the conduct of Fund business and for protecting the interests of shareholders. The Trustees meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Fund’s activities, review contractual arrangements with companies that provide services to the Fund and review the Fund’s performance.

Trustees and Officers

The table below provides certain information regarding the Trustees and officers of the Trust. For purposes of this table and for purposes of this Statement, the term “Independent Trustee” means those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust. In certain circumstances, Trustees are also required to have no direct or indirect financial interest in the approval of a matter being voted on in order to be considered “independent” for the purposes of the requisite approval. For purposes of this Statement, the term “Interested Trustee” means those Trustees who are “interested persons,” as defined in the 1940 Act, of the Trust.

 

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The following table provides information about the members of the Board, including information about their principal occupations during the past five years, information about other directorships held at public companies, and a summary of the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that the Trustee should serve as such. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all persons below is 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116.

 

Name and Year of Birth

  

Position(s) Held
with the Trust,
Length of Time
Served and Term
of Office 1

  

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5
Years

  

Number of
Portfolios in Fund
Complex Overseen 2

and Other
Directorships Held
During Past 5
Years

  

Experience,
Qualifications,
Attributes, Skills
for Board
Membership

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

           

Kenneth A. Drucker

(1945)

  

Chairperson of the Board of Trustees since January 2017

 

Trustee since 2008

 

Ex Officio member of the Audit Committee, the Contract Review Committee and the Governance Committee

   Retired   

42

 

None

   Significant experience on the Board and on the boards of other business organizations (including at investment companies); executive experience (including as treasurer of an aerospace, automotive, and metal manufacturing corporation)

Edmond J. English

(1953)

  

Trustee since 2013

 

Audit Committee

Member

   Chief Executive Officer of Bob’s Discount Furniture (retail)   

42

 

Director, Burlington Stores, Inc. (retail); Formerly, Director, BJ’s Wholesale Club (retail)

   Experience on the Board and significant experience on the boards of other business organizations (including retail companies and a bank); executive experience (including at a retail company)

Richard A. Goglia

(1951)

  

Trustee since 2015

 

Audit Committee Member

   Retired; formerly, Vice President and Treasurer of Raytheon Company (defense)   

42

 

None

   Experience on the Board and executive experience (including his role as vice president and treasurer of a defense company and experience at a financial services company)

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Year of Birth

  

Position(s) Held
with the Trust,
Length of Time
Served and Term
of Office 1

  

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5
Years

  

Number of
Portfolios in Fund
Complex Overseen 2

and Other
Directorships Held
During Past 5
Years

  

Experience,
Qualifications,
Attributes, Skills
for Board
Membership

Wendell J. Knox

(1948)

  

Trustee since 2009

 

Contract Review Committee

Member and Governance Committee Member

   Director of Abt Associates Inc. (research and consulting)   

42

 

Director, Eastern Bank (bank); Director, The Hanover Insurance Group (property and casualty insurance)

   Significant experience on the Board and on the boards of other business organizations (including at a bank and at a property and casualty insurance firm); executive experience (including roles as president and chief executive officer of a consulting company)

Martin T. Meehan

(1956)

  

Trustee since 2012

 

Contract Review Committee Member

   President, University of Massachusetts (formerly, Chancellor and faculty member, University of Massachusetts Lowell)   

42

 

None

   Experience on the Board and on the boards of other business organizations; experience as President of the University of Massachusetts; government experience (including as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives); academic experience

Sandra O. Moose

(1942)

  

Trustee since 1993

 

Audit Committee Member and Governance Committee Member

   President, Strategic Advisory Services (management consulting)   

42

 

Formerly, Director, AES Corporation (international power company); formerly, Director, Verizon Communications (telecommunications company)

   Significant experience on the Board and on the boards of other business organizations (including at a telecommunications company, an international power company and a specialty chemicals corporation); executive experience (including at a management consulting company)

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Year of Birth

  

Position(s) Held
with the Trust,
Length of Time
Served and Term
of Office 1

  

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5
Years

  

Number of
Portfolios in Fund
Complex Overseen 2

and Other
Directorships Held
During Past 5
Years

  

Experience,
Qualifications,
Attributes, Skills
for Board
Membership

James P. Palermo

(1955)

  

Trustee since 2016 for Natixis Funds Trust I, Loomis Sayles Funds I and Loomis Sayles Funds II

 

Contract Review Committee Member

   Founding Partner, Breton Capital Management, LLC (private equity); formerly, Chief Executive Officer of Global Client Management of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation   

42

 

None

   Financial services industry and executive experience (including roles as chief executive officer of client management and asset servicing for a banking and financial services company)

Erik R. Sirri

(1958)

  

Trustee since 2009

 

Chairperson of the Audit Committee

   Professor of Finance at Babson College   

42

 

None

   Significant experience on the Board; experience as Director of the Division of Trading and Markets at the Securities and Exchange Commission; academic experience; training as an economist

Peter J. Smail

(1952)

  

Trustee since 2009

 

Chairperson of the Contract Review Committee and Governance Committee Member

   Retired   

42

 

None

   Significant experience on the Board; mutual fund industry and executive experience (including roles as president and chief executive officer for an investment adviser)

Cynthia L. Walker

(1956)

  

Trustee since 2005

 

Chairperson of the Governance Committee and Audit Committee Member

   Deputy Dean for Finance and Administration, Yale University School of Medicine   

42

 

None

   Significant experience on the Board; executive experience in a variety of academic organizations (including roles as dean for finance and administration)

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Year of Birth

  

Position(s) Held
with the Trust,
Length of Time
Served and Term
of Office 1

  

Principal
Occupation(s)
During Past 5
Years

  

Number of
Portfolios in Fund
Complex Overseen 2

and Other
Directorships Held
During Past 5
Years

  

Experience,
Qualifications,
Attributes, Skills
for Board
Membership

INTERESTED TRUSTEES

Kevin P. Charleston 3

(1965)

One Financial Center

Boston, MA 02111

   Trustee since 2015    President, Chief Executive Officer and Director; formerly, Chief Financial Officer, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.   

42

 

None

   Continuing service as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

David L. Giunta 4

(1965)

  

Trustee since 2011

 

President and Chief Executive Officer of Natixis Funds Trust II since 2008

   President and Chief Executive Officer, NGAM Distribution Corporation, NGAM Advisors, L.P. and NGAM Distribution, L.P.   

42

 

None

   Significant experience on the Board; continuing experience as President and Chief Executive Officer of NGAM Advisors, L.P. and NGAM Distribution, L.P.

 

1   Each Trustee serves until retirement, resignation or removal from the Board. The current retirement age is 75. The position of Chairperson of the Board is appointed for a three-year term.
2   The Trustees of the Trust serve as Trustees of a fund complex that includes all series of the Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Gateway Trust and Natixis ETF Trust (collectively, the “Natixis Funds Trusts”), and, Loomis Sayles Funds I and Loomis Sayles Funds II (collectively, the “Loomis Sayles Funds Trusts”) (collectively, the “Fund Complex”).
3   Mr. Charleston is deemed an “interested person” of the Trust because he holds the following positions with an affiliated person of the Trust: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.
4 Mr. Giunta is deemed an “interested person” of the Trust because he holds the following positions with an affiliated person of the Trust: President and Chief Executive Officer of NGAM Distribution Corporation, NGAM Advisors, L.P. and NGAM Distribution, L.P.

 

Name and Year of Birth

  

Position(s) Held with the
Trust

  

Term of Office 1 and
Length of Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years 2

OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

Russell L. Kane

(1969)

   Secretary, Clerk, and Chief Legal Officer    Secretary, Clerk, and Chief Legal Officer since July 2016    Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Clerk, NGAM Distribution Corporation, NGAM Advisors, L.P. and NGAM Distribution, L.P.; formerly, Chief Compliance Officer for Mutual Funds, Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk, NGAM Distribution Corporation, NGAM Advisors, L.P. and NGAM Distribution, L.P.

Michael C. Kardok

(1959)

   Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer    Since October 2004    Senior Vice President, NGAM Advisors, L.P. and NGAM Distribution, L.P.

 

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Rosa Licea-Mailloux

(1976)

   Chief Compliance Officer, Assistant Secretary and Anti-Money Laundering Officer    Since July 2016    Chief Compliance Officer for Mutual Funds, Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Clerk, NGAM Distribution Corporation, NGAM Advisors, L.P. and NGAM Distribution, L.P.; formerly, Associate General Counsel, NGAM Distribution, L.P.

 

1   Each officer of the Trust serves for an indefinite term in accordance with the Trust’s current by-laws until the date his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, retires, is removed or becomes disqualified.
2   Each person listed above holds the same position(s) with the Fund Complex. Previous positions during the past five years with NGAM Distribution, L.P., NGAM Advisors, L.P. or Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. are omitted, if not materially different from a Trustee’s or officer’s current position with such entity.

Qualifications of Trustees

The preceding tables provide an overview of the considerations that led the Board to conclude that each individual serving as a Trustee of the Trust should so serve. The current members of the Board have joined the Board at different points in time. Generally, no one factor was determinative in the original selection of an individual to join the Board. Among the factors the Board considered when concluding that an individual should serve on the Board were the following: (i) the individual’s knowledge in matters relating to the mutual fund industry; (ii) any experience possessed by the individual as a director or senior officer of other public companies; (iii) the individual’s educational background; (iv) the individual’s reputation for high ethical standards and personal and professional integrity; (v) any specific financial, technical or other expertise possessed by the individual, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Board’s existing mix of skills and qualifications; (vi) the individual’s perceived ability to contribute to the ongoing functions of the Board, including the individual’s ability and commitment to attend meetings regularly and work collaboratively with other members of the Board; (vii) the individual’s ability to qualify as an Independent Trustee for purposes of applicable regulations; and (viii) such other factors as the Board determined to be relevant in light of the existing composition of the Board and any anticipated vacancies or other transitions. Each Trustee’s professional experience and additional considerations that contributed to the Board’s conclusion that an individual should serve on the Board are summarized in the tables above.

Leadership and Structure of the Board

The Board is led by the Chairperson of the Board, who is an Independent Trustee. The Board currently consists of twelve Trustees, nine of whom are Independent Trustees. The Trustees have delegated significant oversight authority to the three standing committees of the Trust, the Audit Committee, the Contract Review Committee and the Governance Committee, each of which consists solely of Independent Trustees. These committees meet separately and at times jointly, with the joint meetings intended to educate and involve all Independent Trustees in significant committee-level topics. As well as handling matters directly, the committees raise matters to the Board for consideration. In addition to the oversight performed by the committees and the Board, the Chairperson of the Board and the chairpersons of each committee interact frequently with management regarding topics to be considered at Board and committee meetings as well as items arising between meetings. At least once a year the Governance Committee reviews the Board’s governance practices and procedures and recommends appropriate changes to the full Board. The Board believes its leadership structure is appropriate and effective in that it allows for oversight at the committee or board level, as the case may be, while facilitating communications among the Trustees and between the Board and Fund management.

The Contract Review Committee of the Trust consists solely of Trustees who are not employees, officers or directors of NGAM Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates and considers matters relating to advisory, subadvisory and distribution arrangements and potential conflicts of interest between the Fund’s Adviser and the Trust. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016, this committee held five meetings.

 

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The Governance Committee of the Trust consists solely of Trustees who are not employees, officers or directors of NGAM Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates and considers matters relating to candidates for membership on the Board and Trustee compensation. The Governance Committee makes nominations for Independent Trustee membership on the Board when necessary and considers recommendations from shareholders of the Fund that are submitted in accordance with the procedures by which shareholders may communicate with the Board. Pursuant to those procedures, shareholders must submit a recommendation for nomination in a signed writing addressed to the attention of the Board, c/o Secretary of the Fund, NGAM Advisors, L.P., 399 Boylston Street, 12 th Floor, Boston, MA 02116. This written communication must (i) be signed by the shareholder, (ii) include the name and address of the shareholder, (iii) identify the Fund to which the communication relates, and (iv) identify the account number, class and number of shares held by the shareholder as of a recent date or the intermediary through which the shares are held. The recommendation must be received in a timely manner (and in any event no later than the date specified for receipt of shareholder proposals in any applicable proxy statement with respect to a Fund). A recommendation for Trustee nomination shall be kept on file and considered by the Board for six (6) months from the date of receipt, after which the recommendation shall be considered stale and discarded. The recommendation must contain sufficient background information concerning the Trustee candidate to enable a proper judgment to be made as to the candidate’s qualifications. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016, this committee held five meetings.

The Governance Committee has not established specific, minimum qualifications that must be met by an individual to be recommended for nomination as an Independent Trustee. When identifying an individual to potentially fill a vacancy on the Board, the Governance Committee may seek referrals from a variety of sources, including current Trustees, management of the Trust, Fund counsel, and counsel to the Trustees, as well as shareholders of the Fund in accordance with the procedures described above. In evaluating candidates for a position on the Board, the Governance Committee may consider a variety of factors, including (i) the nominee’s reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards; (ii) the nominee’s educational and professional accomplishments; (iii) the nominee’s demonstrated business acumen, including, but not limited to, knowledge of the mutual fund industry and/or any experience possessed by the nominee as a director or senior officer of a financial services company or a public company; (iv) the nominee’s ability to exercise sound judgment in matters related to the objectives of the Fund; (v) the nominee’s willingness to contribute positively to the decision-making process of the Board and to bring an independent point of view; (vi) the nominee’s commitment and ability to devote the necessary time and energy to be an effective Independent Trustee; (vii) the nominee’s ability to understand the sometimes conflicting interests of various constituencies of the Fund and to act in the interests of all shareholders; (viii) the absence of conflicts of interests that would impair his or her ability to represent all shareholders and to fulfill director fiduciary responsibilities; (ix) the nominee’s ability to be collegial and compatible with current members of the Board and management of the Fund; (x) any specific financial, technical or other expertise possessed by the nominee, and the extent to which such expertise would complement the Board’s existing mix of skills and qualifications; (xi) the nominee’s ability to qualify as an Independent Trustee for purposes of applicable regulations; and (xii) such other factors as the Committee may request in light of the existing composition of the Board and any anticipated vacancies or other transitions.

The Audit Committee of the Trust consists solely of Independent Trustees and considers matters relating to the scope and results of the Trust’s audits and serves as a forum in which the independent registered public accounting firm can raise any issues or problems identified in an audit with the Board. The Audit Committee also reviews and monitors compliance with stated investment objectives and policies, SEC regulations as well as operational issues relating to the transfer agent, administrator, sub-administrator and custodian. In addition, the Audit Committee implements procedures for receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Fund regarding its accounting, internal accounting controls and the confidential, anonymous submission by officers of the Fund or employees of certain service providers of concerns related to such matters. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016, this committee held four meetings.

The current membership of each committee is as follows:

 

Audit Committee

 

Contract Review Committee

 

Governance Committee

Erik R. Sirri – Chairperson

  Peter J. Smail – Chairperson   Cynthia L. Walker – Chairperson

Edmond J. English

  Wendell J. Knox   Wendell J. Knox

Richard A. Goglia

  Martin T. Meehan   Sandra O. Moose

Sandra O. Moose

  James P. Palermo   Peter J. Smail

Cynthia L. Walker

   

As chairperson of the Board, Mr. Drucker is an ex officio member of each Committee.

 

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Table of Contents

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight of the Fund

The Board’s role is one of oversight of the practices and processes of the Fund and its service providers, rather than active management of the Trust, including in matters relating to risk management. The Board seeks to understand the key risks facing the Fund, including those involving conflicts of interest; how Fund management identifies and monitors these risks on an ongoing basis; how Fund management develops and implements controls to mitigate these risks; and how Fund management tests the effectiveness of those controls. The Board cannot foresee, know, or guard against all risks, nor are the Trustees guarantors against risk.

Periodically, Fund officers provide the full Board with an overview of the enterprise risk assessment program in place at NGAM Advisors and the Distributor, which serve as the administrator of and principal underwriter to the Fund, respectively. Fund officers on a quarterly and annual basis also provide the Board (or one of its standing committees) with written and oral reports on regulatory and compliance matters, operational and service provider matters, organizational developments, product proposals, Fund and internal audit results, and insurance and fidelity bond coverage, along with a discussion of the risks and controls associated with these matters, and periodically make presentations to management on risk issues and industry best practices. Fund service providers, including advisers, sub-advisers, transfer agents and the custodian, periodically provide Fund management and/or the Board with information about their risk assessment programs and/or the risks arising out of their activities. The scope and frequency of these reports vary. Fund officers also communicate with the Trustees between meetings regarding material exceptions and other items germane to the Board’s risk oversight function.

Pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act, the Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) who is responsible for administering the Fund’s compliance program, including monitoring and enforcing compliance by the Fund and its service providers with the federal securities laws. The CCO has an active role in daily Fund operations and maintains a working relationship with all relevant advisory, compliance, operations and administration personnel for the Fund’s service providers. On at least a quarterly basis, the CCO reports to the Independent Trustees on significant compliance program developments, including material compliance matters, and on an annual basis, the CCO provides the full Board with a written report that summarizes his review and assessment of the adequacy of the compliance programs of the Fund and its service providers. The CCO also periodically communicates with the Audit Committee members between its scheduled meetings.

Fund Securities Owned by the Trustees

As of December 31, 2016, the Trustees had the following ownership in the Fund and in all funds in the Fund Complex:

Independent Trustees

 

Dollar Range
of Fund
Shares 1

  Kenneth A.
Drucker
    Edmond J.
English 2
    Richard A.
Goglia 2
    Wendell J.
Knox 2
    Martin T.
Meehan 2
    Sandra O.
Moose
    James P.
Palermo
    Erik R.
Sirri 2
    Peter J.
Smail
    Cynthia L.
Walker 2
 

Dividend Income Fund

    [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Fund Shares in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee

    [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]        [            ]   

 

1   A. None

B. $1 – $10,000

C. $10,001 – $50,000

D. $50,001 – $100,000

E. over $100,000

2   Amounts include economic value of notional investments held through the deferred compensation plan.

 

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Table of Contents

Interested Trustees

 

Dollar Range of Fund Shares 1

   Kevin P. Charleston      David L. Giunta  

Dividend Income Fund

     [                  [            

Aggregate Dollar Range of Fund Shares in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee

     [                  [            

 

1   A. None

B. $1 – $10,000

C. $10,001 – $50,000

D. $50,001 – $100,000

E. over $100,000

Trustee Fees

The Trust pays no compensation to its officers or to Trustees who are employees, officers or directors of NGAM Advisors, the Distributor, or their affiliates.

The Chairperson of the Board receives a retainer fee at the annual rate of $325,000. The Chairperson does not receive any meeting attendance fees for Board meetings or committee meetings that he attends. Each Trustee who is not an employee, officer or director of NGAM Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates (other than the Chairperson) receives, in the aggregate, a retainer fee at the annual rate of $155,000. Each Trustee who is not an employee, officer or director of NGAM Advisors, the Distributor or their affiliates also receives a meeting attendance fee of $10,000 for each meeting of the Board that he or she attends in person and $5,000 for each meeting of the Board that he or she attends telephonically. In addition, the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and the Chairperson of the Contract Review Committee each receive an additional retainer fee at an annual rate of $17,500. The Chairperson of the Governance Committee receives an additional retainer fee at an annual rate of $10,000. Each Contract Review Committee and Audit Committee member is compensated $6,000 for each committee meeting that he or she attends in person and $3,000 for each committee meeting that he or she attends telephonically. These fees are allocated among the funds in the Natixis Funds Trusts and the Loomis Sayles Funds Trusts based on a formula that takes into account, among other factors, the relative net assets of each mutual fund portfolio. Trustees are reimbursed for travel expenses in connection with attendance at meetings.

During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016, the Trustees received the amounts set forth in the following table for serving as Trustees of the Natixis Funds Trusts and Loomis Sayles Funds Trusts. The table also sets forth, as applicable, pension or retirement benefits accrued as part of fund expenses, as well as estimated annual retirement benefits:

Compensation Table

For the Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2016

 

     Aggregate
Compensation
from Natixis
Funds Trust II 1
     Pension or
Retirement
Benefits
Accrued as
Part of Fund
Expenses
     Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
     Total
Compensation
from the

Fund Complex 2
 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

  

Kenneth A. Drucker

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

Edmond J. English

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

Richard A. Goglia

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

Wendell J. Knox

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

Martin T. Meehan

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

Sandra O. Moose

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

James P. Palermo 3

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

Erik R. Sirri

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

Peter J. Smail

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

Cynthia L. Walker

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

 

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Table of Contents
     Aggregate
Compensation
from Natixis
Funds Trust II 1
     Pension or
Retirement
Benefits
Accrued as
Part of Fund
Expenses
     Estimated
Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
     Total
Compensation
from the

Fund Complex 2
 

INTERESTED TRUSTEES

  

Kevin P. Charleston

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

David L. Giunta

   $ [                $ [                $ [                $ [            

 

1   Amounts include payments deferred by Trustees for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016, with respect to the Trust. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued for Natixis Funds Trust II as of November 30, 2016 for the Trustees is as follows: [            ].
2   Total Compensation represents amounts paid during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016 to a Trustee for serving on the Board of seven (7) trusts with a total of [            ] funds as of November 30, 2016.
3   Mr. Palermo was appointed as a Trustee effective July 1, 2016.

The Natixis Funds Trusts and Loomis Sayles Funds Trusts do not provide pension or retirement benefits to the Trustees, but have adopted a deferred payment arrangement under which each Trustee may elect not to receive fees from the Funds on a current basis but to receive in a subsequent period an amount equal to the value that such fees would have been if they had been invested in a Fund or Funds selected by the Trustee on the normal payment date for such fees.

Management Ownership

As of record on March 1, 2017 the officers and Trustees of the Trust collectively owned less than 1% of the then outstanding shares of the Fund.

Code of Ethics

The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor each have adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes of ethics permit the personnel of these entities to invest in securities, including securities that the Fund may purchase or hold. The codes of ethics are on public file with, and are available from the SEC’s EDGAR database which can be accessed through www.sec.gov.

Proxy Voting Policies

The Board has adopted Proxy Voting Policy and Guidelines (the “Procedures”) for the voting of proxies for securities held by the Fund. Under the Procedures, decisions regarding the voting of proxies are to be made solely in the interest of the Fund and their shareholders.

Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies related to their portfolio securities during the 12-month period ending June 30, 2016 is available without charge (i) by calling toll-free at 800-225-5478, (ii) through the Fund’s websites, ngam.natixis.com and www.loomissayles.com, and (iii) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Loomis Sayles. Under the Procedures, the responsibility for voting proxies generally is delegated to Loomis Sayles, the investment adviser. Decisions regarding the voting of proxies shall be made solely in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Loomis Sayles shall exercise its fiduciary responsibilities to vote proxies with respect to the Fund’s investments that are managed by Loomis Sayles in a prudent manner in accordance with the Procedures and the proxy voting policies of Loomis Sayles. Proposals that, in the opinion of Loomis Sayles, are in the best interests of shareholders generally are voted “for” and proposals that, in the judgment of Loomis Sayles, are not in the best interests of shareholders generally are voted “against.” Loomis Sayles is responsible for maintaining certain records and reporting to the Audit Committee of the Trust in connection with the voting of proxies. Upon request for reasonable periodic review as well as annual reporting to the SEC, Loomis Sayles shall make available to the Fund, or NGAM Advisors, the Fund’s administrator, the records and information maintained by Loomis Sayles under the Procedures.

Loomis Sayles uses the services of third parties (“Proxy Voting Service(s)”), to research and administer the vote on proxies for those accounts and funds for which Loomis Sayles has voting authority. One of Loomis Sayles’ Proxy Voting Services, Glass, Lewis & Company (“Glass Lewis”) provides vote recommendations and/or analysis to

 

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Loomis Sayles based on Glass Lewis’ own research. Loomis Sayles generally will follow its express policy with input from Glass Lewis unless Loomis Sayles’ Proxy Committee (the “Proxy Committee”) determines that the client’s best interests are served by voting otherwise.

All issues presented for shareholder vote will be considered under the oversight of the Proxy Committee. All non-routine issues will be directly considered by the Proxy Committee and, when necessary, the equity analyst following the company and/or the portfolio manager of the Fund advised by Loomis Sayles holding the security, and will be voted in the best investment interests of the Fund. All routine issues will be voted according to Loomis Sayles’ policy approved by the Proxy Committee unless special factors require that they be considered by the Proxy Committee and, when necessary, the equity analyst following the company and/or the portfolio manager of the Fund holding the security. Loomis Sayles’ Proxy Committee has established these routine policies in what it believes are the best investment interests of Loomis Sayles’ clients.

The specific responsibilities of the Proxy Committee include, (1) developing, authorizing, implementing and updating Loomis Sayles’ Procedures, including an annual review of the Procedures, existing voting guidelines and the proxy voting process in general; (2) oversight of the proxy voting process including oversight of the vote on proposals according to the predetermined policies in the voting guidelines, directing the vote on proposals where there is reason not to vote according to the predetermined policies in the voting guidelines or where proposals require special consideration and consultation with the portfolio managers and analysts for the Fund(s) advised by Loomis Sayles holding the security when necessary or appropriate; (3) periodic sampling or engaging an outside party to sample proxy votes to ensure they comply with the Procedures and are cast in accordance with the Fund’s best interest; and (4) engagement and oversight of third-party vendors, such as Proxy Voting Services, including:

 

  (i) determining whether a Proxy Voting Service has the capacity and competency to adequately analyze proxy issues by considering:

 

  (a) the adequacy and quality of the Proxy Voting Service’s staffing and personnel, and

 

  (b) the robustness of the Proxy Voting Service’s policies and procedures regarding its ability to ensure that its recommendations are based on current and accurate information and to identify and address any relevant conflicts of interest.

 

  (ii) providing ongoing oversight of Proxy Voting Services to ensure that proxies continue to be voted in the best interests of clients.

 

  (iii) receiving and reviewing updates from Proxy Voting Services regarding relevant business changes or changes to Proxy Voting Services’ conflict policies and procedures, and

 

  (iv) in the event that the Proxy Committee becomes aware that a Proxy Voting Service’s recommendation was based on a material factual error, investigating the error, considering the nature of the error and the related recommendation, and determining whether the Proxy Voting Service has taken reasonable steps to reduce the likelihood of similar errors in the future.

Loomis Sayles has established several policies to ensure that proxy votes are voted in its clients’ best interest and are not affected by any possible conflicts of interest. First, except in certain limited instances, Loomis Sayles votes in accordance with its pre-determined policies set forth in the Procedures. Second, where these Procedures allow for discretion, Loomis Sayles generally will consider the recommendations of Glass Lewis in making its voting decisions. However, if the Proxy Committee determines that Glass Lewis’ recommendation is not in the best interest of its clients, then the Proxy Committee may use its discretion to vote against Glass Lewis’ recommendation, but only after taking the following steps: (1) conducting a review for any material conflict of interest Loomis Sayles may have and, (2) if any material conflict is found to exist, excluding anyone at Loomis Sayles who is subject to that conflict of interest from participating in the voting decision in any way. However, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Proxy Committee after full prior disclosure of any conflict, that person may provide information, opinions or recommendations on any proposal to the Proxy Committee. In such event the Proxy Committee will make reasonable efforts to obtain and consider, prior to directing any vote information, opinions or recommendations from or about the opposing position on any proposal.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

Information About the Organization and Ownership of the Adviser

Loomis Sayles is a limited partnership whose sole general partner, Loomis, Sayles & Company, Inc. is owned by Natixis US.

 

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Natixis US is part of Natixis Global Asset Management, an international asset management group based in Paris, France, that is in turn owned by Natixis, a French investment banking and financial services firm. Natixis is principally owned by BPCE, France’’s second largest banking group. BPCE is owned by banks comprising two autonomous and complementary retail banking networks consisting of the Caisse ’d’Epargne regional savings banks and the Banque Populaire regional cooperative banks. The registered address of Natixis is 30, avenue Pierre Mendès France, 75013 Paris, France. The registered address of BPCE is 50, avenue Pierre Mendès France, 75013 Paris, France.

The [            ] principal subsidiary or affiliated asset management firms of Natixis US collectively had over $[            ] billion in assets under management or administration as of December 31, 2016.

Advisory Agreement

The Fund’s advisory agreement with its Adviser provides that the Adviser will furnish or pay the expenses of the Fund for office space, facilities and equipment, services of executive and other personnel of the Trust and certain administrative services. The Adviser may delegate certain administrative services to its affiliates. The Adviser is responsible for obtaining and evaluating such economic, statistical and financial data and information and performing such additional research as is necessary to manage the Fund’s assets in accordance with its investment objectives and policies.

The Fund pays all expenses not borne by the Adviser including, but not limited to, the charges and expenses of custodian and transfer agents, independent registered public accountants and legal counsel for the Fund and the Trust’s Independent Trustees, 12b-1 fees, all brokerage commissions and transfer taxes in connection with portfolio transactions, all taxes and filing fees, the fees and expenses for registration or qualification of its shares under federal and state securities laws, all expenses of shareholders’ and trustees’ meetings and of preparing, printing and mailing reports to shareholders and the compensation of Trustees who are not directors, officers or employees of the Adviser or their affiliates, other than affiliated registered investment companies. Certain expenses may be allocated differently among the Fund’s Class A, Class C and Class T shares, on the one hand, and Class Y shares on the other hand. See the section “Description of the Trust” below.

The advisory agreement of the Fund provides that it will continue in effect for two years from the date of execution and thereafter from year to year if its continuance is approved at least annually (i) by the Board of the Trust or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund and (ii) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

The advisory agreement of the Fund may be terminated without penalty by vote of the Board or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, upon 60 days’ written notice, or by the Adviser upon 90 days’ written notice, and terminates automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

The advisory agreement of the Fund provides that the Adviser 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.

Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 Plans

Under a separate agreement with the Fund, the Distributor serves as the principal distributor of each class of shares of the Fund. The Distributor’s principal business address is 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. Under this agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”), the Distributor conducts a continuous offering and is not obligated to sell a specific number of shares. The Distributor bears the cost of making information about the Fund available through advertising and other means and the cost of printing and mailing the Prospectus to persons other than shareholders. The Fund pays the cost of registering and qualifying its shares under state and federal securities laws and distributing the Prospectus to existing shareholders.

The Distributor is compensated under the agreement through receipt of the sales charges on Class A and Class T shares described below under “Net Asset Value” and is paid by the Fund the service and distribution fees described in the applicable Prospectus. The Distributor may, at its discretion, re-allow the entire sales charge imposed on the sale of Class A, Class C and Class T shares of the Fund to investment dealers from time to time. The SEC is of the view that dealers receiving all or substantially all of the sales charge may be deemed underwriters of the Fund’s shares.

 

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The Fund has adopted Rule 12b-1 plans (the “Plans”) for its Class A, Class C and Class T shares. Class N and Class Y shares have no such plans. The Plans, among other things, permit the applicable class of shares to pay the Distributor monthly fees out of its net assets. These fees consist of a service fee and a distribution fee. Certain Distributor fees that are paid by a distributor to securities dealers are known as “trail commissions.” Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, each Plan was approved by the shareholders of the Fund, and (together with the related Distribution Agreement) by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees of the Trust.

Under the Plans, the Fund pays the Distributor a monthly service fee at an annual rate not to exceed 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to the Class A, Class C and Class T shares. In the case of Class C shares, the Distributor retains the first years’ service fee of 0.25% assessed against such shares. For Class A, Class T and, after the first year, for Class C shares, the Distributor may pay up to the entire amount of this fee to securities dealers who are dealers of record with respect to the Fund’s shares, on a quarterly basis, unless other arrangements are made between the Distributor and the securities dealer, for providing personal services to investors in shares of the Fund and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts. This service fee will accrue to securities dealers of record immediately with respect to reinvested income dividends and capital gain distributions of the Fund’s Class A and Class T shares.

The service fees on Class A and Class T shares may be paid only to reimburse the Distributor for expenses of providing personal services to investors, including, but not limited to, (i) expenses (including overhead expenses) of the Distributor for providing personal services to investors in connection with the maintenance of shareholder accounts and (ii) payments made by the Distributor to any securities dealer or other organization (including, but not limited to, any affiliate of the Distributor) with which the Distributor has entered into a written agreement for this purpose, for providing personal services to investors and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts, which payments to any such organization may be in amounts in excess of the cost incurred by such organization in connection therewith.

The Fund’s Class C shares also pay the Distributor a monthly distribution fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average net assets of the Fund’s Class C shares. The Distributor retains the 0.75% distribution fee assessed against Class C shares during the first year of investment. After the first year for Class C shares, the Distributor may pay up to the entire amount of this fee to securities dealers who are dealers of record with respect to the Fund’s shares, as distribution fees in connection with the sale of the Fund’s shares on a quarterly basis, unless other arrangements are made between the Distributor and the securities dealer. As stated in the Prospectus, investors will not be permitted to purchase $1,000,000 or more of Class C shares as a single investment per account.

Each Plan may be terminated by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the relevant class of shares of the Fund. Each Plan may be amended by vote of the Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. Any change in any Plan that would materially increase the fees payable thereunder by the relevant class of shares of the Fund requires approval by a vote of the holders of a majority of such shares outstanding. The Trust’s Trustees review quarterly a written report of such costs and the purposes for which such costs have been incurred. For so long as a Plan is in effect, selection and nomination of those Trustees who are Independent Trustees of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of such Trustees.

Fees paid by Class A, Class C or Class T shares of the Fund may indirectly support sales and servicing efforts relating to shares of the other series of the Natixis Funds Trusts or the Loomis Sayles Funds Trusts. In reporting its expenses to the Trustees, the Distributor itemizes expenses that relate to the distribution and/or servicing of a single fund’s shares, and allocates other expenses among the relevant funds based on their relative net assets or relative sales. Expenses allocated to the Fund are further allocated among its classes of shares annually based on the relative sales of each class, except for any expenses that relate only to the sale or servicing of a single class.

The Distributor has entered into selling agreements with investment dealers, including affiliates of the Distributor, for the sale of the Fund’s shares. As described in more detail below, the Distributor, at its expense, may pay additional amounts to dealers who have selling agreements with the Distributor. Class Y shares of the Fund may be offered by registered representatives of certain affiliates who are also employees of Natixis US and may receive compensation from the Fund’s Adviser with respect to sales of Class Y shares.

 

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The Distribution Agreement for the Fund may be terminated at any time on 60 days’ written notice without payment of any penalty by the Distributor or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees.

The Distribution Agreements and the Plans will continue in effect for successive one-year periods, provided that each such continuance is specifically approved (i) by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the entire Board cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding securities of the Fund (or the relevant class, in the case of the Plans).

With the exception of the Distributor, its affiliated companies and those Trustees that are not Independent Trustees, no interested person of the Trust or any Trustee of the Trust had any direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plans or any related agreement. Benefits to the Fund and its shareholders resulting from the Plans are believed to include (1) enhanced shareholder service, (2) asset retention, and (3) enhanced portfolio management opportunities and bargaining position with third-party service providers and economies of scale arising from having asset levels higher than they would be if the Plans were not in place.

The Distributor controls the word “Natixis” in the names of the Natixis Funds Trusts and if it should cease to be the principal distributor of such Funds’ shares, the Trust may be required to change its name and delete these words or letters. The Distributor also acts as principal distributor for Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and Gateway Trust. The address of the Distributor is 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116.

The portion of the various fees and expenses for Class A, Class C and Class T shares that are paid (re-allowed) to securities dealers are shown below. For Class A and Class T shares, the service fee is payable only to reimburse the Distributor for amounts it pays in connection with providing personal services to investors and/or maintaining shareholder accounts. Class C service fees are payable regardless of the amount of the Distributor’s related expenses.

Dividend Income Fund

Class A

 

Cumulative Investment

   Maximum
Sales Charge
Paid by
Investors
(% of offering price)
    Maximum
Reallowance or
Commission
(% of offering price)
    Maximum
First Year
Service Fee
(% of net investment)
    Maximum
First Year
Compensation
(% of offering price)
 

Less than $50,000

     5.75     5.00     0.25     5.25

$50,000 – $99,999

     4.50     4.00     0.25     4.25

$100,000 – $249,999

     3.50     3.00     0.25     3.25

$250,000 – $499,999

     2.50     2.15     0.25     2.40

$500,000 – $999,999

     2.00     1.70     0.25     1.95

Investments of $1 Million or More (1)

  

Up to $2,999,999

     none        1.00     0.25     1.25

$3,000,000 to $4,999,999

     none        0.75     0.25     1.00

Excess over $5,000,000

     none        0.50     0.25     0.75

Investments with No Sales Charge  (2)

     none        0.00     0.25     0.25

 

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(1) Commissions are based on cumulative investments over the life of the account with no adjustment for redemptions, transfers or market declines. For example, if a shareholder has accumulated investments in excess of $5,000,000 and subsequently redeems all or a portion of the account(s), purchases following the redemption will generate a dealer commission of 0.50%.
(2) Refers to any investments made by investors not subject to a sales charge as described in the Prospectus in the section “How Sales Charges Are Calculated.”

Class C

 

Investment

   Maximum
Front-End Sales
Charge Paid by
Investors
(% of offering price)
     Maximum
Reallowance or
Commission
(% of offering price)
    Maximum
First Year
Service Fee
(% of net investment)
    Maximum
First Year
Compensation
(% of offering price)
 

All amounts for Class C

     none         1.00     0.00     1.00

Class T

 

Cumulative Investment

   Maximum
Sales Charge Paid
by Investors
(% of offering price)
    Maximum
Reallowance or
Commission
(% of offering price)
    Maximum
First Year
Service Fee
(% of net investment)
    Maximum
First Year
Compensation
(% of offering price)
 

Less than $250,000

     2.50     2.50     0.25     2.75

$250,000 – $499,999

     2.00     2.00     0.25     2.25

$500,000 – $999,999

     1.50     1.50     0.25     1.75

$1,000,000 and above

     1.00     1.00     0.25     1.00

As described in the Prospectus, each purchase or sale of shares is effected at the NAV next determined after an order is received, less any applicable sales charge. The sales charge is allocated between the investment dealer and the Distributor, as indicated in the tables above. The Distributor receives the contingent deferred sales charge (the “CDSC”). Proceeds from the CDSC on Class A and Class C shares are paid to the Distributor and are used by the Distributor to defray the expenses for services the Distributor provides to the Trust. The Distributor may, at its discretion, pay (reallow) the entire sales charge imposed on the sale of Class A and Class T shares to investment dealers from time to time.

For new amounts invested at NAV by an eligible governmental authority, the Distributor may, at its expense, pay investment dealers a commission of 0.025% of the average daily net assets of an account at the end of each calendar quarter for up to one year. These commissions are not payable if the purchase represents the reinvestment of redemption proceeds from any other Natixis Fund or if the account is registered in street name.

The Fund may pay fees to intermediaries such as banks, broker-dealers, financial advisers or other financial institutions for sub-administration, sub-transfer agency and other services, including, but not limited to, recordkeeping, shareholder or participant reporting or shareholder or participant recordkeeping (“recordkeeping and processing-related services”) associated with shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts (for example, 401(k) plans) or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents. These fees are paid directly or indirectly by the Fund (with the exception of Class N shares, which do not bear such expenses) in light of the fact that other costs may be avoided by the Fund where the intermediary, not the Fund’s service providers, provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The intermediary may impose other account or service charges directly on account holders or participants. In addition, depending on the arrangements, the Fund’s Adviser and/or Distributor or their affiliates may, out of their own resources, compensate such financial intermediaries or their agents directly or indirectly for such recordkeeping and processing-related services; such payments will not be made with respect to Class N shares. The services provided and related payments vary from firm to firm. Under these programs, the Distributor may enter into administrative services agreements with intermediaries pursuant to which intermediaries will provide sub-transfer agency services, sub-administrative services and other services with respect to the Fund. These services may include, but are not limited to, shareholder record set-up and maintenance, account statement preparation and mailing, transaction processing and settlement and account level tax reporting. The Distributor is reimbursed by the Fund for all or a portion of any fees paid to intermediaries by the Distributor on behalf of the Fund.

The Distributor, the Adviser and their affiliates may, out of their own resources, make additional payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. Such payments and compensation are in addition to any fees paid or reimbursed by the Fund. These payments may include: (i) full reallowance of the sales charge of Class A and

 

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Class T shares, (ii) additional compensation with respect to the sale and/or servicing of Class A, Class C, Class N, Class T and Class Y shares, (iii) payments based upon various factors described below and (iv) financial assistance programs to firms who sell or arrange for the sale of Fund shares including, but not limited to, remuneration for: the firm’s internal sales contests and incentive programs, marketing and sales fees, expenses related to advertising or promotional activity and events and shareholder record keeping, sub transfer-agency or miscellaneous administrative services. From its own profits and resources, the Distributor may, from time to time, make payments to qualified wholesalers, registered financial institutions and third-party marketers for marketing support services and/or retention of assets. Among others, the Distributor has agreed to make such payments for marketing support services to AXA Advisors, LLC. In addition to marketing and/or financial support payments described above, payment for travel, lodging and related expenses may be provided for attendance at Fund seminars and conferences, e.g. , due diligence meetings held for training and educational purposes. The Distributor intends that the payment of these concessions and any other compensation offered will conform with state and federal laws and the rules of any self-regulatory organization, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). The participation of such firms in financial assistance programs is at the discretion of the firm and the Distributor. The payments described in (iii) above may be based on sales (generally ranging from 0.05% to 0.25% of gross sales) and/or the amount of assets a financial intermediary’s clients have invested in the Fund (at annual rates generally ranging from 0.03% to 0.35% of the value of the clients’ shares). The actual payment rates to a financial intermediary will depend upon how the particular arrangement is structured ( e.g. , solely asset-based fees, solely sales-based fees or a combination of both) and other factors such as the length of time assets have remained invested in the Fund, redemption rates and the willingness of the financial intermediary to provide access to its representatives for educational and marketing purposes. The payments to financial intermediaries described in this section and elsewhere in this Statement, which may be significant to the financial intermediaries, may create an incentive for a financial intermediary or its representatives to recommend or sell shares of the Fund or particular share class over other mutual funds or share classes. Additionally, these payments may result in the Fund’s inclusion on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or in other sales programs. Investors should contact their financial representative for details about the payment the financial intermediaries may receive.

From time to time, the Fund’s service providers, or any of their affiliates, may also pay non-cash compensation to the sales representatives of financial intermediaries in the form of (i) occasional gifts; (ii) occasional meals, tickets or other entertainment; and/or (iii) sponsorship support of regional events of intermediaries.

Dealers may charge their customers a processing fee or service fee in connection with the purchase or redemption of fund shares. The amount and applicability of such a fee is determined and disclosed to its customers by its individual dealer. Processing or service fees typically are fixed, nominal dollar amounts and are in addition to the sales and other charges described in the Prospectus and this Statement. Customers will be provided with specific information about any processing or service fees charged by their dealer.

The commissions and sales charges for the last three fiscal years were allocated as follows:

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II 1,

 

     Fiscal Year
Ended

11/30/14
     Fiscal Year
Ended

11/30/15
     Fiscal Year
Ended
11/30/16
 

Total commissions on sales of Class A shares

   $ 355,148       $ 444,030       $ [            

Amount reallowed to other securities dealers

   $ 384,334       $ 307,587       $ [            

Amount retained by Distributor

   $ 59,696       $ 47,561       $ [            

Total CDSCs on redemptions of Classes A and C shares

   $ 165,081       $ 94,671       $ [            

Amount retained by Distributor

   $ 94,671       $ 165,081       $ [            

 

Information is only provided for the Fund in this Statement as listed on the cover page.
1 See the section “Other Arrangements” for information about amounts received by the Distributor from the Trust’s investment advisers and subadvisers or the Fund directly for providing certain administrative services relating to the Trust.

 

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Class T shares are newly formed and thus the Trust has not paid any sales charges for Class T shares as of the date of this Statement.

OTHER ARRANGEMENTS

Administrative Services . NGAM Advisors, 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116, performs certain accounting and administrative services for the Fund, pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement dated January 1, 2005, as amended from time to time (the “Administrative Agreement”). Under the Administrative Agreement, NGAM Advisors provides the following services to the Fund: (i) personnel that perform bookkeeping, accounting, internal auditing and financial reporting functions and clerical functions relating to the Fund, (ii) services required in connection with the preparation of registration statements and prospectuses, registration of shares in various states, shareholder reports and notices, proxy solicitation material furnished to shareholders of the Fund or regulatory authorities and reports and questionnaires for SEC compliance, (iii) the various registrations and filings required by various regulatory authorities, and (iv) consultation and legal advice on Fund-related matters.

For these services, NGAM Advisors received the following fees from the Fund for the last three fiscal years:

 

Fund

   Fiscal Year
Ended
11/30/14
     Fiscal Year
Ended
11/30/15
     Fiscal Year
Ended
11/30/16
 
     Fee      Fee      Fee  

Dividend Income Fund

   $ 9,782       $ 11,856       $ [            

Support Services Pursuant to an intercompany agreement between Loomis Sayles and NGAM Advisors, NGAM Advisors provides various marketing, relationship management, and support services to the Fund and Loomis Sayles. Loomis Sayles, and not the Fund, pays NGAM Advisors for these services.

Custodial Arrangements State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street Bank”), One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111, serves as the custodian for the Trust. As such, State Street Bank holds in safekeeping certificated securities and cash belonging to the Fund and, in such capacity, is the registered owner of securities in book-entry form belonging to the Fund. Upon instruction, State Street Bank receives and delivers cash and securities of the Fund in connection with Fund transactions and collects all dividends and other distributions made with respect to Fund portfolio securities. State Street Bank also maintains certain accounts and records of the Trust and calculates the total NAV, total net income and NAV per share of the Fund on a daily basis.

Transfer Agency Services Pursuant to contracts between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“Boston Financial” or the “Transfer Agent”), whose principal business address is 2000 Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, MA 02169, Boston Financial acts as shareholder servicing and transfer agent for the Fund and is responsible for services in connection with the establishment, maintenance and recording of shareholder accounts, including all related tax and other reporting requirements and the implementation of investment and redemption arrangements offered in connection with the sale of the Fund’s shares.

From time to time, the Fund, directly or indirectly through arrangements with the Adviser or the Transfer Agent, may pay amounts to third parties that provide recordkeeping and other administrative services relating to the Fund to persons who beneficially own interests in the Fund, such as shareholders whose shares are held of record in omnibus, other group accounts (for example, 401(k) plans) or accounts traded through registered securities clearing agents. See the section “Distribution Agreement and Rule 12b-1 Plans.”

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm The Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm is [            ], located at [            ]. The independent registered public accounting firm conducts an annual audit of the Fund’s financial statements, assists in the review of federal and state income tax returns and consults with the Trust as to matters of accounting and federal and state income taxation. The financial highlights in the Prospectus for the Fund, and the financial statements contained in the Fund’s annual report for the year ended November 30, 2016 and incorporated by reference into this Statement, have been so included in reliance on the reports of the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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Counsel to the Fund Ropes & Gray LLP, located at Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199, serves as counsel to the Fund.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

Portfolio Managers’ Management of Other Accounts

As of November 30, 2016 the portfolio managers of the Fund managed other accounts in addition to managing one or more of the Fund. The following table provides information on the other accounts managed by each portfolio manager.

 

    Registered Investment
Companies
    Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
    Other Accounts  
    Other
Accounts
Managed
    Advisory Fee is
Based on
Performance
    Other
Accounts
Managed
    Advisory Fee is
Based on
Performance
    Other
Accounts
Managed
    Advisory Fee is
Based on
Performance
 

Name of Portfolio Manager

  # of
Accts
    Total
Assets
    # of
Accts
    Total
Assets
    # of
Accts
    Total
Assets
    # of
Accts
    Total
Assets
    # of
Accts
    Total
Assets
    # of
Accts
    Total
Assets
 

Arthur J. Barry

    [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]   

Adam C. Liebhoff

    [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]        [        ]   

Material Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of interest may arise in the allocation of investment opportunities and the allocation of aggregated orders among the Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio managers. A portfolio manager potentially could give favorable treatment to some accounts for a variety of reasons, including favoring larger accounts, accounts that pay higher fees, accounts that pay performance-based fees, accounts of affiliated companies and accounts in which the portfolio manager has an interest. Such favorable treatment could lead to more favorable investment opportunities or allocations for some accounts. Loomis Sayles makes investment decisions for all accounts (including institutional accounts, mutual funds, hedge funds and affiliated accounts) based on each account’s availability of other comparable investment opportunities and Loomis Sayles’ desire to treat all accounts fairly and equitably over time. Loomis Sayles maintains trade allocation and aggregation policies and procedures to address these potential conflicts. Conflicts of interest also may arise to the extent a portfolio manager short sells a stock in one client account but holds that stock long in other accounts, including the Fund, or sells a stock for some accounts while buying the stock for others, and through the use of “soft dollar arrangements,” which are discussed in the section “Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage.”

Portfolio Managers’ Compensation

The following describes the structure of, and the method used to determine, the compensation of each of the above-listed portfolio managers as of November 30, 2016:

Loomis Sayles believes that portfolio manager compensation should be driven primarily by the delivery of consistent and superior long-term performance for its clients. Portfolio manager compensation is made up primarily of three main components: base salary, variable compensation and a long-term incentive program. Although portfolio manager compensation is not directly tied to assets under management, a portfolio manager’s base salary and/or variable compensation potential may reflect the amount of assets for which the manager is responsible relative to other portfolio managers. Loomis Sayles also offers a profit sharing plan. Base salary is a fixed amount based on a combination of factors, including industry experience, firm experience, job performance and market considerations. Variable compensation is an incentive-based component and generally represents a significant multiple of base salary. Variable compensation is based on four factors: investment performance, profit growth of the firm, profit growth of the manager’s business unit and team commitment. Investment performance is the primary component of total variable compensation and generally represents at least 70% for equity managers. The other three factors are used to determine the remainder of variable compensation, subject to the discretion of the Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) and senior management. The CIO and senior management evaluate these other factors annually.

 

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While mutual fund performance and asset size do not directly contribute to the compensation calculation, investment performance for equity managers is measured by comparing the performance of Loomis Sayles’ institutional composites to the performance of the applicable Morningstar peer group and/or the Lipper universe. Generally speaking, the performance of the respective product’s fund is compared against the applicable Morningstar peer group and/or the Lipper universe. If the majority of the assets in the product are contained in the mutual fund that comparison will drive compensation. To the extent the majority of assets managed in the fund strategy are for institutional separate accounts, the Evestment Alliance institutional peer group will also be used as an additional comparison. In situations where substantially all of the assets for the strategy are institutional, the institutional peer group will be used as the primary method of comparison. A manager’s performance relative to the peer group for the 1, 3 and 5 year periods (or since the start of the manager’s tenure, if shorter) is used to calculate the amount of variable compensation payable due to performance. The 1-year performance may be eliminated for some products (large cap growth, all cap growth and global growth). Longer-term performance (3 and 5 years (or 7 years for large cap growth, all cap growth and global growth) or since the start of the manager’s tenure, if shorter) combined is weighted more than shorter-term performance (1 year or 3 years for large cap growth, all cap growth and global growth). In addition, the performance measurement for equity compensation will incorporate a consistency metric using longer term (3, 5, etc.) rolling return compared to peer group over a sustained measurement period (5, 7, etc. years). The exact method may be adjusted to a product’s particular style. If a manager is responsible for more than one product, the rankings of each product are weighted based on relative revenue of accounts represented in each product. An external benchmark is used as a secondary comparison.

In cases where the institutional peer groups are used, Loomis Sayles believes they represent the most competitive product universe while closely matching the investment styles offered by the Loomis Sayles fund.

Loomis Sayles uses both an external benchmark and a customized peer group as a point of comparison for fixed-income manager performance because it believes they represent an appropriate combination of the competitive fixed-income product universe and the investment styles offered by Loomis Sayles.

The external benchmarks used for the investment style utilized for the Fund are noted below:

 

FUND

 

MANAGER BENCHMARK

•    Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

 

•    S&P 500 ® Index

•    Russell 1000 ® Value Index

In addition to the compensation described above, portfolio managers may receive additional compensation based on the overall growth of their strategies.

General

Most mutual funds are not included in the Loomis Sayles’ strategy composites, so unlike managed accounts, fund performance and asset size in those cases would not directly contribute to this calculation. However, each fund managed by Loomis Sayles employs strategies endorsed by Loomis Sayles and fits into the product category for the relevant investment style. Loomis Sayles may adjust compensation if there is significant dispersion among the returns of the composite and accounts not included in the composite.

Loomis Sayles has developed and implemented two distinct long-term incentive plans to attract and retain investment talent. These plans supplement existing compensation.

The first plan has several important components distinguishing it from traditional equity ownership plans:

 

    the plan grants units that entitle participants to an annual payment based on a percentage of company earnings above an established threshold;

 

    upon retirement, a participant will receive a multi-year payout for his or her vested units; and

 

    participation is contingent upon signing an award agreement, which includes a non-compete covenant.

The second plan is similarly constructed although the participants’ annual participation in company earnings is deferred for two years from the time of award and is only payable if the portfolio manager remains at Loomis Sayles. In this plan, there is no post-retirement payments or non-compete covenants.

 

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Senior management expects that the variable compensation portion of overall compensation will continue to remain the largest source of income for those investment professionals included in the plan. The plan is initially offered to portfolio managers, and over time the scope of eligibility is likely to widen. Management has full discretion on what units are issued and to whom.

Portfolio managers also participate in the Loomis Sayles profit sharing plan, in which Loomis Sayles makes a contribution to the retirement plan of each employee based on a percentage of base salary (up to a maximum amount).

Portfolio Managers’ Ownership of Fund Shares

As of November 30, 2016, the portfolio managers had the following ownership in the Fund:

 

Name of Portfolio Manager

  

Fund(s) Managed

   Dollar Range of Equity
Securities Invested*
 

Arthur J. Barry

   Dividend Income Fund      [            

Adam C. Liebhoff

   Dividend Income Fund      [            

 

*   A. None

B. $1 – 10,000

C. $10,001 – $50,000

D. $50,001 – $100,000

E. $100,001 – $500,000

F. $500,001 – $1,000,000

G. over $1,000,000

There are various reasons why a portfolio manager may not own shares of the Fund he or she manages. One reason is that the Fund’s investment objectives and strategies may not match those of the portfolio manager. Administrative reasons (such as facilitating compliance with the Adviser’s code of ethics) also may explain why a portfolio manager has chosen not to invest in the Fund.

Allocation of Investment Opportunity among the Fund and Other Accounts Managed by the Adviser; Cross Relationships of Officers and Trustees

Loomis Sayles has organized its business into two investment groups: The Fixed Income Group and the Equity Group. The Fixed Income Group and the Equity Group make investment decisions for the funds managed by Loomis Sayles. The groups make investment decisions independently of one another. These groups also have responsibility for the management of other client portfolios. The other investment companies and clients served by Loomis Sayles’ investment platforms sometimes invest in securities in which the funds (or segments thereof) advised or subadvised by Loomis Sayles also invest. If one of these funds and such other clients advised or subadvised by the same investment group of Loomis Sayles desire to buy or sell the same portfolio securities at or about the same time, the respective group allocates purchases and sales, to the extent practicable, on a pro rata basis in proportion to the amount desired to be purchased or sold for each fund or client advised or subadvised by that investment group. It is recognized that in some cases the practices described in this paragraph could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities which each of the funds purchases or sells. In other cases, however, it is believed that these practices may benefit the Fund.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

In placing orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities for the Funds, Loomis Sayles always seeks the best price and execution. Some of the Fund’s portfolio transactions are placed with brokers and dealers that provide Loomis Sayles with supplementary investment and statistical information or furnish market quotations to that Fund, the other Funds or other investment companies advised by Loomis Sayles. The business would not be so placed if the Fund would not thereby obtain the best price and execution. Although it is not possible to assign an exact dollar value to these services, they may, to the extent used, tend to reduce the expenses of Loomis Sayles. The services may also be used by Loomis Sayles in connection with their other advisory accounts, and in some cases may not be used with respect to the Funds.

 

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In placing orders for the purchase and sale of equity securities, the Adviser selects only brokers that it believes are financially responsible, will provide efficient and effective services in executing, clearing and settling an order and will charge commission rates that, when combined with the quality of the foregoing services, will produce the best price and execution for the transaction. This does not necessarily mean that the lowest available brokerage commission, if any, will be paid. However, the commissions charged are believed to be competitive with generally prevailing rates. The Adviser will use its best efforts to obtain information as to the general level of commission rates being charged by the brokerage community from time to time and will evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions, if any, paid on transactions by reference to such data. In making such evaluation, factors affecting liquidity and execution of the order, as well as the amount of the capital commitment by the broker in connection with the order, are taken into account. The Adviser may place orders for the Fund which, combined with orders for the Adviser’s’ other clients, may impact the price of the relevant security. This could cause the Fund to obtain a worse price on the transaction than would otherwise be the case if the orders were placed in smaller amounts or spread out over a longer period of time.

Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best possible execution of orders, the Adviser may allocate brokerage transactions to affiliated brokers. Any such transactions will comply with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act. In order for the affiliated broker to effect portfolio transactions for the Fund, the commissions, fees or other remuneration received by the affiliated broker must be reasonable and fair compared to the commissions, fees and other remuneration paid to other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period. Furthermore, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, has adopted procedures that are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker are consistent with the foregoing standard. Furthermore, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, has adopted procedures that are reasonably designed to provide that any commissions, fees or other remuneration paid to an affiliated broker are consistent with the foregoing standard.

Generally, Loomis Sayles seeks to obtain quality executions at favorable security prices and at competitive commission rates, where applicable, through brokers and dealers who, in Loomis Sayles’ opinion, can provide the best overall net results for its clients. Transactions in equity securities are frequently executed through a primary market maker, but may also be executed on an Electronic Communication Network (ECN), Alternative Trading System (ATS), or other execution system. Fixed-income securities generally are purchased from the issuer or a primary market maker acting as principal on a net basis with no brokerage commission paid by the client. Such securities, as well as equity securities, may also be purchased from underwriters at prices which include underwriting fees.

Commissions and Other Factors in Broker or Dealer Selection

Loomis Sayles uses its best efforts to obtain information as to the general level of commission rates being charged by the brokerage community from time to time and to evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions paid on client portfolio transactions by reference to such data. In making this evaluation, all factors affecting liquidity and execution of the order, as well as the amount of the capital commitment by the broker or dealer, are taken into account. Other relevant factors may include, without limitation: (a) the execution capabilities of the brokers and/or dealers, (b) research and other products or services (as described in the section “Soft Dollars”) provided by such brokers and/or dealers which are expected to enhance Loomis Sayles’ general portfolio management capabilities, (c) the size of the transaction, (d) the difficulty of execution, (e) the operations facilities of the brokers and/or dealers involved, (f) the risk in positioning a block of securities, (g) fair dealing and (h) the quality of the overall brokerage and research services provided by the broker and/or dealer.

Soft Dollars

Loomis Sayles’ receipt of brokerage and research products or services is a factor in Loomis Sayles’ selection of a broker-dealer to execute transactions for the Fund where Loomis Sayles believes that the broker-dealer will provide quality execution of the transactions. Loomis Sayles will only allocate brokerage to firms that charge higher commissions when it believes the cost is reasonable in relation to the research and execution services received. Such brokerage and research products or services may be paid for with Loomis Sayles’ own assets or may, in connection with transactions in equity securities effected for client accounts for which Loomis Sayles exercises investment discretion, be paid for with client commissions ( i.e., “soft dollars”).

Loomis Sayles will only acquire research and brokerage products and services that are deemed to qualify as eligible products and services under the safe harbor of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). Eligible research services and products that may be acquired by Loomis Sayles are those products

 

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and services that provide advice, analysis or reports that will aid Loomis Sayles in carrying out its investment decision-making responsibilities. Eligible research must reflect the expression of reasoning or knowledge (having inherently intangible and non-physical attributes) and may include the following research items: traditional research reports; discussions with research analysts and corporate executives; seminars or conferences; financial and economic publications that are not targeted to a wide public audience; software that provides analysis of securities portfolios; market research including pre-trade and post-trade analytics; and market data. Eligible brokerage services and products that may be acquired by Loomis Sayles are those services or products that (i) are required to effect securities transactions; (ii) perform functions incidental to securities transactions; or (iii) are services that are required by an applicable self-regulatory organization or SEC rule(s). The brokerage and research products or services provided to Loomis Sayles by a particular broker or dealer may include (a) products and services created by such brokers or dealers, (b) products and services created by other broker-dealers, and (c) products and services created by a third party. All soft dollars are reviewed and approved by Loomis Sayles’ Chief Compliance Officer.

If Loomis Sayles receives a particular product or service that both aids it in carrying out its investment decision-making responsibilities ( i.e. , a “research use”) and provides non-research related uses, Loomis Sayles will make a good faith determination as to the allocation of the cost of such “mixed-use item” between the research and non-research uses and will only use soft dollars to pay for the portion of the cost relating to its research use.

In connection with Loomis Sayles’ use of soft dollars, the Fund may pay a broker-dealer an amount of commission for effecting a transaction for the Fund in excess of the amount of commission another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if Loomis Sayles determines in good faith that the amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research products or services provided by the broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either the particular transaction or Loomis Sayles’ overall responsibilities to the accounts as to which Loomis Sayles exercises investment discretion.

Loomis Sayles may use soft dollars to acquire brokerage or research products and services that have potential application to all client accounts, including the Fund, or to acquire brokerage or research products and services that will be applied in the management of a certain group of client accounts and, in some cases, may not be used with respect to the Fund. The products or services may not be used in connection with the management of some of the accounts, including the Fund, that paid commissions to the broker or dealer providing the products or services and may be used in connection with the management of other accounts.

Loomis Sayles’ use of soft dollars to acquire brokerage and research products and services benefits Loomis Sayles by allowing it to obtain such products and services without having to purchase them with its own assets. Loomis Sayles believes that its use of soft dollars also benefits the Fund as described above. However, conflicts may arise between the Fund’s interest in paying the lowest commission rates available and Loomis Sayles’ interest in receiving brokerage and research products and services from particular brokers and dealers without having to purchase such products and services with Loomis Sayles’ own assets.

For purposes of this soft dollars discussion, the term “commission” may include (to the extent applicable) both commissions and markups, markdowns, commission equivalents or other fees paid to dealers in connection with certain transactions to the extent consistent with relevant SEC interpretations includes commissions paid to brokers in connection with transactions effected on an agency basis. Loomis Sayles does not generate “soft dollars” on fixed-income transactions.

Client Commission Arrangements

Loomis Sayles has entered into client commission arrangements (“CCAs”) (also known as commission sharing arrangements) with some of its key broker-dealer relationships. Over the past few years, Loomis Sayles has significantly reduced the number of brokers with which it will trade. In a CCA, subject to best execution, Loomis Sayles will allocate a higher portion of its clients’ equity trading with broker-dealers who have agreed to unbundle their commission rates in order to enable Loomis Sayles to separately negotiate rates for execution and research and research services. The execution rates Loomis Sayles has negotiated with such firms vary depending on the type of the orders Loomis Sayles has asked the CCAs to execute.

Pursuant to the CCAs Loomis Sayles has with these broker-dealers, each firm will pool the research commissions accumulated during a calendar quarter and then, at the direction of Loomis Sayles, pay various broker-dealers and third party services from this pool for the research and research services such firms have provided to Loomis Sayles.

 

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The CCAs enable Loomis Sayles to strengthen its relationships with its key broker-dealers, and limit the broker-dealers with whom it trades to those with whom it has FIX connectivity, while still maintaining the research relationships with broker-dealers that provide Loomis Sayles with research and research services. In addition, the ability to unbundle the execution and research components of commissions enables Loomis Sayles to provide greater transparency to its clients in their commission reports.

These CCAs are deemed to be soft dollar arrangements and Loomis Sayles and each CCA intends to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act as well as the Commission Guidance Regarding Client Commission Practices under Section 28(e) in the SEC Release No. 34-54165 dated July 18, 2006.

Loomis Sayles has a comprehensive internal voting process whereby Loomis Sayles’ equity portfolio managers, research analysts and strategists vote on various aspects of a broker-dealer’s qualitative services, which include without limitation: research and other services, idea generation, models, expert consultants, political and economic analysts, technical analysts, discussions with research analysts and corporate executives, seminars and conferences. This internal voting process is performed on a quarterly basis, and Loomis Sayles provides the results to the equity traders as guidance to which broker-dealers are providing the most valued qualitative services. These results are also used as tools for estimating commission targets for various broker-dealers.

In addition to trading with the CCA broker-dealers discussed above, Loomis Sayles continues to trade with full service broker-dealers, boutiques and ECNs, and ATSs and other electronic systems.

General

Subject to procedures adopted by the Board, the Fund’s brokerage transactions may be executed by brokers that are affiliated with Natixis US or Loomis Sayles. Any such transactions will comply with Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act, or other applicable restrictions as permitted by the SEC pursuant to exemptive relief or otherwise.

Under the 1940 Act, persons affiliated with the Trust are prohibited from dealing with the Trust’s Funds as a principal in the purchase and sale of securities. Since transactions in the OTC market usually involve transactions with dealers acting as principals for their own accounts, affiliated persons of the Trust may not serve as the Fund’s dealer in connection with such transactions.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, and in all instances subject to the foregoing policy of best execution, the Adviser may allocate brokerage transactions to broker-dealers (including affiliates of the Distributor) that have entered into arrangements in which the broker-dealer allocates a portion of the commissions paid by the Fund toward the reduction of the Fund’s expenses.

It is expected that the portfolio transactions in fixed-income securities will generally be with issuers or dealers on a net basis without a stated commission. Securities firms may receive brokerage commissions on transactions involving options, futures and options on futures and the purchase and sale of underlying securities upon exercise of options. The brokerage commissions associated with buying and selling options may be proportionately higher than those associated with general securities transactions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST

The Declaration of Trust of Natixis Funds Trust II permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of each series. Each share of the Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in the Fund with each other share of the Fund and is entitled to a proportionate interest in the dividends and distributions from the Fund. The Declaration of Trust further permits the Board to divide the shares of each series into any number of separate classes, each having such rights and preferences relative to other classes of the same series as the Board may determine. When you invest in the Fund, you acquire freely transferable shares of beneficial interest that entitle you to receive dividends as determined by the Board and to cast a vote for each share you own at shareholder meetings. The shares of the Fund do not have any preemptive rights. Upon termination of the Fund, whether pursuant to liquidation of a Trust or otherwise, shareholders of each class of the Fund are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets attributable to that class of shares of the Fund available for distribution to shareholders. The Declaration of Trust also permits the Board to charge shareholders directly for custodial, transfer agency servicing and other expenses.

 

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The shares of the Fund are divided into five classes: Class A, Class C, Class N, Class T and Class Y. As described in its Prospectuses, Class Y shares are available for purchase only by certain eligible investors and have higher minimum purchase requirements than Class A, Class C, Class N and Class T shares. As described in its prospectus, Class T shares are available for purchase only by certain eligible investors. All expenses of the Fund (including advisory fees) are borne by its Class A, Class C, Class N, Class T and Class Y shares on a pro rata basis, except for 12b-1 fees, which are borne only by Class A, Class C and Class T and may be charged at a separate rate to each such class. Transfer agency fees for Class A, Class C, Class T and Class Y shares of the Fund are borne on a pro rata basis. Class N transfer agency fees are borne directly by that class. The multiple class structure could be terminated should certain IRS rulings or SEC regulatory positions be rescinded or modified.

The assets received by each class of the Fund for the issue or sale of its shares and all income, earnings, profits, losses and proceeds therefrom, subject only to the rights of the creditors, are allocated to, and constitute the underlying assets of, that class of the Fund. The underlying assets of each class of the Fund are segregated and are charged with the expenses with respect to that class of the Fund and with a share of the general expenses of the Fund and Trust. Any general expenses of the Trust that are not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular class of the Fund are allocated by or under the direction of the Trustees in such manner as the Trustees determine to be fair and equitable. While the expenses of the Trust are allocated to the separate books of account of each series of the Trust, certain expenses may be legally chargeable against the assets of all of the series in a Trust.

The Declaration of Trust also permits the Board, without shareholder approval, to subdivide the Fund or series or class of shares into various sub-series or sub-classes with such dividend preferences and other rights as the Trustees may designate. The Board may also, without shareholder approval (except to the extent such approval is required by law), establish one or more additional series or classes or merge two or more existing series or classes. Shareholders’ investments in such an additional or merged series would be evidenced by a separate series of shares ( i.e. , a new “fund”).

The Declaration of Trust provides for the perpetual existence of the Trust. The Trust or the Fund, however, may be terminated at any time by vote of at least two-thirds of each series of the Trust entitled to vote. In addition, the Fund may be terminated at any time by vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Similarly, any class within the Fund may be terminated by vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of such class. The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Board may also, without shareholder approval, terminate the Trust or Fund upon written notice to their shareholders

VOTING RIGHTS

Shareholders of the Fund are entitled to one vote for each full share held (with fractional votes for each fractional share held) and may vote (to the extent provided in the Declaration of Trust) on the election of Trustees and the termination of the Trust and on other matters submitted to the vote of shareholders.

All classes of shares of the Fund have identical voting rights, except that each class of shares has exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to that class, and has separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of any other class. On any matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, all shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall, except as otherwise provided in the Trust’s by-laws, be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to series or class of shares, except (1) when required by the 1940 Act, or when the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects one or more series or class of shares materially differently, shares shall be voted by individual series or class and (2) when the matter affects only the interest of one or more series or classes, only shareholders of such series or class shall be entitled to vote thereon. Consistent with the current position of the SEC, shareholders of all series and classes vote together, irrespective of series or class, on the election of Trustees and the selection of the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm, but shareholders of each series vote separately on most other matters requiring shareholder approval, such as certain changes in investment policies of that series or the approval of the investment advisory agreement relating to that series, and shareholders of each class within a series vote separately as to the Rule 12b-1 plan (if any) relating to that class.

There will normally be no meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees except that, in accordance with the 1940 Act, (i) the Trust will hold a shareholders’ meeting for the election of Trustees at such time as less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by shareholders, and (ii) if there is a vacancy on the

 

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Board, such vacancy may be filled only by a vote of the shareholders unless, after filling such vacancy by other means, at least two-thirds of the Trustees holding office shall have been elected by the shareholders. In addition, Trustees may be removed from office by a written consent signed by the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares and filed with the Trust’s custodian or by a vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares at a meeting duly called for that purpose.

Upon written request by a minimum of ten holders of shares having held their shares for a minimum of six months and having a NAV of at least $25,000 or constituting at least 1% of the outstanding shares, whichever is less, stating that such shareholders wish to communicate with the other shareholders for the purpose of obtaining the signatures necessary to demand a meeting to consider removal of a Trustee, the Trust has undertaken to provide a list of shareholders or to disseminate appropriate materials (at the expense of the requesting shareholders).

Except as set forth above, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and may appoint successor Trustees. Shareholder voting rights are not cumulative.

The affirmative vote of a majority of shares of the Trust voted (assuming a quorum is present in person or by proxy) is required to amend the Declaration of Trust if such amendment (1) affects the power of shareholders to vote, (2) amends the section of the Declaration of Trust governing amendments, (3) is one for which a vote is required by law or by the Trust’s registration statement, or (4) is submitted to the shareholders by the Trustees. If one or more new series of the Trust is established and designated by the Trustees, the shareholders having beneficial interests in the Fund shall not be entitled to vote on matters exclusively affecting such new series, such matters including, without limitation, the adoption of or any change in the investment objectives, policies or restrictions of the new series and the approval of the investment advisory contracts of the new series. Similarly, the shareholders of the new series shall not be entitled to vote on any such matters as they affect the other funds.

SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. However, the Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Trust or the Trustees. The Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Fund’s property for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund by reason of owning shares of such Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is considered remote since it is limited to circumstances in which the disclaimer is inoperative and the Fund itself would be unable to meet its obligations.

The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Board will not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to which the 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 his or her office. The by-laws of the Trust provide for indemnification by the Trust of Trustees and officers of the Trust, except with respect to any matter as to which any such person did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interests of the Trust. Such persons may not be indemnified against any liability to the Trust or the Trust’s shareholders to whom 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. The Trust offers only its own funds’ shares for sale, but it is possible that the Trust might become liable for any misstatements in a prospectus that relate to another Trust. The Trustees of the Trust have considered this possible liability and approved the use of a combined prospectus for Funds of the Trust.

HOW TO BUY SHARES

The procedures for purchasing shares of the Fund are summarized in the Prospectus. All purchases made by check should be in U.S. dollars and made payable to Natixis Funds or the Fund’s custodian bank.

At the discretion of the Distributor, bank trust departments or trust companies may also be eligible for investment in Class Y shares at a reduced minimum, subject to certain conditions including a requirement to meet the minimum investment balance within a specified time period. Please contact the Distributor at 800-225-5478 for more information. At the discretion of the Distributor, clients of NGAM Advisors may purchase, at NAV, Class A shares of Natixis Funds that do not offer Class Y shares.

 

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Class Y Shareholders of the Fund may be permitted to open an account without an initial investment and then wire funds into the account once established. These shareholders will still be subject to the investment minimums as detailed in the Prospectus of the Fund.

REDEMPTIONS

The procedures for redemption of shares of the Fund are summarized in its Prospectus.

A shareholder automatically receives access to the ability to redeem shares by telephone following the completion of the Fund application, which is available at ngam.natixis.com or from your investment dealer. When selecting the service, a shareholder may have the withdrawal proceeds sent to his or her bank, in which case the shareholder must designate a bank account on his or her application to which the redemption proceeds should be sent as well as provide a check marked “VOID” and/or a deposit slip that includes the routing number of his or her bank. Any change in the bank account so designated or addition of a new bank account may be made by furnishing to Boston Financial or your investment dealer a completed Service Options Form, which may require a medallion signature guarantee or a Signature Validation Program Stamp. Telephone redemptions by ACH or wire may only be made if the designated bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System or has a correspondent bank that is a member of the System. If the account is with a savings bank, it must have only one correspondent bank that is a member of the System. The Fund, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and State Street Bank (the Fund’s custodian) are not responsible for the authenticity of withdrawal instructions received by telephone, although they will apply established verification procedures. Boston Financial, as agreed to with the Fund, will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that your telephone instructions are genuine, and if it does not, it may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Such verification procedures include, but are not limited to, requiring a form of personal identification prior to acting on an investor’s telephone instructions and recording an investor’s instructions.

The redemption price will be the NAV per share (less any applicable CDSC) next determined after the redemption request and any necessary special documentation is received by the Transfer Agent or your investment dealer in proper form. Payment normally will be made by the Fund within seven days thereafter. Shares purchased by check or through ACH may not be available immediately for redemption to the extent the check or ACH transaction has not cleared. The Fund may withhold redemption proceeds for ten days when redemptions are made within ten calendar days of purchase by check or through ACH.

The CDSC may be waived on redemptions made from IRA accounts due to attainment of age 59 1/2 for IRA shareholders who established accounts prior to January 3, 1995. The CDSC may also be waived on redemptions made from IRA accounts due to death, disability, return of excess contribution, required minimum distributions at age 70 1/2 (waivers apply only to amounts necessary to meet the required minimum amount based on assets held within the Fund), certain withdrawals pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan (not to exceed 10% annually of the value of the account) and redemptions made from the account to pay custodial fees. The CDSC may also be waived on redemptions within one year following the death of (i) the sole shareholder of an individual account, (ii) a joint tenant where the surviving joint tenant is the deceased’s spouse, or (iii) the beneficiary of a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, Uniform Transfer to Minors Act or other custodial account. If the account is transferred to an account registered in the name of the deceased’s estate, the CDSC will be waived on any redemption occurring within one year of death. If the account is transferred to a new registration and then a redemption is requested, the applicable CDSC will be charged. However, if an account is transferred to a new registration solely as an operational processing step to facilitate the distribution request from the deceased shareholder’s (or the estate’s) account, the CDSC will be waived. If shares are not redeemed within one year of the death, they will remain subject to the applicable CDSC when redeemed from the transferee’s account.

The CDSC may be waived on redemptions made from 403(b)(7) custodial accounts due to attainment of age 59 1/2 for shareholders who established custodial accounts prior to January 3, 1995. The CDSC may also be waived on redemptions made from 403(b)(7) custodial accounts due to death or disability.

 

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The CDSC also may be waived on redemptions necessary to pay plan participants or beneficiaries from certain retirement plans under Section 401 of the Code, including profit sharing plans, money purchase plans, 401(k) and custodial accounts under Section 403(b)(7) of the Code. Distributions necessary to pay plan participants and beneficiaries include payment made due to death, disability, separation from service, normal or early retirement as defined in the plan document, loans from the plan and hardship withdrawals, return of excess contributions, required minimum distributions at age 70 1/2 (waivers only apply to amounts necessary to meet the required minimum amount), certain withdrawals pursuant to a systematic withdrawal plan, not to exceed 10% annually of the value of your account, and redemptions made from qualified retirement accounts or Section 403(b)(7) custodial accounts necessary to pay custodial fees.

A CDSC will apply in the event of plan level transfers, including transfers due to changes in investment where assets are transferred outside of Natixis Funds, including IRA and 403(b)(7) participant-directed transfers of assets to other custodians (except for the reasons given above) or qualified transfers of assets due to trustee-directed movement of plan assets due to merger, acquisition or addition of additional funds to the plan.

The Fund will normally redeem shares for cash; however, the Fund reserves the right to pay the redemption price wholly or partly in kind, if NGAM Advisors determines it to be advisable and in the interest of the remaining shareholders of the Fund. The redemptions in kind will generally, but will not necessarily, result in a pro rata distribution of each security held in the Fund’s portfolio. If portfolio securities are distributed in lieu of cash, the shareholder will normally incur brokerage commissions upon subsequent disposition of any such securities. However, the Fund has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act, pursuant to which the Fund is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash for any shareholder during any 90-day period up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the total NAV of the Fund at the beginning of such period.

The Fund does not currently impose any redemption charge other than the CDSC imposed by the Fund’s Distributor, as described in the Prospectus. The Board reserves the right to impose additional charges at any time. A redemption constitutes a sale of shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes on which the investor may realize a long- or short-term capital gain or loss. See the section “Taxes.”

The Fund reserves the right to suspend account services or refuse transaction requests if the Fund receives notice of a dispute between registered owners or of the death of a registered owner or the Fund suspects a fraudulent act. If the Fund refuses a transaction request because it receives notice of a dispute, the transaction will be processed at the NAV next determined after the Fund receives notice that the dispute has been settled or a court order has been entered adjudicating the dispute. If the Fund determines that its suspicion of fraud or belief that a dispute existed was mistaken, the transaction will be processed as of the NAV next determined after the transaction request was first received in good order.

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES

Open Accounts

A shareholder’s investment is automatically credited to an open account maintained for the shareholder by Boston Financial. Following each additional investment or redemption from the account initiated by an investor (with the exception of systematic investment plans), a shareholder will receive a confirmation statement disclosing the current balance of shares owned and the details of recent transactions in the account. After the close of each calendar year, the Fund will send each shareholder a statement providing account information that may include federal tax information on dividends and distributions paid to the shareholder during the year. This Statement should be retained as a permanent record.

The open account system provides for full and fractional shares expressed to three decimal places and, by making the issuance and delivery of stock certificates unnecessary, eliminates problems of handling and safekeeping, and the cost and inconvenience of replacing lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed certificates. Certificates will not be issued or honored for any class of shares.

The costs of maintaining the open account system are paid by the Fund and no direct charges are made to shareholders. Although the Fund has no present intention of making such direct charges to shareholders, it reserves the right to do so. Shareholders will receive prior notice before any such charges are made.

 

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Unclaimed Property Laws

States increasingly are looking at inactive mutual fund accounts as possible “unclaimed” or “abandoned” property. If your account is deemed unclaimed or abandoned under state law, the Fund may be required to “escheat” or transfer the assets in your account to the applicable state’s unclaimed property administration. The state may sell escheated shares and, if you subsequently seek to reclaim your proceeds of liquidation from the state, you may only be able to recover the amount received when the shares were sold.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you maintain a correct address for your account, keep your account active in ways such as by contacting the Transfer Agent by mail or telephone or accessing your account through the Fund’s website at least every three years, and promptly cash all checks for dividends, capital gains and redemptions. Each State’s requirements to keep an account active can vary and are subject to change. If you invest in the Fund through a financial intermediary, we encourage you to contact the financial intermediary regarding applicable state unclaimed property laws. The Fund, the Transfer Agent and the Distributor will not be liable to shareholders or their representatives for good faith compliance with state unclaimed property laws.

Minimum Balance Policy

The Fund’s minimum balance policy is described in the Prospectus.

Automatic Investment Plans (All Classes Except Class T)

Subject to the Fund’s investor eligibility requirements, investors may automatically invest in additional shares of the Fund on a monthly basis under the Investment Builder Program by authorizing the Fund to draw from an investor’s bank account. A Service Options Form must be completed to open an automatic investment plan and may be obtained by calling the Fund at 800-225-5478 or your investment dealer or by visiting the Fund’s website at ngam.natixis.com.

This program is voluntary and may be terminated at any time by Boston Financial upon notice to existing plan participants. The Investment Builder Program plan may be discontinued at any time by the investor by written notice to Boston Financial, which must be received at least five business days prior to any payment date. The plan may be discontinued by State Street Bank at any time without prior notice if any check is not paid upon presentation or by written notice to the shareholder at least thirty days prior to any payment date. The Fund is under no obligation to notify shareholders as to the nonpayment of any check.

Retirement Plans and Other Plans Offering Tax Benefits (Class A and Class C Shares)

The federal tax laws provide for a variety of retirement plans offering tax benefits. These plans may be funded with shares of the Fund or with certain other investments. The plans include H.R. 10 (Keogh) plans for self-employed individuals and partnerships, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), corporate pension trust and profit sharing plans, including 401(k) plans, and retirement plans for public school systems and certain tax-exempt organizations.

The minimum initial investment available to retirement plans and other plans offering tax benefits is referred to in the Prospectuses. For these plans, initial investments in the Fund for Class A and Class C shares must be at least $1,000 for IRAs and Keogh plans using the Natixis Funds’ prototype document and $500 for Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and at least $100 for any subsequent investments. There is no initial or subsequent investment minimum for SIMPLE IRAs using the Natixis Funds’ prototype documents. Income dividends and capital gain distributions must be reinvested (unless the investor is over age 59  1 2 or disabled). These types of accounts may be subject to fees. Plan documents and further information can be obtained from the Distributor.

Certain retirement plans may also be eligible to purchase Class N, Class T and Class Y shares. See the Prospectus for details.

Systematic Withdrawal Plans (All Classes Except Class T)

An investor owning the Fund’s shares having a value of $10,000 or more at the current public offering price may establish a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (a “Plan”) providing for periodic payments of a fixed or variable amount. An investor may terminate the plan at any time. A form for use in establishing such a plan is available from Boston Financial, your investment dealer or by visiting the Fund’s website at www.ngam.natixis.com. Withdrawals may be paid to a person other than the shareholder if a Medallion signature guarantee is provided. Please consult your investment dealer or the Fund.

 

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A shareholder under a Plan may elect to receive payments monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually for a fixed amount of not less than $50 or a variable amount based on (1) the market value of a stated number of shares or (2) a specified percentage of the account’s market value.

In the case of shares subject to a CDSC, the amount or percentage you specify may not, on an annualized basis, exceed 10% of the value, as of the time you make the election, of your account with the Fund with respect to which you are electing the Plan. Withdrawals of shares of the Fund under the Plan will be treated as redemptions of shares purchased through the reinvestment of Fund distributions, or, to the extent such shares purchased through the reinvestment of distribution in your account are insufficient to cover Plan payments, as redemptions from the earliest purchased shares of such Fund in your account. No CDSC applies to redemptions pursuant to the Plan.

Since withdrawal payments represent proceeds from the liquidation of shares, withdrawals may reduce and possibly exhaust the value of the account, particularly in the event of a decline in NAV. Accordingly, a shareholder should consider whether a Plan and the specified amounts to be withdrawn are appropriate under the circumstances. The Fund and the Distributor make no recommendations or representations in this regard. It may be appropriate for a shareholder to consult a tax adviser before establishing such a plan. See the sections “Redemptions” and “Taxes” for certain information as to U.S. federal income taxes.

It may be disadvantageous for a shareholder to purchase on a regular basis additional Fund shares with a sales charge while redeeming shares under a Plan. Accordingly, the Fund and the Distributor do not recommend additional investments in Class A shares by a shareholder who has a withdrawal plan in effect and who would be subject to a sales load on such additional investments. Natixis Funds may modify or terminate this program at any time.

Because of statutory restrictions this Plan may not be available to pension or profit-sharing plans and IRAs plans that have State Street Bank as trustee. Different documentation may be required.

Dividend Diversification Program (All Classes Except Class T)

You may also establish a Dividend Diversification Program, which allows you to have all dividends and any other distributions automatically invested in shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund, subject to the investor eligibility requirements of that other Fund and to state securities law requirements. Shares will be purchased based upon the selected Fund’s NAV (without a sales charge or CDSC) determined as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the ex-dividend date for each dividend and distribution. A dividend diversification account must be registered to the same shareholder as the distributing Fund account and, if a new account in the purchased Fund is being established, the purchased Fund’s minimum investment requirements must be met. Before establishing a Dividend Diversification Program into any other Natixis Fund, you must obtain and carefully read a copy of that Fund’s Prospectus.

Exchange/Conversion Privilege

A shareholder may exchange Class A, Class C, Class N and Class Y shares of the Fund for shares of the same class of another Natixis Fund or series of Loomis Sayles Funds I or Loomis Sayles Funds II that offers that class (subject to the investor eligibility requirements, if any, of the fund into which the exchange is being made and any other limits on the sales of or exchanges into that fund) on the basis of relative NAVs at the time of the exchange without any sales charge. An exchange of shares in one fund for shares of another fund is a taxable event on which gain or loss may be recognized. When an exchange is made from the Class A or Class C shares of the Fund to the same class of shares of another fund, the shares received by the shareholder in the exchange will have the same age characteristics as the shares exchanged. The age of the shares determines the expiration of the CDSC. Class Y shares the Fund may be exchanged, subject to investment minimums, for Institutional Class shares of any series of Loomis Sayles Funds I or Loomis Sayles Funds II that offers Institutional Class shares. These options are summarized in the Prospectus.

Accounts participating in or moving into wrap fee programs or held through a registered investment adviser may exchange Class A shares of a fund for Class Y shares of the same fund and may also exchange Class C shares of a fund for Class A shares or Class Y shares of the same fund. Any account with an outstanding CDSC liability will be

 

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assessed the CDSC before converting to either Class A or Class Y shares. Accounts converting from Class C shares to Class A shares will not be subject to any Class A sales charges as a result of the initial conversion or any subsequent purchases of Class A shares. In order to exchange shares, a representative of the wrap-fee program or registered investment adviser must follow the procedures set forth by the Distributor. An exchange of shares for shares of a different class in the same fund generally should not be a taxable event for the exchanging shareholder.

Class A shares of a fund acquired by Trustees, former Trustees, employees of affiliates of the Natixis Funds, individuals who are affiliated with any Natixis Fund (including spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those mentioned) and Natixis affiliate employee benefit plans (collectively, “Natixis affiliated shareholders”) may be converted to Class Y shares of the same fund without payment of a CDSC.

In certain limited circumstances, accounts participating in wrap fee programs or held through a registered investment adviser may convert Class Y shares of a Fund to Class A shares of the same Fund. Class Y shares may be converted to Class A shares of the same Fund if the Class Y shares are held in an investment option or program that no longer permits the use of Class Y shares in that option or program or if the shareholder otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in Class Y shares. Conversions from Class Y shares to Class A shares will not be subject to an initial sales charge; however, future purchases may be subject to a sales charge, if applicable. In order to convert shares, a representative of the wrap-fee program or a registered investment adviser must follow the procedures set forth by the Distributor.

Class A or Class Y shares of a Fund held in an omnibus fashion by certain retirement plans may be converted to Class N shares of the same Fund but must be held in omnibus position in Class N. See the section “How to Buy Shares.” Any account with an outstanding CDSC liability will be assessed the CDSC before converting to Class N shares.

Shares of the Fund may be converted to Class T shares of the Fund, provided you meet the eligibility requirements for investing in Class T shares. Any account with an outstanding CDSC liability will be assessed the CDSC before converting to Class T shares. Accounts converting to Class T shares will not be subject to an initial sales charge; however, future purchases may be subject to a sales charge, if applicable.

The Fund reserves the right to refuse any conversion request. Due to operational limitations at your financial intermediary, your ability to convert share classes of the same fund may be limited. Please consult your financial representative for more information. A conversion of shares to shares of a different class in the same fund generally should not be a taxable event for a shareholder.

All exchanges or conversions are subject to the eligibility requirements of the Fund or class into which you are exchanging or converting and any other limits on sales of or exchanges or conversions into that Fund or class. The exchange or conversion privilege may be exercised only in those states where shares of such Funds or classes may be legally sold. The Fund reserves the right to suspend or change the terms of exchanging or converting shares. The Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to refuse or limit any exchange or conversion order for any reason, including if the transaction is deemed not to be in the best interests of the Fund’s other shareholders or possibly disruptive to the management of the Fund.

Before requesting an exchange or conversion into any other Natixis Fund or series of Loomis Sayles Funds I or Loomis Sayles Funds II or any other Class of the Fund, please read its Prospectus carefully. Subject to the applicable rules of the SEC, the Board reserves the right to modify the exchange or conversion privilege at any time. Except as otherwise permitted by SEC rule, shareholders will receive at least 60 days’ advance notice of any material change to the exchange or conversion privilege.

 

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Automatic Exchange Plan (All Classes Except Class T)

As described in the Prospectus, a shareholder may establish an Automatic Exchange Plan under which shares of the Fund are automatically exchanged each month for shares of the same class of one or more of the other funds. Registration on all accounts must be identical. The Fund minimum of the new fund must be met in connection with each investment. Exchanges may be processed on any day of the month (or the first business day thereafter if the exchange date is not a business day) until the account is exhausted or until Boston Financial is notified in writing or by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478 to terminate the plan. Exchanges may be made in amounts of $100 or more. The Service Options Form may be used to establish an Automatic Exchange Plan and is available from Boston Financial, your financial representative or by visiting our website at ngam.natixis.com.

Restrictions on Buying, Selling and Exchanging Shares

As stated in the Fund’s Prospectus, the Fund and the Distributor reserve the right to reject any purchase or exchange order for any reason. When a purchase or exchange order is rejected, the Fund or the Distributor will send notice to the prospective investor or the investor’s financial intermediary promptly after receipt of the rejected order.

Broker Trading Privileges

The Distributor may, from time to time, enter into agreements with one or more brokers or other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares until the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern time on each day that the NYSE is open for trading); such purchase and redemption orders will be deemed to have been received by a Fund when the authorized broker or intermediary accepts such orders; and such orders will be priced using that Fund’s NAV next computed after the orders are placed with and accepted by such brokers or intermediaries. Any purchase and redemption orders received by a broker or intermediary under these agreements will be transmitted daily to the Fund no later than the time specified in such agreement; but, in any event, no later than market open, Eastern time, following the day that such purchase or redemption orders are received by the broker or intermediary.

Transcript Requests

Transcripts of account transactions will be provided, free of charge, at the shareholder’s request.

Self-Servicing Your Account with Natixis Funds Personal Access Line ® and Website (All Classes Except Class N and Class T)

Natixis Funds shareholders may access account information, including share balances and recent account activity online, by visiting our website at ngam.natixis.com. Transactions may also be processed online for certain accounts (restrictions may apply). Such transactions include purchases, redemptions and exchanges, and shareholders are automatically eligible for these features. Natixis Funds has taken measures to ensure the security of shareholder accounts, including the encryption of data and the use of personal identification (PIN) numbers. In addition, you may restrict these privileges from your account by calling Natixis Funds at 800-225-5478, or writing to us at P.O. Box 219579, Kansas City, MO 64121-9579. More information regarding these features may be found on our website at ngam.natixis.com.

Investor activities through these mediums are subject to the terms and conditions outlined in the following Natixis Funds Online and Telephonic Customer Agreement . This agreement is also posted on our website. The initiation of any activity through the Natixis Funds Personal Access Line ® or website at ngam.natixis.com by an investor shall indicate agreement with the following terms and conditions:

Natixis Funds Online and Telephonic Customer Agreement

NOTE: ACCESSING OR REQUESTING ACCOUNT INFORMATION OR TRANSACTIONS THROUGH THIS SITE CONSTITUTES AND SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE AN ACCEPTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

The accuracy, completeness and timeliness of all mutual fund information provided is the sole responsibility of the mutual fund company that provides the information. No party that provides a connection between this website and a mutual fund or its transfer agency system can verify or ensure the receipt of any information transmitted to or from a mutual fund or its transfer agent, or the acceptance by, or completion of any transaction with, a mutual fund.

 

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The online acknowledgments or other messages that appear on your screen for transactions entered do not mean that the transactions have been received, accepted or rejected by the mutual fund. These acknowledgments are only an indication that the transactional information entered by you has either been transmitted to the mutual fund, or that it cannot be transmitted. It is the responsibility of the mutual fund to confirm to you that it has received the information and accepted or rejected a transaction. It is the responsibility of the mutual fund to deliver to you a current prospectus, confirmation statement and any other documents or information required by applicable law.

NO TRANSACTION SHALL BE DEEMED ACCEPTED UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A WRITTEN CONFIRMATION FROM THE NATIXIS FUNDS.

You are responsible for reviewing all mutual fund account statements received by you in the mail in order to verify the accuracy of all mutual fund account information provided in the statement and transactions entered through this site. You also are responsible for promptly notifying the mutual fund of any errors or inaccuracies relating to information contained in, or omitted from, your mutual fund account statements, including errors or inaccuracies arising from the transactions conducted through this site.

TRANSACTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO ALL REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS AND FEES AS SET FORTH IN THE PROSPECTUS OF THE SELECTED FUND.

THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT EXTEND NOT ONLY TO TRANSACTIONS TRANSMITTED VIA THE INTERNET BUT TO TELEPHONIC TRANSACTIONS INITIATED THROUGH THE NATIXIS FUNDS PERSONAL ACCESS LINE ® .

You are responsible for the confidentiality and use of your personal identification numbers, account numbers, social security numbers and any other personal information required to access the site or transmit telephonically. Any individual that possesses the information required to pass through all security measures will be presumed to be you. All transactions submitted by an individual presumed to be you will be solely your responsibility.

You agree that Natixis Funds does not have the responsibility to inquire as to the legitimacy or propriety of any instructions received from you or any person believed to be you, and is not responsible or liable for any losses that may occur from acting on such instructions.

Natixis Funds is not responsible for incorrect data received via the Internet or telephonically from you or any person believed to be you. Transactions submitted over the Internet and telephonically are solely your responsibility and Natixis Funds makes no warranty as to the correctness, completeness or accuracy of any transmission. Similarly, Natixis Funds bears no responsibility for the performance of any computer hardware, software or the performance of any ancillary equipment and services such as telephone lines, modems or Internet service providers.

The processing of transactions over this site or telephonically will involve the transmission of personal data including social security numbers, account numbers and personal identification numbers. While Natixis Funds has taken reasonable security precautions including data encryption designed to protect the integrity of data transmitted to and from the areas of our website that relate to the processing of transactions, we disclaim any liability for the interception of such data.

You agree to immediately notify Natixis Funds if any of the following occurs:

 

  1. You do not receive confirmation of a transaction submitted via the Internet or telephonically within five (5) business days.

 

  2. You receive confirmation of a transaction of which you have no knowledge and was not initiated or authorized by you.

 

  3. You transmit a transaction for which you do not receive a confirmation number.

 

  4. You have reason to believe that others may have gained access to your personal identification number (PIN) or other personal data.

 

  5. You notice an unexplained discrepancy in account balances or other changes to your account, including address changes, and banking instructions on any confirmations or statements.

 

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Any costs incurred in connection with the use of the Natixis Funds Personal Access Line ® or the Natixis Funds Internet site including telephone line costs and Internet service provider costs are solely your responsibility. Similarly, Natixis Funds makes no warranties concerning the availability of Internet services or network availability.

Natixis Funds reserves the right to suspend, terminate or modify the Internet capabilities offered to shareholders without notice.

YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESTRICT INTERNET AND TELEPHONIC ACCESS TO YOUR ACCOUNTS BY NOTIFYING NATIXIS FUNDS OF YOUR DESIRE TO DO SO.

Written notifications to Natixis Funds should be sent to:

All account types excluding SIMPLE IRAs:

Natixis Funds

P. O. Box 219579

Kansas City, MO 64121-9579

Notification may also be made by calling 800-225-5478 during normal business hours.

SIMPLE IRA shareholders please use:

Natixis Funds

P. O. Box 8705

Boston, MA 02266-8705

Notification may also be made by calling 800-813-4127 during normal business hours.

NET ASSET VALUE

The method for determining the public offering price and NAV per share is summarized in the Prospectuses.

The total NAV of each class of shares of the Fund (the excess of the assets of such Fund attributable to such class over the liabilities attributable to such class) is determined at the close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) on each day that the NYSE is open for trading. The Fund will not price its shares on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are readily available, as outlined in the Fund’s policies and procedures, are valued at market value. The Fund may use independent pricing services recommended by the Adviser and Subadviser and approved by the Board to obtain market quotations. Generally, Fund securities and other investments are valued as follows:

 

    Equity securities (including shares of closed-end investment companies and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”)), exchange-traded notes, rights, and warrants — listed equity securities are valued at the last sale price quoted on the exchange where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by an independent pricing service. Securities traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, NASDAQ Global Market and NASDAQ Capital Market are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”), or if lacking an NOCP, at the most recent bid quotations on the applicable NASDAQ Market. Unlisted equity securities (except unlisted preferred equity securities discussed below) are valued at the last sale price quoted in the market where they are traded most extensively or, if there is no reported sale during the day, the closing bid quotation as reported by an independent pricing service. If there is no sale price or closing bid quotation available, unlisted equity securities will be valued using evaluated bids furnished by an independent pricing service, if available. In some foreign markets, an official close price and a last sale price may be available from the foreign exchange or market. In those cases, the official close price is used. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Fund’s fair value policies described below. If a right is not traded on any exchange, its value is based on the market value of the underlying security, less the cost to subscribe to the underlying security ( e.g. , to exercise the right), adjusted for the subscription ratio. If a warrant is not traded on any exchange, a price is obtained from a broker-dealer.

 

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    Debt securities and unlisted preferred equity securities — evaluated bids furnished to the Fund by an independent pricing service using market information, transactions for comparable securities and various relationships between securities, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

 

    Senior Loans — bid prices supplied by an independent pricing service, if available, or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers.

 

    Bilateral Swaps — bilateral credit default swaps are valued based on mid prices (between the bid price and the ask price) supplied by an independent pricing service. Bilateral interest rate swaps and bilateral standardized commodity and equity index total return swaps are valued based on prices supplied by an independent pricing service. If prices from an independent pricing service are not available, prices from a broker-dealer may be used.

 

    Centrally Cleared Swaps – settlement prices of the clearinghouse on which the contracts were traded or prices obtained from broker-dealers.

 

    Options — domestic exchange-traded single name equity options contracts (including options on ETFs) are valued at the mean of the National Best Bid and Offer quotations. Foreign exchange-traded single name equity options contracts are valued at the most recent settlement price. Options contracts on domestic indices shall be priced at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations as of the close of trading on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE”). On the last business day of the month, the Fund will fair value S&P 500 ® index options using the closing rotation values published by the CBOE. Options contracts on foreign indices are priced at the most recent settlement price. Options on futures contracts are valued using the current settlement price on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. Other exchange-traded options are valued at the average of the closing bid and ask quotations on the exchange on which, over time, they are traded most extensively. Over- OTC currency options and swaptions are valued at mid prices (between the bid and the ask price) supplied by an independent pricing service, if available. Other OTC options contracts (including currency options and swaptions not priced through an independent pricing service) are valued based on prices obtained from broker-dealers. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Fund’s fair value policies described below.

 

    Futures — most recent settlement price on the exchange on which the Adviser or Subadviser believes that, over time, they are traded most extensively. Valuations based on information from foreign markets may be subject to the Fund’s fair value policies described below.

 

    Forward Foreign Currency Contracts — interpolated rates determined based on information provided by an independent pricing service.

Foreign denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates supplied by an independent pricing service. Fund securities and other investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser pursuant to procedures approved by the Board. The Fund may also value securities and other investments at fair value in other circumstances such as when extraordinary events occur after the close of a foreign market but prior to the close of the NYSE. This may include situations relating to a single issuer (such as a declaration of bankruptcy or a delisting of the issuer’s security from the primary market on which it has traded) as well as events affecting the securities markets in general (such as market disruptions or closings and significant fluctuations in U.S. and/or foreign markets). When fair valuing its securities or other investments, the Fund may, among other things, use modeling tools or other processes that may take into account factors such as securities or other market activity and/or significant events that occur after the close of the foreign market and before the time the Fund’s NAV is calculated. Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security, 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 securities. In addition, the use of fair value pricing may not always result in adjustments to the prices of securities held by the Fund. Valuations for securities traded in the OTC market may be based on factors such as market information, transactions for comparable securities, various relationships between securities or bid prices obtained from broker-dealers. Evaluated prices from an independent pricing service may require subjective determinations and may be different than actual market prices or prices provided by other pricing services.

Trading in some of the portfolio securities or other investments of the Fund takes place in various markets outside the United States on days and at times other than when the NYSE is open for trading. Therefore, the calculation of the Fund’s NAV does not take place at the same time as the prices of many of its portfolio securities or other investments are determined, and the value of the Fund’s portfolios may change on days when the Fund is not open for business and the shares may not be purchased or redeemed.

 

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REDUCED SALES CHARGES

The following special purchase plans are summarized in the Prospectus and are described in greater detail below. Investors should note that in many cases, the financial intermediary, and not the Fund, is responsible for ensuring that the investor receives current discounts.

If you invest in Class A shares through a financial intermediary, it is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure you obtain the proper “breakpoint” discount. In order to reduce your sales charge, it will be necessary at the time of purchase to inform the Distributor and your financial intermediary, in writing, of the existence of other accounts in which there are holdings eligible to be aggregated to meet sales load breakpoints. If the Distributor is not notified that you are eligible for a reduced sales charge, the Distributor will be unable to ensure that the reduction is applied to the investor’s account. You may be required to provide certain records and information, such as account statements, with respect to all of your accounts which hold Fund shares, including accounts with other financial intermediaries, and your family members’ and other related parties’ accounts, in order to verify your eligibility for the reduced sales charge.

Please see Appendix A to the Prospectus for information regarding eligibility for sales load waivers and discounts available through specific financial intermediaries, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in the Prospectus or this SAI.

If you invest in class T shares, it is the responsibility of the financial intermediary to ensure you obtain the proper “breakpoint” discount.

Cumulative Purchase Discount

The Cumulative Purchase Discount privilege is described in the prospectus.

Letter of Intent

A Letter of Intent (a “Letter”), which can be effected at any time, is a privilege available to investors that reduces the sales charge on investments in Class A shares. Ordinarily, reduced sales charges are available for single purchases of Class A shares only when they reach certain breakpoints ( e.g., $50,000, $100,000, etc.). By signing a Letter, a shareholder indicates an intention to invest enough money in Class A shares within 13 months to reach a breakpoint. If the shareholder’s intended aggregate purchases of all series and classes of the Trust and other Natixis Funds over a defined 13-month period will be large enough to qualify for a reduced sales charge, the shareholder may invest the smaller individual amounts at the public offering price calculated using the sales load applicable to the 13-month aggregate investment. Certain shares held through Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. may not be eligible for this privilege.

A Letter is a non-binding commitment, the amount of which may be increased, decreased or canceled at any time. The effective date of a Letter is the date it is received in good order by the Transfer Agent.

Purchases made within 90 days of the establishment of the Letter may be used towards meeting the Letter of Intent.

The cumulative purchase discount, described in the prospectus, permits the aggregate value at the current public offering price of Class A shares of any accounts with the Trust held by a shareholder to be added to the dollar amount of the intended investment under a Letter, provided the shareholder lists them on the account application.

The Transfer Agent will hold in escrow shares with a value at the current public offering price of 5% of the aggregate amount of the intended investment. The amount in escrow will be released when the commitment stated in the Letter is completed. If the shareholder does not purchase shares in the amount indicated in the Letter, the shareholder agrees to remit to the Transfer Agent the difference between the sales charge actually paid and that which would have been paid had the Letter not been in effect, and authorizes the Transfer Agent to redeem escrowed shares in the amount necessary to make up the difference in sales charges. Reinvested dividends and distributions are not included in determining whether the Letter has been completed.

 

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Combining Accounts

For purposes of determining the sales charge applicable to a given purchase, a shareholder may elect to combine the purchase and the shareholder’s total investment (calculated at the current public offering price) in all series and classes of the Natixis Funds with the purchases and total investment of the shareholder’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws of those previously mentioned, single trust estates, individual fiduciary accounts and sole proprietorships or any other group of individuals acceptable to the Distributor. If the combined value of the purchases and total investments exceeds a sales charge breakpoint as disclosed in the Prospectuses, the lower sales charge applies to the entire amount of the purchase, even though some portion of that investment is below the breakpoint to which a reduced sales charge applies. Certain shares held through Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P. may not be eligible for this privilege.

For certain retirement plans, the Distributor may, in its discretion, combine the purchases and total investment of all qualified participants in the same retirement plan for purposes of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge. Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (“SIMPLE IRA”) contributions will automatically be linked with those of participants in the same SIMPLE IRA Plan (Class A shares only). SIMPLE IRA accounts may not be linked with any other Natixis Fund account for rights of accumulation.

Purchases and total investments of individuals may not be combined with purchases and total investments of the retirement plan accounts described in the preceding paragraph for the purpose of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge. Only the purchases and total investments in tax-qualified retirement plans or other employee benefit plans in which the shareholder is the sole participant may be combined with individual accounts for purposes of determining the availability of a reduced sales charge.

Clients of the Advisers

Investment advisory clients of NGAM Advisors and the Adviser may invest in Class Y shares of the Fund below the minimums stated in the Prospectus. No front-end sales charge or CDSC applies to investments of $25,000 or more in Class A shares of the Fund by (1) clients of the Adviser to any series of the Trust or another Natixis Fund; any director, officer or partner of a client of the Adviser to any series of the Trust or another Natixis Fund; or the spouse, parents, children, siblings, in-laws, grandparents or grandchildren of the foregoing; (2) any individual who is a participant in a Keogh Plan under a prototype of the Adviser to any series of the Trust or another Natixis Fund if at least one participant in the plan qualifies under category (1) above; and (3) an individual who invests through a Keogh or IRA and is a participant in an employee benefit plan that is a client of the Adviser to any series of the Trust or another Natixis Fund. Any investor eligible for this arrangement should so indicate in writing at the time of the purchase. In addition, the front-end sales charge or CDSC may be waived for investments in Class A shares, for Funds that do not offer Class Y shares, by clients of the Adviser to any series of the Trust or another Natixis Fund.

Eligible Governmental Authorities

There is no sales charge or CDSC related to investments in Class A shares by any state, county or city or any instrumentality, department, authority or agency thereof that has determined that the Fund is a legally permissible investment and that is prohibited by applicable investment laws from paying a sales charge or commission in connection with the purchase of shares of any registered investment company.

Investment Advisory Accounts

Class A shares of the Fund may be purchased at NAV by investment advisers, financial planners or other intermediaries who place trades for their own accounts or the accounts of their clients and who charge a management, consulting or other fee for their services; clients of such investment advisers, financial planners or other intermediaries who place trades for their own accounts if the accounts are linked to the master account of such investment adviser, financial planner or other intermediary on the books and records of the broker or agent; and retirement and deferred compensation plans and trusts used to fund those plans, including, but not limited to, those defined in Sections 401(a), 403(b), 401(k) and 457 of the Code and “rabbi trusts.” Investors may be charged a fee if they effect transactions through a broker or agent.

 

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Certain Broker-Dealers and Financial Services Organizations

Class A shares of the Fund also may be purchased at NAV through certain broker-dealers or financial services organizations without any transaction fee. Such organizations may also receive compensation paid by NGAM Advisors, or its affiliates out of their own assets (as described in the section “Distribution Agreement and Rule 12b-1 Plans”), or be paid indirectly by the Fund in the form of servicing, distribution or transfer agent fees.

Certain Clients of Financial Intermediaries

Class A shares may be offered without front-end sales charges or a CDSC to clients of a financial intermediary that has entered into an agreement with the Distributor and has been approved by the Distributor to offer Fund shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee.

Certain Retirement Plans

Class A shares of the Fund may be purchased at NAV for investments by certain retirement plans. The availability of this pricing may depend upon the policies and procedures of your specific intermediary; consult your financial adviser.

“Certain Retirement Plans” as it relates to load waivers, share class eligibility, and account minimums is defined as follows:

Certain Retirement Plans includes 401(k) plans, 457 plans, 401(a) plans (including profit-sharing and money purchase pension plans), 403(b) and 403(b)(7) plans, defined benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans, Taft Hartley multi-employer plans and retiree health benefit plans. The accounts must be plan level omnibus accounts to qualify.

Certain Retirement Plans does not include individual retirement plan accounts such as IRAs, Roth IRAs, SIMPLE, SEP, SARSEP, etc. Any retirement plan accounts registered in the name of a participant would not qualify.

Bank Trust Departments or Trust Companies

Class A shares of the Fund are available at NAV for investments by non-discretionary and non-retirement accounts of bank trust departments or trust companies, but are unavailable if the trust department or institution is part of an organization not principally engaged in banking or trust activities.

The reduction or elimination of the sales charges in connection with special purchase plans described above reflects the absence or reduction of expenses associated with such sales.

DISTRIBUTIONS

As described in the Prospectus, it is the policy of the Fund to pay to its shareholders at least annually according to the schedule specified in the Fund’s Prospectus, as dividends, all or substantially all of its net investment income and to distribute annually (or, in the case of short-term gains, more frequently than annually if determined by the Fund to be in the best interest of shareholders) all or substantially all of its net realized capital gains, if any, after offsetting any capital loss carryforwards. To the extent permitted by law, the Board of Trustees may adopt a different schedule for making distributions as long as distributions of net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, are made at least annually. The Fund’s distribution rate fluctuates over time for various reasons, and there can be no assurance that the Fund’s distributions will not decrease or that the Fund will make any distributions when scheduled. For example, foreign currency losses may potentially reduce or eliminate regularly scheduled distributions.

Ordinary income dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested based upon the NAV determined as of the close of the NYSE on the ex-dividend date for each dividend or distribution. Shareholders, however, may elect to receive their ordinary income dividends or capital gain distributions, or both, in cash. The election may be made at any time by submitting a written request directly to the Natixis Funds, contacting Natixis Funds at 1-800-225-5478 or visiting ngam.natixis.com to change your distribution option. In order for a change to be in effect for any dividend or distribution, it must be received by the Natixis Funds on or before the record date for such dividend or distribution.

 

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If a dividend or capital gain distribution check remains uncashed for six months and your account is still open, the Fund will reinvest the dividend or distribution in additional shares of the Fund promptly after making this determination and the check will be cancelled. In addition, future dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund unless you subsequently contact the Fund and request to receive distributions by check.

As required by federal law, U.S. federal tax information regarding Fund distributions will be furnished to each shareholder for each calendar year early in the succeeding year.

TAXES

The following discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Fund is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations, and other applicable authorities, all as of the date of this Statement. 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 U.S. federal tax considerations generally applicable to investing in the Fund. There may be other tax considerations applicable to particular shareholders. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisers regarding their particular situations and the possible application of foreign, state and local tax laws.

Taxation of the Fund

The Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify and be eligible to be treated each year as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded RICs and their shareholders under the Code, the Fund must, among other things: (i) derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from (a) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, 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 (b) net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (“QPTPs”); (ii) 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 the Fund’s total assets consists of cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities limited, with respect to any one issuer, to not 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, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest (1) 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 (2) in the securities of one or more QPTPs; 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, in each case determined with reference to any capital loss carryforwards) and net tax-exempt interest income, if any, for such year.

In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in (i) above, income derived by the Fund 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 Fund. However, 100% of the net income derived by the Fund from an interest in a QPTP (a partnership (a) 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)(a) 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 QPTP.

For purposes of the diversification requirements set forth in (ii) above, “outstanding voting securities of an issuer” includes the equity securities of a QPTP. Also for purposes of the diversification requirements in (ii) above, identification of the issuer (or, in some cases, issuers) of a particular Fund 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 identification of the issuer for a particular type of investment may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to satisfy the diversification requirements.

 

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Assuming that it qualifies for treatment as a RIC, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income or gains distributed to its shareholders in a timely manner in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below). If the Fund were to fail to satisfy the income, diversification or distribution requirements described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying the Fund-level tax, paying interest, making additional distributions, or disposing of certain assets. If the Fund were ineligible to or did not cure such a failure for any year, or if the Fund otherwise were 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 long-term capital gains, would be taxable to shareholders as dividend income. Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and may be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income” in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals, provided in both cases that the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the Fund’s 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 requalifying for the special tax treatment accorded to RICs under the Code.

The Fund intends to distribute at least annually to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction). If the Fund retains any investment company taxable income, the Fund will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained. The Fund also intends to distribute annually all or substantially all of 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). If the Fund retains any net capital gain, it will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a timely notice to its shareholders who then in turn (i) will be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gains, their respective shares of such undistributed amount, and (ii) will 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 properly-filed U.S. federal income tax returns 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 shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal 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 the Fund 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, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, a RIC generally may elect to treat any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to such portion of the taxable year) and certain late-year ordinary losses (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss, if any, from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss, if any, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

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. Distributions from capital gains generally are made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether the Fund retains or distributes such gains. If the Fund incurs or has incurred net capital losses in taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010 (“post-2010 losses”), those losses will be carried forward to one or more subsequent taxable years without expiration to offset capital gains realized during such subsequent taxable years; any such carryforward losses will retain their character as short-term or long-term. If the Fund incurred net capital losses in a taxable year beginning on or before December 22, 2010 (“pre-2011 losses”), it is permitted to carry such losses forward for eight taxable years; in the year to which they are carried forward, such losses are treated as short-term capital losses that first offset any short-term capital gains, and then offset any long-term capital gains. The Fund must use any post-2010 losses, which will not expire, before it uses any pre-2011 losses. This increases the likelihood that pre-2011 losses will expire unused at the conclusion of the eight-year carryforward period. The Fund’s annual shareholder report will describe its available capital loss carryforwards (if any).

 

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If a RIC fails to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (or November 30 or December 31 of that year if the RIC is permitted to elect and so elects) plus any such amounts retained from the prior year, the RIC will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. 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 be taken into account after October 31 (or November 30 or December 31, if the RIC is eligible to and makes the election referred to above) generally are treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year. Also for purposes of the excise tax, a RIC will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it has been subject to corporate income tax in the taxable year ending within the calendar year. The Fund generally intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so.

Taxation of Fund Distributions

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income other than “exempt-interest dividends” (discussed below) generally are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. In general, the Fund will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on the disposition of assets it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on the disposition of investments it has owned (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”) generally will be taxable to a shareholder receiving such distributions as long-term capital gain includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates. Distributions of the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss generally will be taxable to a shareholder receiving such distributions as ordinary income. Distributions from capital gains generally are made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

Distributions are taxable to shareholders as described herein even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid for his or her shares). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or in additional shares.

Dividends declared and payable by the Fund during October, November or December to shareholders of record on a date in any such month and paid by the Fund during the following January generally will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as paid by the Fund and received by shareholders on December 31 of the year in which dividends are declared rather than the calendar year in which they are received.

Distributions of investment income properly reported by the Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxable to individuals at the reduced rates applicable to long-term capital gain. In order for some portion of the dividends received by the Fund shareholder to be qualified dividend income, the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the Fund’s shares. In general, a dividend is not treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment income for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the U.S. (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S.) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company (as defined below). Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities and REITs generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income.

 

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If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, excluding net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than properly reported Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

In general, properly reported dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders of the Fund generally will qualify for the 70% dividends received deduction available to corporations to the extent they are properly reported as being attributable to the amount of eligible dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. In general, a dividend received by the Fund will not be treated as an eligible dividend (1) if it has been received with respect to any share of stock that the Fund has held for less than 46 days (91 days in the case of certain preferred stock) during the 91-day period beginning on the date which is 45 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date in the case of certain preferred stock) or (2) to the extent that the Fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Moreover, the dividends received deduction may be disallowed or reduced (1) if the corporate shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to its shares of the Fund or (2) otherwise by application of various provisions of the Code (for example, the dividends received deduction is reduced in the case of a dividend received on debt-financed portfolio stock — generally, stock acquired with borrowed funds). The Fund does not expect a significant portion of its distributions to be eligible for the dividends received deduction.

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, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is treated as a loan by the Fund, generally will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders or be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

Section 1411 of the Code generally imposes a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates to the extent their income exceeds certain threshold amounts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally includes, among other things, (i) distributions paid by the Fund of net investment income, other than exempt interest dividends, and capital gains as described above, and (ii) any net gain from the sale, redemption, exchange or other taxable disposition of Fund shares. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisers regarding the possible implications of this additional tax on their investment in the Fund.

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 shares, and thereafter as capital gain. A return of capital generally 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.

Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Shares

A sale, exchange or redemption of Fund shares generally will 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, gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Fund shares generally will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held by a shareholder 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 the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed under the Code’s “wash sale” rules if other substantially identical shares of that Fund are purchased 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.

Upon the redemption or exchange of Fund shares, the Fund or, in the case of shares purchased through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary may be required to provide you and the IRS with cost basis and certain other related tax information about the Fund shares you redeemed or exchanged. See the Fund’s Prospectus for more information.

 

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Foreign Taxation

Income, gains and proceeds received by the Fund from investments in securities of foreign issuers may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes. This will decrease the Fund’s yield on securities subject to such taxes. Tax treaties between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. The Fund generally does not expect that shareholders will be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to such foreign taxes incurred by the Fund.

Tax Implications of Certain Fund Investments

Options, Futures, Forward Contracts, Swap Agreements and Hedging Transactions. The tax treatment of certain positions entered into by the Fund, including regulated futures contracts, certain foreign currency positions and certain listed non-equity options, 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” gains or losses) although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character, as described below. Also, any Section 1256 Contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 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 60/40 or ordinary gain or loss, as applicable.

The Fund’s investments in futures contracts, forward contracts, options, straddles, swap agreements, and options on swaps and foreign currencies, derivatives, as well as any of its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the mark-to-market, constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary or capital, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, or cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, thereby affecting whether capital gains and losses are treated as short-term or long-term. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because 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 (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.

In general, option premiums received by the Fund are not immediately included in the income of the Fund. Instead, 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 ( e.g. , through a closing transaction). If a call option written by the Fund is exercised and the Fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the Fund generally will recognize 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 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 generally will subtract the premium received for purposes of computing its cost basis in the securities 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 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 gain equal to the premium received.

Certain covered call writing activities of the Fund may trigger the U.S. federal income tax straddle rules contained primarily in Section 1092 of the Code. Very generally, where applicable, Section 1092 requires (i) that losses be deferred on positions deemed to be offsetting positions with respect to “substantially similar or related property,” to the extent of unrealized gain in the latter, and (ii) that the holding period of such a straddle position that has not already been held for the long-term holding period be terminated and begin anew once the position is no longer part of a straddle. Options on single stocks that are not “deep in the money” may constitute 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 during the period that 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” or qualify for the dividends-received deduction 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, as the case may be.

 

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Certain of the Fund’s investments in derivative instruments, foreign-currency denominated instruments, and any of the Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If the Fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income 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 and avoid a Fund-level tax. If the Fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income, including net 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 earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, if any), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Certain Foreign Currency Tax Issues. Gain or loss on foreign-currency denominated debt securities and on certain other financial instruments, such as forward currency contracts and currency swaps, that is attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates occurring between the date of acquisition and the date of settlement or disposition of such securities or instruments may be treated under Section 988 of the Code as ordinary income or loss. The Fund may elect out of the application of Section 988 of the Code with respect to the tax treatment of each of its foreign currency forward contracts to the extent that (i) such contract is a capital asset in the hands of the Fund and is not part of a straddle transaction and (ii) the Fund makes an election by the close of the day the contract is entered into to treat the gain or loss attributable to such contract as capital gain or loss.

The Fund’s forward contracts may qualify as Section 1256 Contracts under the Code if the underlying currencies are currencies for which there are futures contracts that are traded on and subject to the rules of a qualified board or exchange. However, a forward currency contract that is a Section 1256 Contract would, absent an election out of Section 988 of the Code as described in the preceding paragraph, be subject to Section 988. Accordingly, although such a forward currency contract would be marked-to-market annually like other Section 1256 Contracts, the resulting gain or loss would be ordinary. If the Fund were to elect out of Section 988 with respect to forward currency contracts that qualify as Section 1256 Contracts, the tax treatment generally applicable to Section 1256 Contracts, as described above, would apply to those forward currency contracts: that is, the contracts would be marked-to-market annually and gains and losses with respect to the contracts would be treated as 60/40 gain or loss. If the Fund were to elect out of Section 988 with respect to any of its forward currency contracts that do not qualify as Section 1256 Contracts, such contracts would not be marked to market annually and the Fund would recognize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on the Fund’s holding period therein. The Fund may elect out of Section 988 with respect to all, some or none of its forward currency contracts.

Investments in Other RICs . The Fund’s investments in shares of another mutual fund, ETF or another company that qualifies as a RIC (each, an “investment company”) can cause the Fund to be required to distribute greater amounts of net investment income or net capital gain than the Fund would have distributed had it invested directly in the securities held by the investment company, rather than in shares of the investment company. Further, the amount or timing of distributions from such Fund qualifying for treatment as a particular character (for example, long-term capital gain, exempt interest, eligibility for dividends-received deduction, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the investment company.

If the Fund receives dividends from another investment company that qualifies as a RIC and the investment company reports such dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction, then the Fund is permitted in turn to report its distributions derived from those dividends as eligible for the dividends-received deduction as well, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the investment company.

Partnerships and Other Pass-Through Structures. To the extent the Fund invests in entities that are treated as partnerships (other than QPTPs, as defined above), trusts, or other pass-through structures for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all or a portion of any income and gains from such entities could constitute non-qualifying income to the Fund for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described above. For example, income that the Fund derives from indirect investments, through such entities, in certain commodity-linked instruments generally will not or may not be considered qualifying income for the purposes of the 90% gross income requirement. In such cases, the Fund’s investments in such entities could be limited by its intention to qualify as a RIC, and could bear on its ability to so qualify. Income from such entities may be allocated to the Fund on a gross, rather than net, basis, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement.

 

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Investments in Exchange-Traded Notes. The timing and character of income or gains arising from exchange-traded notes can be uncertain. An adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to such rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect the Fund’s ability to qualify for treatment as a RIC and to avoid a Fund-level tax.

Certain Investments in REITs, REMICs and TMPs. An investment by the Fund in REIT equity securities may result in the Fund receiving cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, such distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for federal income tax purposes. 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.

The Fund may invest directly or indirectly (including through a REIT) in residual interests 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 federal income tax in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a RIC generally 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, to the extent the Fund invests in such interests, it may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”), 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) 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 non-U.S. shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. See the section “Tax-Exempt Shareholders” below for a discussion of the special tax consequences that may result where a tax-exempt entity invests in a RIC that recognizes excess inclusion income. A shareholder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such inclusions notwithstanding any exemption from such income tax otherwise available under the Code.

Master Limited Partnerships. As noted above, the MLPs in which the Fund may invest are generally expected to qualify as QPTPs. In such cases, the net income derived from such investments will constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described earlier for qualification as a RIC. If, however, such a vehicle were to fail to qualify as a QPTP in a particular year, a portion of the gross income derived from it in such year could constitute non-qualifying income to the Fund for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement and thus could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC for a particular year. In addition, as described above, the diversification requirement for RIC qualification limits the Fund’s investments in one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships to 25% of the Fund’s total assets as of the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year.

Special Rules for Debt Obligations . Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (and zero-coupon debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) that are acquired by the Fund will be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the OID is treated as interest income and is included in the Fund’s income (and required to be distributed by the Fund) 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 security. In addition, payment-in-kind securities will give rise to income that is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.

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 security 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 security.

 

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Alternatively, the Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Fund will be required to include the accrued market discount in the Fund’s income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it 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 security. 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.

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 security, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt security. 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.

If the Fund holds the foregoing kinds of debt obligations, or other debt obligations subject to special rules under the Code, it 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, if necessary, by disposition of portfolio securities including at a time when it may not be advantageous to do so. These dispositions may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates) and, in the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger Capital Gain Dividend than if the Fund had not held such obligations.

Certain High-Yield Discount Obligations. A portion of the interest paid or accrued on certain high-yield discount obligations in which the Fund may invest may be treated as a dividend 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 to corporate shareholders may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction to the extent of the deemed dividend portion of such accrued interest.

Higher-Risk Securities. The Fund may invest in below investment-grade fixed-income securities, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or that are in default. 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 the Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation and, if so, the amount of market discount the Fund should recognize; when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount; whether and to what extent the Fund should recognize market discount on such a debt obligation; when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount 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 interest. 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 U.S. federal income or excise tax.

Securities Purchased at a Premium

Very generally, where the Fund purchases a bond at a price that exceeds the redemption price at maturity ( i.e. , a premium) the premium is amortizable over the remaining term of the bond. In the case of a taxable bond, if the Fund makes an election applicable to all such bonds it purchases, which election is irrevocable without consent of the IRS, the Fund reduces the current taxable income from the bond by the amortized premium and reduces its tax basis in the bond by the amount of such offset; upon the disposition or maturity of such bonds acquired on or after January 4, 2013, the Fund is permitted to deduct any remaining premium allocable to a prior period. In the case of a tax-exempt bond, tax rules require the Fund to reduce its tax basis by the amount of amortized premium.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies

The Fund may own shares (or be treated as owning shares) in certain foreign entities that are treated as “passive foreign investment companies” (each a “PFIC”), which could potentially subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the PFIC or on proceeds received from a disposition of shares in the PFIC. This tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may make certain elections to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, the Fund may elect to mark the gains

 

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(and to a limited extent losses) in a PFIC “to the market” as though the Fund had sold and repurchased its holdings in the PFIC on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The Fund also may in certain cases elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” ( i.e ., make a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund would be required to include in its income annually its share of the PFIC’s income and net capital gains, regardless of whether it receives any distributions from the PFIC.

The mark-to-market and QEF elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirements, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. If the Fund indirectly invests in PFICs by virtue of the Fund’s investment in other funds, it may not make such PFIC elections; rather, the underlying funds directly investing in the PFICs would decide whether to make such elections. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, the Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances.

Tax-Exempt Shareholders

Income of a RIC that would be UBTI if earned directly by a tax-exempt entity generally will not constitute UBTI when distributed to a tax-exempt shareholder of the RIC. Notwithstanding this “blocking effect,” a tax-exempt shareholder may realize UBTI by virtue of its investments 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). Furthermore, any investment in residual interests of a CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax consequences, especially if the Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders.

In addition, special tax consequences apply when CRTs 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 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 as a result of investing in the Fund 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 the Fund that recognizes excess inclusion income, then the Fund 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 U.S. federal corporate income tax rate. 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. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. CRTs and other tax-exempt investors are urged to consult their tax advisers concerning the consequences of investing in the Fund.

Backup Withholding

The Fund generally is required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any individual shareholder who fails to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to the Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding. The backup withholding rules may also apply to distributions that are properly reported as exempt-interest dividends. The current backup withholding tax rate is 28%.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

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Non-U.S. Shareholders

Distributions by the Fund to shareholders that are not “U.S. persons” within the meaning of the Code (“Foreign Persons”) properly reported by the Fund as (1) Capital Gain Dividends, (2) short-term capital gain dividends, (3) interest-related dividends, each as defined and subject to certain conditions described below, or (4) exempt-interest dividends generally are not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax (except that exempt-interest dividends may be subject to backup withholding).

In general, the Code defines (1) “short-term capital gain dividends” as distributions of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses and (2) “interest-related dividends” as distributions from U.S. source interest income of types similar to those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual Foreign Person, in each case to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders.

The exceptions to withholding for Capital Gain Dividends and “short-term capital gain dividends” do not apply to (A) distributions to an individual Foreign Person who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (B) distributions attributable to gain that is (or is treated as) effectively connected with the conduct by the Foreign Person of a trade or business within the United States, including distributions subject to special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests as described below. The exception to withholding for “interest-related dividends” does not apply with respect to distributions to a Foreign Person (A) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (B) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the Foreign Person is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (C) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, and (D) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the Foreign Person and the Foreign Person is a controlled foreign corporation. The Fund is permitted to report such part of their dividends as short-term capital gain and/or interest-related dividends as are eligible, but are not required to do so, and do not intend to report any eligible distributions as short-term capital gain or interest-related dividends.

Distributions by the Fund to Foreign Persons other than Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends and interest-related dividends (e.g., dividends attributable to dividend and foreign-source interest income or to short-term capital gains or U.S. source interest income to which the exception from withholding described above does not apply) are generally subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate).

A Foreign Person is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on a sale or redemption of shares of the Fund unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Foreign Person of a trade or business within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual Foreign Person, the Foreign Person is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or redemption, and certain other conditions are met or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”) apply to the Foreign Person’s sale or redemption of shares of the Fund (as described below).

Foreign Persons with respect to whom income from the Fund is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the Foreign Person within the United States will in general be subject to U.S. federal net income tax on the income derived from the Fund at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents or domestic corporations, whether such income is received in cash or reinvested in shares of the Fund and, in the case of a foreign corporation, may also be subject to a branch profits tax. If a beneficial holder of Fund shares who or which is a Foreign Person is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the holder in the United States. More generally, a beneficial holder of Fund shares who or which is a Foreign Person and who or which is a resident in a country with an income tax treaty with the United States may obtain different tax results than those described herein, and is urged to consult its tax advisers.

Subject to certain exceptions (for example, for a fund that is a “United States real property holding corporation” 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 a Foreign Person.

 

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Special rules would apply if the Fund were a qualified investment entity (“QIE”) because it is either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions to the definition of USRPIs described below. 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 USRPIs, interests in real property located outside the United States, and other trade or business assets. USRPIs generally are defined as any interest in U.S. real property and any interest (other than solely as a creditor) in a USRPHC or, very generally, an entity that has been a USRPHC in the last five years. A fund that holds, directly or indirectly, significant interests in REITs may be a USRPHC. Interests in domestically controlled QIEs, including REITs and RICs that are QIEs, not-greater-than-10% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in REITs and not-greater-than-5% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in RICs generally are not USRPIs, but these exceptions do not apply for purposes of determining whether the Fund is a QIE.

If the Fund were a QIE, under a special “look-through” rule, any distributions by the Fund to a Foreign Person (including, in certain cases, distributions made by the Fund in redemption of its shares) attributable directly or indirectly to (i) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier RIC or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands and (ii) gains realized on the disposition of USRPIs by the Fund would retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of Foreign Persons and would be subject to U.S. tax withholding. In addition, such distributions could result in the Foreign Person 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 Foreign Person, 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 Foreign Person’s current and past ownership of the Fund.

In addition, if an interest in the Fund were a USRPI, the Fund would be required to withhold U.S. tax on the proceeds of a share redemption by a greater-than-5% shareholder that is a Foreign Person, in which case such Foreign Person generally would also be required to file U.S. tax returns and pay any additional taxes due in connection with the redemption.

Shareholders of the Fund that are Foreign Persons also may be subject to “wash sale” rules to prevent the avoidance of the tax-filing and -payment obligations discussed above through the sale and repurchase of Fund shares.

The Fund generally does not expect that it will be a QIE.

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, Foreign Persons must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to their non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or substitute form). Foreign Persons should consult their tax advisers concerning the tax consequences of ownership of shares of the Fund, including the certification and filing requirements imposed on foreign investors in order to qualify for an exemption from the backup withholding tax described above or a reduced rate of withholding provided by treaty.

Shareholder Reporting Obligations With Respect to Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts.

Shareholders that are U.S. persons and own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the Fund by vote or value could be required to report annually their financial interest in the Fund’s foreign financial accounts, if any, on FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. Shareholders should consult a tax advisor, or if holding shares through an intermediary, their intermediary, regarding the applicability to them of this reporting requirement.

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations.

Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct holders 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 advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

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Certain Additional Reporting and Withholding Requirements

Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”) generally require the Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify the status of each of its shareholders under FATCA or under an applicable intergovernmental agreement (an “IGA”) between the United States and a foreign government. If a shareholder of the Fund fails to provide the requested information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA or an IGA, the Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on ordinary dividends it pays and 30% of the gross proceeds of share redemptions or exchanges and certain Capital Gain Dividends it pays on or after January 1, 2017. If a payment by the Fund is subject to FATCA withholding, the Fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to Foreign Persons described above ( e.g ., Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends and interest-related dividends).

Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax adviser regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.

Other Tax Matters

Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans or tax-advantaged arrangements. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the suitability of shares of the Fund as an investment through such plans and arrangements and the precise effect of such an investment in their particular tax situations.

Dividends and distributions, and gains from the sale of the Fund’s shares may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisers regarding specific questions as to federal, state, local and, where applicable, foreign taxes.

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Yield and Total Return

The Fund may advertise the yield and total return of each class of its shares. The Fund’s yield and total return will vary from time to time depending upon market conditions, the composition of its portfolio and operating expenses of the Trust allocated to the Fund. These factors, possible differences in the methods used in calculating yield and total return and the tax-exempt status of distributions should be considered when comparing the Fund’s yield and total return to yields and total returns published for other investment companies and other investment vehicles. Yield and total return should also be considered relative to changes in the value of the Fund’s shares and to the relative risks associated with the investment objectives and policies of the Fund. Yield and total returns may be stated with or without giving effect to any expense limitations in effect for the Fund. For those funds that present yield and total returns reflecting an expense limitation, its yield and total return would have been lower if no limitation were in effect. Yield and total returns will generally be higher for Class A and Class Y shares than for Class C shares of the same Fund, because of the higher levels of expenses borne by the Class C shares. Because of its lower operating expenses, Class N shares of the Fund can be expected to achieve a higher yield and total return than the same Fund’s Class A, Class C, Class T and Class Y shares.

The Fund may also present one or more distribution rates for each class in its sales literature. These rates will be determined by annualizing the class’s distributions from net investment income and net short-term capital gain over a recent 12-month, 3-month or 30-day period and dividing that amount by the maximum offering price or the NAV. If the NAV, rather than the maximum offering price, is used to calculate the distribution rate, the rate will be higher.

At any time in the future, yield and total return may be higher or lower than past yields or total return, and there can be no assurance that any historical results will continue.

Investors in the Fund are specifically advised that share prices, expressed as the NAVs per share, will vary just as yield and total return will vary. An investor’s focus on the yield of the Fund to the exclusion of the consideration of the share price of the Fund may result in the investor’s misunderstanding the total return he or she may derive from the Fund.

 

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THIRD-PARTY INFORMATION

The Prospectus and this Statement may contain references to third-party copyrights, indexes, and trademarks, each of which is the property of its respective owner. Such owner is not affiliated with Natixis Global Asset Management or any of its related or affiliated companies (collectively “NGAM”) and does not sponsor, endorse or participate in the provision of any NGAM services, funds or other financial products.

The index information contained in the Prospectus and this SAI is derived from third parties and is provided on an “as is” basis. The user of this information assumes the entire risk of use of this information. Each of the third-party entities involved in compiling, computing or creating index information, disclaims all warranties (including, without limitation, any warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, non-infringement, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose) with respect to such information.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements, financial highlights and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm included in the Fund’s annual report dated November 30, 2016, are incorporated herein by reference to such report. The Fund’s annual and semiannual reports are available upon request and without charge. The Fund will send a single copy of its annual and semiannual report to an address at which more than one shareholder of record with the same last name has indicated that mail is to be delivered. Shareholders may request additional copies of any annual or semiannual report by telephone at 800-225-5478 or by writing to the Fund at: 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 or by visiting the Fund’s website at ngam.natixis.com. The annual and semiannual reports are also available on-line at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

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APPENDIX A

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

The Fund makes use of average portfolio credit quality standards to assist institutional investors whose own investment guidelines limit their investments accordingly. In determining the Fund’s overall dollar-weighted average quality, unrated securities are treated as if rated, based on the Adviser’s view of their comparability to rated securities. The Fund’s use of average quality criteria is intended to be a guide for those investors whose investment guidelines require that assets be invested according to comparable criteria. Reference to an overall average quality rating for the Fund does not mean that all securities held by the Fund will be rated in that category or higher. The Fund’s investments may range in quality from securities rated in the lowest category in which the Fund is permitted to invest to securities rated in the highest category (as rated by S&P, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Fitch Investor Services, Inc. (“Fitch”) or, if unrated, determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality). The percentage of the Fund’s assets invested in securities in a particular rating category will vary. Following is a description of S&P’s, Moody’s, and Fitch ratings applicable to fixed-income securities.

S&P Global Ratings —A brief description of the applicable rating symbols of S&P Global Ratings and their meanings (as published by S&P Global Ratings) follows:

Issue Credit Rating Definitions

An S&P Global Ratings issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P Global Ratings’ view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days — including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P Global Ratings’ analysis of the following considerations:

 

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

 

    Nature of and provisions of the financial obligation and the promise we impute;

 

    Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a 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.)

 

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AAA

An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P Global Ratings. 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.

BB, B, CCC, CC, and C

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. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but S&P Global Ratings expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

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C

An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

D

An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

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, or that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P Global Ratings 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 S&P Global Ratings. 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 vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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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 default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P Global Ratings believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

SPUR (Standard & Poor’s Underlying Rating)

A SPUR rating is an opinion about the stand-alone capacity of an obligor to pay debt service on a credit-enhanced debt issue, without giving effect to the enhancement that applies to it. These ratings are published only at the request of the debt issuer/obligor with the designation SPUR to distinguish them from the credit-enhanced rating that applies to the debt issue. S&P Global Ratings maintains surveillance of an issue with a published SPUR.

Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings Definitions

An S&P Global Ratings U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P Global Ratings’ opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P Global Ratings’ analysis will review the following considerations:

 

    Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

    Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

Note rating symbols are as follows:

SP-1

Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

SP-2

Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

SP-3

Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

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Dual Ratings

Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’ or ‘A-1+/A-1’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).

S&P Global Ratings’ Disclaimers

The analyses, including ratings, of S&P Global Ratings and its affiliates (together, S&P Global Ratings) are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or make any investment decisions. S&P Global Ratings assumes no obligation to update any information following publication. Users of ratings or other analyses should not rely on them in making any investment decision. S&P Global Ratings’ opinions and analyses do not address the suitability of any security. S&P Global Ratings does not act as a fiduciary or an investment advisor except where registered as such. While S&P Global Ratings has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, it does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives. Ratings and other opinions may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn at any time.

Active Qualifiers (Currently applied and/or outstanding)

S&P Global Ratings uses the following qualifiers that limit the scope of a rating. The structure of the transaction can require the use of a qualifier such as a ‘p’ qualifier, which indicates the rating addressed the principal portion of the obligation only. A qualifier appears as a suffix and is part of the rating.

Federal deposit insurance limit: ‘L’ qualifier

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

Principal: ‘p’ qualifier

This suffix 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’ suffix indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only and that the interest is not rated.

Preliminary Ratings: ‘prelim’ qualifier

Preliminary ratings, with the ‘prelim’ suffix, 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 S&P Global Ratings of appropriate documentation. S&P Global Ratings 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 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 post-bankruptcy 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 S&P Global Ratings’ opinion, documentation is close to final. Preliminary ratings may also be assigned to the obligations of these entities.

 

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    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, S&P Global Ratings would likely withdraw these preliminary ratings.

 

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

Termination Structures: ‘t’ qualifier

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.

Counterparty Instrument Rating: ‘cir’ qualifier

This symbol indicates a Counterparty Instrument Rating (CIR), which is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an issuer in a securitization structure with respect to a specific financial obligation to a counterparty (including interest rate swaps, currency swaps, and liquidity facilities). The CIR is determined on an ultimate payment basis; these opinions do not take into account timeliness of payment.

Inactive Qualifiers (Inactive qualifiers are no longer applied or outstanding)

Contingent upon final documentation: ‘*’ inactive qualifier

This symbol that indicated that the rating was contingent upon S&P Global Ratings’ receipt of an executed copy of the escrow agreement or closing documentation confirming investments and cash flows. Discontinued use in August 1998.

Termination of obligation to tender: ‘c’ inactive qualifier

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 was lowered to below an investment-grade level and/or the issuer’s bonds were deemed taxable. Discontinued use in January 2001.

U.S. direct government securities: ‘G’ inactive qualifier

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

Public Information Ratings: ‘pi’ qualifier

This qualifier was used to indicate ratings that were based on an analysis of an issuer’s published financial information, as well as additional information in the public domain. Such ratings did not, however, reflect in-depth meetings with an issuer’s management and therefore, could have been based on less comprehensive information than ratings without a ‘pi’ suffix. Discontinued use as of December 2014 and as of August 2015 for Lloyd’s Syndicate Assessments.

Provisional Ratings: ‘pr’ inactive qualifier

The letters ‘pr’ indicate that the rating was provisional. A provisional rating assumed the successful completion of a project financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements was 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, made no comment on the likelihood of or the risk of default upon failure of such completion.

 

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Quantitative Analysis of public information: ‘q’ inactive qualifier

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

Extraordinary risks: ‘r’ inactive qualifier

The ‘r’ modifier was assigned to securities containing extraordinary risks, particularly market risks, which are not covered in the credit rating. The absence of an ‘r’ modifier should not be taken as an indication that an obligation would not exhibit extraordinary non-credit related risks. S&P Global Ratings 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 Ratings

S&P Global Ratings’ issuer credit ratings make a distinction between foreign currency ratings and local currency ratings. An issuer’s foreign currency rating will differ from its local currency rating when the obligor has a different capacity to meet its obligations denominated in its local currency, vs. obligations denominated in a foreign currency.

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. —A brief description of the applicable Moody’s rating symbols and their meanings (as published by Moody’s) follows:

Long-Term Obligation Ratings

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.

Moody’s differentiates structured finance ratings from fundamental ratings (i.e., ratings on nonfinancial corporate, financial institution, and public sector entities) on the global long-term scale by adding (sf ) to all structured finance ratings. The addition of (sf ) to structured finance ratings should eliminate any presumption that such ratings and fundamental ratings at the same letter grade level will behave the same. The (sf) indicator for structured finance security ratings indicates that otherwise similarly rated structured finance and fundamental securities may have different risk characteristics. Through its current methodologies, however, Moody’s aspires to achieve broad expected equivalence in structured finance and fundamental rating performance when measured over a long period of time.

Moody’s Global Long-Term Rating Scale:

Aaa

Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

Aa

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

 

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A

Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa

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

Ba

Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B

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

Caa

Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative 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 and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

Note : Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a “(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms.

Issuer Ratings

Issuer Ratings are opinions of the ability of entities to honor senior unsecured debt and debt like obligations. As such, Issuer Ratings incorporate any external support that is expected to apply to all current and future issuance of senior unsecured financial obligations and contracts, such as explicit support stemming from a guarantee of all senior unsecured financial obligations and contracts, and/or implicit support for issuers subject to joint default analysis (e.g. banks and government-related issuers). Issuer Ratings do not incorporate support arrangements, such as guarantees, that apply only to specific (but not to all) senior unsecured financial obligations and contracts.

While Issuer Ratings reflect the risk that debt and debt-like claims are not serviced on a timely basis, they do not reflect the risk that a contract or other non-debt obligation will be subjected to commercial disputes. Additionally, while an issuer may have senior unsecured obligations held by both supranational institutions and central banks (e.g., IMF, European Central Bank), as well as other investors, Issuer Ratings reflect only the risks faced by other investors.

 

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Long-Term and Short-Term Obligation Ratings

Moody’s assigns ratings to long-term and short-term financial obligations. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of one year or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default on contractually promised payments and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default.

Medium-Term Note Program Ratings

Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to medium-term note (MTN) programs and definitive ratings to the individual debt securities issued from them (referred to as drawdowns or notes).

MTN program ratings are intended to reflect the ratings likely to be assigned to drawdowns issued from the program with the specified priority of claim (e.g. senior or subordinated). To capture the contingent nature of a program rating, Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to MTN programs. A provisional rating is denoted by a (P) in front of the rating and is defined elsewhere in this document.

The rating assigned to a drawdown from a rated MTN or bank/deposit note program is definitive in nature, and may differ from the program rating if the drawdown is exposed to additional credit risks besides the issuer’s default, such as links to the defaults of other issuers, or has other structural features that warrant a different rating. In some circumstances, no rating may be assigned to a drawdown.

Moody’s encourages market participants to contact Moody’s Ratings Desks or visit www.moodys.com directly if they have questions regarding ratings for specific notes issued under a medium-term note program. Unrated notes issued under an MTN program may be assigned an NR (not rated) symbol.

Global Short-Term Rating Scale

P-1

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

P-2

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

P-3

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

NP

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

Short-Term Issuer Ratings

Not included in Moody’s current definitions.

Fitch Investor Services, Inc. – A brief description of the applicable rating symbols of Fitch and their meanings (as published by Fitch) follows:

Credit Rating Scales

Fitch Ratings’ credit ratings provide an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested. The agency’s credit ratings cover the global spectrum of corporate, sovereign (including supranational and sub-national), financial, bank, insurance, municipal and other public finance entities and the securities or other obligations they issue, as well as structured finance securities backed by receivables or other financial assets.

 

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The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” have established themselves over time as shorthand to describe the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade). The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions, and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. “Investment grade” categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the “speculative” categories either signal a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

A designation of “Not Rated” or “NR” is used to denote securities not rated by Fitch where Fitch has rated some, but not all, securities comprising an issuance capital structure.

Credit ratings express risk in relative rank order, which is to say they are ordinal measures of credit risk and are not predictive of a specific frequency of default or loss. For information about the historical performance of ratings please refer to Fitch’s Ratings Transition and Default studies which detail the historical default rates and their meaning. The European Securities and Markets Authority also maintains a central repository of rating default rates.

Fitch Ratings’ credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. In particular, ratings do not deal with the risk of a market value loss on a rated security due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and other market considerations. However, in terms of payment obligation on the rated liability, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay upon a commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of index-linked bonds).

In the default components of ratings assigned to individual obligations or instruments, the agency typically rates to the likelihood of non-payment or default in accordance with the terms of that instrument’s documentation. In limited cases, Fitch Ratings may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation). In such cases, the agency will make clear the assumptions underlying the agency’s opinion in the accompanying rating commentary.

Long-Term Rating Scales

Issuer Credit Rating Scales

Rated entities in a number of sectors, including financial and non-financial corporations, sovereigns and insurance companies, are generally assigned Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs). IDRs opine on an entity’s relative vulnerability to default on financial obligations. The “threshold” default risk addressed by the IDR is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, IDRs also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership or similar concepts, although the agency recognizes that issuers may also make pre-emptive and therefore voluntary use of such mechanisms.

In aggregate, IDRs provide an ordinal ranking of issuers based on the agency’s view of their relative vulnerability to default, rather than a prediction of a specific percentage likelihood of default. For historical information on the default experience of Fitch-rated issuers, please consult the transition and default performance studies available from the Fitch Ratings website.

AAA

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

 

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AA

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

A

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

BBB

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

BB

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

B

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

CCC

Substantial credit risk. 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.

 

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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.

Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange.

“Imminent” default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future.

In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency’s opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer’s financial obligations or local commercial practice.

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’.

Limitations of the Issuer Credit Rating Scale

Specific limitations relevant to the issuer credit rating scale include:

 

    The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an issuer default.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the suitability of an issuer as counterparty to trade credit.

 

    The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer’s business, operational or financial profile other than the agency’s opinion on its relative vulnerability to default.

Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive, and is provided for the reader’s convenience. Readers are requested to review the section Understanding Credit Ratings—Limitations and Usage for further information on the limitations of the agency’s ratings.

 

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Short-Term Ratings

Short-Term Ratings Assigned to Issuers or 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 short-term 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 heightened 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. Typically, applicable to entity ratings only.

D

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

Limitations of the Short-Term Ratings Scale

Specific limitations relevant to the Short-Term Ratings scale include:

 

    The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an obligation default.

 

    The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer or transaction’s profile other than the agency’s opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of the rated issuer or obligation.

 

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Ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings articulate an opinion on discrete and specific areas of risk. The above list is not exhaustive, and is provided for the reader’s convenience. Readers are requested to review the section Understanding Credit Ratings—Limitations and Usage for further information on the limitations of the agency’s ratings.

Standard Rating Actions

Affirmed*

The rating has been reviewed with no change in rating. Ratings affirmations may also include an affirmation of, or change to an Outlook when an Outlook is used.

Confirmed

Action taken in response to an external request or change in terms. Rating has been reviewed in either context, and no rating change has been deemed necessary. For servicer ratings, action taken in response to change in financial condition or IDR of servicer where servicer rating is reviewed in that context exclusively, and no rating action has been deemed necessary.

Downgrade*

The rating has been lowered in the scale.

Matured*/Paid-In-Full

a. ‘Matured’ – This action is used when an issue has reached the end of its repayment term and rating coverage is discontinued. Denoted as ‘NR’.

b. ‘Paid-In-Full’ – This action indicates that the issue has been paid in full. As the issue no longer exists, it is therefore no longer rated. Denoted as ‘PIF.’

New Rating*

Rating has been assigned to a previously unrated issue primarily used in cases of shelf issues such as MTNs or similar programs.

Prerefunded*

Assigned to long-term US Public Finance issues after Fitch assesses refunding escrow.

Publish*

Initial public announcement of rating on the agency’s website, although not necessarily the first rating assigned. This action denotes when a previously private rating is published.

Upgrade*

The rating has been raised in the scale.

Withdrawn*

The rating has been withdrawn and the issue or issuer is no longer rated by Fitch Ratings. Indicated in rating databases with the symbol ‘WD’.

Rating Modifier Actions:

Modifiers including Rating Outlook, Rating Watch, Distressed Recovery Rating, and Recovery Rating.

Rating Watch Maintained*

The issue or issuer has been reviewed and remains on active Rating Watch status.

Rating Watch On*

The issue or issuer has been placed on active Rating Watch status.

Rating Watch Revision*

Rating Watch status has changed.

 

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Support Floor Rating Revision

Applicable only to Support ratings related to Financial Institutions, which are amended only with this action.

Under Review*

Applicable to ratings that may undergo a change in scale not related to changes in fundamental credit quality. Final action will be “Revision Rating.”

The Following Will Only Apply in Structured Finance Transactions:

Revision Outlook*

Rating Outlook status has changed independent of a full review of the underlying rating.

 

* A rating action must be recorded for each rating in a required cycle to be considered compliant with Fitch policy concerning aging of ratings. Not all Ratings or Data Actions, or changes in rating modifiers, will meet this requirement. Actions that meet this requirement are noted with an * in the above definitions.

XDI33-0317

 

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Registration Nos. 002-11101

811-00242

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28. Exhibits

 

(a)          Articles of Incorporation.
   (1)       Natixis Funds Trust II (“the Registrant ”) Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 2, 2005 (the “ Agreement and Declaration ”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (a)(1) to Post-Effective Amendment (“ PEA ”) No. 128 to the initial registration statement (“ Registration Statement ”) filed on January 30, 2006.
   (2)       Amendment No. 1 dated June 1, 2007 to the Agreement and Declaration is incorporated by reference to exhibit (a)(2) to PEA No. 132 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2008.
   (3)       Memorandum and Articles of Association of ASG Global Alternatives Cayman Fund Ltd. (the “ Global Alternatives Commodity Subsidiary ”) dated August 11, 2008 is incorporated by reference to exhibit (a)(3) to PEA No. 138 filed on September 29, 2008.
   (4)       Memorandum and Articles of Association of ASG Managed Futures Strategy Cayman Fund Ltd. (the “ Managed Futures Strategy Commodity Subsidiary ”) dated June 24, 2010 is incorporated by reference to exhibit (a)(5) to PEA No. 150 filed on July 29, 2010.

(b)

         By-Laws.
   (1)       The Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws dated September 23, 2008 (the “ By-Laws ”) are incorporated by reference to exhibit (b)(1) to PEA No. 140 to the Registration Statement filed on December 1, 2008.
(c)          Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders.
   (1)       Rights of shareholders as described in Article III, Section 6 and Article V of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration is incorporated by reference to exhibit (a)(1) to PEA No. 128 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2006.
(d)          Investment Advisory Contracts.
   (1)    (i)    Advisory Agreement dated October 30, 2000 between the Registrant, on behalf of Natixis Oakmark Fund (formerly, Nvest Growth and Income Fund), and NGAM Advisors, L.P. (“ NGAM Advisors ”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(i) to PEA No. 114 to the Registration Statement filed on February 27, 2001.

 

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      (ii)    Advisory Agreement dated September 30, 2008 between the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Global Alternatives Fund, and AlphaSimplex Group, LLC (“ AlphaSimplex ”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(iii) to PEA No. 140 to the Registration Statement filed on December 1, 2008.
      (iii)    Addendum dated July 1, 2012 to the Advisory Agreement dated September 30, 2008 between the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Global Alternatives Fund, and AlphaSimplex is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(iii) to PEA No. 172 to the Registration Statement filed on January 24, 2013.
      (iv)    Advisory Agreement dated October 31, 2008 between the Registrant, on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund, and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(iv) to PEA No. 139 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008.
      (v)    Addendum dated July 1, 2015 to the Advisory Agreement dated October 31, 2008 between the Registrant, on behalf of Vaughn Nelson Value Opportunity Fund, and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(v) to PEA No. 204 to the Registration Statement filed on January 15, 2016.
      (vi)    Advisory Agreement dated November 27, 2008 between the Global Alternatives Commodity Subsidiary and AlphaSimplex is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(v) to PEA No. 141 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2009.
      (vii)    Advisory Agreement dated July 28, 2010 between the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund and AlphaSimplex is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(vii) to PEA No. 151 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2010.
      (viii)    Addendum dated July 1, 2015 to the Advisory Agreement dated July 28, 2010 between the Registrant, on behalf of the ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund, and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(viii) to PEA No. 204 to the Registration Statement filed on January 15, 2016.
      (ix)    Advisory Agreement dated July 28, 2010 between the Managed Futures Strategy Commodity Subsidiary and AlphaSimplex is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(viii) to PEA No. 151 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2010.
      (x)    Advisory Agreement dated December 14, 2010 between the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund and Loomis Sayles & Company, L.P. (“ Loomis Sayles ”) is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (d)(1)(xii) to PEA No. 153 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.

 

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      (xi)    Advisory Agreement dated September 16, 2011 between the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund and Loomis Sayles is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xv) to PEA No. 158 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2011.
      (xii)    Advisory Agreement dated March 28, 2012 between the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund (formerly, Loomis Sayles Capital Income Fund) and Loomis Sayles is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xv) to PEA No. 162 to the Registration Statement filed on March 30, 2012.
      (xiii)    Advisory Agreement dated June 29, 2012 between the Registrant, on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Select Fund and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xvi) to PEA No. 167 to the Registration Statement filed on June 28, 2012.
      (xiv)    Advisory Agreement dated November 16, 2012 between the Registrant, on behalf of McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xvii) to PEA No. 170 to the Registration Statement filed on December 28, 2012.
      (xv)    Advisory Agreement dated September 30, 2013 between the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund and AlphaSimplex is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xvii) to PEA No. 179 to the Registration Statement filed on September 26, 2013.
      (xvi)    Advisory Agreement dated November 30, 2015 between the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund and AlphaSimplex is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xviii) to PEA No. 202 filed on November 25, 2015.
      (xvii)    Advisory Agreement dated March 31, 2016 between the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund and Loomis Sayles is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xxi) to PEA No. 206 filed on March 30, 2016.
   (2)    (i)    Sub-Advisory Agreement dated October 29, 2002 among the Registrant, on behalf of Natixis Oakmark Fund (formerly, CDC Nvest Growth and Income Fund), NGAM Advisors, and Harris Associates L.P. (“ Harris Associates ”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(i) to PEA No. 118 to the Registration Statement filed on February 28, 2003.
      (ii)    Amendment dated February 28, 2014 to Sub-Advisory Agreement dated October 29, 2002 among the Registrant, on behalf of Natixis Oakmark Fund, NGAM Advisors, and Harris Associates is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(ii) to PEA No. 194 to the Registration Statement filed on November 26, 2014.
      (iii)    Sub-Advisory Agreement dated October 31, 2008 among the Registrant on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund, NGAM Advisors and Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (“ Vaughan Nelson ”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(iv) to PEA No. 139 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008.

 

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      (iv)    Amendment dated July 1, 2015 to the Sub-Advisory Agreement dated October 31, 2008 among the Registrant, on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund, NGAM Advisors and Vaughan Nelson is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(iv) to PEA No. 204 to the Registration Statement filed on January 15, 2016.
      (v)    Sub-Advisory Agreement dated June 29, 2012 among the Registrant, on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Select Fund, NGAM Advisors and Vaughan Nelson is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xi) to PEA No. 167 to the Registration Statement filed on June 28, 2012.
      (vi)    Sub-Advisory Agreement dated January 1, 2013 among the Registrant, on behalf of McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, NGAM Advisors and McDonnell Investment Management, LLC (“ McDonnell ”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xiii) to PEA No. 170 to the Registration Statement filed on December 28, 2012.
      (vii)    Sub-Advisory Agreement dated September 30, 2013 among the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund, AlphaSimplex and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xii) to PEA No. 179 to the Registration Statement filed on September 26, 2013.
   (e)       Underwriting Contracts.
      (1)    Distribution Agreement dated March 3, 2003 between the Registrant, on behalf of Natixis Oakmark Fund (formerly, CDC Nvest Growth and Income Fund), and NGAM Distribution, L.P. (“ NGAM Distribution ”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(1) to PEA No. 119 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2003.
      (2)    Distribution Agreement dated September 30, 2008 between the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Global Alternatives Fund, and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(4) to PEA No. 140 to the Registration Statement filed on December 1, 2008.
      (3)    Distribution Agreement dated October 31, 2008 between the Registrant, on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund, and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(5) to PEA No. 139 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008.
      (4)    Distribution Agreement dated July 28, 2010 between the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund, and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(5) to PEA No. 151 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2010.
      (5)    Distribution Agreement dated December 14, 2010 between the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund, and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(8) to PEA No. 153 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.

 

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      (6)    Distribution Agreement dated September 30, 2011 between the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund, and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(10) to PEA No. 158 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2011.
      (7)    Distribution Agreement dated March 28, 2012 between the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund (formerly, Loomis Sayles Capital Income Fund), and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(10) to PEA No. 162 to the Registration Statement filed on March 28, 2012.
      (8)    Distribution Agreement dated June 29, 2012 between the Registrant, on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Select Fund, and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(11) to PEA No. 167 to the Registration Statement filed on June 28, 2012.
      (9)    Distribution Agreement dated December 31, 2012 between the Registrant, on behalf of McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(12) to PEA No. 170 to the Registration Statement filed on December 28, 2012.
      (10)    Distribution Agreement dated September 30, 2013 between the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund, and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(12) to PEA No. 179 to the Registration Statement filed on September 26, 2013.
      (11)    Distribution Agreement dated November 30, 2015 between the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund, and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(14) to PEA No. 202 to the Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2015.
      (12)    Distribution Agreement dated March 31, 2016 between the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund, and NGAM Distribution is incorporated by reference to exhibit (e)(15) to PEA No. 206 to the Registration Statement filed on March 30, 2016.
      (13)    Form of Dealer Agreement used by NGAM Distribution is filed herewith.
   (f)       Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts.
         Not applicable.
   (g)       Custodian Agreements.
      (1)    Master Custodian Agreement dated September 1, 2005 among the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“ State Street ”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (g)(1) to PEA No. 128 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2006.

 

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   (2)       Amendment No. 1 dated September 15, 2006 to Master Custodian Agreement dated September 1, 2005 among the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (g)(2) to PEA No. 130 to the Registration Statement filed on January 26, 2007.
   (3)       Custody Services Agreement dated November 27, 2008 between the Global Alternatives Commodity Subsidiary and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (g)(3) to PEA No. 141 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2009.
   (4)       Custody Services Agreement dated July 28, 2010 between the Managed Futures Strategy Commodity Subsidiary and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (g)(5) to PEA No. 151 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2010.
   (5)       Amendment to Master Custody Agreement dated October 14, 2016 by and among the Registrant, on behalf of its Series, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Natixis ETF Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company is filed herewith.
(h)          Other Material Contracts.
   (1)    (i)    Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (“ Boston Financial ”) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(i) to PEA No. 128 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2006.
      (ii)    Amendment dated February 15, 2008 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial is filed herewith.
      (iii)    Amendment dated October 1, 2008 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(iii) to PEA No. 139 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008.

 

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      (iv)    Amendment dated October 1, 2011 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(vi) to PEA No. 161 to the Registration Statement filed on February 17, 2012.
      (v)    Addendum dated February 21, 2012 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(vi) to PEA No. 163 to the Registration Statement filed on April 13, 2012.
      (vi)    Addendum dated September 12, 2014 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(v) to PEA No. 196 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2015.
      (vii)    Amendment dated September 19, 2014 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, and Boston Financial is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(vi) to PEA No. 196 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2015.
      (viii)    Addendum dated June 30, 2015 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial is filed herewith.
      (ix)    Addendum dated September 9, 2015 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial is filed herewith.
      (x)    Revised Appendix A dated November 30, 2015 to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial is filed herewith.
      (xi)    Revised Appendix A dated February 23, 2016 to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial is filed herewith.

 

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      (xii)    Revised Appendix A dated March 31, 2016 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(vii) to PEA No. 206 to the Registration Statement filed on March 30, 2016.
   (2)    (i)    Administrative Services Agreement dated January 3, 2005 between the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2) to PEA No. 125 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2005.
      (ii)    First Amendment dated November 1, 2005 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(ii) to PEA No. 128 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2006.
      (iii)    Second Amendment dated January 1, 2006 to Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(iii) to PEA No. 128 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2006.
      (iv)    Third Amendment dated July 1, 2007 to Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(iv) to PEA No. 132 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2008.
      (v)    Fourth Amendment dated September 17, 2007 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(v) to PEA No. 132 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2008.
      (vi)    Fifth Amendment dated February 1, 2008 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(vi) to PEA No. 132 to the Registration Statement filed on January 28, 2008.
      (vii)    Sixth Amendment dated February 19, 2008 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(vii) to PEA No. 134 to the Registration Statement filed on April 29, 2008.
      (viii)    Seventh Amendment dated July 1, 2008 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(viii) to PEA No. 138 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2008.
      (ix)    Eighth Amendment dated September 29, 2008 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(ix) to PEA No. 138 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2008.

 

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      (x)    Ninth Amendment dated October 31, 2008 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(x) to PEA No. 139 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008.
      (xi)    Tenth Amendment dated January 9, 2009 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xi) to PEA No. 141 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2009.
      (xii)    Eleventh Amendment dated July 27, 2009 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xii) to PEA No. 144 to the Registration Statement filed on July 31, 2009.
      (xiii)    Twelfth Amendment dated February 25, 2010 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xiii) to PEA No. 146 to the Registration Statement filed on March 1, 2010.
      (xiv)    Thirteenth Amendment dated July 1, 2010 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xiv) to PEA No. 150 to the Registration Statement filed on July 29, 2010.
      (xv)    Fourteenth Amendment dated September 21, 2010 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xv) to PEA No. 151 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2010.
      (xvi)    Fifteenth Amendment dated December 14, 2010 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xvi) to PEA No. 153 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.
      (xvii)    Sixteenth Amendment dated July 1, 2011 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xvii) to PEA No. 157 to the Registration Statement filed on July 15, 2011.
      (xviii)    Seventeenth Amendment dated September 16, 2011 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xviii) to PEA No. 158 filed on September 29, 2011.
      (xix)    Eighteenth Amendment dated March 28, 2012 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xix) to PEA No. 162 to the Registration Statement filed on March 28, 2012.
      (xx)    Nineteenth Amendment dated June 29, 2012 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xx) to PEA No. 167 to the Registration Statement filed on June 28, 2012.

 

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      (xxi)    Twentieth Amendment dated November 16, 2012 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxi) to PEA No. 170 to the Registration Statement filed on December 28, 2012.
      (xxii)    Twenty-First Amendment dated September 26, 2013 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxii) to PEA No. 182 to the Registration Statement filed on February 7, 2014.
      (xxiii)    Twenty-Second Amendment dated February 10, 2014 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxiii) to PEA No. 182 to the Registration Statement filed on February 7, 2014.
      (xxiv)    Twenty-Third Amendment dated July 1, 2014 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxiv) to PEA No. 193 to the Registration Statement filed on September 15, 2014.
      (xxv)    Twenty-Fourth Amendment dated July 10, 2014 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxv) to PEA No. 193 to the Registration Statement filed on September 15, 2014.
      (xxvi)    Twenty-Fifth Amendment dated September 30, 2014 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxvi) to PEA No. 194 to the Registration Statement filed on November 26, 2014.
      (xxvii)    Twenty-Sixth Amendment dated December 1, 2014 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxvii) to PEA No. 194 to the Registration Statement filed on November 26, 2014.
      (xxviii)    Twenty-Seventh Amendment dated June 30, 2015 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxviii) to PEA No. 201 to the Registration Statement filed on September 11, 2015.
      (xxix)    Twenty-Eighth Amendment dated November 30, 2015 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxix) to PEA No. 202 to the Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2015.
      (xxx)    Twenty-Ninth Amendment dated March 31, 2016 to the Administrative Services Agreement with NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxx) to PEA No. 206 to the Registration Statement filed on March 30, 2016.

 

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      (xxxi)    Thirtieth Amendment dated October 14, 2016 to the Administrative Services Agreement by and between the Registrant, on behalf of its Series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust, Natixis ETF Trust and NGAM Advisors is filed herewith.
      (xxxii)    Thirty-First Amendment dated November 30, 2016 to the Administrative Services Agreement between the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust, Natixis ETF Trust and NGAM Advisors is filed herewith.
      (xxxiii)    Administrative Services Agreement dated November 27, 2008 between the Global Alternatives Commodity Subsidiary and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xii) to PEA No. 141 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2009.
      (xxxiv)    Sub-Administrative Services Agreement dated January 28, 2009 among the Global Alternatives Commodity Subsidiary, State Street and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xiii) to PEA No. 141 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2009.
      (xxxv)    Administrative Services Agreement dated July 28, 2010 between the Managed Futures Strategy Commodity Subsidiary and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xx) to PEA No. 151 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2010.
      (xxxvi)    Sub-Administrative Services Agreement dated July 28, 2010 among the Managed Futures Strategy Commodity Subsidiary, State Street and NGAM Advisors is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(xxi) to PEA No. 151 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2010.
   (3)    (i)    Securities Lending Authorization Agreement dated September 1, 2005 among the Registrant, on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(3)(i) to PEA No. 128 to the Registration Statement filed on January 30, 2006.
      (ii)    First Amendment dated December 20, 2005 to the Securities Lending Authorization Agreement dated September 1, 2005 with State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(3)(ii) to PEA No. 140 to the Registration Statement filed on December 1, 2008.
      (iii)    Second Amendment dated February 29, 2008 to the Securities Lending Authorization Agreement dated September 1, 2005 with State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(3)(iii) to PEA No. 140 to the Registration Statement filed on December 1, 2008.
      (iv)    Third Amendment dated January 1, 2011 to Securities Lending Authorization Agreement dated September 1, 2005 with State Street is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(3)(iv) to PEA No. 155 to the Registration Statement filed on May 2, 2011.

 

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   (4)       AlphaSimplex Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertakings dated April 30, 2016 between AlphaSimplex and the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund, ASG Global Alternatives Fund and ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(4) to PEA No. 209 to the Registration Statement filed on April 28, 2016.
   (5)       NGAM Advisors Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertakings dated April 30, 2016 between NGAM Advisors and the Registrant, on behalf of McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Natixis Oakmark Fund and Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(5) to PEA No. 209 to the Registration Statement filed on April 28, 2016.
   (6)       Loomis Sayles Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertaking dated April 30, 2016 between Loomis Sayles and the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(6) to PEA No. 209 to the Registration Statement filed on April 28, 2016.
   (7)       Loomis Sayles Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertakings dated March 31, 2016 between Loomis Sayles and the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(7) to PEA No. 105 to the Registration Statement filed on March 28, 2016.
   (8)       Reliance Agreement for Exchange Privileges dated June 30, 2009 by and among Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and the Registrant is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(7) to PEA No. 146 to the Registration Statement filed on March 1, 2010.
   (9)       NGAM Advisors Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertaking dated July 1, 2016 between NGAM Advisors and the Registrant, on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Select Fund is filed herewith.
   (10)       Alpha Simplex Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertaking dated November 30, 2015 between Alpha Simplex and the Registrant, on behalf of ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (h)(16) to PEA 202 to the Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2015.
   (11)       Loomis Sayles Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertaking dated March 31, 2016 between Loomis Sayles and the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (h)(17) to PEA 206 to the Registration Statement filed on March 30, 2016.
   (12)       Loomis Sayles Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertakings dated July 1, 2016 between Loomis Sayles and the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund is filed herewith.

 

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(i)          Legal Opinion.
   (1)       Opinion and Consent of Counsel dated January 3, 1989 with respect to the Registrant’s Natixis Oakmark Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit 10(a) to PEA No. 106 to the Registration Statement filed on April 18, 1997.
   (2)       Opinion and Consent of Counsel dated September 10, 1993 with respect to offering multiple classes of shares for all series of the Registrant is incorporated by reference to exhibit 10(d) to PEA No. 106 to the Registration Statement filed on April 18, 1997.
   (3)       Opinion and Consent of Counsel dated March 31, 2016, with respect to the Registrant’s Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (i)(3) to PEA No. 206 to the Registration Statement filed on March 30, 2016.
(j)          Other Opinions.
         Not applicable.
(k)          Omitted Financial Statements.
         Not applicable.
(l)          Initial Capital Agreements.
         Not applicable.
(m)          Rule 12b-1 Plan.
   (1)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Natixis Oakmark Fund (formerly, Nvest Growth and Income Fund) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(1)(a) to PEA No. 115 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2001.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Natixis Oakmark Fund (formerly, Nvest Growth and Income Fund) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(1)(c) to PEA No. 115 to the Registration Statement filed on April 30, 2001.
   (2)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of ASG Global Alternatives Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(3)(a) to PEA No. 138 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2008.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of ASG Global Alternatives Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(3)(b) to PEA No. 138 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2008.

 

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   (3)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(4)(a) to PEA No. 139 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(4)(b) to PEA No. 139 to the Registration Statement filed on October 30, 2008.
   (4)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(5)(a) to PEA No. 150 to the Registration Statement filed on July 29, 2010.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(5)(b) to PEA No. 150 to the Registration Statement filed on July 29, 2010.
   (5)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(8)(a) to PEA No. 153 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(8)(b) to PEA No. 153 to the Registration Statement filed on December 14, 2010.
   (6)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(10)(a) to PEA No. 158 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2011.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(10)(b) to PEA No. 158 to the Registration Statement filed on September 29, 2011.
   (7)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund (formerly, Loomis Sayles Capital Income Fund) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(10)(a) to PEA No. 162 to the Registration Statement filed on March 28, 2012.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund (formerly, Loomis Sayles Capital Income Fund) is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(10)(b) to PEA No. 162 to the Registration Statement filed on March 28, 2012.
      (c)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class T shares of Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund to be filed by amendment.
   (8)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Vaughan Nelson Select Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(11)(a) to PEA No. 167 to the Registration Statement filed on June 28, 2012.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Vaughan Nelson Select Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(11)(b) to PEA No. 167 to the Registration Statement filed on June 28, 2012.

 

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   (9)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(12)(a) to PEA No. 170 to the Registration Statement filed on December 28, 2012.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund is incorporated by reference to exhibit (m)(12)(b) to PEA No. 170 to the Registration Statement filed on December 28, 2012.
   (10)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(12)(a) to PEA No. 179 to the Registration Statement filed on September 26, 2013.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(12)(b) to PEA No. 179 to the Registration Statement filed on September 26, 2013.
   (11)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(14)(a) to PEA 202 to the Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2015.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund is incorporated by reference to

exhibit (m)(14)(b) to PEA 202 to the Registration Statement filed on November 25, 2015.
   (12)    (a)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class A shares of Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(15)(a) to PEA 206 to the Registration Statement filed on March 30, 2016.
      (b)    Rule 12b-1 Plan for Class C shares of Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund is incorporated by reference to
exhibit (m)(15)(b) to PEA 206 to the Registration Statement filed on March 30, 2016.
(n)          Rule 18f-3 Plan.
   (1)       The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “ 1940 Act ”) effective January 12, 2016 is incorporated by reference to exhibit (n)(1) to PEA No. 204 to the Registration Statement filed on January 15, 2016.
(p)          Code of Ethics.
   (1)       Code of Ethics dated September 14, 2007 as amended September 30, 2016 for The Registrant is filed herewith.
   (2)       Code of Ethics dated October 1, 2007 as amended July 1, 2016 for NGAM Advisors and NGAM Distribution is filed herewith.
   (3)       Code of Ethics revised as of September 24, 2014 for AlphaSimplex is incorporated by reference to exhibit (p)(3) to PEA No. 209 to the Registration Statement filed on April 28, 2016.

 

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   (4)       Code of Ethics dated May 20, 2008 as amended February 19, 2016 for Vaughan Nelson is filed herewith.
   (5)       Code of Ethics dated June 1, 2011 as amended July 1, 2016 for McDonnell is filed herewith.
   (6)       Code of Ethics dated June 17, 2014 as amended June 23, 2015 for Natixis AM US is incorporated by reference to exhibit (p)(6) to PEA No. 204 to the Registration Statement filed on January 15, 2016.
   (7)       Code of Ethics dated September 30, 2005 as amended March 9, 2016 for Harris Associates is filed herewith.
   (8)       Code of Ethics dated January 14, 2000 as amended August 11, 2016 for Loomis Sayles is filed herewith.
(q)          Powers of Attorney.
   (1)       Powers of Attorney for Kevin P. Charleston, Kenneth A. Drucker, Edmond J. English, David L. Giunta,
Richard A. Goglia, John T. Hailer, Wendell J. Knox, Martin T. Meehan, Sandra O. Moose, James P. Palermo,
Erik R. Sirri, Peter J. Smail and Cynthia L. Walker dated June 16, 2016, effective July 1, 2016, designating
John M. Loder, Russell Kane, Rosa Licea-Mailloux and Michael Kardok as attorneys to sign for each Trustee is filed herewith.

Item  29. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with the Registrant.

The Registrant is not aware of any person controlled or under common control with any of its series. As of January 3, 2017, the persons listed below owned 25% or more of the outstanding voting securities of one or more series of the Registrant and thus may be deemed to “control” the series within the meaning of Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act:

 

Fund

 

Shareholder and Address

  Percentage
of shares
held
 
ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund  

Natixis Global Asset Management, L.P.

Boston, MA 02116-3368

    72.31
ASG Global Alternatives Fund  

Wells Fargo Bank NA

Minneapolis, MN 55480-1533

    34.98
ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4151

    29.10
ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund  

LPL Financial

San Diego, CA 92121-3091

    78.36

 

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Fund

 

Shareholder and Address

  Percentage
of shares
held
 
Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund  

Natixis Global Asset Management, L.P.

Boston, MA 02116-3368

    52.06
McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund  

Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc.

Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484

    68.35
Vaughan Nelson Select Fund  

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

San Francisco, CA 94104-4151

    35.23

Item  30. Indemnification.

Under Article 5 of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-laws, any past or present Trustee or officer of the Registrant (hereinafter referred to as a “Covered Person”) shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liability and all expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or otherwise involved by reason of his or her being or having been a Covered Person. That provision does not authorize indemnification when it is determined that such Covered Person would otherwise be liable to the Registrant or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. This description is modified in its entirety by the provision of Article 5 of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-laws incorporated by reference to exhibit (b)(1) to PEA No. 140 to the Registration Statement filed on December 1, 2008.

The Distribution Agreements, the Master Custodian Agreement, the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement (the “Agreements”) contained herein and in various post-effective amendments and incorporated herein by reference, provide for indemnification. The general effect of these provisions is to indemnify entities contracting with the Registrant against liability and expenses in certain circumstances. This description is modified in its entirety by the provisions of the Agreements as contained in this Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may be permitted to Trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a Trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any claim, action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the Registrant by such Trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the shares 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The Registrant and its Trustees, officers and employees are insured, under a policy of insurance maintained by the Registrant in conjunction with Natixis Global Asset Management, L.P. and its affiliates, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policy, against certain expenses in

 

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connection with the defense of actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities that might be imposed as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings, to which they are parties by reason of being or having been such Trustees or officers. The policy expressly excludes coverage for any Trustee or officer for any claim arising out of any fraudulent act or omission, any dishonest act or omission or any criminal act or omission of the Trustee or officer.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser.

 

  (a) NGAM Advisors, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Natixis Global Asset Management, L.P., serves as investment adviser to Natixis Oakmark Fund, McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund, Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund and Vaughan Nelson Select Fund and subadviser (through its Division Active Investment Advisors) to ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund. NGAM Advisors was organized in 1995.

The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of NGAM Advisors during the past two years is incorporated by reference to schedules A, C and D of Form ADV filed by NGAM Advisors pursuant to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, (the “ Advisers Act ”) (SEC file No. 801-48408; IARD/CRD No. 106800).

 

  (b) Harris Associates serves as a subadviser to the Registrant’s Natixis Oakmark Fund. Harris Associates serves as investment adviser to mutual funds, individuals, trusts, retirement plans, endowments and foundations, and manages several private partnerships, and is a registered commodity trading adviser and commodity pool operator.

The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of Harris Associates during the past two years is incorporated herein by reference to schedules A, C and D of Form ADV filed by Harris Associates pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-50333; IARD/CRD No. 106960).

 

  (c) AlphaSimplex, a subsidiary of Natixis Global Asset Management, L.P., serves as the investment adviser to ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund, ASG Global Alternatives Fund, ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund and ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund and currently is manager or subadviser of additional registered investment companies and privately-offered funds.

The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of AlphaSimplex during the past two years is incorporated herein by reference to schedules A, B and D of Form ADV filed by AlphaSimplex pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC file No. 801-62448, IARD/CRD No. 128356).

 

  (d) Vaughan Nelson, a subsidiary of Natixis Global Asset Management, L.P., serves as subadviser to the Registrant’s Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund and Vaughan Nelson Select Fund and provides investment advice to a number of other registered investment companies and to other organizations and individuals.

 

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The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of Vaughan Nelson during the past two years is incorporated herein by reference to schedules A, C and D of Form ADV filed by Vaughan Nelson pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC file No. 801-51795, IARD/CRD No. 106975).

 

  (e) Loomis Sayles, a subsidiary of Natixis Global Asset Management, L.P., serves as adviser to the Registrant’s Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund, Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund, Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund and Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund and provides investment advice to a number of other registered investment companies and to other organizations and individuals.

The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of Loomis Sayles during the past two years is incorporated herein by reference to schedules A, C and D of Form ADV filed by Loomis Sayles pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC file No. 801-170; IARD/CRD No. 105377).

 

  (f) McDonnell serves as subadviser to the Registrant’s McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund and provides investment advice to a number of other registered investment companies and to other organizations and individuals.

The list required by this Item 31 regarding any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by officers and partners of McDonnell during the past two years is incorporated herein by reference to schedules A, C and D of Form ADV filed by McDonnell pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC file No. 801-60399; IARD/CRD No. 113878).

Item 32. Principal Underwriters

 

  (a) NGAM Distribution, L.P., the Registrant’s principal underwriter, also serves as principal underwriter for:

Natixis Funds Trust I

Natixis Funds Trust IV

Loomis Sayles Funds I

Loomis Sayles Funds II

Gateway Trust

 

  (b) The general partner and officers of the Registrant’s principal underwriter, NGAM Distribution, L.P., and their addresses are as follows:

 

Name

  

Positions and Offices

with Principal Underwriter

  

Positions and Offices

with the Registrant

NGAM Distribution Corporation    General Partner    None
David L. Giunta    President and Chief Executive Officer    President and Chief Executive Officer

 

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Name

  

Positions and Offices

with Principal Underwriter

  

Positions and Offices

with the Registrant

Russell Kane

   Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Clerk    Secretary, Clerk and Chief Legal Officer

Rosa Licea-Mailloux

   Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Clerk and Chief Compliance Officer for Mutual Funds    Chief Compliance Officer, Anti-Money Laundering Officer and Assistant Secretary

Michael Kardok

   Senior Vice President    Treasurer, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

Beatriz Pina Smith

   Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer    None

Anthony Loureiro

   Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer-Broker/Dealer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer    None

Marilyn Rosh

   Senior Vice President and Controller    None

Josh Bogen

   Executive Vice President    None

Matthew Coldren

   Executive Vice President    None

Mark Doyle

   Executive Vice President    None

Ed Farrington

   Executive Vice President    None

Marina Gross

   Executive Vice President    None

Robert Hussey

   Executive Vice President    None

George Marootian

   Executive Vice President    None

Dan Santaniello

   Executive Vice President    None

Paul Anderson

   Senior Vice President    None

Albert Barbaro

   Senior Vice President    None

John Bearce

   Senior Vice President    None

Bethany Burt

   Senior Vice President    None

William Butcher

   Senior Vice President    None

Claudine Ciccia

   Senior Vice President    None

Jeff Clough

   Senior Vice President    None

 

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Name

  

Positions and Offices

with Principal Underwriter

  

Positions and Offices

with the Registrant

James Cove

   Senior Vice President    None

Abhijeet Dalvi

   Senior Vice President    None

Joe Duffey

   Senior Vice President    None

Elizabeth Durkee

   Senior Vice President    None

Dineen Dusablon

   Senior Vice President    None

Nick Elward

   Senior Vice President    None

Tracy Fagan

   Senior Vice President    None

Kevin Finney

   Senior Vice President    None

Tracey Flaherty

   Senior Vice President    None

Sean Foley

   Senior Vice President    None

Matt Garzone

   Senior Vice President    None

Alaina Giampapa

   Senior Vice President    None

David Goodsell

   Senior Vice President    None

Peter Gozelski

   Senior Vice President    None

Kenneth Herold

   Senior Vice President    None

Michael Hunt

   Senior Vice President    None

Christopher Hunter

   Senior Vice President    None

Kirk Johnson

   Senior Vice President    None

Sean Kane

   Senior Vice President    None

Jeff Keselman

   Senior Vice President    None

Joe Klimas

   Senior Vice President    None

Pete Klos

   Senior Vice President    None

David Lafferty

   Senior Vice President    None

Ted LeClair

   Senior Vice President    None

 

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Table of Contents

Name

  

Positions and Offices

with Principal Underwriter

  

Positions and Offices

with the Registrant

Dan Lynch

   Senior Vice President    None

Cyndi Lyons

   Senior Vice President    None

Robert Lyons

   Senior Vice President    None

Ian MacDuff

   Senior Vice President    None

Neil Martin

   Senior Vice President    None

Stewart Martin

   Senior Vice President    None

Marla McDougall

   Senior Vice President    None

Theodore Meyer

   Senior Vice President    None

Peter Olsen

   Senior Vice President    None

Maureen O’Neill

   Senior Vice President    None

Stacie Paoletti

   Senior Vice President    None

Meghan Peachey

   Senior Vice President    None

Rebecca Poulin

   Senior Vice President    None

Daniel Price

   Senior Vice President    None

John Refford

   Senior Vice President    None

Jim Roach

   Senior Vice President    None

Christopher Segalini

   Senior Vice President    None

Nancy Spalding Gray

   Senior Vice President    None

Lyle Steere

   Senior Vice President    None

David Vallon

   Senior Vice President    None

Susannah Wardly

   Senior Vice President    None

The principal business address of all the above persons or entities is 399 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116.

 

(c) Not applicable.

 

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Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

The following companies, in the aggregate, maintain possession of the documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder:

 

(a)      For all series of The Registrant:
   (i)   Natixis Funds Trust II
     399 Boylston Street
     Boston, Massachusetts 02116
   (ii)   NGAM Distribution, L.P.
     399 Boylston Street
     Boston, Massachusetts 02116
   (iii)   NGAM Advisors, L.P.
     399 Boylston Street
     Boston, Massachusetts 02116
   (iv)   State Street Bank and Trust Company
     225 Franklin Street
     Boston, Massachusetts 02110
   (v)   Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.
     2000 Crown Colony Drive
     Quincy, Massachusetts 02169
(b)      For the series of the Registrant managed by Harris Associates:
     Harris Associates L.P.
     111 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4600
     Chicago, IL 60606
(c)     

For the series of the Registrant managed by AlphaSimplex:

AlphaSimplex Group, LLC

255 Main Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142

(d)     

For the series of the Registrant managed by Vaughan Nelson:

Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P.

600 Travis Street, Suite 6300

Houston, Texas 77002

(e)     

For the series of the Registrant managed by Loomis Sayles:

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

One Financial Center

Boston, Massachusetts 02111

(f)     

For the series of the Registrant managed by McDonnell:

McDonnell Investment Management, LLC

One Lincoln Centre

18 W. Butterfield Rd.

Oak Brook, Illinois 60181

 

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(g)      

For the series of the Registrant managed by Natixis AM US:

Natixis Asset Management U.S., LLC

399 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

Item 34. Management Services.

None.

Item 35. Undertakings.

The Registrant undertakes to provide the annual report of any of its series to any person who receives a prospectus for such series and who requests the annual report.

 

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NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused Post-Effective Amendment No. 211 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 27 th day of January, 2017.

 

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II
By:  

/s/ David L. Giunta

  David L. Giunta
  President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ David L. Giunta

    
David L. Giunta   

President, Chief Executive Officer

and Trustee

  January 27, 2017

/s/ Michael C. Kardok

    
Michael C. Kardok    Treasurer   January 27, 2017

Kevin P. Charleston*

    
Kevin P. Charleston    Trustee   January 27, 2017

Kenneth A. Drucker*

    
Kenneth A. Drucker    Trustee, Chairperson of the Board   January 27, 2017

Edmond J. English*

    
Edmond J. English    Trustee   January 27, 2017

Richard A. Goglia*

    
Richard A. Goglia    Trustee   January 27, 2017

Wendell J. Knox*

    
Wendell J. Knox    Trustee   January 27, 2017

Martin T. Meehan*

    
Martin T. Meehan    Trustee   January 27, 2017

Sandra O. Moose*

    
Sandra O. Moose    Trustee   January 27, 2017

James P. Palermo*

    
James P. Palermo    Trustee   January 27, 2017

Erik R. Sirri*

    
Erik R. Sirri    Trustee   January 27, 2017


Table of Contents

Peter J. Smail*

    
Peter J. Smail    Trustee   January 27, 2017

Cynthia L. Walker*

    
Cynthia L. Walker    Trustee   January 27, 2017

 

*By:  

/s/ Russell Kane

  Russell Kane
  Attorney-In-Fact 1
  January 27, 2017

 

1   Powers of Attorney for Kevin P. Charleston, Kenneth A. Drucker, Edmond J. English, David L. Giunta, Richard A. Goglia, Wendell J. Knox, Martin T. Meehan, Sandra O. Moose, James P. Palermo, Erik R. Sirri, Peter J. Smail and Cynthia L. Walker is filed herewith.


Table of Contents

Natixis Funds Trust II

Exhibit Index

Exhibits for Item 28 of Form N-1A

 

Exhibit

  

Exhibit Description

(e) (13)

   Form of Dealer Agreement

(g)(5)

   Amendment to Master Custody Agreement dated October 14, 2016 by and among the Registrant, on behalf of its Series, Gateway Trust, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Natixis ETF Trust and State Street Bank and Trust Company

(h)(1)(ii)

   Amendment dated February 15, 2008 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial

(h)(1)(viii)

   Addendum dated June 30, 2015 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial

(h)(1)(ix)

   Addendum dated September 9, 2015 to Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial

(h)(1)(x)

   Revised Appendix A dated November 30, 2015 to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial

(h)(1)(xi)

   Revised Appendix A dated February 23, 2016 to the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated October 1, 2005 among the Registrant on behalf of its respective series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Boston Financial

(h)(2)(xxxi)

   Thirtieth Amendment dated October 14, 2016 to the Administrative Services Agreement by and between the Registrant, on behalf of its Series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust, Natixis ETF Trust and NGAM Advisors

(h)(2)(xxxii)

   Thirty-First Amendment dated November 30, 2016 to the Administrative Services Agreement by and between the Registrant, on behalf of its Series, Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust, Natixis ETF Trust and NGAM Advisors

(h)(9)

   NGAM Advisors Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertaking dated July 1, 2016 between NGAM Advisors and the Registrant, on behalf of Vaughan Nelson Select Fund

(h)(12)

   Loomis Sayles Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement Undertakings dated July 1, 2016 between Loomis Sayles and the Registrant, on behalf of Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

(p)(1)

   Code of Ethics dated September 14, 2007 as amended September 30, 2016 for The Registrant

(p)(2)

   Code of Ethics dated October 1, 2007 as amended July 1, 2016 for NGAM Advisors and NGAM Distribution

(p)(4)

   Code of Ethics dated May 20, 2008 as amended February 19, 2016 for Vaughan Nelson


Table of Contents

(p)(5)

   Code of Ethics dated June 1, 2011 as amended July 1, 2016 for McDonnell

(p)(7)

   Code of Ethics dated September 30, 2005 as amended March 9, 2016 for Harris Associates

(p)(8)

   Code of Ethics dated January 14, 2000 as amended August 11, 2016 for Loomis Sayles

(q)(1)

   Powers of Attorney for Kevin P. Charleston, Kenneth A. Drucker, Edmond J. English, David L. Giunta, Richard A. Goglia, John T. Hailer, Wendell J. Knox, Martin T. Meehan, Sandra O. Moose, James P. Palermo, Erik R. Sirri, Peter J. Smail and Cynthia L. Walker dated June 16,2016, effective July 1, 2016

Exhibit (e)(13)

NGAM Distribution, L.P.

399 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

Dealer Agreement

This dealer agreement (“Dealer Agreement”) is entered into between NGAM Distribution, L.P. (formerly Natixis Distributors, L.P.) (“our”, “us”, or “we”) and the undersigned company (“you”). We offer to sell to you shares of each of the mutual funds distributed by us (the “Funds” and each a “Fund”), for each of which we serve as principal underwriter as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), and from which we have the right to purchase shares. 1 Shares are offered pursuant to the then current prospectus, including any supplements or amendments thereto, of each of the Funds (the “Prospectus,” which term as hereinafter used shall include the Statement of Additional Information of the Fund).

With respect to each of the Funds (except for Section 5, which applies only with respect to each Fund having in effect from time to time a service plan, service and distribution plan or other plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, each a “Plan” and together the “Plans”):

1. For all sales of shares of the Funds you shall act as dealer for your own account, and in no transaction shall you have any authority to act as agent, except as limited agent for purposes of receiving and transmitting orders and instructions regarding the purchase, exchange and redemption of shares of your customers and employees, with no authority to otherwise act as agent for any Fund or for us.

2. You or your designated agent agree to obtain and provide to your customers the Prospectus(es) of the applicable Fund(s) together with any supplemental sales literature you provide. You agree not to purchase any Fund shares for any customer, unless you deliver or cause to be delivered to such customer, at or prior to the time of such purchase, a copy of the Prospectus of the applicable Fund, or the Prospectus of the applicable Fund. You hereby represent that you understand your obligation to deliver a Prospectus to customers who purchase Fund shares pursuant to federal securities laws and you have taken all necessary steps to comply with such Prospectus delivery requirements.

3. Orders received from you will be accepted by us only at the public offering price applicable to each order, except for transactions to which a reduced offering price applies as provided in the Prospectus of the Fund(s). The minimum dollar purchase of shares of each Fund by any investor shall be the applicable minimum amount described in the Prospectus of the Fund and no order for less than such amount will be accepted hereunder. The public offering price shall be the net asset value per share plus the sales charge, if any, applicable to the transaction, expressed as a percentage of the public offering price, as determined and effective as of the time specified in the Prospectus of the Fund(s). The procedures relating to the handling of orders shall be subject to any instructions that we shall forward from time to time to you. All orders are subject to acceptance or rejection by us, or our designated agent, in our sole discretion. You hereby agree to comply with attached Appendix A, Policies and Procedures with Respect to Mutual Fund Trading, as well as with the terms of the Prospectus and the policies and procedures of the Funds. You understand that in recommending the purchase, sale or exchange of any Fund shares to your customers, you must have reasonable grounds for believing that such recommendation is suitable for such customer.

4. The sales charge applicable to any sale of Fund shares by you and the dealer concession or commission applicable to any order from you for the purchase of Fund shares accepted by us shall be set forth in the Prospectus of the Fund. You shall notify us if you are not eligible to receive a dealer concession or commission. You may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with sales by you of shares of the Fund where you receive all or substantially all of the sales charge as set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus, and therefore you may be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

 

1   The definition of “Funds” shall not include the following mutual funds, which are distributed by NGAM Distribution, L.P, but which are not available to you through the terms of this Dealer Agreement: Hansberger Emerging Markets Fund (Institutional Class); Hansberger International Growth Fund (Institutional Class); Hansberger International Value Fund (Institutional Class); Hansberger International Growth Fund (Advisor Class); Loomis Sayles Fixed Income Fund; Loomis Sayles Institutional High Income Fund; Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund; Loomis Sayles High Income Opportunities Fund; and Loomis Sayles Securitized Asset Fund.

 

   1    12-11


Exhibit (e)(13)

(a) We are entitled to a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) on redemptions of applicable classes of shares of the Funds, as described in the Prospectus. You agree that you will sell shares subject to a CDSC and that are to be held in omnibus accounts only if you are a NETWORKING participant with the National Securities Clearing Corporation and if such accounts are established pursuant to a NETWORKING Agreement.

(b) Reduced sales charges or no sales charge may apply to certain transactions, including under letter of intent, combined purchases or investments, reinvestment of dividends and distributions, repurchase privilege, unit investment trust distribution reinvestment or other programs, as described in the Prospectus of the Fund(s). To obtain any such reductions, you must notify us when the sale that would qualify for such reduction takes place.

 

5. Rule 12b-1 Plans. The substantive provisions of this Section 5 have been adopted pursuant to the Plans.

(a) You agree to provide (i) for the Funds with a service plan, personal services to investors in shares of the Funds and/or services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts, and (ii) for those Funds with a service and distribution plan, both personal services to investors in shares of the Funds and/or services related to the maintenance of shareholder accounts and also distribution and marketing services in the promotion of Fund shares. As compensation for these services, we shall pay you, as agent, upon receipt by us from the Fund(s), a quarterly service fee or service fee and distribution fee based on the average daily net asset value of Fund shares at the rate set forth with respect to the relevant Class(es) of shares of the Fund(s) in the Prospectus. This fee will be based on the average daily net asset value of Fund shares that are owned of record by your firm as nominee for your customers or that are owned by those shareholders whose records, as maintained by the Fund or its agent, designate your firm as the shareholder’s dealer of record. Normally, payment of such fee to you shall be made within forty-five (45) days after the close of each quarter for which such fee is payable provided , however , that any other provision of this Dealer Agreement or the Prospectuses to the contrary notwithstanding, we shall not have any obligation whatsoever to pay any amount of distribution and/or service fee with respect to shares of any Fund except to the extent, and only to the extent, that we have actually received payment of at least such amount of distribution and/or service fee from the Funds with respect to such shares pursuant to a Plan in consideration of you furnishing distribution and client services hereunder with respect to your customers that own such class of shares of such Fund, it being understood that our liability to you in respect of such fees is limited solely to the proceeds of such fees received by us from the Funds.

(b) You shall furnish us and the Fund with such information as shall reasonably be requested by the Trustees of the Fund with respect to the fees paid to you pursuant to this Section 5 and you shall notify us if you are not eligible to receive 12b-1 fees, including without limitation by reason of your failure to provide the services as required in this Section 5.

(c) The provisions of this Section 5 may be terminated by the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Funds who are not interested persons of the Funds and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan, or by a vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares, on sixty (60) days’ written notice, without payment of any penalty. Such provisions will be terminated also by any act that terminates either the Fund’s Distribution Contract or Underwriting Agreement with us, or this Dealer Agreement under Section 16 hereof or otherwise and shall terminate automatically in the event of the assignment (as that term is defined in the Act) of this Dealer Agreement.

(d) The provisions of the Distribution Contract or Underwriting Agreement between the Fund and us, insofar as they relate to the Plan, are incorporated herein by reference. The provisions of this Section 5 shall continue in full force and effect only so long as the continuance of the Plan, the Distribution Contract or Underwriting Agreement and these provisions are approved at least annually by a vote of the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting thereon.

6. You agree to purchase Fund shares only from us or from your customers. If you purchase Fund shares from us, you agree that all such purchases shall be made only: (a) to cover orders already received by you from your customers; (b) for shares being acquired by your customers pursuant to either the exchange privilege or the reinvestment privilege, as described in the Prospectus of the Fund; or (c) for your own bona fide investment. If you purchase shares from your customers, you agree to pay such customers not less than the applicable redemption price next quoted by the Fund pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Prospectus of the Fund.

7. You shall sell shares only: (a) to customers at the applicable public offering price, except for shares being acquired by your customers at net asset value as described in the Prospectus of the Fund, and (b) to us as agent for the Fund at the redemption price. In such a sale to us, you may act either as principal for your own account or as agent for your customer. If

 

   2    12-11


Exhibit (e)(13)

you act as principal for your own account in purchasing shares for resale to us, you agree to pay your customer not less than the price that you receive from us. If you act as agent for your customer in selling shares to us, you agree not to charge your customer more than a fair commission or fee for handling the transaction, except that you agree to receive no compensation of any kind based on the reinvestment of redemption or repurchase proceeds pursuant to the repurchase privilege, as described in the Prospectus of the Fund.

8. You hereby certify that all of your customers’ taxpayer identification numbers (“TIN”) or social security numbers (“SSN”) furnished to us by you are correct and that you will not open an account without providing us with the customer’s TIN or SSN. You agree to comply with the provisions of Appendix B, Policies and Procedures with Respect to Rule 22c-2 .

9. You hereby acknowledge that, in the performance of the services contemplated by this Dealer Agreement, you use or have access to records, systems, or operations that include, in tangible or electronic form, information relating to your customers such as their name, address (including email address), phone number, account number, SSN, drivers license number, date of birth, account activity, investments, and other nonpublic personal information (including consumer reports) (collectively, “Personal Information” or “Customer Data”), which is subject to the requirements of the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act and Regulation S-P thereunder promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time amended, and other federal and state laws and regulations applicable to the management, use, disposal, and safekeeping of Personal Information and/or Customer Data as well as laws and regulations relating to “know your customer,” anti-money laundering, and similar federal and state regulatory requirements (collectively “Privacy Laws”). You agree to comply with all applicable Privacy Laws relating to Personal Information and Customer Data and to cooperate with us in enabling us to satisfy our regulatory requirements relating to Personal Information.

10. You shall not withhold placing with us orders received from your customers so as to profit yourself as a result of such withholding; e.g., by a change in the net asset value from that used in determining the public offering price to your customers.

11. We will not accept from you any conditional orders for shares.

12. If any Fund shares sold to you or your customers under the terms of this Dealer Agreement are redeemed by the Fund or repurchased by us as agent for the Fund within seven (7) business days after the date of our confirmation of the original purchase by you or your customers, it is agreed that you shall forfeit your right to any dealer concession or commission received by you on such Fund shares. We will notify you of any such repurchase or redemption within ten (10) business days after the date thereof and you shall forthwith refund to us the entire concession or commission allowed or paid to you on such sale. We agree, in the event of any such repurchase or redemption, to refund to the Fund the portion of the sales charge, if any, retained by us and, upon receipt from you of the concession allowed to you on any Fund shares, to pay such refund forthwith to the Fund.

13. Payment for Fund shares sold to you shall be made on or before the settlement date specified in our confirmation, at the office of our clearing agent, and by check payable to the order of the Fund, which reserves the right to delay issuance, redemption or transfer of shares until such check has cleared. If such payment and all necessary applications and documents are not received by us, we reserve the right, without notice, forthwith either to cancel the sale, or at our option, sell the shares ordered back to the Fund, in which case you shall bear any loss resulting from your failure to make payment as aforesaid.

14. You will also act as principal in all purchases by a shareholder for whom you are the dealer of record of Fund shares with respect to payments sent directly by such shareholder to the Shareholder Services and Transfer Agent (the “TA”) specified in the Prospectus of the Fund, and you authorize and appoint the TA to execute and confirm such purchases to such shareholders on your behalf. Upon receipt of payment from the Funds, we, as agent, will remit to you, no less frequently than monthly, the amount of any concessions due with respect to such purchases, except that no concessions will be paid to you on any transaction for which your net sales concession is less than $5.00 in any payment cycle. You also represent that with respect to all such direct purchases by such shareholder, you may lawfully sell shares of such Fund in the state designated as such shareholder’s record address.

15. No person is authorized to make any representations concerning shares of the Funds except those contained in the Prospectuses of the Funds and in sales literature issued by us supplemental to such Prospectuses or approved in writing by us. In purchasing shares from us, you shall rely solely on the representations contained in such Prospectuses and such sales literature. We will furnish you with additional copies of such Prospectuses and such sales literature and other releases and information issued by us in reasonable quantities upon request.

 

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Exhibit (e)(13)

(a) If, with prior written approval from us, you use any advertisement or sales literature which has not been supplied by us, you are responsible for ensuring that the material complies with all applicable regulations and has been filed with the appropriate authorities.

(b) You shall indemnify and hold us (and our directors, officers, employees, controlling persons and agents) and the Fund and its Trustees and officers harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (“Losses”) incurred by us or any of them arising out of (i) your dissemination of information regarding any Fund that is alleged to contain an untrue statement of material fact or any omission of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and that was not published or provided to you by or on behalf of us, or accurately derived from information published or provided by or on behalf of us or any of our Affiliates, (ii) any breach by you of any representation, warranty or agreement contained in this Dealer Agreement, (iii) any act or omission, including without limitation any material misstatement by you in connection with any orders or solicitation of orders for, or transactions in, shares of the Funds, or (iv) any willful misconduct or negligence on your part in the performance of, or failure to perform, your obligations under this Dealer Agreement, except to the extent such losses are caused by our breach of this Dealer Agreement or our willful misconduct or negligence in the performance, or failure to perform, our obligations under this Dealer Agreement.

(c) We shall indemnify and hold you (and your directors, officers, employees, controlling persons and agents) harmless from and against any and all Losses incurred by you arising out of (i) our dissemination of information regarding any Fund that contains an untrue statement of material fact or any omission of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (ii) any breach by us of any representation, warranty or agreement contained in this Dealer Agreement, (iii) any act or omission, including without limitation any material misstatement by us in connection with any orders or solicitation of orders for, or transactions in, shares of the Funds, or (iv) any willful misconduct or negligence on our part in the performance of, or failure to perform, our obligations under this Dealer Agreement, except to the extent such losses are caused by your breach of this Dealer Agreement or your willful misconduct or negligence in the performance, or failure to perform, your obligations under this Dealer Agreement.

(d) This Section 15 shall survive termination of this Dealer Agreement.

16. The Fund reserves the right in its discretion and we reserve the right in our discretion, without notice, to refuse any order for the purchase of Fund shares for any reason whatsoever, and to suspend sales or withdraw the offering of Fund shares (or shares of any class(es)) entirely. We reserve the right, by written notice to you, to amend, modify, cancel or assign this Dealer Agreement, including Section 5 hereof, and any appendices that are now or in the future attached to this Dealer Agreement. Notice for all purposes shall be deemed to be given when mailed or electronically transmitted to you.

17. This Dealer Agreement shall replace any prior agreement between you and us or any of our predecessor entities (including but not limited to Natixis Distributors, L.P., IXIS Asset Management Distributors, L.P., CDC IXIS Asset Management Distributors, L.P., Nvest Funds Distributor, L.P., New England Funds, L.P., TNE Investment Services Corporation, and Investment Trust of Boston Distributors, Inc.) and is conditioned upon your representation and warranty that you are (i) registered as a broker/dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and are a member in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or (ii) exempt from registration as a broker/dealer under the 1934 Act. Regardless of whether you are a FINRA member, you and we agree to abide by the Rules and Regulations of FINRA, including without limitation Conduct Rules 2310, 2420, 3110, 3510 and 2830, and all applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations. You agree to notify us immediately if you cease to be registered as a broker/dealer under the 1934 Act (or exempt from registration as a broker/dealer under the 1934 Act) and a member of FINRA. You agree to notify us of any material compliance matter related to the services provided by you pursuant to this Dealer Agreement. Should you cease to be registered as a broker/dealer under the 1934 Act (or exempt from such registration) and/or a cease to be a member in good standing of FINRA, you will be removed as broker-dealer of record and this Dealer Agreement will be terminated.

(a) You will not offer Fund shares for sale in any state (a) where they are not qualified for sale under the blue sky laws and regulations of such state or (b) where you are not qualified to act as a broker/dealer. You agree to offer Fund shares only to U.S. citizens with U.S. addresses.

(b) If you are a bank, with respect to any and all transactions in shares of the Funds pursuant to this Dealer Agreement, it is understood and agreed in each case that unless otherwise agreed to by us in writing: (i) you shall be acting solely as agent for the account of your customer; (ii) each transaction shall be initiated solely upon the order of your customer; (iii) we shall execute transactions only upon receiving instructions from you acting as agent for your customer; (iv) as between you and your customer, your customer will have full beneficial ownership of all shares; and (v) each transaction shall be for the account of your customer and not for your account.

 

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Exhibit (e)(13)

18. Each of the parties represents and warrants that it has enacted appropriate safeguards to protect non-public customer information. If non-public personal information regarding either party’s customers or consumers is disclosed to the other party in connection with this Dealer Agreement, the party receiving such information will not disclose or use that information other than as necessary to carry out the purposes of this Dealer Agreement and in accordance with Regulation S- P.

19. You hereby represent and certify to us that you are aware of, and in compliance with, all applicable anti-money laundering laws, regulations, rules and government guidance, including the reporting, recordkeeping and compliance requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”), as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “Patriot Act”), its implementing regulations, and related Securities and Exchange Commission and self-regulatory organization rules and regulations. You hereby certify to us that, as required by the Patriot Act, you have a comprehensive anti-money laundering compliance program that includes: internal policies, procedures and controls for complying with the Patriot Act; a designated compliance officer or officers; an ongoing training program for appropriate employees; and an independent audit function. You also hereby certify to us that, to the extent applicable, you are in compliance with the economic sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), and have an OFAC compliance program that satisfies all applicable laws and regulations and sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Laws and Regulations. You represent that you have adopted a Customer Identification Program in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations and will verify the identity of customers who open accounts with you and who invest in shares of the Funds. Except to the extent restricted by applicable law, you hereby agree to notify the Funds promptly whenever questionable activity or potential indications of suspicious activity or OFAC matches are detected with respect to the Funds. You hereby undertake to notify us promptly if any of the foregoing certifications cease to be true and correct for any reason. You further agree to monitor your employees’ use of web based systems used by you to access customer account information. You agree to notify us should any system ID require reassignment. You agree to remove such access as necessary. You agree that any order to purchase shares shall constitute your continued certification of the matters you have certified in this Section 19.

20. You hereby agree that all purchases, redemptions and exchanges of shares contemplated by this Dealer Agreement shall be effected by you for your customers in accordance with each Fund’s Prospectus, including, without limitation, the collection of any redemption fees, if applicable, and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. You agree that, in the event that it should come to your attention that any of your customers are engaging in a pattern of purchases, redemptions and/or exchanges of Funds that potentially violates the Funds’ frequent trading policy as described in the relevant Fund’s Prospectus, you shall immediately notify us of such pattern and shall cooperate fully with us in any investigation and, if deemed necessary or appropriate by us, terminating any such pattern of trading, including, without limitation, by refusing such customer’s orders to purchase or exchange shares of the Funds.

21. You hereby represent that you have established and will maintain a business continuity program, in compliance with FINRA Rules 3510 and 3520, designed to ensure that you will at all times fulfill your obligations as set forth in this Dealer Agreement.

22. You hereby agree to provide any additional material as we may reasonably request to allow us to conduct periodic due diligence reviews and to ensure compliance with this Dealer Agreement.

23. You hereby acknowledge that each Fund and class of shares thereof may be offered and sold only in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the respective Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, as may be amended from time to time.

24. All communications to us should be mailed to the above address and e-mailed to thirdpartynotices@ngam.natixis.com . Any notice to you shall be duly given if mailed or faxed to you at the address specified by you.

25. This Dealer Agreement together with attached appendices shall be effective when accepted by you below and shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

26. This Dealer Agreement together with attached appendices shall be effective as against you and your successor in interest. All obligations, representations, warranties and covenants made and belonging to you shall be enforceable against your successor in interest to the same extent that such would be enforceable against you.

 

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Exhibit (e)(13)

Your submission and our acceptance of an order for the Funds, or receipt by us of an executed copy of this Dealer Agreement from you represents your acknowledgement and acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Dealer Agreement and its attached appendices.

 

Accepted:

          NGAM Distribution, L.P.
 

Dealer’s Name

      By: NGAM Distribution Corporation, its general partner
          

Address:

          Address:   

399 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02116

            
            

By:

           By:    

Authorized Signature of Dealer

        Authorized Signature
        Date:    

(Please print name)

       

 

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Exhibit (e)(13)

Appendix A NGAM

Distribution, L.P.

Policies and Procedures with Respect to Mutual Fund Trading

You shall establish and maintain effective internal policies and controls, including operational and system controls, with respect to the processing of orders of the funds received prior to and after the close of the New York Stock Exchange – normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (“Pricing Time”), for the purchase, redemption and exchange of shares of mutual funds, including the Funds.

For all transactions in the Funds, you shall follow all applicable rules and regulations and shall establish internal policies regarding the timely handling of orders for the purchase, redemption and exchange of shares of the Funds (“Fund Orders”) and maintain effective internal controls over the ability to distinguish and appropriately process Fund Orders received prior to and after the Fund’s Pricing Time, including operational and systems controls. Specifically, you represent as of the date of Dealer Agreement and each time that you accept a Fund Order on behalf of a Fund that:

 

  Your policies and procedures provide reasonable assurance that Fund Orders received by you prior to the Fund’s Pricing Time are segregated from Fund Orders received by you after the Fund’s Pricing Time and are properly transmitted to the Funds (or their agents) for execution at the current day’s net asset value (“NAV”).

 

  Your policies and procedures provide reasonable assurances that Fund Orders received by you after the Fund’s Pricing Time are properly transmitted to the Funds (or their agents) for execution at the next day’s NAV.

 

  Your policies and procedures provide reasonable assurance that transactional information is delivered to the Funds (or their agents) in a timely manner.

 

  You have designed procedures to provide reasonable assurance that policies with regard to the receipt and processing of Fund Orders are complied with. Such procedures either prevent or detect, on a timely basis, instances of noncompliance with the policies governing the receipt and processing of Fund Orders.

 

  Policies and procedures governing the timely handling of Fund Orders have been designed and implemented effectively by all third parties to whom you have designated the responsibility to distinguish and appropriately process Fund Orders received prior to and after the Fund’s Pricing Time.

To the extent we have entered into related agreements with you regarding your handling of Fund Orders, you acknowledge and agree that this appendix shall apply to your handling of all Fund Orders, whether authorized under the Dealer Agreement or any other agreement with us or our affiliates.

 

   7    12-11


Exhibit (e)(13)

Appendix B

NGAM Distribution, L.P.

Policies and Procedures with Respect to Rule 22c-2

 

I. Shareholder Information.

1. Agreement to Provide Information. You agree to provide to the Fund, upon written request, the taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), the Individual/International Taxpayer Identification Number (“ITIN”), or other government- issued identifier (“GII”), if known, of any or all Shareholder(s) of each account held of record by you and the amount, date, name or other identifier of any investment professional(s) associated with the Shareholder(s) or account (if known), and transaction type (purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange) of every purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange of Shares held through an account maintained by you during the period covered by the request.

2. Period Covered by Request. Requests must set forth a specific period, not to exceed ninety (90) days from the date of the request, for which transaction information is sought. The Fund may request transaction information older than ninety (90) days from the date of the request as the Fund deems necessary to investigate compliance with policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Fund.

The Fund reserves the right to request the information set forth in Section I. (1) for each trading day and you agree, if so directed by the Fund, to provide the information.

3. Form and Timing of Response. You agree to provide, promptly upon request of the Fund or its designee, the requested information specified in Section I. (1). If requested by the Fund or its designee, you agree to use best efforts to determine promptly whether any specific person about whom you have received identification and transaction information specified in Section I. (1) is itself a financial intermediary (“indirect intermediary”) and, upon further request of the Fund or its designee, promptly either (i) provide (or arrange to have provided) the information set forth in Section I. (1) for those shareholders who hold an account with an indirect intermediary or (ii) restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing, in nominee name on behalf of other persons, securities issued by the Fund. You additionally agree to inform the Fund whether you plan to perform (i) or (ii). Responses required by this paragraph must be communicated in writing and in a format mutually agreed upon by the parties. To the extent practicable, the format for any transaction information provided to the Fund should be consistent with the NSCC Standardized Data Reporting Format.

4. Limitations on Use of Information. Fund agrees not to use the information received for marketing or any other similar purpose without your prior written consent.

5. Agreement to Restrict Trading. You agree to execute written instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Shares by a Shareholder that has been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions of the Fund’s Shares (directly or indirectly through your account) that violate policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding Shares issued by the Fund.

6. Form of Instructions. Instructions to restrict or prohibit trading must include the TIN, ITIN, GII, if known, and the specific restriction(s) to be executed. If the TIN, ITIN, or GII is not known, the instructions must include an equivalent identifying number of the Shareholder(s) or account(s) or other agreed upon information to which the instruction relates.

7. Timing of Response. You agree to execute instructions as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than five (5)

business days after receipt of the instructions by you.

8. Confirmation. You must provide written confirmation to the Fund that instructions have been executed. You agree to provide confirmation as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than ten (10) business days after the instructions have been executed.

9. Definitions. For purposes of this schedule only:

(a) The term “Fund” includes the fund’s principal underwriter and transfer agent. The term does not include any “excepted funds” as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.*

 

 

* As defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b), the term “excepted fund” means any: (1) money market fund; (2) fund that issues securities that are listed on a national securities exchange; and (3) fund that affirmatively permits short-term trading of its securities, if its prospectus clearly and prominently discloses that the fund permits short-term trading of its securities and that such trading may result in additional costs for the fund.

 

   8    12-11


Exhibit (e)(13)

(b) The term “Shares” means the interests of Shareholders corresponding to the redeemable securities of record issued by the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that are held by you.

(c) The term “Shareholder” means the beneficial owner of Shares, whether the Shares are held directly or by you in nominee name.

(d) Note that the term “Shareholder” may have alternative meanings as follows: (1) for Retirement Plan Recordkeepers the term “Shareholder” means the Plan participant notwithstanding that the Plan may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of Shares and (2) for Insurance Companies the term “Shareholder” means the holder of interests in a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract issued by an Intermediary.

(e) The term “written” includes electronic writings and facsimile transmissions.

 

 

   9    12-11

Exhibit (g)(5)

Execution Version

AMENDMENT TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

This Amendment to Master Custodian Agreement (the “ Amendment ”) is made as of October, 14, 2016, by and among each management investment company identified on Appendix A hereto (each, a “ Fund ” and collectively, the “ Funds ”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (the “ Custodian ”).

WHEREAS, certain Funds and the Custodian entered into a Master Custodian Agreement dated as of September 1, 2005 (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, certain Funds and certain Portfolios were made subject to the Agreement in accordance with Sections18.6 and 18.7 thereof, respectively; and

WHEREAS, each Fund and the Custodian desire to amend the Agreement, as to all Funds, as more particularly set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, each Fund set forth on Appendix B hereto (each, an “ ETF Fund ” and collectively, the “ ETF Funds ”) is an exchange-traded fund and will issue and redeem shares of each Portfolio only in aggregations of Shares (as defined in the Agreement, as amended hereby) known as “ Creation Units ,” generally in exchange for a basket of certain equity or fixed income securities and a specified cash payment, as more fully described in the currently effective prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund related to the Portfolio (collectively, the “ Prospectus ”); and

WHEREAS, each ETF Fund desires to become a party to the Agreement and that this Agreement be applicable to each of its Portfolios set forth on Appendix B, and the Custodian desires to provide the services set forth in the Agreement, as amended hereby, to each ETF Fund and its Portfolios; and

WHEREAS, due to the nature of the ETF Funds and the service requirements therefor, each ETF Fund and the Custodian desire to amend the Agreement with respect to the ETF Funds, as more particularly set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Amendments to Agreement Applicable to All Funds .

The parties hereby agree that the Agreement is amended with respect to all Funds as follows:

(a) Appendix A of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with Appendix A hereto. In accordance with Section 18.6, the Additional Funds provision, of the Agreement, the Natixis ETF Trust hereby requests that the Custodian act as Custodian with respect to it and its series, the Natixis Seeyond International Minimum Volatility ETF, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, as amended hereby. In connection therewith, the Natixis ETF Trust hereby confirms to the Custodian, as of the date hereof, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 18.4 of the Agreement.


(b) Section 18.15 of the Agreement (Confidentiality) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“18.15 C ONFIDENTIALITY . All information provided under this Agreement by a party (the “ Disclosing Party ”) to the other party (the “ Receiving Party ”) regarding the Disclosing Party’s business and operations shall be treated as confidential. All confidential information provided under this Agreement by Disclosing Party shall be used, including disclosure to third parties, by the Receiving Party, or its agents or service providers, solely for the purpose of performing or receiving the services and discharging the Receiving Party’s other obligations under the Agreement or managing the business of the Receiving Party and its affiliates, including financial and operational management and reporting, risk management, legal and regulatory compliance and client service management. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (a) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, (b) that is independently derived by the Receiving Party without the use of any information provided by the Disclosing Party in connection with this Agreement, (c) that is disclosed to comply with any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, (d) that is disclosed as required by operation of law or regulation or as required to comply with the requirements of any market infrastructure that the Disclosing Party or its agents direct the Custodian or its affiliates to employ (or which is required in connection with the holding or settlement of instruments included in the assets subject to this Agreement), or (e) 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 or Portfolio, on an aggregated basis with all or substantially all other client information and without specific reference to any Fund or Portfolio.”

 

(c) A new Section 18.18 (Regulation GG) is hereby added to the Agreement following Section 18.17 as follows:

“18.18 R EGULATION GG . Each Fund 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) and covenants that it shall not engage in an Internet gambling business. In accordance with Regulation GG, each 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.”

 

(d) A new Section 19 (Foreign Exchange) is hereby added to the Agreement following Section 18.18 as follows:

 

  “S ECTION  19. F OREIGN E XCHANGE .

S ECTION  19.1. G ENERALLY . Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which for purposes of this section may also include security trade advices, the Custodian shall facilitate the processing and settlement of foreign exchange transactions. Such foreign exchange transactions do not constitute part of the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement.

S ECTION  19.2. F UND E LECTIONS . Each Fund (or its investment adviser acting on its behalf) may elect to enter into and execute foreign exchange transactions with third parties that are not affiliated with the Custodian, with State Street Global Markets, which is the foreign exchange division of State Street Bank and Trust Company and its affiliated companies (“ SSGM ”), or with a

 

2


sub-custodian. Where the Fund or its investment adviser gives Proper Instructions for the execution of a foreign exchange transaction using an indirect foreign exchange service described in Client Publications (as defined below), the Fund (or its investment adviser) instructs the Custodian, on behalf of the Fund, to direct the execution of such foreign exchange transaction to SSGM or, when the relevant currency is not traded by SSGM, to the applicable sub-custodian. The Custodian shall not have any agency (except as contemplated in preceding sentence), trust or fiduciary obligation to the Fund, its investment adviser or any other person in connection with the execution of any foreign exchange transaction. The Custodian shall have no responsibility under this Agreement for the selection of the counterparty to, or the method of execution of, any foreign exchange transaction entered into by the Fund (or its investment adviser acting on its behalf) or the reasonableness of the execution rate on any such transaction.

S ECTION  6.3. F UND A CKNOWLEDGEMENT Each Fund acknowledges that in connection with all foreign exchange transactions entered into by the Fund (or its investment adviser acting on its behalf) with SSGM or any sub-custodian, SSGM and each such sub-custodian:

 

  (i) shall be acting in a principal capacity and not as broker, agent or fiduciary to the Fund or its investment adviser;

 

  (ii) shall seek to profit from such foreign exchange transactions, and are entitled to retain and not disclose any such profit to the Fund or its investment adviser; and

 

  (iii) shall enter into such foreign exchange transactions pursuant to the terms and conditions, including pricing or pricing methodology, (a) agreed with the Fund or its investment adviser from time to time or (b) in the case of an indirect foreign exchange service, (i) as established by SSGM and set forth in Client Publications with respect to the particular foreign exchange execution services selected by the Fund or the investment adviser or (ii) as established by the sub-custodian from time to time.

S ECTION  6.4. T RANSACTIONS BY S TATE S TREET . The Custodian or its affiliates, including SSGM, may trade based upon information that is not available to the Fund (or its investment adviser acting on its behalf), and may enter into transactions for its own account or the account of clients in the same or opposite direction to the transactions entered into with the Fund (or its investment adviser), and shall have no obligation, under this Agreement, to share such information with or consider the interests of their respective counterparties, including, where applicable, the Fund or the investment adviser.

Client Publications ” means the general client publications of State Street Bank and Trust Company available from time to time to clients and their investment managers, including, but not limited to, The Client Guide, The Investment Manager Guide and other information available at mystatestreet.com or State Street Bank and Trust Company’s successor client information access portal, platform or system.”

 

2. Amendments to Agreement Applicable Only to ETF Funds .

The parties hereby agree that the Agreement is amended only with respect to the ETF Funds as follows. For the avoidance of doubt, the following amendments apply only with respect to the ETF Funds:

(a) A new Appendix B is hereby added to the Agreement following Appendix A in the form attached hereto.

 

3


(b) A new Section 2.4A (Determination of Fund Deposit, etc.) is hereby added to the Agreement following Section 2.4 as follows:

“S ECTION 2.4A D ETERMINATION OF F UND D EPOSIT , ETC . Subject to and in accordance with the directions of the Fund’s or Portfolio’s investment adviser, the Custodian shall determine for each Portfolio after the end of each trading day on the New York Stock Exchange (the “ NYSE ”), in accordance with the respective Portfolio’s policies as adopted from time to time by the Board (as defined below) and in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Prospectus, (i) the identity and weighting of the securities in the Deposit Securities and the Fund Securities (each as defined in the Prospectus), (ii) the cash component, and (iii) the amount of cash redemption proceeds (all as described in the Prospectus) required for the issuance or redemption, as the case may be, of Shares in Creation Unit aggregations of such Portfolio on such date. The Custodian shall provide or cause to be provided this information to the Portfolios’ distributor and other persons as instructed according to the policies established by the Board and shall disseminate such information on each day that the NYSE is open, including through the facilities of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (the “ NSCC ”), prior to the opening of trading on the NYSE.

Board ” means, in relation to a Fund, the board of directors, trustees or other governing body of the Fund.”

 

(c) A new Section 2.4B (Allocation of Deposit Security Shortfalls) is hereby added to the Agreement following Section 2.4A as follows:

“S ECTION 2.4B A LLOCATION OF D EPOSIT S ECURITY S HORTFALLS . Each Fund acknowledges that the Custodian maintains only one account on the books of the NSCC for the benefit of all exchange traded funds for which the Custodian serves as custodian, including the Fund (collectively, the “ ETF Custody Clients ”). In the event that (a) two or more ETF Custody Clients require delivery of the same Deposit Security in order to purchase a Creation Unit, and (b) the NSCC, pursuant to its Continuous Net Settlement system, delivers to the Custodian’s NSCC account less than the full amount of such Deposit Security necessary to satisfy in full each affected ETF Custody Client’s required amount (a “ Common Deposit Security Shortfall ”), then, until all Common Deposit Security Shortfalls for a given Deposit Security are satisfied in full, the Custodian will allocate to each affected ETF Custody Client, on a pro rata basis, securities and/or cash received in the Custodian’s NSCC account relating to such shortfall, first to satisfy any prior unsatisfied Common Deposit Security Shortfall, and then to satisfy the current Common Deposit Security Shortfall.”

 

(d) Section 6 (Payments for Sales or Repurchases or Redemptions of Shares) of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“S ECTION  6. P AYMENTS FOR S ALES OR R EDEMPTIONS OF S HARES .

S ECTION  6.1 P AYMENT FOR S HARES I SSUED . The Custodian shall receive from the distributor of a Fund or from the Fund’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”) and deposit into the account of the Portfolio such payments as are received for Shares, in Creation Unit aggregations, issued or sold from time to time by the Fund. The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio and the Transfer Agent of any receipt of the payments by the Custodian.

 

4


S ECTION  6.2 P AYMENT FOR S HARES R EDEEMED . Upon receipt of instructions from the Transfer Agent, the Custodian shall set aside funds and securities of a Portfolio to the extent available for payment to, or in accordance with the instructions of, Authorized Participants (as defined in the Prospectus) who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for redemption of their Shares, in Creation Unit aggregations, which shall have been accepted by the Transfer Agent, the applicable Fund Securities (or such securities in lieu thereof as may be designated by the investment adviser in accordance with the Prospectus) for such Portfolio and the Cash Redemption Amount (as defined in the Prospectus), if applicable, less any applicable Redemption Transaction Fee (as defined in the Prospectus). The Custodian will transfer the applicable Fund Securities to or on the order of the Authorized Participant. Any cash redemption payment (less any applicable Redemption Transaction Fee) due to the Authorized Participant on redemption shall be effected through the DTC system or through wire transfer in the case of redemptions effected outside of the DTC system.”

 

(e) Section 10 (Duties of Custodian with Respect to the Books of Account and Calculation of Net Asset Value and Net Income) of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“S ECTION  10. D UTIES OF C USTODIAN WITH R ESPECT TO THE B OOKS OF A CCOUNT AND C ALCULATION OF N ET A SSET V ALUE AND N ET I NCOME

The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the entity or entities appointed by the Board of a Portfolio or a Fund to keep the books of account of the Portfolio and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares or, if directed in writing to do so by the Fund on behalf of a Portfolio, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net asset value per Share. The Custodian shall transmit the net asset value per share of each Portfolio to the Transfer Agent, the distributor, the NYSE and such other entities as directed in writing by the Fund. If and as so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate daily the net income of the Portfolio as described in the Fund’s 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 Custodian shall on each day a Portfolio is open for the purchase or redemption of Shares of such Portfolio compute the number of Shares of each Deposit Security to be included in the current Fund Deposit (as defined in the Prospectus) and the Fund Securities and shall transmit such information to the NSCC. Each 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 a Portfolio 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 10 and in Section 11 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 and to the Fund. If and as so directed, the calculations of the net asset value per Share and the daily income of each Portfolio shall be made at the time or times described from time to time in the Prospectus. Each Fund acknowledges that, in keeping the books of account of the Portfolio and/or making the calculations described herein with respect to Portfolio property released and delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(14), or purchased pursuant to Section 2.6(7) hereof, the Custodian is authorized and instructed to rely upon information provided to it by the Fund, the Fund’s counterparty(ies), or the agents of either of them.”

 

5


3. Miscellaneous .

(a) Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, all provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

(b) This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be executed in either original or electronically transmitted form (e.g., faxes or emailed portable document format (PDF) form), and the parties hereby adopt as original any signatures received in electronically transmitted form.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

6


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Amendment to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative(s) as of the date first written above.

 

EACH OF THE ENTITIES SET FORTH ON APPENDIX A ATTACHED HERETO
By:  

/s/ Michael C. Kardok

Name:   Michael C. Kardok
Title:   Treasurer
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By:  

/s/ Andrew Erickson

Name:   Andrew Erickson
Title:   Executive Vice President

 

7


APPENDIX A

MANAGEMENT I NVESTMENT C OMPANIES R EGISTERED WITH THE SEC

AND P ORTFOLIOS THEREOF , IF ANY

GATEWAY TRUST , on behalf of:

Gateway Fund

Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I , on behalf of:

Loomis Sayles Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Inflation Protected Securities Fund

Loomis Sayles Institutional High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Intermediate Duration Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Securitized Asset Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II , on behalf of:

Loomis Sayles Global Equity and Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Value Fund

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I , on behalf of:

Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Multi-Asset Income Fund

Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund

Natixis Oakmark International Fund

Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II , on behalf of:

ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund

ASG Global Macro Fund

ASG Global Alternatives Fund

ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund

ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

 

A-1


Loomis Sayles Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

Natixis Oakmark Fund

Vaughan Nelson Select Fund

Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund

Seeyond Multi-Asset Allocation Fund    

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IV , on behalf of:

AEW Real Estate Fund    

NATIXIS ETF TRUST , on behalf of:

Natixis Seeyond International Minimum Volatility ETF

 

2


APPENDIX B

ETF F UNDS AND P ORTFOLIOS THEREOF , IF ANY

NATIXIS ETF TRUST , on behalf of:

Natixis Seeyond International Minimum Volatility ETF

 

B-1

Exhibit (h)(1)(ii)

AMENDMENT

To Transfer Agency and Service Agreement

Between

Each of the Entities Listed on Appendix A

And

Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.

This Amendment is made as of this 15th day of February, 2008 between each of the investment companies listed below and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”). In accordance with Article 3 Fees and Expenses ; Article 15.1 Amendment and Article 16 Additional Funds/Portfolios of the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Funds and the Transfer Agent dated as of October 1, 2005 (the “Agreement”) the parties desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

 

  1. Appendix A . The Appendix A to the Agreement dated July 17, 2006 is superseded and replaced with the Appendix A dated February 15, 2008 attached hereto.

 

  2. Schedule 3.1. Schedule 3.1 dated effective 10/1/05 to 9/30/08 is superseded and replaced with the Schedule 3.1 dated effective February 15, 2008 to September 30, 2008 attached hereto.

 

  3. All defined terms and definitions in the Agreement shall be the same in this amendment (the “Amendment”) except as specifically revised by this Amendment.

 

  4. Except as specifically set forth in this Amendment, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.


Exhibit (h)(1)(ii)

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.

NATIXIS CASH MANAGEMENT TRUST

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST III

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IVLOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II

GATEWAY TRUST      BOSTON FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
By:   

/s/ Michael Kardok

     By:   

/s/ Paul Leary

Name:    Michael Kardok         Paul Leary
Title:    Treasurer         Vice President


Exhibit (h)(1)(ii)

APPENDIX A

Funds and Portfolios

Dated: February 15, 2008

Natixis Cash Management Trust, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Natixis Cash Management Trust – Money Market Series

Natixis Funds Trust I, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

CGM Advisor Targeted Equity Fund

Hansberger International Fund

Natixis Income Diversified Portfolio

Natixis U.S. Diversified Portfolio

Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund

Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund

Westpeak 130/30 Growth Fund

Natixis Funds Trust II, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Harris Associates Large Cap Value Fund

Loomis Sayles Massachusetts Tax Free Income Fund

Natixis Funds Trust III, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Harris Associates Focused Value Fund

Natixis Moderate Diversified Portfolio

Natixis Funds Trust IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AEW Real Estate Fund

Loomis Sayles Funds I, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Inflation Protected Securities Fund

Loomis Sayles Institutional High Income Fund


Exhibit (h)(1)(ii)

 

Loomis Sayles Intermediate Duration Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Securitized Asset Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund

Loomis Sayles Funds II, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Fund

Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund (except for Class J shares)

Loomis Sayles International Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund

Loomis Sayles Mid Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Municipal Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Research Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Tax-Managed Equity Fund

Loomis Sayles Value Fund

Gateway Trust, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Gateway Fund

NATIXIS CASH MANAGEMENT TRUST

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST III

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IVLOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II

GATEWAY TRUST    

BOSTON FINANCIAL DATA

SERVICES, INC.

By:  

/s/ Michael Kardok

    By:  

/s/ Paul Leary

Name:   Michael Kardok       Paul Leary
Title:   Treasurer       Vice President

 


Exhibit (h)(1)(ii)

SCHEDULE 3.1

NATIXIS AND LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS

FEES AND EXPENSES

Effective 2/15/08 to 9/30/08

General : Fees are billable on a monthly basis at the rate of 1/12 of the annual fee. A charge is made for an account in the month that an account opens or closes.

Annual Account Service Fees

 

Open Accounts:*   

Networked

   $9.00/account

Non-Networked

   $15.00/account
Closed Accounts   

All

   $2.00/account
Small Account Fees    Retained by the Fund

 

* NOTE: Includes AML/CIP Services (excluding CIP-related search fees).

Activity Based Fees

 

Marketing/Sales Calls**    $1.25/minute

 

** NOTE: Billed to the investment adviser or distributor of the Fund.

Fiduciary Fees***

All fiduciary fees (including set-up, maintenance and closeout) paid by Shareholders or swept from current accounts (based on current rates and terms with each Fund) will be retained by the Transfer Agent.

The parties acknowledge that any waivers of fiduciary fees beyond the existing waivers may require adjustment to the fees and expenses set forth on this Schedule 3.1.

 

*** NOTE: The annual Fiduciary Fee for current existing Gateway Fund Shareholders will be waived through September 30, 2008. New Gateway Fund Shareholders will be subject to the Fiduciary Fees noted above.

DDA Balance Earnings Credits

The Transfer Agent shall retain all DDA balance earnings credits in lieu of additional fees hereunder and will advise the Fund, upon its request, of the amount of such balance earnings credits retained by the Transfer Agent.


Exhibit (h)(1)(ii)

Remote AWD Workstations****

Three remote AWD workstations (total, not per Fund) will be provided at two locations at no charge to the Funds. Terminal charges for any additional remote AWD workstations will be billed as an out-of-pocket expense.

 

**** NOTE: Use of remote terminals is subject to a separate license agreement (at no additional cost) with DST Technologies, Inc., wholly-owned subsidiary of DST Systems, Inc.

Project Management Hours

The Fund may request assistance from the Transfer Agent project team with the coordination and usage of any DST Systems, Inc. (“DST”) products available for use by the Fund. The parties acknowledge that while the Transfer Agent will use all reasonable efforts to assist the Fund as requested, certain systems or products are proprietary to DST and not under the direct control of the Transfer Agent. The Transfer Agent project team shall provide up to twelve hundred (1200) dedicated hours per year (for all Natixis/Loomis Funds) without an additional charge*****. If the project team receives requests for work that would exceed 1,200 hours in any year, then the requests and estimated hours for each will be reviewed and approved by senior management of the Fund and the Transfer Agent prior to the completion of such requested work. The parties agree that each additional project hour over the maximum 1,200 hours per year and approved by senior management as described in the foregoing sentence shall be billed at $125.00 per hour.

 

***** NOTE: Excludes any project in process or requested as of the date hereof.

 

Out-of-Pocket Expenses    Billed as Incurred******

Out-of-Pocket expenses include but are not limited to: tapes, postage, post office box rental, checkwriting postage, supplies, statements, checkwriting, print and mailing services, information disc (year end), TINS, average cost, data communications equipment, COOL (computer output on-line), microfiche, freight, telephone charges, fax lines, 800 line charges, TA2000 voice, disaster recovery, offsite storage, Vax payroll processing, state tax reporting, Fund/SERV and NSCC Processing, AWD remote workstations (additional to those forth above), excess history, Fan Mail, Fan Web, jumbo processing, lost shareholder searches, lost shareholder tracking, Powerselect, Short Term Trader, Vision, escheatment, year-end forms, programming hours (as set forth above), on-request reports, Shareholder proxy services, CIP-related search charges, literature requests, regulatory compliance charge (per CUSIP) and other expenses incurred at the specific direction of the Fund or with advance written notice to the Fund.


Exhibit (h)(1)(ii)

 

****** NOTE: The Transfer Agent reserves the right to introduce specific fee increases, as necessary, to cover increases in the costs of out-of-pocket expenses or regulatory changes; provided, that such fee increases are applied on a universal basis to other clients of the Transfer Agent and that the Transfer Agent provides 90 days advance written notice to the Fund of each such increase. E-mail communication directed to the respective parties identified in Section 15.13 of the Agreement shall be deemed a written communication for purposes of the notice provisions herein

NATIXIS CASH MANAGEMENT TRUST

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST III

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IVLOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II

GATEWAY TRUST      

BOSTON FINANCIAL DATA

SERVICES, INC.

By:   

/s/ Michael Kardok

      By:   

/s/ Paul Leary

Name:    Michael Kardok          Paul Leary
Title:    Treasurer          Vice President

Exhibit (h)(1)(viii)

AMENDMENT

To

Transfer Agency and Service Agreement

Between

Each of the Entities Listed on Appendix A

And

Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.

This Amendment is made as of this 30th day of June 2015, between each of the investment companies listed below and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”), to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the parties dated October 1, 2005, as amended (the “Agreement”). In accordance with Section 15.1 (Amendment) and Section 16 (Additional Funds/Portfolios) of the Agreement, the parties desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

 

  1. Appendix A. The current Appendix A to the Agreement is hereby replaced and superseded with the Appendix A attached hereto, effective as of June 30, 2015; and

 

  2. All defined terms and definitions in the Agreement shall be the same in this Amendment (the “June 30, 2015 Amendment”) except as specifically revised by this Amendment.

 

  3. Except as specifically set forth in this June 30, 2015 Amendment, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this June 30, 2015 Amendment to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date and year first written above.

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IV

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II

GATEWAY TRUST

      BOSTON FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
By:   

/s/ Michael Kardok

      By:   

/s/ Michael McNeill

Name:    Michael Kardok       Name:    Michael McNeill
Title:    Treasurer       Title:    Managing Director
As an Authorized Officer on behalf of each of the Funds indicated on Appendix A         


Exhibit (h)(1)(viii)

APPENDIX A

Funds and Portfolios

Date: June 30, 2015

Natixis Funds Trust I, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

CGM Advisor Targeted Equity Fund

Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund

Natixis Diversified Income Fund

Natixis Oakmark International Fund

Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund

Natixis Funds Trust II, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

ASG Global Alternatives Fund

ASG Global Macro Fund

ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund

ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

Natixis Oakmark Fund

Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund

Vaughn Nelson Select Fund

Seeyond Multi-Asset Allocation Fund

Natixis Funds Trust IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AEW Real Estate Fund

Loomis Sayles Funds I, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Inflation Protected Securities Fund

Loomis Sayles Institutional High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Intermediate Duration Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Securitized Asset Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund


Exhibit (h)(1)(viii)

APPENDIX A

Funds and Portfolios

Date: June 30, 2015

(continued)

Loomis Sayles Funds II, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Global Equity and Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Value Fund

Gateway Trust, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

Gateway Fund

Gateway International Fund

Exhibit (h)(1)(ix)

AMENDMENT

To

Transfer Agency and Service Agreement

Between

Each of the Entities Listed on Appendix A And

Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.

This Amendment is made as of this 9th day of September 2015, between each of the investment companies listed below and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”), to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the parties dated October 1, 2005, as amended (the “Agreement”). In accordance with Section 15.1 (Amendment) and Section 16 (Additional Funds/Portfolios) of the Agreement, the parties desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

 

  1. Appendix A. The current Appendix A to the Agreement is hereby replaced and superseded with the Appendix A attached hereto, effective as of September 9, 2015; and

 

  2. All defined terms and definitions in the Agreement shall be the same in this Amendment (the “September 9, 2015 Amendment”) except as specifically revised by this Amendment.

 

  3. Except as specifically set forth in this September 9, 2015 Amendment, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this September 9, 2015 Amendment to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date and year first written above.

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IV

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II

GATEWAY TRUST     BOSTON FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Michael Kardok

    By:  

/s/ Richard J. Johnson

Name:   Michael Kardok     Name:   Richard J. Johnson
Title:   Treasurer     Title:   Managing Director
As an Authorized Officer on behalf of each of the Funds indicated on Appendix A      


Exhibit (h)(1)(ix)

APPENDIX A

Funds and Portfolios

Dated: September 9, 2015

Natixis Funds Trust I, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

CGM Advisor Targeted Equity Fund

Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Multi-Asset Income Fund ( formerly Natixis Diversified Income Fund )

Natixis Oakmark International Fund

Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund

Natixis Funds Trust II, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

ASG Global Alternatives Fund

ASG Global Macro Fund

ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund

ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

Natixis Oakmark Fund

Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund

Vaughn Nelson Select Fund

Seeyond Multi-Asset Allocation Fund

Natixis Funds Trust IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AEW Real Estate Fund

Loomis Sayles Funds I, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Inflation Protected Securities Fund

Loomis Sayles Institutional High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Intermediate Duration Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Securitized Asset Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund


Exhibit (h)(1)(ix)

APPENDIX A

Funds and Portfolios

Dated: September 9, 2015

(continued)

Loomis Sayles Funds II, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Global Equity and Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Value Fund

Gateway Trust, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

Gateway Fund

Gateway International Fund

Exhibit (h)(1)(x)

AMENDMENT

To

Transfer Agency and Service Agreement

Between

Each of the Entities Listed on Appendix A

And

Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.

This Amendment is made as of this 30 th day of November 2015, between each of the investment companies listed below and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”), to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the parties dated October 1, 2005, as amended (the “Agreement”). In accordance with Section 15.1 (Amendment) and Section 16 (Additional Funds/Portfolios) of the Agreement, the parties desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE , the parties agree as follows:

 

1. Appendix A. The current Appendix A to the Agreement is hereby replaced and superseded with the Appendix A attached hereto, effective as of November 30, 2015; and

 

2. All defined terms and definitions in the Agreement shall be the same in this Amendment (the “November 30, 2015 Amendment”) except as specifically revised by this Amendment.

 

3. Except as specifically set forth in this November 30, 2015 Amendment, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this November 30, 2015 Amendment to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date and year first written above.

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IV

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II

GATEWAY TRUST     BOSTON FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Michael Kardok

    By:  

/s/ Richard J. Johnson

Name:   Michael Kardok     Name:   Richard J. Johnson
Title:   Treasurer     Title:   Managing Director

As an Authorized Officer on behalf of each of

the Funds indicated on Appendix A

     


APPENDIX A

Funds and Portfolios

Dated: November 30, 2015

Natixis Funds Trust I, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

CGM Advisor Targeted Equity Fund

Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Multi-Asset Income Fund (formerly Natixis Diversified Income Fund)

Natixis Oakmark International Fund

Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund

Natixis Funds Trust II, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund

ASG Global Alternatives Fund

ASG Global Macro Fund

ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund

ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

Natixis Oakmark Fund

Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund

Vaughn Nelson Select Fund

Seeyond Multi-Asset Allocation Fund

Natixis Funds Trust IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AEW Real Estate Fund

Loomis Sayles Funds I, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Inflation Protected Securities Fund

Loomis Sayles Institutional High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Intermediate Duration Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Securitized Asset Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund


APPENDIX A

Funds and Portfolios

Dated: November 30, 2015

(continued)

Loomis Sayles Funds II, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Global Equity and Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Value Fund

Gateway Trust, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

Gateway Fund

Exhibit (h)(1)(xi)

AMENDMENT

To

Transfer Agency and Service Agreement

Between

Each of the Entities Listed on Appendix A

And

Boston Financial Data Services, Inc.

This Amendment is made as of this 23 rd day of February 2016, between each of the investment companies listed below and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”). In accordance with Section 15.1 (Amendment) and Section 16 (Additional Funds/Portfolios) of the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the parties dated October 1, 2005, as amended (the “Agreement”), the parties desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE , the parties agree as follows:

 

1. Appendix A. The current Appendix A to the Agreement is hereby replaced and superseded with the Appendix A attached hereto, effective as of February 18, 2016; and

 

2. All defined terms and definitions in the Agreement shall be the same in this Amendment (the “February 23, 2016 Amendment”) except as specifically revised by this Amendment.

 

3. Except as specifically set forth in this February 23, 2016 Amendment, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this February 23, 2016 Amendment to be executed by a duly authorized officer on one or more counterparts as of the date and year first written above.

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IV

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II

GATEWAY TRUST     BOSTON FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Michael Kardok

    By:  

/s/ Richard J. Johnson

Name:   Michael Kardok     Name:   Richard J. Johnson
Title:   Treasurer     Title:   Managing Director

As an Authorized Officer on behalf of each of

the Funds indicated on Appendix A

     


Exhibit (h)(1)(xi)

APPENDIX A

Funds and Portfolios

Effective Date: February 18, 2016

Natixis Funds Trust I, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Multi-Asset Income Fund

Natixis Oakmark International Fund

Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund

Natixis Funds Trust II, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund

ASG Global Alternatives Fund

ASG Global Macro Fund

ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund

ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

Natixis Oakmark Fund

Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund

Vaughn Nelson Select Fund

Seeyond Multi-Asset Allocation Fund

Natixis Funds Trust IV, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AEW Real Estate Fund

Loomis Sayles Funds I, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Inflation Protected Securities Fund

Loomis Sayles Institutional High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Intermediate Duration Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Securitized Asset Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund


Exhibit (h)(1)(xi)

APPENDIX A

Funds and Portfolios

Effective Date: February 18, 2016

(continued)

Loomis Sayles Funds II, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Loomis Sayles Global Equity and Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Value Fund

Gateway Trust, a business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

Gateway Fund

Exhibit (h)(2)(xxxi)

THIRTIETH AMENDMENT TO

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Amendment made as of October 14, 2016, by and between NGAM Advisors, L.P. (“NGAM Advisors”), Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and the Natixis ETF Trust (collectively, the “Trusts”).

WHEREAS , NGAM Advisors and the Trusts are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement dated January 3, 2005, as amended November 1, 2005, January 1, 2006, July 1, 2007, September 17, 2007, February 1, 2008, February 19, 2008, July 1, 2008, September 29, 2008, October 31, 2008, January 9, 2009, July 27, 2009, February 25, 2010, July 1, 2010, September 21, 2010, December 14, 2010, July 1, 2011, September 16, 2011, March 28, 2012, June 29, 2012, November 16, 2012, September 26, 2013, February 10, 2014, July 1, 2014, July 10, 2014, September 30, 2014, December 1, 2014, June 30, 2015, November 30, 2015, March 31, 2016 (together with the amendments, the “Agreement”), governing the terms and conditions under which NGAM Advisors provides certain administrative services to the series of the Trusts;

WHEREAS , Natixis ETF Trust, a Massachusetts business trust, is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

WHEREAS , Natixis ETF Trust desires to employ NGAM Advisors to provide certain administrative services to Natixis ETF Trust in the manner and on the terms set forth in the Agreement and NGAM Advisors wishes to perform such services; and

WHEREAS , NGAM Advisors and Natixis ETF Trust desire to amend Schedule A of the Agreement to reflect the addition of Natixis ETF Trust.

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and covenants contained herein, NGAM Advisors and the Trusts hereby agree as follows:

 

  1. A new Trust, the Natixis ETF Trust, shall be added to this Agreement.

 

  2. Schedule A of the Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced with Schedule A attached hereto.

 

  3. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed as a sealed instrument in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the date first above written.

NGAM ADVISORS, L.P.

By NGAM Distribution Corporation, its general partner

 

By:  

/s/ David L. Giunta

  David L. Giunta, President and Chief Executive Officer

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IV

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II

GATEWAY TRUST

NATIXIS ETF TRUST

 

By:  

/s/ Michael C. Kardok

  Michael C. Kardok, Treasurer


Schedule A

Trust Portfolios

As of: October 14, 2016

 

Natixis Funds Trust I

Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Multi-Asset Income Fund

Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund

Natixis Oakmark International Fund

Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund

Natixis Funds Trust II

ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund

ASG Global Alternatives Fund

ASG Global Macro Fund

ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund

ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

Natixis Oakmark Fund

Seeyond Multi-Asset Allocation Fund

Vaughan Nelson Select Fund

Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund

Natixis Funds Trust IV

AEW Real Estate Fund

Loomis Sayles Funds I

Loomis Sayles Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Inflation Protected Securities Fund

Loomis Sayles Institutional High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Intermediate Duration Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Securitized Asset Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund


Loomis Sayles Funds II

Loomis Sayles Global Equity and Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Value Fund

Gateway Trust

Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

Gateway Fund

Natixis ETF Trust

Natixis Seeyond International Minimum Volatility ETF

Exhibit (h)(2)(xxxii)

THIRTY-FIRST AMENDMENT TO

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Amendment made as of November 30, 2016, by and between NGAM Advisors, L.P. (“NGAM Advisors”), Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and the Natixis ETF Trust (collectively, the “Trusts”).

WHEREAS , NGAM Advisors and the Trusts are parties to an Administrative Services Agreement dated January 3, 2005, as amended November 1, 2005, January 1, 2006, July 1, 2007, September 17, 2007, February 1, 2008, February 19, 2008, July 1, 2008, September 29, 2008, October 31, 2008, January 9, 2009, July 27, 2009, February 25, 2010, July 1, 2010, September 21, 2010, December 14, 2010, July 1, 2011, September 16, 2011, March 28, 2012, June 29, 2012, November 16, 2012, September 26, 2013, February 10, 2014, July 1, 2014, July 10, 2014, September 30, 2014, December 1, 2014, June 30, 2015, November 30, 2015, March 31, 2016 and October 14, 2016 (together with the amendments, the “Agreement”), governing the terms and conditions under which NGAM Advisors provides certain administrative services to the series of the Trusts;

WHEREAS , Natixis ETF Trust, a Massachusetts business trust, is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

WHEREAS , Natixis ETF Trust desires to employ NGAM Advisors to provide certain administrative services to Natixis ETF Trust in the manner and on the terms set forth in the Agreement and NGAM Advisors wishes to perform such services; and

WHEREAS , NGAM Advisors and Natixis ETF Trust desire to amend Schedule A of the Agreement to reflect the addition of Natixis ETF Trust.

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and covenants contained herein, NGAM Advisors and the Trusts hereby agree as follows:

 

  1. A new Trust, the Natixis ETF Trust, shall be added to this Agreement.

 

  2. Schedule A of the Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced with Schedule A attached hereto.

 

  3. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed as a sealed instrument in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the date first above written.

NGAM ADVISORS, L.P.

By NGAM Distribution Corporation, its general partner

 

By:  

/s/ David L. Giunta

  David L. Giunta, President and Chief Executive Officer

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IV

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II

GATEWAY TRUST

NATIXIS ETF TRUST

 

By:  

/s/ Michael C. Kardok

  Michael C. Kardok, Treasurer


Schedule A

Trust Portfolios

As of: October 14, 2016

 

Natixis Funds Trust I

Loomis Sayles Core Plus Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Multi-Asset Income Fund

Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Fund

Natixis Oakmark International Fund

Natixis U.S. Equity Opportunities Fund

Vaughan Nelson Small Cap Value Fund

Natixis Funds Trust II

ASG Dynamic Allocation Fund

ASG Global Alternatives Fund

ASG Global Macro Fund

ASG Managed Futures Strategy Fund

ASG Tactical U.S. Market Fund

Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Senior Floating Rate and Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Alpha Fund

McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond Fund

Natixis Oakmark Fund

Seeyond Multi-Asset Allocation Fund

Vaughan Nelson Select Fund

Vaughan Nelson Value Opportunity Fund

Natixis Funds Trust IV

AEW Real Estate Fund

Loomis Sayles Funds I

Loomis Sayles Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Core Disciplined Alpha Bond Fund (Effective November 30, 2016)

Loomis Sayles Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Global Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Opportunities Fund

Loomis Sayles Inflation Protected Securities Fund

Loomis Sayles Institutional High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Intermediate Duration Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Fixed Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Securitized Asset Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund


Loomis Sayles Funds II

Loomis Sayles Global Equity and Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles High Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Investment Grade Bond Fund

Loomis Sayles Limited Term Government and Agency Fund

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Small/Mid Cap Growth Fund

Loomis Sayles Strategic Income Fund

Loomis Sayles Value Fund

Gateway Trust

Gateway Equity Call Premium Fund

Gateway Fund

Natixis ETF Trust

Natixis Seeyond International Minimum Volatility ETF

Exhibit (h)(9)

 

LOGO

 

 

July 1, 2016

Natixis Funds Trust II

399 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02116

Re: Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

NGAM Advisors, L.P. (“NGAM Advisors”) notifies you that it will waive its management fee and, to the extent necessary, reimburse certain expenses of the Vaughan Nelson Select Fund (the “Fund”) through March 31, 2018 in order to limit the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses, exclusive of acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, and organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses, to the following annual rates:

 

Name of Fund

  

Expense Cap

July 1, 2016 through March 31, 2018:   
Vaughan Nelson Select Fund 1   

1.30% for Class A shares

2.05% for Class C shares

1.05% for Class Y shares

1 Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P . and NGAM Advisors have agreed to bear the waiver/reimbursement jointly on a pro rata basis relative to their advisory and sub-advisory fees, respectively.

With respect to the Fund, subject to applicable legal requirements, NGAM Advisors shall be permitted to recover, on a class-by-class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed subsequent to the effective date of this undertaking in later periods to the extent that a class’ total annual fund operating expenses fall below the annual rates set forth above; provided, however, that the Fund is not obligated to pay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fee/expense was waived/reimbursed.


Exhibit (h)(9)

During the period covered by this undertaking, the expense cap arrangement set forth above for the Fund may only be modified by a majority vote of the “non-interested” Trustees of the Trust affected.

For purposes of determining any such waiver or expense reimbursement, expenses shall not reflect the application of balance credits made available by the Fund’s custodian or arrangements under which broker-dealers that execute portfolio transactions for the Fund agree to bear some portion of the Fund’s expenses.

We understand and intend that you will rely on this undertaking in preparing and filing the Registration Statement on Form N-1A for the above referenced Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accruing the Fund’s expenses for purposes of calculating its net asset value per share, and for other purposes permitted under Form N-1A and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and expressly permit you to do so.

 

NGAM Advisors, L.P.

By NGAM Distribution Corporation,

        its general partner

 

  By:  

/s/ Russell Kane

  Name: Russell Kane
 

Title: Executive Vice President, General

           Counsel, Secretary & Clerk

Exhibit (h)(12)

 

LOGO

 

 

July 1, 2016

Natixis Funds Trust II

399 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02116

Re: Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles”) notifies you that it will waive its management fee and to the extent necessary, reimburse certain expenses of the Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund (the “Fund”) through March 31, 2018, in order to limit the Fund’s total annual fund operating expenses, exclusive of acquired fund fees and expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, and organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses, to the following annual rates:

 

Name of Fund

  

Expense Cap

July 1, 2016 through March 31, 2018:   
Loomis Sayles Dividend Income Fund 1   

1.10% for Class A shares

1.85% for Class C shares

0.85% for Class Y shares

1 NGAM Advisors, L. P. (“NGAM Advisors”) will bear a portion of the waiver/reimbursement. The NGAM Advisors portion of the waiver/reimbursement will be equal to the ratio of the NGAM Advisors Support Services Fee divided by the management fee earned by Loomis Sayles.

With respect to the Fund, subject to applicable legal requirements, Loomis Sayles shall be permitted to recover expenses it has borne subsequent to the effective date of this agreement (whether through reduction of its management fee or otherwise) in later periods to the extent that the Fund’s expenses fall below the annual rates set forth above; provided, however, that the Fund is not obligated to pay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fee/expense was waived/reimbursed.


During the period covered by this undertaking, the expense cap arrangement set forth above for the Fund may only be modified by a majority vote of the “non-interested” Trustees of the Trust affected.

For purposes of determining any such waiver or expense reimbursement, expenses shall not reflect the application of balance credits made available by the Fund’s custodian or arrangements under which broker-dealers that execute portfolio transactions for the Fund agree to bear some portion of the Fund’s expenses.

We understand and intend that you will rely on this undertaking in preparing and filing the Registration Statement on Form N-1A for the above referenced Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in accruing the Fund’s expenses for purposes of calculating its net asset value per share and for other purposes permitted under Form N-1A and/or the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and expressly permit you to do so.

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.
By:  

/s/ Lauren Pitalis

Name:   Lauren Pitalis
Title:   Vice President

Exhibit (p)(1)

Natixis Funds Trust I

Natixis Funds Trust II

Natixis Funds Trust IV

Loomis Sayles Funds I

Loomis Sayles Funds II

Gateway Trust

Natixis ETF Trust

As amended September 30, 2016

CODE OF ETHICS

In order to ensure that all acts, practices and courses of business engaged in by personnel of the above-named trusts (the “Trusts”), their advisers, subadvisers and underwriters reflect high standards of conduct and comply with the requirements of Section 17(j) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and Rule 17j-1 thereunder, the Boards of Trustees of each Trust has determined that the Trust shall adopt this Code of Ethics.

It is the fundamental ethical principle of each Trust that actions taken on behalf of a Trust must be in the best interests of such Trust’s shareholders. In that regard, it is the policy of each Trust that all Trust personnel, including each Trust’s Trustees and Officers; its advisers; sub-advisers and principal underwriter should (1) at all times place the interests of fund shareholders first; (2) conduct all personal securities transactions in a manner that is consistent with this Code of Ethics and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of the individual’s position of trust and responsibility; and (3) adhere to the fundamental standard that Trust personnel, advisers, sub-advisers and underwriters should not take inappropriate advantage of their position or engage in any act, practice or course of conduct that would violate this Code of Ethics, the fiduciary duty owed to fund shareholders, or the provisions of Section 17(j) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17j-1 thereunder.

Each of the Advisers and the Underwriters, as defined below, imposes reporting and review requirements and restrictions on the personal securities transactions of its personnel. The Trustees have determined that, in addition to the requirements of this Code of Ethics, the standards and reporting and review requirements established by these organizations will be appropriately applied by each Trust to those of its officers and those of its Trustees who are affiliated with these organizations.

The provisions of the codes and policies of the Advisers and the Underwriters, as defined below, are incorporated in this Code of Ethics as the provisions applicable to officers, Trustees or advisory persons of the Fund who are officers, partners, directors or employees of these organizations. A violation of any such incorporated code or policy by any officer, Trustees or advisory persons of the Fund who are officers, partners, directors or employees of these organizations covered by that code or policy with respect to personal securities transactions or holdings reports covered herein shall constitute a violation of this Code.

1. Definitions

(a) “Access person” means any trustee, officer, general partner or advisory person of a Fund.

(b) “Adviser” means each entity that serves as an investment adviser, investment manager or sub-adviser to any Fund.


(c) “Advisory person” means (i) any employee of a Fund or of any company in a control relationship to the Fund, who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by a Fund, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales; and (ii) any natural person in a control relationship to the Fund who obtains information concerning recommendations made to the Fund with regard to the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by the Fund.

(d) “Control” has the same meaning as in Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act.

(e) “Covered Fund” means any series of Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust, Natixis ETF Trust and any other open-end investment company, mutual fund or ETF under the supervision of the Disinterested Trustees covered by this Code of Ethics.

(f) “Covered Security” means a security as defined in section 2(a)(36) of the 1940 Act, except that it does not include: (i) direct obligations of the Government of the United States; (ii) bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt instruments, including repurchase agreements; and shares issued by open-end investment companies registered under the 1940 Act. Covered Security includes shares of closed-end funds and municipal obligations and securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government ( e.g. , GNMA obligations)

(g) “Disinterested Trustee” means a Trustee of a Fund who is not an “interested person” of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

(h) “Fund” or “Funds” means one or more series of Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II, Gateway Trust and Natixis ETF Trust.

(i) “Purchase or sale of a security” includes, among other things , the writing of an option to purchase or sell a Covered Security.

(j) “Security held or to be acquired” by a Fund means any Covered Security which, within the most recent 15 days, (i) is or has been held by the Fund, or (ii) is being or has been considered by the Fund or its Adviser for purchase by the Fund; and (iii) any option to purchase or sell, and any security convertible into or exchangeable for, a Covered Security described in section (i) and (ii) of this item (j).

(k) “Underwriter” means the principal underwriter with respect to Natixis Funds Trust I, Natixis Funds Trust II, Natixis Funds Trust IV, Loomis Sayles Funds I, Loomis Sayles Funds II and Gateway Trust and the principal underwriter with respect to the Natixis ETF Trust.

 

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2. Exempted Transactions

The prohibitions of Section 3 of this Code shall not apply to:

 

  (a) Purchases or sales of shares of a money market fund that is a Covered Fund.

 

  (b) Purchases or sales effected in any account over which the access person has no direct or indirect influence or control.

 

  (c) Purchases or sales which are non-volitional on the part of either the access person or the Fund.

 

  (d) Purchases which are part of an automatic dividend reinvestment plan.

 

  (e) Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of its securities, to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired.

3. Prohibitions

(a) No access person shall purchase or sell, directly or indirectly, any Covered Security in which he or she has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership and which he or she knows or should have known at the time of such purchase or sale:

(i) is being considered for purchase or sale by the Fund; or

(ii) is being purchased or sold by the Fund.

(b) No Access Person shall purchase and sell, or conversely sell and purchase, shares of the same Covered Fund, except shares of a money market fund, within 60 calendar days. For purposes of the preceding restriction, non-volitional trades ( e.g. , company retirement plan matching contributions) or automatic transactions ( e.g. , payroll deduction, deferred compensation, retirement plan contributions, systematic withdrawal plans) shall not be considered purchases or sales, as the case may be. However, this restriction does apply to exchanges and re-allocation of assets within an Access Person’s retirement or deferred compensation plan account.

4. Reporting

(a) Every Access Person shall report to the Fund the information described in Section 4(d) and (e) of this Code with respect to portfolio holdings and transactions in any Covered Security in which such access person has, or by reason of such transaction acquires, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the Covered Security; provided, however, that an access person shall not be required to make a report with respect to portfolio holdings or transactions effected for any account over which such person does not have any direct or indirect influence or control.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 4(a) of this Code, an access person need not make reports where the reports would provide only information that previously has been reported pursuant to Rules 204-2(a)(12) or 204-2(a)(13) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or pursuant to codes of ethics or policies and procedures with respect to the flow and use of material nonpublic (inside) information adopted by an Adviser or an Underwriter (collectively, “Adviser’s or Underwriter’s Codes”). Reports which have been filed with an Adviser or Underwriter shall be subject to inspection

 

3


by appropriate representatives of the Fund, including the President and Secretary of the Fund, and the Adviser and Underwriter shall notify the President and Secretary of the Fund at least annually in writing of any violation of this Code or of an Adviser’s or Underwriter’s Code.

(c) A Disinterested Trustee of the Fund is not required to provide an initial or an annual holdings report, and need only provide a quarterly transaction report if such Trustee, (i) at the time of that transaction, knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her official duties as a Trustee of the Fund, should have known that, during the 15-day period immediately preceding the date of the transaction by the Trustee, such Covered Security was purchased or sold by the Fund or was being considered by the Fund or its investment adviser for purchase or sale by the Fund or (ii) purchased and sold, or sold and purchased shares of the same Covered Fund, except a money market fund, within 60 calendar days. For purposes of the reporting requirements, non-volitional trades or automatic transactions ( e.g. , deferred compensation plan contributions, systematic investment or withdrawal plans) shall not be considered purchases or sales, as the case may be. However, this reporting requirement does apply to exchanges and re-allocation of assets within an Access Person’s retirement or deferred compensation plan account.

(d) Quarterly transaction reports shall be made not later than 10 days after the end of the calendar quarter in which the transaction to which the report relates was effected, and shall contain the following information:

(i) Any securities accounts opened through a bank or broker-dealer during the reporting period.

(ii) The date of any transactions, the title and the number of shares, and the principal amount of each Covered Security or Covered Fund involved;

(iii) The nature of the transaction(s) ( i.e. , purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition);

(iv) The price at which the transaction(s) was effected;

(v) The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through whom the transaction was effected; and

(vi) Identification of factors potentially relevant to a conflict of interest analysis, of which the access person is aware, including the existence of any substantial economic relationship between his or her transactions and transactions of or securities held or to be acquired by the Fund.

(e) Any such reports may contain a statement that the reports shall not be construed as an admission by the person making such reports that he or she has any direct or indirect beneficial ownership in the security to which the report relates.

5. Sanctions

Upon discovering a violation of this Code, the Board of Trustees of the Fund and/or the Adviser or the Underwriter may impose such sanctions as it or they deem appropriate, including, inter alia , a letter of censure or suspension or termination of the relationship to the Fund or of the employment by the Adviser or the Underwriter of the violator. Any material sanctions imposed by an Adviser or an Underwriter with respect to this Code or to an Adviser’s or Underwriter’s Code shall be annually reported to the Board of Trustees of the Fund.

 

4


6. Review by Boards of Trustees

(a) The Boards of Trustees including a majority of Disinterested Trustees, must approve this code of ethics, the code of ethics of each investment adviser and principal underwriter of the Fund, and any material changes to these codes based upon a determination that the code contains provisions reasonably necessary to prevent access persons from engaging in any prohibited conduct as described in Rule 17j-1(b) under the 1940 Act and before approving a code of a Fund, investment adviser or principal underwriter or any amendment to the Code, the Board of Trustees must receive certification from the Fund, the investment adviser or principal underwriter that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent access persons from violating the investment adviser’s or principal underwriters code of ethics.

(b) No less frequently than annually, every Fund must furnish to the Fund’s Board of Trustees and the Board of Trustees must consider, a written report that:

(i) Describes any issues arising under the code of ethics or procedures since the last report to the Board of Trustees, including but not limited to, information about material violations of the code or procedures and sanctions imposed in response to the material violations; and

(ii) Certifies that the Fund has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent access persons from violating the code.

 

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Exhibit (p)(2)

Code of Ethics

NGAM Advisors, L.P.

NGAM Distribution, L.P.

As Amended

July 1, 2016

 

1


Exhibit (p)(2)

Introduction

This is the Code of Ethics (“Code”) of NGAM Advisors, L.P. (“NGAMA”) and NGAM Distribution, L.P. (“NGAMD”) (the “Firms”).

Statement of General Principles

It is the policy of the Firms that no Supervised Person shall engage in any act, practice, or course of conduct that would violate the Code, the fiduciary duty owed by the Firms and their personnel to Clients , or any applicable federal securities laws, including but not limited to certain sections of and rules promulgated under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (as amended; the “Advisers Act”) including Rule 204A-1 thereunder, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (as amended; “ERISA”), or the Investment Company Act of 1940 (as amended; the “1940 Act”) including Rule 17j-1 thereunder. The fundamental position of the Firms is, and has been, that at all times the interests of their Clients are placed first. Accordingly, a Supervised Person’s personal financial transactions (and those of members of their Family/Household ) and related activities must be conducted consistently with this Code and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or abuse of the Firms’ position of trust and responsibility.

It is not intended that the policies in this Code will specifically address every situation involving personal trading. These policies will be interpreted and applied, and exceptions and amendments will be made by the Compliance Officer in a manner considered fair and equitable, in all cases with the view of placing the Firms’ Clients’ interests paramount. It also bears emphasis that technical compliance with the procedures, prohibitions, and limitations of this Code will not automatically insulate a Supervised Person from scrutiny of, and sanctions for, securities transactions that indicate an abuse of the Firms’ fiduciary duty to any of its Clients .

Things You Need to Know to Use This Code

1. Terms - Terms in boldface type have special meanings as used in this Code. To understand the Code, you need to read the definitions of these terms. The definitions are at the end of the Code.

2. Purpose of the Code - The policies in this Code reflect the Firms’ desire to detect and prevent not only situations involving actual or potential conflicts of interest or unethical conduct, but also those situations involving even the appearance of these. This Code (i) sets forth standards of conduct expected of Supervised Persons (including compliance with the federal securities laws), (ii) is intended to safeguard material nonpublic information about Client transactions, and (iii) requires Access Persons to report personal securities transactions, including transactions in shares of certain investment companies managed by the Firms or any affiliate of any of the Firms (“ Covered Funds ”). A complete list of Covered Funds is maintained by the Compliance Officer and is posted on the Firms’ Intranet; a printed list is available upon request from the Compliance Officer .

3. Access Persons – For purposes of this Code, all officers, directors, and employees of the Firms are considered Access Persons, except for any director who is not an officer or employee of the Firms and who meets all of the following conditions:

 

  He or she, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, does not make, participate in or obtain information regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by a registered investment company, and whose functions do not relate to the making of recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales;

 

2


Exhibit (p)(2)

 

  He or she does not have access to nonpublic information regarding any Clients ’ purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Covered Fund ; and

 

  He or she is not involved in making securities recommendations to Clients , and does not have access to such recommendations that are nonpublic.

While many officers and employees of the Firms do not have regular access to information regarding the purchase and sale of securities by either Mutual Fund Clients or Separate Account Clients , they may have occasional access to mutual fund or separate account portfolio information that has not been aged 30 days. Therefore, all officers and employees of the Firms have been designated Access Persons .

4. Investment Persons – All Access Persons (and employees of any company in a control relationship with the Firms) that have been specifically identified by the Compliance Department as having regular or periodic knowledge of material nonpublic information regarding the purchase and sale of securities by Mutual Fund Clients or Separate Account Clients are also considered Investment Persons . A complete list of Investment Persons is maintained by the Compliance Department.

5. Compliance Department and Compliance Officer – This Code is administered by the Compliance Officer and his designee(s). Any significant issues, concerns, or findings identified by the Compliance Officer are reported to the Firms’ Ethics and Supervisory Committee.

The Compliance Officer has the authority to grant written waivers of certain provisions of this Code in appropriate instances. However, some provisions of the Code are mandated by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and cannot be waived.

6. Ethics and Supervisory Committee (“Committee”) - The Committee is comprised of certain members of senior management of the Firms. The Committee is charged with ensuring the Code remains reasonably designed to prevent Supervised Persons from engaging in any act, practice, or course of conduct that would violate the fiduciary duty owed by the Firms and their personnel to Clients , any applicable federal securities laws, including but not limited to certain sections of and rules promulgated under the Advisers Act including Rule 204A-1 thereunder, ERISA, or the 1940 Act including Rule 17j-1 thereunder. The Committee will review the terms and provisions of this Code at least annually and make amendments as necessary.

The Committee meets quarterly to review any Code violations identified by the Compliance Officer to (i) make a determination of whether they are indeed violations under the Code; (ii) establish the degree of severity the violation represents; and (iii) if necessary mete out disciplinary actions as described in Section E of this Code.

The Compliance Officer will distribute the Code to all Supervised Persons annually and upon any amendment. You are required to acknowledge your receipt and understanding of the Code annually through Schwab Compliance Technologies.

7. Mutual Fund Clients – Includes all investment companies for which NGAMA serves as adviser, or for which NGAMD is the Distributor. All investment company Clients are currently considered Mutual Fund Clients.

 

3


Exhibit (p)(2)

8. Separate Account Clients - NGAMA markets the investment expertise of its advisory affiliates and other advisory firms to separate account platforms. While NGAMA primarily relies on model portfolios provided by affiliates or third party subadvisers to manage Client assets, it normally has investment discretion over Separate Account Client portfolios.

For purposes of this Code of Ethics, Mutual Fund Clients and Separate Account Clients are collectively referred to as Clients .

Specific Requirements of the Code

A. General Rules

It is improper for Supervised Persons to:

 

    use for his/her own benefit (or the benefit of anyone other than the Clients ) information about the trading activity or holdings of Clients or recommendations of the advisers or subadvisers; or

 

    take advantage of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available for the Clients ; or

 

    engage in insider trading or employ a manipulative and deceptive device; or

 

    make any untrue statement of a material fact to any Client or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made to any Client, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

Also, as a matter of business policy, the Firms require that Supervised Persons adhere to a standard of conduct that: (i) reflects the fiduciary obligations of the Firms, including preventing access to material nonpublic information about Clients by Supervised Persons not needing such information to perform their duties; (ii) complies with all securities laws; and (iii) avoids even the appearance that Supervised Persons receive any improper benefit from information about trading activity or holdings of Clients , the advisers or subadvisers, or from our relationships with the brokerage and advisory communities.

The Firms expect all Supervised Persons to comply with the spirit of the Code, as well as the specific rules contained in the Code.

B. Designated Broker Requirement

Except as described in paragraphs (i)-(v) below, Access Persons who have personal accounts that hold or can hold securities, including Covered Securities or shares of Covered Funds in which they have Beneficial Ownership are required to maintain such accounts at one of the following firms: Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, T.D. Ameritrade, or UBS (collectively, the “ Designated Brokers ”). Unless they are granted an exception, new Access Persons must initiate movement of existing accounts to a Designated Broker within 30 days of being named an Access Person .

Exemptions to the Designated Broker Requirement:

 

  (i) Shares of the Natixis Funds, Loomis Sayles Funds, and Oakmark Funds purchased directly from the Covered Fund if such shares are held with the fund’s transfer agent.

 

  (ii) Shares of Covered Funds purchased through one or more of the Firms’ retirement plans, including the Firms’ 401(k) plan.

 

4


Exhibit (p)(2)

 

  (iii) Certain accounts in which the Access Person has Beneficial Ownership, including retirement accounts with an Access Person’s prior employer, retirement accounts of an Access Person’s spouse, and DRIP and ESOP investment programs.

 

  (iv) Accounts for which the Access Person has Beneficial Ownership but no investment influence or control may be eligible for an exemption from the Designated Broker Requirement. All such exemptions must be approved by the Compliance Officer .

 

  (v) Accounts in which an Access Person may have Beneficial Ownership through a member of their Family/Household, which accounts are subject to a code of ethics or similar policy requiring the account be held at an entity other than a Designated Broker .

For example, if the spouse of an Access Person is employed by a broker-dealer or registered investment adviser that has adopted a code of ethics that requires the spouse to maintain personal securities accounts at a non-designated broker-dealer (including the employer itself), the Firms will defer to that requirement as to that account so long as the Duplicate Confirmation Notice and Statement Requirement (see Section F.5. of this Code) is satisfied.

NOTE: Access Persons are required to report all accounts in which any securities are held (not just Covered Securities and Covered Funds).

For example, a 401(k) account from a prior employer must be reported even if there are no Covered Funds available in the plan.

NOTE: In instances in which the Compliance Officer grants an exemption from the Designated Broker Requirement to any accounts that hold or can hold Covered Securities and/or Covered Funds , the Duplicate Confirmation Notice and Statement Requirement shall apply instead.

C. Gifts to or from Brokers, Clients, or Others

No Access Person may accept, receive or give on his or her own behalf, or on behalf of the Firms, any gift or other accommodations from or to a vendor, broker, securities salesman, Client , or prospective Client (a “business contact”) that might create a conflict of interest or interfere with the impartial discharge of such Access Person’s responsibilities to the Firms or the Clients , be construed as an improper attempt to influence the recipient, or place the recipient or the Firms in a difficult or embarrassing position. This prohibition applies equally to gifts to or from members of the Family/Household of Access Persons .

In no event should gifts to or from any one securities industry contact have a value that exceeds the annual limitation on the dollar value of gifts established by the Compliance Officer from time to time (currently $100). Extra care should be given when accepting any gifts or entertainment from Broker-Dealer or Research Provider Firms to ensure they are neither too frequent nor excessive in totality.

These policies are not intended to prohibit normal business entertainment such as meals or tickets to sporting events or the theatre. Please note that business entertainment is different than giving or receiving gifts. If you are unsure whether something is a gift or business entertainment, refer to the Firms’ Non-Cash Compensation Policy, the Policy Regarding Employee Political Contributions to Certain Government Officials, or ask the Compliance Officer.

 

5


Exhibit (p)(2)

D. Service on the Board or as an Officer of Another Company

To avoid conflicts of interest, “inside information” concerns, and other compliance and business issues, the Firms prohibit all Access Persons from serving as officers or members of the board of any other entity, except with the advance written approval of the General Counsel or Compliance Officer . Approval must be obtained through the Compliance Officer , and could require consideration by the Ethics and Supervisory Committee. The Firms can deny approval for any reason or without providing a reason. This prohibition does not apply to service as an officer or board member of any parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the Firms, nor does it apply to non-employee members of the Firms’ board (i.e. those board members who are not employees of the Firms).

E. Violations and Penalties

The Firms expect all Supervised Persons to comply with the spirit of the Code, as well as the specific rules contained in the Code. Any violations must be reported promptly to the Compliance Officer .

The Firms treat violations of this Code (including violations of the spirit of the Code) very seriously. If you violate either the letter or the spirit of this Code, the Firms (through the Ethics and Supervisory Committee) might take a variety of remedial measures. These may include imposing penalties or fines, cutting your compensation, demoting you, requiring disgorgement of trading gains, imposing a ban on your personal trading, suspending or terminating your employment, or reporting the matter to civil or criminal authorities. Sanction guidelines can be found in the Firms’ Code of Ethics Escalation Policy.

Improper trading activity may constitute a violation of this Code. You may also be considered in violation of this Code by failing to promptly report violations to the Compliance Officer , by failing to file required reports in a timely manner, or by making inaccurate or misleading reports or statements concerning trading activity or securities accounts. You may be considered in violation of this Code even if no harm results from your conduct.

If you have any doubt or uncertainty about what this Code requires or permits, you should ask the Compliance Officer . Do not just guess at the answer, since ignorance of the requirements of the Code or the legal regulations underlying the Code will not serve as an excuse for a violation.

F. Reporting Requirements — Applies to All Access Persons

One of the more important aspects of complying with this Code is understanding which holdings, transactions, and accounts you must report and what accounts are subject to trading restrictions. For example, accounts of members of your Family/Household are covered, as are certain categories of trust accounts, certain investment pools in which you might participate, and certain accounts that others may be managing for you. To be sure you understand which holdings, transactions, and accounts are covered, it is essential that you carefully review the definitions of Covered Security , Covered Fund, Family/Household, and Beneficial Ownership in the “Definitions” section of this Code.

NOTE: All reports specified in this Code must be submitted to the Compliance Department. You must file the reports described below, even if you have no holdings, transactions, or accounts to list in the

 

6


Exhibit (p)(2)

reports, and whether or not your accounts are held at a Designated Broker or duplicate confirmation statements have been forwarded to the Compliance Department. With limited exceptions, reports are filed using Schwab Compliance Technologies.

1. Initial Holdings Report . No later than 10 days after you become an Access Person , you must file with the Compliance Officer an Initial Holdings Report.

The Initial Holdings Report requires you to list all Covered Securities and Covered Funds in which you (or members of your Family/Household ) have Beneficial Ownership (including the title and type of security; as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number; the number of shares; and principal amount). The information reported must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to becoming an Access Person .

The Initial Holdings Report also requires you to list all brokers, dealers, and banks where you maintained an account in which any securities, including Covered Funds or Covered Securities were held or could have been held for the direct or indirect benefit of you or a member of your Family/Household on the date you became an Access Person .

The Initial Holdings Report also requires you to confirm that you have read and understand this Code; that you understand that it applies to you and members of your Family/Household; and that you are considered an Access Person under the Code.

NOTE: It is important for new Access Persons to be familiar with the Designated Broker Requirement of this Code; any questions concerning this requirement should be directed to the Compliance Officer .

2. Quarterly Transaction Reports. No later than 15 days after the end of March, June, September, and December each year, you must file with the Compliance Officer a Quarterly Transaction Report. While compliance with this requirement will be monitored, a late report will not be considered a violation of the Code unless it is filed with the Compliance Officer more than 30 days after the end of the quarter.

The Quarterly Transaction Report requires you to report all transactions during the most recent calendar quarter in Covered Securities and Covered Funds (including the date of the transaction; the title and type of security; the exchange ticker symbol, CUSIP number, or interest rate and maturity date (as applicable); the number of shares; price; and principal amount), in which you (or a member of your Family/Household ) had Beneficial Ownership . It also requires you to report the nature of the transaction (i.e. purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition) and the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected.

The Quarterly Transaction Report also requires you to either confirm or amend your complete list of brokers, dealers, and banks with whom you or a member of your Family/Household established an account in which any securities, including Covered Funds or Covered Securities , were held or could have been held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of you or a member of your Family/Household.

3. Annual Holdings Reports. By January 30 of each year, you must file with the Compliance Officer an Annual Holdings Report as of December 31 of the preceding year.

 

7


Exhibit (p)(2)

The Annual Holdings Report requires you to list all Covered Securities and Covered Funds (including the title and type of security; as applicable, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number; the number of shares; and principal amount) in which you (or a member of your Family/Household ) had Beneficial Ownership as of December 31 of the prior year. It also requires you to list all brokers, dealers, and banks with whom you or a member of your Family/Household maintained an account in which any securities, including Covered Securities or Covered Funds were held, or could have been held, for the direct or indirect benefit of you or a member of your Family/Household on December 31 of the prior year.

The Annual Holdings Report also requires you to confirm that during the prior year, except as otherwise indicated therein, you have complied with all applicable requirements of the Code and have reported all accounts, holdings, and transactions required to be reported under the Code, that you understand that it applies to all members of your Family/Household , that you understand that you have been designated an Access Person , and whether you have been designated an Investment Person under the Code.

4. Annual Acknowledgement. You must acknowledge your receipt and understanding of the Code (and any amendments), along with the Firms’ Statement of Policies and Procedures with Respect to the Flow and Use of Material, Non-Public (Inside) Information , by submitting an electronic affirmation annually.

5. Duplicate Confirmation Notices and Statements. Any Access Person or member of his or her Family/Household that has a securities account (in which Covered Securities or shares of Covered Funds are held, or could be held) with any broker, dealer, or bank that is subject to an exemption from the Designated Broker Requirement under Sections B. (iii), (iv), or (v) of this Code, or has requested and received an exemption from the Compliance Officer , must direct that broker, dealer, or bank to send, directly to the Compliance Officer , contemporaneous duplicate copies of all transaction confirmation notices and statements relating to that account.

NOTE: In certain circumstances Covered Securities may be held in accounts that are exempt from the Designated Broker Requirement, but do not have the ability to generate duplicate confirmation notices and statements (i.e. ESOP, DRIP, and 401(k) Plans). In these limited circumstances, duplicate statements are not required.

G. Transaction Restrictions

1. Initial Public Offerings and Private Placements. Access Persons may not acquire securities in an Initial Public Offering (“ IPO”) or Private Placement unless prior written approval is obtained from the Compliance Officer , and, in the determination of the Compliance Officer , participation does not present a conflict of interest with any Clients or impede the equitable distribution of the offering to the public. Any request for allocation of an IPO or a Private Placement to an Access Person that is in any way connected with his or her position in the Firms will be denied. Further, the Compliance Officer may deny requests for any reason or without providing a reason.

Access Persons must request approval for participation in an IPO or Private Placement by submitting a written request to the Compliance Officer . These requests must include:

 

    A brief description of the Private Placement or IPO opportunity

 

    In the case of a Private Placement , the nature of the employee’s participation

 

    A statement as to how and why the opportunity was offered to the Access Person and other factors relevant, from the perspective of the Firms, to the approval decision (e.g. whether participation in the Private Placement or IPO is connected with the Access Person’s position with the Firms or will result in any conflicts of interest with Client portfolios.)

 

8


Exhibit (p)(2)

2. Futures and Related Options. No Access Person shall use derivatives, including futures, options on futures, or options on a Covered Security, to evade the restrictions of the Code. In other words, no Access Person may use derivative transactions with respect to a Covered Security if the Code would prohibit the Access Person from taking the same position directly in the Covered Security .

3. Blackout Period . No Access Person (including any member of the Family/Household of such Access Person ) may purchase or sell any Covered Security within the seven calendar days immediately before or after a calendar day on which any Mutual Fund Client or a Separate Account Client purchases or sells that Covered Security (or any closely related security, such as an option or a related convertible or exchangeable security), unless the Access Person had no actual knowledge that the Covered Security (or any closely related security) was being considered for purchase or sale for any Mutual Fund Client or Separate Account Client . Note that the total blackout period is 15 days (the day of the Client trade, plus seven days before and seven days after).

The blackout period does not apply to Access Person transactions concurrent with Separate Account Client transactions intended merely to rebalance, liquidate, or open accounts for Separate Account Clients where NGAMA acts as the adviser, for the following reasons: NGAMA primarily relies on model portfolios supplied by investment advisory affiliates and third party investment advisory firms; due to the nature of NGAMA’s separate account program, a number of these Separate Account Clients may add or withdraw funds, and open or close accounts, on a daily basis; the trades generated by these activities are unpredictable; they are not caused by a change in the investment opinion of NGAMA or any of its subadvisers; they tend to be small in size with little or no market impact; they are of an administrative nature; and if triggering a blackout period, they would likely have the effect of “blacking out” every security traded by Separate Account Clients of NGAMA on every trading day. The blackout period does apply, however, to transactions concurrent with Separate Account Client transactions related to implementation of changes to model portfolios or related to changes in the investment opinion of NGAMA or any of its subadvisers.

NOTE: All transactions for Access Persons subject to the Blackout Period will be compared to transactions executed by NGAMA or a subadviser on behalf of Mutual Fund Clients and Separate Account Clients . The fact that the Compliance Officer has precleared a trade does not mean that it is not in violation of the Code. When evaluating a preclearance request, trades executed on behalf of Separate Account Clients over the previous 7 days are considered. Changes to model portfolios on the day preclearance is requested, and over the subsequent 7 days may create a violation of the blackout period. Due to the nature of NGAMA’s advisory activity with respect to Mutual Fund Clients it is impossible to consider trading by Mutual Fund Clients when granting preclearance. Transactions by Access Persons will be compared to transactions executed by both Separate Account Clients and Mutual Fund Clients at the end of the reporting period.

For example if an Access Person executes a trade in a Covered Security for which he or she has received proper preclearance on January 1 st , and a subadviser changes a model portfolio which results in trades in the same Covered Security by Separate Account Clients any time before January 8 th (the remainder of the 15 day blackout period), it may result in a violation of the Code, if the Access Person had knowledge that the Covered Security was being considered for purchase or sale for any Client account.

 

 

9


Exhibit (p)(2)

Trading within the 15-day blackout period is not automatically considered a violation of the Code but is instead subject to the knowledge condition set forth above. The Compliance Officer will monitor personal securities trading activity and if a pattern appears to exist with respect to the trading activity of an Access Person and any Mutual Fund Client and/or Separate Account Client within the 15-day blackout periods, it will be investigated. If it is determined that a violation has occurred, the Firms will generally require any profits from the transactions to be disgorged and donated to charity, and may impose other sanctions as deemed necessary (see Section E of this Code).

4. Preclearance Requirement . Access Persons are required to request and receive preclearance by the Compliance Officer before executing the purchase or sale of Covered Securities . Given the nature of NGAMA’s current advisory operations, which include oversight of other investment advisers, approving, and in some cases effecting, transactions for Client accounts, NGAMA’s role as an administrator, and NGAMD’s role as a distributor and underwriter, the Firms have incorporated several exemptions to the Preclearance Requirement that you should be familiar with.

 

a. Preclearance . Unless specifically exempted by this Code, no Access Person shall purchase or sell any Covered Security for his or her own account (or the account of any member of his or her Family/Household ) without proper preclearance. Unless specifically noted by the Compliance Officer , trades must be completed on the same day that preclearance is granted. This requirement applies to all trades in Covered Securities . Instruments representing an indirect interest in a Covered Security , such as options and warrants, must also be precleared.

 

b. Process . Access Persons are required to submit a preclearance request to the Compliance Officer and receive approval for the transaction before executing a trade for a Covered Security transaction requiring preclearance. Trades in Covered Securities cannot be executed until the Compliance Officer provides specific approval. Preclearance will not be granted for any trades that would violate the blackout period restriction as it applies to personal transactions effected within 7 days after a Separate Account Client trade.

The Firms reserve the right to require any Access Person to preclear exempted transactions (discussed below) at any time and, if requested by the Firms, an Access Person must obtain the approval of the Compliance Officer before buying or selling any security, for such period (which may be indefinite) as the Compliance Officer shall determine.

5. Good Until Canceled and Limit Orders . No Access Person shall place a “good until canceled”, “limit”, or equivalent order with his/her broker for any Covered Security subject to the preclearance requirement except that an Access Person may utilize a “day order with a limit” so long as the transaction is consistent with provisions of this Code, including the preclearance procedures. All orders must expire at the end of the trading day on which they are precleared unless otherwise extended by the Compliance Officer .

6. Exempt Transactions . The blackout period and preclearance requirements do not apply to Covered Funds and the following categories of transactions in Covered Securities by all Access Persons :

 

    Transactions in accounts for which the Access Person has Beneficial Ownership but no investment influence or control and, if applicable, has been granted an exemption from the Designated Broker Requirement by the Compliance Officer .

 

10


Exhibit (p)(2)

 

    Transactions in any Covered Security guaranteed by the United States Government, or any state government or governmental agency of a municipality.

 

    Transactions that occur by operation of law or under any other circumstance in which no investment discretion is exercised, and no recommendations are made, by the Access Person or any member of their Family/Household.

 

    Purchases pursuant to the exercise of rights issued pro rata to all holders of the class of a Covered Security held by the Access Person (or Family/Household member) and received by the Access Person (or Family/Household member) from the issuer.

 

    Purchases of a Covered Security pursuant to an automatic investment, withdrawal or dividend reinvestment plan.

 

    Transactions in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”), Exchange Traded Notes (“ETNs”) as well as any related options.

 

    Transactions in futures and options contracts on interest rate instruments or indexes, and options on such contracts, so long as the transactions do not violate the knowledge provision in Section G.3. of this Code.

Additionally, the preclearance and blackout requirements do not apply to the following transactions by all Access Persons unless he or she has been specifically designated an Investment Person :

 

    Transactions of 100 shares or less of common or preferred stocks of a class that is publicly traded on a national stock exchange.

 

    Transactions with an aggregate dollar value (excluding commissions) of $10,000 or less.

 

    Transactions in Covered Securities issued by a company with a market capitalization of at least $10 billion U.S. (or the equivalent in foreign currency).

Further, the preclearance and blackout requirements do not apply to the following transactions by Investment Persons :

 

    Transactions of 100 shares or less of common or preferred stocks issued by a company with a market capitalization of at least $10 billion that reduce or add to a position in the security that has been held by the Investment Person for at least 12 months.

NOTE: These transactions are not exempted from the reporting requirements of this Code.

H. Compliance Officer Approval

The Compliance Officer is charged with responsibility for ensuring that all Access Persons adhere to the reporting requirements of this Code of Ethics and that the review requirements of this Code are performed in a prompt manner.

 

11


Exhibit (p)(2)

Definitions

The following terms have special meanings in this Code of Ethics:

 

  Access Person

 

  Beneficial Ownership

 

  Client

 

  Compliance Officer

 

  Covered Fund

 

  Covered Security

 

  Designated Broker

 

  Family/Household

 

  Initial Public Offering

 

  Investment Person

 

  Mutual Fund Client

 

  Private Placement

 

  Separate Account Client

 

  Supervised Person

The special meanings of these terms as used in this Code of Ethics are explained below. Some of these terms (such as “ Beneficial Ownership ”) are sometimes used in other contexts, not related to Code of Ethics, where they may have different meanings. For example, “ Beneficial Ownership ” has a different meaning in this Code of Ethics than it does in the SEC’s rules for proxy statement disclosure of corporate directors’ and officers’ stockholdings, or in determining whether an investor has to file 13D or 13G reports with the SEC.

IMPORTANT: If you have any doubt or question about whether an investment, account, or person is covered by any of these definitions, ask the Compliance Officer . Do not just guess at the answer.

Access Person means Access Person as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and/or Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, as those rules are amended from time to time. The elements of these definitions are outlined beginning on page 2 of this Code.

Due to the nature of the Firms’ activities and for the purposes of administering this Code, the Firms have designated all their officers, directors and employees as Access Persons (except for directors that satisfy the conditions listed above), whether or not such officers, directors and employees fall within the definition of “Access Person” as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and/or Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act. An officer, director or employee becomes an Access Person on his or her hire date.

The term “ Access Person” under this Code and relating to the Firms normally does not include an employee of a company in a control relationship to the Firms, who is not an employee, officer, or director of any of the Firms, where such company is required to have a Code of Ethics containing provisions reasonably necessary to prevent the Access Person from engaging in any act, practice, or course of business prohibited by Rule 17j-1(b) and such employee is required to report his or her transactions to such company. However, in certain instances a person may be an employee of both the Firms and an affiliated adviser, and may be subject to (and required to make required reports for) more than one Code of Ethics.

 

12


Exhibit (p)(2)

Beneficial Ownership means beneficial ownership as defined in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, as amended from time to time. Currently this means any opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in the profit from any transaction in securities. Beneficial Ownership is a very broad concept. Some examples of forms of Beneficial Ownership include:

 

    securities held in a person’s own name, or that are held for the person’s benefit in nominee, custodial, or “street name” accounts.

 

    securities owned by a member of your Family/Household.

 

    securities owned by or for a partnership, in which the person is a general partner (whether the ownership is under the name of that partner, another partner, the partnership, or through a nominee, custodial, or “street name” account).

 

    securities that are being managed for a person’s benefit on a discretionary basis by an investment adviser, broker, bank, trust company, or other manager.

 

    securities in a person’s individual retirement account.

 

    securities in a person’s account in a 401(k) or similar retirement plan, even if the person has chosen to give someone else investment discretion over the account.

 

    securities owned by a trust of which the person is either a trustee or a beneficiary .

 

    securities owned by a corporation, partnership, or other entity that the person controls (whether the ownership is under the name of that person, under the name of the entity, or through a nominee, custodial, or “street name” account).

 

    securities that are traded on behalf of an investment club of which an Access Person is a club member or in which a member of their Family/Household is a member.

The above is not a complete list of the forms of ownership that could constitute Beneficial Ownership for purposes of this Code. You should ask the Compliance Officer if you have any questions or doubts at all about whether you or a member of your Family/Household would be considered to have Beneficial Ownership in any particular situation.

Client means any individual, entity, or registered investment company for which NGAMA serves as adviser or subadviser, or NGAMD serves as distributor. Client information includes information obtained from entities contracted by NGAMA as adviser to serve as subadviser for certain Mutual Fund Clients and Separate Account Clients .

Compliance Officer currently means the Chief Compliance Officer of NGAMD or another person that he has designated to perform the functions of Compliance Officer . For purposes of reviewing the Compliance Officer’s own transactions and reports under this Code, the functions of the Compliance Officer are performed by the General Counsel of the Firms.

Covered Fund means (i) any registered investment company advised or subadvised by NGAMA, (ii) any registered investment company advised or subadvised by any investment adviser that controls NGAMA,

 

13


Exhibit (p)(2)

is controlled by NGAMA or is under common control with NGAMA (e.g. Loomis Sayles, Harris Associates, etc.), (iii) any registered investment company administered by NGAMA, or (iv) any registered investment company distributed by NGAMD (or any principal underwriter that controls NGAMA, is controlled by NGAMA or is under common control with NGAMA). For clarification purposes, Covered Funds include, but are not limited to, the Natixis Funds, the Loomis Sayles Funds, and the Oakmark Funds and (v) Undertakings for the Collective Investment of Transferable Securities (“UCITS”) advised by any investment adviser that controls NGAMA, is controlled by NGAMA or is under common control with NGAMA (e.g. Loomis Sayles, Harris Associates, etc.) .

NOTE: Covered Funds do not include money market funds whether or not NGAMA (or any affiliate) serves as the investment adviser or subadviser.

NOTE: A 529 plan invested in underlying mutual funds will not be treated as a Covered Security or as an investment in Covered Funds , so long as the plan is not distributed, advised or subadvised by NGAMA, NGAMD or any affiliated firm, and your 529 plan investments are not in any portfolios distributed, advised or subadvised by NGAMA, NGAMD or any affiliated firm.

A complete list of Covered Funds may be obtained from the Compliance Officer or the Firms’ Intranet. The Compliance Officer may either add or remove funds from this list if he determines that there is either a heightened risk of access to portfolio information (in the case of funds that would not be considered Covered Funds under this definition), or no access to portfolio information about a fund (for those funds that would otherwise meet the above criteria of a Covered Fund ).

Covered Security means a reportable security as defined in Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, as amended from time to time. Currently this means anything that is considered a “security” under the Advisers Act, except :

 

    Direct obligations of the U.S. Government.

 

    Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements.

 

    Shares of money market funds that are registered under the 1940 Act.

 

    Shares of open-end investment companies that are (i) registered under the 1940 Act (mutual funds) and (ii) not Covered Funds.

 

    Shares of unit investment trusts that are invested exclusively in one or more mutual funds (none of which are Covered Funds).

Security is a very broad term. It includes most kinds of investment instruments, including things that you might not ordinarily think of as “securities”, such as:

 

    Options on securities and currencies, and commodities.

 

    Commodity interests.

 

    Investments in all kinds of limited partnerships.

 

    Investments in closed end funds and exchange traded funds.

 

    Investments in foreign unit trusts, and foreign mutual funds.

 

    Investments in private investment funds, hedge funds, and investment clubs.

If you have any question or doubt about whether an investment is a considered a Covered Security or a Covered Fund under this Code, ask the Compliance Officer .

 

14


Exhibit (p)(2)

Designated Broker means Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, T.D. Ameritrade, or UBS (collectively, the “ Designated Brokers ”).

Family/Household means:

 

    Your spouse or live-in partner who shares your household and combines his or her financial resources in a manner similar to that of married persons (unless he or she does not live in the same household as you and you do not contribute in any way to his or her support).

 

    Your children under the age of 18.

 

    Your children who are 18 or older (if they live in the same household as you or you contribute in any way to their support).

 

    Any of these people who live in your household: your stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, parents-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law, including adoptive relationships.

 

    Any individual for whom you are exercising investment control.

NOTE: There are a number of reasons why this Code covers transactions in which members of your Family/Household have Beneficial Ownership . First, the SEC regards any benefit to a person that you help support financially as indirectly benefiting you, because it could reduce the amount that you might otherwise need to contribute to that person’s support. Second, members of your Family/Household could, in some circumstances, learn of information regarding the Firm’s trading or recommendations for Client accounts, and must not be allowed to benefit from that information.

Initial Public Offering (“IPO”) 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.

Investment Persons – Include all Access Persons (and employees of any company in a control relationship with the Firms) that have been specifically identified by the Compliance Department as having regular or periodic knowledge of material nonpublic information regarding the purchase and sale of securities by Mutual Fund Clients or Separate Account Clients.

In addition to exposure to Client trading information, an individual may be designated an Investment Person for any reason. A complete list of Investment Persons is maintained by the Compliance Department.

NOTE: All Investment Persons are also Access Persons and must satisfy all applicable Code requirements.

Mutual Fund Client includes all investment companies for which NGAMA serves as adviser, or for which NGAMD is the Distributor. All investment company Clients are currently considered Mutual Fund Clients.

 

15


Exhibit (p)(2)

Private Placement means an offering of a stock or bond that is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) or Pursuant to Rule 504, 505, or 506 thereunder.

Separate Account Client includes all separately managed accounts for which NGAMA provides investment advisory services.

Although NGAMA has the ultimate investment decision-making authority with respect to securities to be purchased or sold, in most cases NGAMA generally follows the recommendations implicit in the model portfolios supplied by its subadvisers. While NGAMA relies primarily on these model portfolios to manage Client assets, it will retain discretionary authority over Client portfolios. This discretion will be primarily used to execute trades and manage accounts according to specific Client requirements.

Supervised Person means any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar station or performing similar functions) or employee of a Firm, or other person who provides investment advice on behalf of NGAMA and is subject to the supervision and control of NGAMA. All Access Persons are also Supervised Persons .

 

16

Exhibit (p)(4)

Exhibit F - VNIM Code of Ethics

 

A-1


Exhibit (p)(4)

Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P.

Code of Ethics

(Amended as of February 19, 2016)

This is the Code of Ethics of Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. ( the “Firm”).

Things You Need to Know to Use This Code

1. Terms in boldface type have special meanings as used in this Code. To understand the Code, you need to read the definitions of these terms. The definitions are at the end of the Code.

2. The Firm considers all employees to be Access Persons under this Code.

There are four (4) Reporting Forms that Access Persons have to fill out under this Code. You can get copies of the Reporting Forms from the Chief Compliance Officer .

Board members who are not employees of the Firm, do not have to comply with the trading restrictions and blackout provisions in Section B of part II.

Further, certain members of the Firm’s board may be classified as “ Non-Access Directors. ” See the “Definitions” section of this Code. Non-Access Directors are subject to Parts I.A. and I.B. of this Code, but not to Parts I.C., I.D. or II of the Code.

 

A-2


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

PART I—Applies to All Personnel

 

A. General Principles—These Apply to All Personnel (including All Board Members)

The Firm is a fiduciary for its investment advisory and sub-advisory clients. Fiduciaries owe their clients a duty of honesty, good faith and fair dealing. As a fiduciary, an adviser must act at all times in the client’s best interests and must avoid or disclose conflicts of interest. Because of this fiduciary relationship, it is generally improper for the Firm or its personnel to:

 

    use for their own benefit (or the benefit of anyone other than the client) information about the Firm’s trading or recommendations for client accounts; or

 

    take advantage of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available for the Firm’s clients.

As a matter of business policy, the Firm wants to avoid even the appearance that the Firm, its personnel or others receive any improper benefit from information about client trading or accounts, from our positions, or from relationships with our clients or with the brokerage community.

Privacy and Confidentiality

All personnel are required to keep any nonpublic information about clients (including former clients), the Firm or vendors in strict confidence. Employees should treat the following with confidentiality and discretion:

 

    A client’s identity (unless the client consents), the client’s financial circumstances, the securities investments made by the Firm on behalf of a client, information about contemplated securities transactions, or information regarding the firm’s trading strategies (except as required to effectuate securities transactions on behalf of a client or for other legitimate business purposes).

 

    Non-public information regarding the Firm including but not limited to trading intentions, business plans and strategies, technology, business processes, customer relationships, and financial results

 

A-3


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

Whenever dealing with confidential information personnel should:

 

    Assume client or Firm information is confidential unless evidence exists to the contrary

 

    Only use it for the purposes for which it was gathered

 

    Not make disclosure to anyone outside of the Firm unless authorized to do so and only share information internally on a need-to-know basis

 

    Not disclose information related to a former employer to anyone within the Firm

Nothing in this Policy prohibits you from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General, or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. You do not need the prior authorization of the Firm to make any such reports or disclosures and you are not required to notify the Firm that you have made such reports or disclosures.

Personnel should stay informed and comply with Firm policies dealing with data access, information security, encryption standards, and other initiatives designed to protect the integrity and confidentiality of information.

Please refer also to the Firm’s Privacy Policies under Regulation S-P.

Books and Records

All personnel are required to keep accurate and truthful books and records which is critical for our business operations, compliance with legal requirements and the preparation of the Firm’s financial statements. In this pursuit, personnel should:

 

    Recognize their role and personal responsibility for the integrity of records, reports and information that they prepare or control

 

    Comply with internal accounting and recordkeeping policies. Falsification of any books, records or accounts is prohibited

 

    Provide complete and accurate information in connection with any regulatory filings or inquiries

 

    Follow all record retention and destruction policies of the Firm

 

A-4


Exhibit (p)(4)

Computers and Communications

All personnel are to use the Firm’s computer and communications systems (“Systems”) solely for business purposes. Unauthorized access to, use of, interception or distribution of the Firm’s Systems is prohibited. Such conduct may also be a violation of law.

However, the Firm realizes that some personal use of these Systems is inevitable. Any personal use should be kept to a minimum. Excessive or inappropriate use of such Systems for personal use (e.g. time spent or content) as determined by the Firm in its sole discretion may be grounds for sanctions or termination.

 

    Any personal use must be lawful and not violate any Firm policy. As an example, an email communication or, accessing an internet site, with inappropriate content or material would violate Firm policy and is prohibited.

 

    Personal use of the Firm’s Systems must not impose any incremental cost to the Firm, interfere with normal business operations, or otherwise adversely affect the interests of the Firm or an employee’s work.

 

    Employee’s use of the Firm’s Systems, for either business or personal use, should have no expectation of privacy.

Insider Trading

All personnel are prohibited from trading, either personally or on behalf of others, while in possession of material, nonpublic information about issuers and are also prohibited from communicating material, nonpublic information about issuers to others (other than for legitimate legal or business purposes such as informing the Chief Compliance Officer that they, or the firm, is in possession of such information).

Please refer to the Firm’s Insider Trading Policy for more detail.

Political Contributions

All personnel are required to obtain preclearance approval for any direct or indirect political contributions or payments to an Official or Political Action Committee (PAC) in order to evaluate and monitor any potential or ongoing impact to the firm. Additional restrictions and prohibitions apply to employees identified as Covered Associates involving monetary limitations and the coordination / solicitation of other individuals to make political contributions.

 

A-5


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

Please refer to the Firm’s policy regarding Political Contributions by Certain Investment Advisers (Pay-to-Play) for more detail.

The Firm expects all personnel to comply with the spirit of the Code, as well as the applicable specific rules contained in the Code. You must promptly report any violations (not just of personal trading but of the overall requirements of this Code) to the Chief Compliance Officer.

The Firm treats violations of this Code (including violations of the spirit of the Code) very seriously. If you violate either the letter or the spirit of this Code, the Firm might impose penalties or fines, cut your compensation, demote you, require disgorgement of trading gains, suspend or terminate your employment, or any combination of the foregoing.

Improper trading activity can constitute a violation of this Code. But you can also violate this Code by failing to file required reports, or by making inaccurate or misleading reports or statements concerning trading activity or securities accounts. Your conduct can violate this Code, even if no clients are harmed by your conduct.

If you have any doubt or uncertainty about what this Code requires or permits, you should ask the Chief Compliance Officer . Don’t just guess at the answer. Ignorance or lack of understanding is no excuse for a violation.

 

  B. Compliance with the Federal Securities Laws

More generally, Firm personnel (including members of the Firm’s boards) are required to comply with applicable federal securities laws at all times. Examples of applicable federal securities laws include:

 

    the Securities Act of 1933 , the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 , the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the SEC rules thereunder;

 

    the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the SEC rules thereunder;

 

A-6


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

    the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the SEC rules thereunder;

 

    title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (privacy and security of client non-public information); and

 

    the Bank Secrecy Act , as it applies to mutual funds and investment advisers, and the SEC and Department of the Treasury rules thereunder.

All firm personnel are reminded that under these laws, all oral and written statements, including those made to clients, prospective clients, or their representatives must be professional, accurate, balanced, and not misleading in any way.

 

C. Gifts to or from Brokers, Clients or Others—This Applies to All Access Persons

No personnel may accept or receive on their own behalf or on behalf of the Firm any gift or other accommodations from a vendor, broker, securities salesman, client or prospective client (a “business contact”) that might create a conflict of interest or interfere with the impartial discharge of such personnel’s responsibilities to the Firm or its clients or place the recipient or the Firm in a difficult or embarrassing position. This prohibition applies equally to gifts to members of the Family/Household of firm personnel.

No personnel may give on their own behalf or on behalf of the Firm any gift or other accommodation to a business contact that may be construed as an improper attempt to influence the recipient.

In no event should gifts to or from any one business contact have a value that exceeds the annual limitation on the dollar value of gifts (currently $200).

These policies are not intended to prohibit normal business entertainment (e.g. dinner, sporting event tickets, etc. all of a reasonable value). Any questions as to whether a particular gift or entertainment activity constitutes normal business entertainment should be directed to the Chief Compliance Officer .

 

A-7


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

Please refer to the Firm’s Gift & Entertainment policy for a more detailed discussion and quarterly reporting requirements.

 

D. Service on the Board or as an Officer of Another Company—This Applies to All Personnel, Except Members of the Firm’s Board Who Are Not Employees of the Firm

To avoid conflicts of interest, insider information and other compliance and business issues, the Firm prohibits all its employees from serving as officers or members of the board of any other for-profit entity, except with the advance written approval of the Firm. Approval must be obtained through the Chief Compliance Officer , and will ordinarily require consideration by the CEO or the board of the Firm. The Firm can deny approval for any reason. This prohibition does not apply to service as an officer or board member of any parent or subsidiary of the Firm, nor does it apply to members of the Firm’s board who are not employees of the Firm.

PART II—Applies to Access Persons

 

A. Reporting Requirements—These Apply to All Access Persons

NOTE: One of the most complicated parts of complying with this Code is understanding what holdings, transactions and accounts you must report and what accounts are subject to trading restrictions. For example, accounts of certain members of your family and household are covered, as are certain categories of trust accounts, certain investment pools in which you might participate, and certain accounts that others may be managing for you. To be sure you understand what holdings, transactions and accounts are covered, it is essential that you carefully review the definitions of Covered Security , Reportable Funds , Family/Household and Beneficial Ownership in the “Definitions” section at the end of this Code.

 

A-8


Exhibit (p)(4)

ALSO: You must file the reports described below, even if you have no holdings, transactions or accounts to list in the reports . Absent extenuating circumstances, only those involved with the internal review of personal transactions (i.e., the Chief Compliance Officer , those assisting the Chief Compliance Officer and the CEO) will have access to submitted reports. The reports are also required to be made available for certain other purposes, such as SEC inspections.

1. Initial Holdings Reports. No later than 10 days after you become an Access Person , you must file with the Chief Compliance Officer a Holdings Report on Form A (copies of all reporting forms are available from the Chief Compliance Officer ).

Form A requires you to list all Covered Securities in which you (or members of your Family/Household ) have Beneficial Ownership . It also requires you to list all brokers, dealers and banks where you maintain an account in which any securities (not just Covered Securities) are held for the direct or indirect benefit of you or a member of your Family/Household on the date you became an Access Person . The information contained in the report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date you became an Access Person .

Form A also requires you to confirm that you have read and understand this Code, that you understand that it applies to you and members of your Family/Household and that you understand that you are an Access Person under the Code.

2. Quarterly Transaction Reports. No later than 30 days after the end of March, June, September and December each year, you must file with the Chief Compliance Officer a Quarterly Transactions Report on Form B.

Form B requires you to list all transactions during the most recent calendar quarter in Covered Securities, in which transactions you (or a member of your Family/Household ) had Beneficial Ownership . It also requires you to list all brokers, dealers, investment managers and banks where you or a member of your Family/Household established, or closed an account in which any securities (not just Covered Securities ) were held during the quarter for the direct or indirect benefit of you or a member of your Family/Household.

 

A-9


Exhibit (p)(4)

3. Annual Holdings Reports. By January 31st of each year, you must file with the Chief Compliance Officer an Annual Holdings Report on Form C.

Form C requires you to list all Covered Securities in which you (or a member of your Family/Household ) had Beneficial Ownership as of December 31 st of the prior year. It also requires you to list all brokers, dealers and banks where you or a member of your Family/Household maintained an account in which any securities (not just Covered Securities ) were held for the direct or indirect benefit of you or a member of your Family/Household on December 31 of the prior year.

Form C also requires you to confirm that you have read and understand this Code, that you understand that it applies to you and members of your Family/Household and that you understand that you are an Access Person under the Code.

4. Duplicate Confirmations and Periodic Statements. If you or any member of your Family/Household has a securities account that holds or will hold Covered Securities with any broker, dealer, investment manager or bank, you or your Family/Household member must direct that broker, dealer, investment manager or bank to send, directly to the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer , contemporaneous duplicate copies of all transaction confirmation statements and all account statements relating to that account.

5. Outside Service Pre-Approval and Annual Certification . By January 31 st of each year, you must file with the Chief Compliance Officer an Outside Service Annual Certification on Form D.

Form D requires that you list all for-profit entities for which you serve as either an Officer or member of the Board of Directors as of the previous year-end with an indication as to whether the entity is publicly traded or private.

Form D is also to be used in requesting pre-approval to serve as an Officer or member of the Board of Directors for any for-profit entity prior to accepting such a position.

 

A-10


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

B. Transaction Restrictions—These Apply to All Access Persons.

1. Preclearance. You and members of your Family/Household are prohibited from engaging in any transaction in a Covered Security for any account in which you or a member of your Family/Household has any Beneficial Ownership , unless you obtain, in advance of the transaction, written preclearance for that transaction from the Chief Compliance Officer or others as approved by the Chief Compliance Officer .

FORM E – Personal Trade Sheet should be used for preclearance .

Once obtained, preclearance is valid only for the day on which it is granted and the following one (1) business day. The Chief Compliance Officer may revoke a preclearance any time after it is granted and before you execute the transaction. The Chief Compliance Officer may deny or revoke preclearance for any reason. In no event will preclearance be granted for any Covered Security if, to the knowledge of the Chief Compliance Officer , the Firm has purchased or sold that same security or a closely related security that day OR the Firm has a buy or sell order pending for that same security or a closely related security (such as an option relating to that security, or a related convertible or exchangeable security).

a.) Limit Orders

Limit Orders will be granted pre-clearance authorization to be placed on a Good-Til-Cancelled (GTC) basis as long as the security is NOT HELD within one of the firm’s strategies and will not potentially violate short-term trading restrictions.

 

    Any change you wish to make to an approved limit order (e.g. limit price) will require a new pre-clearance authorization prior to execution. Unapproved changes to a limit order which are executed will be a violation of the Code and subject to fines and/or sanctions

 

   

Upon such time as the firm may begin to trade and hold a previously approved outstanding limit order security within one of the firm’s strategies you will be notified to cancel the limit order. Any desire to trade the

 

A-11


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

 

security, after a notification to cancel a limit order is given to you, will require a new pre-clearance form and associated authorization. Execution of the original limit order for which notification to cancel has been given will be a violation of the Code and subject to fines and/or sanctions.

b.) Preclearance Exceptions

The preclearance requirements do not apply to the following categories of transactions:

i. Shares of registered open-end investment companies (including Reportable Funds ).

 

    However, Reportable Funds are reportable under this code in connection with Initial (Form A), Quarterly
(Form B) and Annual forms (Form C).

ii. Transactions in securities of collective investment vehicles (other than a fund sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson ) for which the Firm serves as the investment adviser (for example, the purchase or redemption by you of an interest in a Firm-managed hedge fund would not be subject to pre-clearance).

iii. Transactions in Covered Securities by Firm-sponsored collective investment vehicles for which the Firm serves as investment adviser as to which you may be deemed to have Beneficial Ownership (for example, the purchase or sale by a Firm-managed hedge fund of a Covered Security would not be subject to pre-clearance, even though the portfolio manager of the hedge fund could be deemed to have a Beneficial Ownership of such Covered Security ).

iv. Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs); other than those ETFs in which the firm trades. Please see “Appendix A” (attached) for a list of Exchange Traded Funds for which pre-clearance IS required.

 

A-12


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

v. Transactions that occur by operation of law or under any other circumstance in which neither the Access Person nor any member of his or her Family/Household exercises any discretion to buy or sell or makes recommendations to a person who exercises such discretion.

vi. Transactions effected through an unaffiliated managed account are excluded only if the Access Person (or member of his or her Family/Household , as applicable) has not initiated the investment transaction, has not been consulted regarding any specific investment recommendations or decisions, and is not otherwise participating in the account’s investment process.

vii. Purchases of Covered Securities pursuant to an automatic dividend reinvestment plan.

viii. Purchases pursuant to the exercise of rights issued pro rata to all holders of the class of Covered Securities held by the Access Person (or Family/Household member) and received by the Access Person (or Family/Household member) from the issuer.

ix. Transactions in futures and options contracts on interest rate instruments or indexes, and options on such contracts.

c.) The following are NOT Covered Securities, and so are also not subject to the preclearance requirements:

 

    direct obligations of the U.S. Government;

 

    bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit;

 

    commercial paper and other high quality short-term debt obligations (including repurchase agreements);

 

A-13


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

    shares issued by money market funds and shares of registered open-end investment companies that are not Reportable Funds .

 

  2. Initial Public Offerings and Private Placements.

Neither you nor any member of your Family/Household may acquire any Beneficial Ownership in any Covered Security in an initial public offering. In addition, neither you nor any member of your Family/Household may acquire Beneficial Ownership in any Covered Security in a private placement, except with the specific, advance written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer , which the Chief Compliance Officer may deny for any reason.

 

  3. Prohibition on Short-Term Trading in Funds Sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson

Neither you nor any member of your Family/Household may purchase and sell, or sell and purchase, shares of any fund sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson within any period of 30 calendar days for a profit . This prohibition applies to shares of funds advised / sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson held in retirement or 401(k) plan accounts, as well as in other accounts in which you or a member of your Family/Household has Beneficial Ownership . Note that an exchange of shares (i.e. into another retirement plan option) counts as a sale of shares for purposes of this prohibition.

 

  a.) This prohibition does not apply to the following categories of transactions:

i. A fund sub-advised by an affiliate and on the Reportable Funds list.

ii. Transactions under automatic investment or withdrawal plans, including automatic 401(k) plan investments, and transactions under a “fund sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson’s” dividend reinvestment plan.

 

A-14


Exhibit (p)(4)

A.) For example, if you have established an automatic investment plan under which regular monthly investments are automatically made in a fund sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson, that investment will not be considered to begin or end a 30-day holding period.

iii. Transactions that occur by operation of law or under any other circumstance in which neither you nor any member of your Family/Household exercises any discretion to buy or sell or makes recommendations to a person who exercises such discretion.

 

  b.) In applying the prohibition on short-term trading in funds sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson , the Firm may take account of all purchase and sale transactions in the Vaughan Nelson sub-advised fund, even if the transactions were made in different accounts. For example, a purchase of shares of a fund sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson in a brokerage account, followed within 30 days by an exchange out of the same fund sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson in your 401(k) account, will be treated as a violation.

In applying the 30-day holding period, the most recent purchase (or sale) will be measured against the sale (or purchase) in question. (That is, a last-in, first-out analysis will apply.) A violation will be deemed to have occurred even if the number of shares or the dollar value of the second trade was different from the number of shares or dollar value of the first trade.

 

  4. Prohibition on Short-Term Trading of Covered Securities Other Than Funds Sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson.

Neither you nor any member of your Family/Household may purchase and sell, or sell and purchase, a Covered Security (or any closely related security, such as an option or a related convertible or exchangeable security) within any period of 60 calendar days for a profit . If any such transactions occur, the Firm will require any profits from the transactions to be disgorged for donation by the Firm to charity.

a.) This prohibition on short-term trading does not apply to:

 

A-15


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

i. Transactions in securities of collective investment vehicles for which the Firm serves as an investment adviser, other than funds sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson . Note that Section 3 above contains separate prohibitions on short-term trading in funds sub-advised by Vaughan Nelson .

ii. Transactions in Covered Securities by Firm-sponsored collective investment vehicles for which the Firm serves as investment adviser as to which you may be deemed to have Beneficial Ownership (for example, the purchase or sale by a Firm-managed hedge fund of a Covered Security would not be subject to this prohibition, even though the portfolio manager of the hedge fund could be deemed to have a Beneficial Ownership of such Covered Security ).

iii. Transactions that occur by operation of law or under any other circumstance in which neither you nor any member of your Family/Household exercises any discretion to buy or sell or makes recommendations to a person who exercises such discretion.

iv. Purchases of Covered Securities pursuant to an automatic dividend reinvestment plan.

v. Purchases pursuant to the exercise of rights issued pro rata to all holders of the class of Covered Securities and received by you (or Family/Household member) from the issuer.

vi. Transactions in common or preferred stocks of a class that is publicly-traded, has a 10 day average daily trading volume greater than 1 million shares (as indicated by Reuters or an equivalent source) and is issued by a company with a stock market capitalization of at least 5 billion U.S. dollars (or the equivalent in foreign currency)

 

A-16


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

vii. Transactions in Exchange Traded Funds which are considered Covered Securities.

viii. Transactions effected through an unaffiliated managed account where the Access Person (or member of his or her Family/Household , as the case may be) has not initiated the investment transaction, has not been consulted regarding specific investment recommendations or decisions, and is not otherwise participating in the investment process.

ix. Transactions in municipal bonds, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and agency bonds (eg. Fannie Mae’s). (Reminder: Governments bonds are not considered Covered Securities ).

5. 7-Day Blackout Period—This Applies to All Access Persons. No Access Person (including any member of the Family/Household of such Access Person ) may purchase or sell any Covered Security within the three business days immediately before or after a business day on which any client account managed by the Firm purchases or sells that Covered Security (or any closely related security, such as an option or a related convertible or exchangeable security), unless the Access Person had no actual knowledge that the Covered Security (or any closely related security) was being considered for purchase or sale for any client account. If any such transactions occur, the Firm will generally require any profits from the transactions to be disgorged for donation by the Firm to charity.

Note that the total blackout period is 7 business days (the day of the client trade, plus three business days before and three business days after).

a. ) Hardship Exception: to the extent an individual desires to purchase or sell a security currently owned by that individual and is only precluded from selling the security due to an ongoing blackout period, the individual may request a ‘hardship exception’ from the Chief Compliance Officer. Based upon all facts and circumstances surrounding the hardship, the

 

A-17


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

Chief Compliance Officer may, in his/her sole discretion, formulate an objective plan to facilitate the individual’s transaction in a manner which will not benefit from or impact transactions undertaken on behalf of the firm’s clients.

b.) Backside Blackout Period: The Firm will review situations where a personal trade has been approved (including a review of the frontside blackout period) and transacted and then the same Covered Security (or any closely related security, such as an option or a related convertible or exchangeable security) subsequently transacted by the Firm for client accounts during the backside blackout period. To the extent the Firm’s transactions during the backside blackout period consisted of ‘re-balancing’ or ‘flow’ trades, no violation will have been deemed to occur.

c.) It sometimes happens that an Access Person who is responsible for making investment recommendations or decisions for client accounts (such as a portfolio manager or analyst) determines—within the three business days after the day he or she (or a member of his or her Family/Household ) has purchased or sold for his or her own account a Covered Security that was not, to the Access Person ’s knowledge, then under consideration for purchase by any client account—that it would be desirable for client accounts as to which the Access Person is responsible for making investment recommendations or decisions to purchase or sell the same Covered Security (or a closely related security). In this situation, the Access Person MUST put the clients’ interests first, and promptly make the investment recommendation or decision in the clients’ interest, rather than delaying the recommendation or decision for clients until after the third day following the day of the transaction for the Access Person ’s (or Family/Household member’s) own account to avoid conflict with the blackout provisions of this Code. The Firm recognizes that this situation may occur in entire good faith, and will not require disgorgement of profits in such instances if it appears that the Access Person acted in good faith and in the best interests of the Firm’s clients.

 

A-18


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

  d.) The blackout requirements do not apply to the following categories of transactions:

 

  i. Transactions in futures and options contracts on interest rate instruments or indexes, and options on such contracts.

 

  ii. Transactions that occur by operation of law or under any other circumstance in which neither the Access Person nor any member of his or her Family/Household exercises any discretion to buy or sell or makes recommendations to a person who exercises such discretion.

 

  iii. Transactions effected through an unaffiliated managed account are excluded only if the Access Person (or member of his or her Family/Household , as applicable) has not initiated the investment transaction, has not been consulted regarding any specific investment recommendations or decisions, and is not otherwise participating in the account’s investment process.

 

  iv. Purchases of Covered Securities pursuant to an automatic dividend reinvestment plan.

 

  v. Purchases pursuant to the exercise of rights issued pro rata to all holders of the class of Covered Securities held by the Access Person (or Family/Household member) and received by the Access Person (or Family/Household member) from the issuer.

 

  vi. Transactions in securities of collective investment vehicles for which the Firm serves as the investment adviser.

 

  vii. Transactions in Covered Securities by Firm-sponsored collective investment vehicles for which the Firm serves as investment adviser as to which the Investment Person may be deemed to have Beneficial Ownership

 

  viii.

Transactions in common or preferred stocks of a class that is publicly-traded, has a 10 day average daily trading volume greater than 1 million shares (as indicated by Reuters or an equivalent source) AND is issued by a company with a stock

 

A-19


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

market capitalization of at least 5 billion U.S. dollars (or the equivalent in foreign currency). Day of trade blackout is still applicable.

ix. Transactions in Exchange Traded Funds which are considered Covered Securities. Day of trade blackout is still applicable.

x. Reportable Funds .

 

A-20


Exhibit (p)(4)

Definitions

These terms have special meanings in this Code of Ethics:

Access Person

Beneficial Ownership

Chief Compliance Officer

Covered Security

Family/Household

Non-Access Director

Reportable Fund

The special meanings of these terms as used in this Code of Ethics are explained below. Some of these terms (such as “beneficial ownership”) are sometimes used in other contexts, not related to Codes of Ethics, where they have different meanings. For example, “beneficial ownership” has a different meaning in this Code of Ethics than it does in the SEC’s rules for proxy statement disclosure of corporate directors’ and officers’ stockholdings, or in determining whether an investor has to file 13D or 13G reports with the SEC.

IMPORTANT: If you have any doubt or question about whether an investment, account or person is covered by any of these definitions, ask the Chief Compliance Officer. Don’t just guess at the answer.

Access Person includes:

 

    Every member of the board of the Firm or of the Firm’s general partner, Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, Inc., other than Non-Access Directors

 

    Every employee of the Firm

 

    Every employee of the Firm (or of any company that directly or indirectly has a 25% or greater interest in the Firm) who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, Exhibit (p)(4) participates in or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of a Covered Security for any client account, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to purchases and sales.

 

A-21


Beneficial ownership means any opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in the profit from any transaction in securities. It also includes transactions over which you exercise investment discretion (other than for a client of the Firm), even if you don’t share in the profits.

Beneficial Ownership is a very broad concept. Some examples of forms of Beneficial Ownership include:

 

    Securities held in a person’s own name, or that are held for the person’s benefit in nominee, custodial or “street name” accounts.

 

    Securities owned by or for a partnership in which the person is a general partner (whether the ownership is under the name of that partner, another partner or the partnership or through a nominee, custodial or “street name” account).

 

    Securities that are being managed for a person’s benefit on a discretionary basis by an investment adviser, broker, bank, trust company or other manager, unless the securities are held in a “blind trust” or similar arrangement under which the person is prohibited by contract from communicating with the manager of the account and the manager is prohibited from disclosing to the person what investments are held in the account. (Just putting securities into a discretionary account is not enough to remove them from a person’s Beneficial Ownership . This is because, unless the arrangement is a “blind trust,” the owner of the account can still communicate with the manager about the account and potentially influence the manager’s investment decisions.)

 

A-22


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

    Securities in a person’s individual retirement account.

 

    Securities in a person’s account in a 401(k) or similar retirement plan, even if the person has chosen to give someone else investment discretion over the account.

 

    Securities owned by a trust of which the person is either a trustee or a beneficiary .

 

    Securities owned by a corporation, partnership or other entity that the person controls (whether the ownership is under the name of that person, under the name of the entity or through a nominee, custodial or “street name” account).

This is not a complete list of the forms of ownership that could constitute Beneficial Ownership for purposes of this Code. You should ask the Chief Compliance Officer if you have any questions or doubts at all about whether you or a member of your Family/Household would be considered to have Beneficial Ownership in any particular situation.

Chief Compliance Officer means Richard Faig, or another person that he or she designates to perform the functions of Chief Compliance Officer when he or she is not available. For purposes of reviewing the Chief Compliance Officer’s own transactions and reports under this Code, the functions of the Chief Compliance Officer are performed by the individual designated to perform such functions by the Chief Compliance Officer .

Covered Security means anything that is considered a “security” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, except :

 

    Direct obligations of the U.S. Government. (Note: This includes only securities supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, such as U.S. Treasury bonds, and does not include securities issued or guaranteed by federal agencies or government-sponsored enterprises that are not supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. )

 

A-23


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

    Bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high quality short-term debt obligations, including repurchase agreements.

 

    Shares of money market funds

 

    Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), (other than those ETFs in which the firm trades). Please see “Appendix A” (attached) for a list of Exchange Traded Funds which ARE considered Covered Securities.

 

    Shares of open-end investment companies that are registered under the Investment Company Act (mutual funds) other than Reportable Funds . Please refer to the definition of and current listing of Reportable Funds.

This is a very broad definition of security. It includes most kinds of investment instruments, including things that you might not ordinarily think of as “securities,” such as:

 

    options on securities, on indexes and on currencies.

 

    investments in all kinds of limited partnerships.

 

    investments in foreign unit trusts and foreign mutual funds.

 

    investments in private investment funds, hedge funds (e.g., a fund managed by the Firm) and investment clubs.

If you have any question or doubt about whether an investment is considered a security or a Covered Security under this Code, ask the Chief Compliance Officer .

 

A-24


Exhibit (p)(4)

Members of your Family/Household include:

 

    Your spouse or domestic partner (unless they do not live in the same household as you and you do not contribute in any way to their support).

 

    Your children under the age of 18.

 

    Your children who are 18 or older (unless they do not live in the same household as you and you do not contribute in any way to their support).

 

    Any of these people who live in your household: your stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, parents-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, including adoptive relationships.

Comment—There are a number of reasons why this Code covers transactions in which members of your Family/Household have Beneficial Ownership . First, the SEC regards any benefit to a person that you help support financially as indirectly benefiting you, because it could reduce the amount that you might otherwise need to contribute to that person’s support. Second, members of your household could, in some circumstances, learn of information regarding the Firm’s trading or recommendations for client accounts, and must not be allowed to benefit from that information.

Non-Access Director means any person who is a director of Vaughan Nelson Trust Company or of the corporate general partner of Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. but who is not an officer or employee of the Firm or of such corporate general partner and who meets all of the following conditions:

 

    He or she, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, does not make, participate in or obtain information regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by a registered investment company, and whose functions do not relate to the making of recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales;

 

A-25


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

    He or she does not have access to nonpublic information regarding any Firm clients’ purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Reportable Fund ; and

 

    He or she is not involved in making securities recommendations to Firm clients, and does not have access to such recommendations that are nonpublic.

Reportable Fund means any investment companies ( other than money market funds) that are registered under the Investment Company Act for which the Firm serves as an investment adviser or whose investment adviser or principal underwriter controls the Firm, is controlled by the Firm, or is under common control with the Firm. A Reportable Fund includes registered investment companies that are sub-advised by the Firm or any of the firm’s affiliates. See most current listing of Reportable Funds maintained by the Chief Compliance Officer.

Comment Regarding Reportable Funds

Reportable Funds are mutual funds for which the Firm or one of its affiliated companies serves as an investment adviser, sub-adviser or principal underwriter. Reportable Funds are included within the definition of Covered Securities. For a firm like ours that is part of a large organization where there are a number of firms under common control that advise, sub-advise or distribute mutual funds, the universe of Reportable Funds is large.

 

A-26


Exhibit (p)(4)

Acknowledgment

I have received the Code of Ethics (the “Code”) of Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (the “Firm”) and have read and understand the Code, understand that it applies to me and members of my Family/Household and that I am an Access Person under the Code. In addition, I have been trained with respect to such sections.

I understand that I am responsible for, and I certify that I have, to date, complied with and will continue to comply with, the policies and procedures in the Code. I understand that any violation of such policies and procedures may lead to sanctions, including dismissal.

 

 

    

 

Signature      Date
    

 

    
Printed Name     

 

 

A-27


Exhibit (p)(4)

Personal Trading – Revised 12/31/2015

Appendix A – List of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in which Vaughan Nelson Invests ( preclearance is required) :

IWN, I-Shares Russell 2000 Value

IWM, I-Shares Russell 2000 Index

IVV, I-Shares S&P 500 Index Fund

IWD, I-Shares Russell 1000 Value

IWV, I-Shares Russell 3000 Index

IWS, I-Shares Russell Midcap Value

IWW, I-Shares Russell 3000 Value

IWB, I-Shares Russell 1000

IWR, I-Shares Russell Midcap

IYH, I-Shares U.S. Healthcare

SUB, I-Shares Short-Term National AMT-Free Muni Bond

MUB, I-Shares S&P National AMT-Free Muni Bond

AAXJ, I-Shares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan

ILF, I-Shares S&P Latin America 40

AGG, I-Shares Core Total US Bond Market ETF

VOO, Vanguard 500

MGC, Vanguard Mega Cap 300

VO, Vanguard Mid-Cap

VOE, Vanguard Mid-Cap Value

BSV, Vanguard Short-Term Bond

VCSH, Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond

VGSH, Vanguard Short-Term Government Bond

BIV, Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond

VCIT, Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond

VWO, Vanguard MSCI Emerging Markets

SHM, SPDR Nuveen Capital Short Term Muni Bond

MUNI, PIMCO Intermediate Muni Bond Strategy

 

A-28


Exhibit (p)(4)

Vaughan Nelson - CODE OF ETHICS

FORM A - INITIAL HOLDINGS REPORT

NOTE: THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED BY ALL ACCESS PERSONS AND FILED WITH COMPLIANCE NO LATER THAN 10 DAYS AFTER BECOMING AN ACCESS PERSON UNDER THE VAUGHAN NELSON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, L.P. CODE OF ETHICS (the “CODE”). TERMS IN BOLDFACE TYPE HAVE THE MEANINGS SET FORTH IN THE CODE.

Name of Access Person :                                                                          

Date I Became an Access Person (the “Reporting Date”):                     

Date received by Compliance:                                                                

Initial Certification (check ONE of the following two boxes):

I understand that for purposes of the Code I am classified as:

an Access Person

 

a Non-Access Person

Initial Holdings Report (check ONE of the following two boxes):

 

Neither I, nor any member of my Family/Household , has Beneficial Ownership of any Covered Securities .

 

Attached as APPENDIX A is a complete list of all Covered Securities in which I, and/or a member of my Family/Household , had Beneficial Ownership on the Reporting Date.

 

A-1


Exhibit (p)(4)

 

Accounts with Brokers, Dealers, Investment Managers and/or Banks (check ONE of the following two boxes):

 

Neither I, nor any member of my Family/Household, had, as of the Reporting Date, any accounts with brokers, dealers, investment managers or banks in which any securities (including securities which are not Covered Securities ) are held , and with respect to which I, or any member of my Family/Household, has Beneficial Ownership .

 

All accounts that I, and/or any member of my Family/Household , maintain with brokers, dealers, investment managers or banks in which securities (including securities which are not Covered Securities ) are held , and with respect to which I, and/or a member of my Family/Household, had Beneficial Ownership as of the Reporting Date are set forth below:

 

Name(s) of Institution(s)

      

Account #

         

Holds Covered

Securities (Y/N)

          

 

    

 

     

 

 

    

 

     

 

 

    

 

     

 

 

    

 

     

 

 

    

 

     

 

 

    

 

     

 

 

    

 

     

 

 

    

 

     

 

 

    

 

     

 

All information provided in this Form A is true and complete to the best of my knowledge.

I have read the Code, and will keep a copy for future reference. I understand my responsibilities under the Code and agree to comply with all of its terms and conditions. In particular, I understand that the Code applies to me and to all investments in which I have Beneficial Ownership , as well as investments in which members of my Family/Household have Beneficial Ownership.

 

Signed:  

 

Date:  

 

 

 

A-2


Exhibit (p)(4)

Appendix A - Initial Report of all Covered Securities

Name of Access Person:                                     

Note: Copies of Broker/Account Statements may be attached in lieu of listing securities. All information should be reported as of a date within 45 days of your start date.

Please use additional sheets as needed.

 

Title/Type/Ticker of Covered Securities / Reportable Funds

 

Number of Shares (or Principal Amount, if not a stock)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A-3


Exhibit (p)(4)

Vaughan Nelson - CODE OF ETHICS

FORM B - QUARTERLY TRANSACTION REPORT

NOTE: THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED BY ALL ACCESS PERSONS AND FILED WITH COMPLIANCE NO LATER THAN 30 DAYS AFTER THE END OF MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR. TERMS IN BOLDFACE TYPE HAVE THE MEANINGS SET FORTH IN THE CODE.

Name of Access Person:                                                              

Reporting Period/Calendar Quarter End Date:                           

Date received by Compliance :                                     

TRANSACTIONS REPORT (check ONE of the following two boxes):

 

There WERE NO transactions in Covered Securities* (including transactions in shares/units of Reportable Funds* ) during the most recently completed calendar quarter in which I, or any member of my Family/Household* , had Beneficial Ownership* . (Continue to page 3.)

 

There WERE transactions in Covered Securities (including transactions in shares/units of Reportable Funds ) during the most recently completed calendar quarter in which I, and/or any member of my Family/Household , had Beneficial Ownership. (Continue to page 2.)

 

* See pg. 4 Appendix for definitions.

All Access Persons must complete and sign page 3.

 

B-1


Exhibit (p)(4)

All transactions in Covered Securities that I, or any member of my Family/Household undertook… ( check ONE or BOTH as applicable )

 

were through security accounts for which the firm is receiving duplicate confirmations and account statements.

 

were effected OUTSIDE of security accounts for which the firm is receiving duplicate confirmations and account statements and are listed below:

 

*** Examples of transactions to list below : Investments in all kinds of limited partnerships, private investment funds, hedge funds, investment clubs, LLCs, private companies or businesses.

 

Transaction Date

  

Type (e.g.,
purchase, sale)

  

Title of
Securities /
Ticker / CUSIP

  

# of Shares

  

Principal
Amount

  

Interest Rate/
Maturity Date
(if applicable)

  

Price

  

Institution
through which
transaction
effected

                    
                    
                    
                    
                    

Note: Please use additional sheets as needed.

 

B-2


Exhibit (p)(4)

CONTINUE TO PG. 3

 

B-3


Exhibit (p)(4)

New/Closed Securities Accounts:

Did you or any member of your Family/Household open or close any accounts during the most recent quarter in which any securities (including securities which are NOT Covered Securities) are held with:

 

    Brokers

 

    Dealers

 

    Mutual Fund companies

 

    Previous employers (retirement plans)

 

    Banks

 

    Etc.

 

No

 

Yes (Complete info below)

 

Name(s) of Institution(s)

  

Account #

   Date Established      Holds Covered Securities (Y/N)  
        
        
        
        

All information provided in this Form B is true and complete to the best of my knowledge.

 

Signed:  

 

Date:  

 

 

B-4


Exhibit (p)(4)

Definitions Appendix

Beneficial Ownership means any opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in the profit from any transaction in securities. It also includes transactions over which you exercise investment discretions (other than for a client of the Firm), even if you don’t share in the profits. Beneficial Ownership is a very broad concept.

Covered Security means anything that is considered a “security” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Common examples of Covered Securities : equity stocks, options on securities, bonds (corporate, muni, agencies), Reportable Funds , Closed-End Funds, ETFs in which the Firm trades for clients.

Not Covered Securities : direct obligations of U.S. Govt., i.e., Treasuries, etc., bank CD’s, Open-End Funds other than Reportable Funds (Mutual Funds), ETFs not traded by the Firm for clients, Money Market Funds.

Family/Household – all of the following are considered members of your Family/Household :

 

    Your spouse or domestic partner (unless they do not live in the same household as you and you do not contribute in any way to their support).

 

    Your children under the age of 18

 

    Your children who are 18 or older (unless they do not live in the same household as you and you do not contribute to their support in any meaningful way.

 

    Any of these people who live in your household: your stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, parents-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, including adoptive relationships.

Reportable Funds are mutual funds for which the Firm or one of its affiliated companies serves as an investment adviser, sub-adviser or principal underwriter. Reportable Funds are included within the definition of Covered Securities . For a Firm like ours that is part of a large organization where there are a number of firms under common control that advise, sub-advise or distribute mutual funds, the universe of Reportable Funds is large. See the most current listing of Reportable Funds maintained by Compliance.

 

B-5


Vaughan Nelson - CODE OF ETHICS

FORM C - ANNUAL CODE OF ETHICS CERTIFICATION; ANNUAL HOLDINGS REPORT

NOTE: THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED BY ALL ACCESS PERSONS AND FILED WITH THE CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31st OF EACH YEAR. TERMS IN BOLDFACE TYPE HAVE THE MEANINGS SET FORTH IN THE CODE.

Name of Access Person:                                                              

Calendar Year Covered by this Report:                                      

Date received by Compliance :                                     

Annual Certification

 

I hereby certify that during the year covered by this report I complied with all applicable requirements of the Code, and have reported to the Chief Compliance Officer all transactions required to be reported under the Code.

Annual Holdings Report (check ONE of the following two boxes):

 

As of December 31 of the most recently completed calendar year, neither I, nor any member of my Family/Household , had Beneficial Ownership of any Covered Securities (including any shares of Reportable Funds ).

 

Attached as APPENDIX C is a complete list of all Covered Securities (including any shares of Reportable Funds ). in which I, and/or any member of my Family/Household, had Beneficial Ownership as of December 31 of the most recently completed calendar year, other than Covered Securities held through securities accounts as to which a standing order was (and remains) in effect to provide duplicate broker confirmations and periodic account statements to the Chief Compliance Officer .

 

D-1


Accounts with Brokers, Dealers, Investment Managers and/or Banks (check ONE of the following two boxes):

 

Neither I, nor any member of my Family/Household , as of December 31 of the most recently completed calendar year, had any accounts with brokers, dealers, investment managers or banks in which any securities (including securities which are not Covered Securities ) were held and with respect to which I, or a member of my Family/Household , had Beneficial Ownership .

 

All accounts that I and/or any member of my Family/Household maintained, as of December 31 of the most recently completed calendar year, with brokers, dealers, investment managers or banks in which securities (including securities which are not Covered Securities ) were held and with respect to which I, and/or any member of my Family/Household , had Beneficial Ownership are listed below:

 

Name(s) of Institution(s)

  

Account #

  

Managed Account? (Y?N)

  

Holds Covered Securities (Y/N)

        
        
        
        
        
        
        

All information provided in this Form C is true and complete to the best of my knowledge.

 

Signed:  

 

Date:  

 


Appendix C - Annual Report of all Covered Securities

Name of Access Person:                                 

 

OTHER THAN THOSE LISTED BELOW, ALL COVERED SECURITIES IN WHICH I,, AND/OR ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY/HOUSEHOLD , HAD BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP AS OF DECEMBER 31 OF THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED CALENDAR YEAR WERE HELD IN SECURITIES ACCOUNTS AS TO WHICH A STANDING ORDER WAS (AND REMAINS) IN EFFECT TO PROVDE DUPLICATE BROKER CONFIRMATION STATEMENTS AND PERIODIC ACCOUNT STATEMENTS TO THE CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER .

Note: All information should be reported as of December 31 of the most recently completed calendar year. Please use additional sheets as needed .

 

Title/Type/Ticker of Covered Securities / Reportable
Funds

  

Number of Shares

  

Principal Amount

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     


FORM D – OUTSIDE SERVICE PRE-APPROVAL AND ANNUAL CERTIFICATION

(PART I, SECTION D)

NOTE: THE CERTIFICATION PORTION OF THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED BY ALL ACCESS PERSONS AND FILED WITH COMPLIANCE NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31st OF EACH YEAR.

Name of Access Person:                                                              

Calendar Year Covered by this Report:                                      

Date received by Compliance:                                     

 

Annual Outside Service Certification

 

  I hereby certify that there are NO for-profit entities (public or private) for which I serve as either an Officer or member of the Board of Directors.

 

  I hereby certify that the following is a complete list of for-profit entities (public or private) for which I serve as either an Officer or member of the Board of Directors.

 

Name of Entity

  

Position

  

Public?

     
     

 

  

 

  

Signature

   Date   

 

Outside Service Pre-Approval Request

I desire to serve in the capacity noted below for the following for-profit entity .

 

Name of Entity

  

Position

  

Public?

     

 

  

 

  
Signature    Date   

 

  

 

  
Approved By    Date   

 

D-1


VAUGHAN NELSON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, L.P. FORM E — PERSONAL TRADE SHEET

 

FOR THE ACCOUNT OF:                                                                                           DATE:                       

 

EMPLOYEE

          COMPLIANCE USE  
        BUY             
    SECURITY                             DEMINIMUS  

NO. OF

SHARES OR

CONTRACTS

 

SYMBOL

    NAME     DATE
SHARES
PURCHASED?
    DATE
EXECUTED
    EXECUTED
PRICE PER
SHARE
    TOTAL
COST /
PROCEEDS
    MARKET
CAP
    AVG.
VOLUME
 
                (*)                      

(if

demin.)

    (if demin.)  

________

    ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________   

________

    ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________   

________

    ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________   
    ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        _________   
        SELL             

________

    ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________   

________

    ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________   

________

    ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________   

________

    ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________   

________

    ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________        ________   

 

* Or sold if originally sold short.

 

BROKERAGE FIRM:                                                          

This trade is in accordance with the following:

Officers, principals and employees of Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, L.P. (the “Company”) may execute orders on behalf of the transactions Company, and itsactivities subsidiaries, for these their accounts own accounts which ormight otherconflict accounts, with however, or be detrimental it is a policy toof thethe interests Company of clients, that they or must which avoid are designed security to profit by market effect of the Company’s advice to its clients. A specific policy for officers, principals and employees has been established whereby all trades must be approved by authorized compliance individuals of the Company. No sales or purchases may be made by the Company or an officer or employee in a security while it is being purchased or sold for a client’s account aside from those considered to be deminimus. Officers, principals and employees of the Company may own the same securities as those held in clients’ accounts; however, the client would always receive preferential treatment on orders over those orders by officers, principals and employees of the Company.

 

Employee Signature:                                                                 
APPROVED BY:                                                                        DATE:                   
                                ( Compliance Department Employee)   

Exhibit (p)(5)

MCDONNELL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

CODE OF ETHICS

This Code of Ethics (“Code”) has been adopted by McDonnell Investment Management, LLC (“MIM”).

The policy of MIM is to avoid any conflict of interest, or the appearance of any conflict of interest, between the interests of MIM, or its Covered Persons, and the interests of MIM’s advisory clients (“Clients”). Federal securities laws, including the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and rules thereunder, require that MIM establish standards and procedures for the detection and prevention of certain conflicts of interest, including activities by which persons having knowledge of the investments and investment intentions of Clients might take advantage of that knowledge for their own benefit. Implementation and monitoring of these standards inevitably places some restrictions on the freedom of the investment activities of those people.

This Code of Ethics has been adopted by MIM to meet those concerns and legal requirements. Any questions about the Code or about the applicability of the Code to a personal securities transaction should be directed to the Legal/Compliance Department.

 

I. DEFINITIONS

 

  a. “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.

 

  b. “Beneficial Interest” in a security means you have, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from action in the security, or in which you have an indirect interest, including beneficial ownership by your spouse or minor children or other dependents living in your household, or your share of securities held by a partnership of which you are a general partner. Technically, the rules under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will be applied to determine if you have a beneficial interest in a security (even if the security would not be within the scope of Section 16). Examples of beneficial interest are attached as Appendix A.

 

  c. “Covered Person” means any Employee, Officer, or Manager of MIM, except for any Non-Access Manager.

 

1


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  d. “Non-Access Manager” means any person who serves on MIM’s Board of Managers but who (1) is not an employee of MIM, (2) has been designated as a Non-Access Manager by the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and (3) meets both of the following conditions:

 

    such person does not have access to non-public information regarding any MIM client’s purchase or sale of securities, or non-public information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Reportable Fund; and

 

    such person is not involved in making recommendations to MIM’s clients with respect to securities, and does not have access to such recommendations that are non-public.

Non-Access Managers are subject only to Parts II.A. through II.E. of this Code.

 

  e. “Reportable Funds” means any investment company (other than money market funds) that is registered under the Investment Company Act for which MIM, or any firm under common control with MIM, serves as adviser, sub-adviser, or distributor.

 

II. STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT

 

  A. General Prohibitions . All MIM personnel, including Non-Access Managers, must comply with all applicable federal securities laws. The Investment Company Act, Investment Advisers Act, and the rules thereunder make it illegal for any person covered by the Code, directly or indirectly, in connection with the purchase or sale of a security held or to be acquired by Clients to:

 

  a. employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud Clients;

 

  b. make any untrue statement of a material fact, omit to state a material fact or in any way mislead Clients regarding a material fact;

 

  c. engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon Clients;

 

  d. engage in any manipulative practice with respect to Clients; or

 

  e. engage in any manipulative practice with respect to securities, including price manipulation.

 

  B. Fiduciary Duty. As a fiduciary, MIM has an affirmative duty to act solely in the best interests of its clients and to make a complete and unbiased disclosure of all material facts relating to the investment advice it provides clients, particularly in situations in which MIM’s interests may conflict with those of a client. Consistent with this duty, MIM must at all times act in its clients’ best interests, and its conduct will be measured against a higher standard of conduct than that applied generally in ordinary commercial transactions. Among the specific fiduciary obligations that MIM has are:

 

  a. a duty to have a reasonable, independent basis for its investment advice and recommendations;

 

2


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  b. a duty to obtain best execution for clients’ securities transactions when the adviser is in a position to select brokers;

 

  c. a duty to ensure that its investment advice is suitable and appropriate given each client’s objectives, needs, and circumstances;

 

  d. a duty to refrain from entering into transactions, including personal securities transactions, that are inconsistent with client interests; and

 

  e. an obligation to be loyal to its clients.

 

  C. Insider Trading. MIM personnel are forbidden to buy or sell any security, either personally or on behalf of others, while either MIM or the employee is in possession of material, non-public information (inside information) concerning the security or the issuer. A violation of MIM’s insider trading policies may result in criminal and civil penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines. An employee aware of or in possession of inside information must report it immediately to the CCO. Employees should refer to the Inside Information and Ethical Wall Policy of MIM’s Compliance Manual or consult the Legal/Compliance Department for further information.

 

  D. Confidentiality. There is a basic fiduciary premise that information concerning the identity of security holdings and financial circumstances of clients is confidential. MIM personnel are prohibited from disclosing to persons outside the firm any non-public information about any client, the securities investments made by the firm on behalf of a client, information about contemplated securities transactions, or information regarding the firm’s trading strategies, except as required to effectuate securities transactions on behalf of a client.

 

  E. Regulation S-P. In most jurisdictions, laws and regulations govern MIM’s collection and use of personal information about clients and employees, including the disclosure of such information by MIM to business partners and other third parties. In particular, Federal Regulation S-P (“Reg S-P”) protects “consumers” and “customers” (as defined in Reg S-P) from an investment adviser or investment company disclosing their “non-public personal information” to persons unaffiliated with such adviser or investment company without their knowledge or consent. Employees should refer to the Privacy Procedures in MIM’s Compliance Manual or consult the Legal/Compliance Department for further information.

 

3


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  F. Personal Securities Transactions . The Code regulates personal securities transactions as a part of the effort by MIM to detect and prevent conduct that might violate the general prohibitions outlined above. A personal securities transaction is a transaction in a security in which a Covered Person has a beneficial interest. “Security” is interpreted very broadly for this purpose, and includes any right to acquire any security (an option or warrant, for example).

In any situation where the potential for conflict exists, transactions for Clients must take precedence over any personal transaction. Covered Persons owe a duty to Clients to conduct their personal securities transactions in a manner that does not interfere with Clients’ portfolio transactions or otherwise take inappropriate advantage of their relationship to Clients. Personal securities transactions must comply with the Code and should avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest between your interests and Clients’ interests. Situations not specifically governed by this Code will be resolved in light of this general principle.

 

  G. Political Contributions. Rule 206(4)-5 of the Advisers Act, also known as the “Pay to Play Rule” imposes a two-year compensation ban for advisers if the adviser or its “covered associate” makes certain political contributions to an “official” of a government entity client. “Pay to play” refers to the practice of making contributions to elected officials to attempt to influence the awarding of contracts to manage public pension plan assets and other government investment accounts. Employees are required to preclear all political contributions including spouses and those who are in their household. Employees should refer to the Political Contribution Procedures in MIM’s Compliance Manual or consult the Legal/Compliance Department for further information.

 

  H. Other Restrictions . The Code also regulates certain other conduct that conflicts, potentially conflicts or raises the appearance of an actual conflict with the interests of Clients, as a part of the effort by MIM to detect and prevent conduct that might violate the policy of MIM regarding conflict of interests or the general prohibitions outlined above.

 

  III. RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONAL SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS

 

  A. No Transactions with Clients . No Covered Person shall knowingly sell to or purchase from a Client any security or other property, except securities issued by that Client.

 

  B . No Conflicting Transactions / Pending Client Orders . No Covered Person shall purchase or sell a security on a day during which a Client has a pending purchase or sale order in that same security (excluding securities which do not require preclearance).

 

4


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  C. Holding Period. All reportable trades, including short sales and permissible option trades, are subject to a 60-day holding period from the trade date, except that a security held for at least 30 days may be sold at a loss or no gain. Any profits realized on trades executed within the 60-day holding period shall be disgorged to the Client, if applicable, or a charitable organization as approved by the CCO. The holding period restriction requires a waiting period of 60 days prior to the execution of a trade in the opposite direction (i.e., a buy followed by a sale, or a sale followed by a buy).

 

  D. Limit Orders. No Covered Person shall enter into limit orders that extend beyond the date that preclearance was obtained (i.e., one day).

 

  E. Private Placements. All Covered Persons are prohibited from purchasing a security in a private placement or any other offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless they have obtained prior written approval (via the Private Security Transaction Questionnaire) from the CCO;

Provided, that in determining whether to grant permission for such private placement, the CCO shall consider, among other things, whether such investment opportunity should be reserved for clients of MIM, and whether such transaction is being offered to the person because of his or her position with MIM;

Provided further, that any such Covered Person who has received such permission shall be required to disclose such an investment when participating in any subsequent consideration of such security for purchase or sale by clients of MIM, and that the decision to purchase or sell such security should be made by persons with no personal direct or indirect interest in the security.

 

  F. Public Offerings. All Covered Persons are prohibited from purchasing securities during an initial or secondary public offering.

 

  G. “Black-Out Period”. All Covered Persons may not buy or sell a security within 7 calendar days before or after any Client, over which MIM exercises investment discretion, trades in such security.

 

  H. Short Selling. All Covered Persons are prohibited from short selling any security, whether or not it is held in a MIM client portfolio, except that short selling against broad market indexes and “against the box” are permitted.

 

  I. Market Capitalization Exception. Covered Persons may transact in equity securities (common, ADR’s and preferred) that have a market capitalization of greater than $5 billion without preclearance . In addition, equity securities with a market capitalization of greater than $5 billion are not subject to the “Black-Out Period” and “Limit Orders” provisions of the Code. Note: The “Holding Period” of 60 days and “Short Selling” provisions of the Code still apply to equity transactions which are not required to be precleared.

 

5


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  J. Restricted List Securities. Covered persons are prohibited from trading any security which is listed on the Firm Wide Restricted List. The Firm Wide Restricted List can be found at: S:\Public\Compliance .

 

IV . TRANSACTION PRECLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

The preclearance requirements for each security type are listed in the chart below. All precleared personal securities transactions must be executed within the same business day after preclearance, otherwise the preclearance will expire and the request must be made again. Important: For securities that do not require preclearance, restrictions as noted in Section III still apply unless specifically noted.

 

Security Type

   Preclearance
Required?

Equity Securities and Options on Such Securities (Common, ADR’s, and Preferred Stock) – where the underlying issuer has greater than $ 5 billion in market capitalization

   No

Equity Securities and Options on Such Securities (Common, ADR’s, and Preferred Stock) – where the underlying issuer has less than $ 5 billion in market capitalization

   Yes

Exchange Traded Funds

   No

Closed End Funds

   No

Open Ended Mutual Funds

   No

Unit Investment Trusts

   No

US Agencies

   Yes

Corporate Bonds

   Yes

Municipal Bonds

   Yes

Mortgage Backed /Asset Backed Securities

   Yes

Direct Obligations of the US Government

   No

Variable Annuities

   No

Listed index options and futures

   No

Money Market Instruments (Certificates of Deposits, Time Deposits, Banker’s Acceptances, Repurchase Agreements)

   No

 

6


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

*Automatic Investment Plans and Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs)

   No

Private Placements

   Yes

Restricted List Securities

   Prohibited

New Issues and Secondary Offerings

   Prohibited

Initial Public Offerings (IPO’s)

   Prohibited

Short Sales

   Prohibited

For the preclearance requirements of any security which is not listed on the chart above, please contact the Legal/Compliance Department.

 

* Initial subscriptions to automatic investment plans and redemptions of dividend reinvestment plans are required to be precleared (subject to market capitalization exemptions).

 

V. OTHER EXEMPT TRANSACTIONS

The provisions of this Code are intended to restrict the personal investment activities of Covered Persons only to the extent necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Code. Therefore, the provisions of Section III (Restrictions on Personal Securities Transactions) and Section IV (Transaction Preclearance Requirements) of this Code shall not apply to :

 

  A. Purchases or sales effected in any account over which the Covered Persons have no direct or indirect influence or control;

 

  B. Purchases or sales in an account (including a third party investment advisory account, trust account or other account) of such Covered Person (either alone or with others) over which a person other than the Covered Person (including a trustee or third-party investment manager) exercises investment discretion if:

 

    the Covered Person does not suggest purchases or sales of investments to the trustee or third-party discretionary manager;

 

    the Covered Person does not direct purchases or sales of investments in the account;

 

    the Covered Person does not consult with the trustee or third-party discretionary manager as to the particular allocation of investments to be made in the account, resulting in the knowledge of a transaction prior to its execution;

 

7


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

    the Covered Person previously has identified the account to MIM and has affirmed to MIM that he or she does not know of proposed transactions in that account until after they are executed.

This exclusion from the preclearance requirement is based upon the Covered Person not having knowledge of any transaction until after that transaction is executed. Therefore, notwithstanding this general exclusion, if the Covered Person becomes aware of any transaction in such investment advisory account before it is executed, the Covered Person must seek preclearance of that transaction before it is executed.

 

  C . Certain qualified tuition programs established pursuant to Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, (“529 Plans”) where MIM or a control affiliate does not manage, distribute, market or underwrite the 529 Plan or the investments and strategies underlying the 529 Plan that is a college savings plan.

 

  D. Certain corporate actions - any acquisition of securities through stock dividends, dividend reinvestments, stock splits, reverse stock splits, mergers, consolidations, spin-offs, or other similar corporate reorganizations or distributions generally applicable to all holders of the same class of securities;

 

  E. Purchases effected upon the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class of securities to the extent such rights were acquired from such issuer, and sales of such rights so acquired;

 

  F. Purchases or sales which receive prior approval because they are not inconsistent with this Code or the provisions of Rule 17j-l(a) under the Investment Company Act.

 

VI. COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES

 

  A. Execution of Personal Securities Transactions . All personal securities transactions by Covered Persons must be conducted through brokerage accounts that have been identified to MIM. Each such brokerage account must be set up to deliver duplicate copies of all confirmations and statements to MIM. No exceptions to this policy will be made.

 

  B. Preclearance. MIM has implemented a web based personal trading application, PTCC, in order to facilitate the preclearance requests and required Code of Ethics certifications.

 

  1. All Covered Persons must preclear their transactions by submitting a Trade Authorization Request via PTCC;

 

8


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  2. The Legal/Compliance Department shall verify whether the purchase or sale of any security is in compliance with the Code and shall preclear any such transaction if it does not violate the Code;

 

  3. The Legal/Compliance Department shall grant their approval via PTCC;

 

  4. The Legal/Compliance Department shall maintain all records of the request and any approval/denials via PTCC; and

 

  5. The Legal/Compliance Department shall review all Covered Person duplicate confirmations and statements (whether electronically via PTCC or by hardcopy) to verify that all personal securities transactions have been properly precleared.

 

VII. REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL HOLDINGS AND TRANSACTIONS

 

  A. Disclosure of Personal Holdings . Each Covered Person shall disclose his or her personal securities holdings no later than ten (10) days after commencement of employment with MIM via PTCC, and annually thereafter via PTCC as of December 31 of each year. 1 Annual reports shall be delivered to MIM no later than January 30 of the following year.

 

Security Type

   Initial and Annual
Holdings Disclosure
Required?
Equity Securities
Equity Securities and Options on Such Securities (Common, ADR’s, and Preferred Stock) – where the underlying issuer has greater than $ 5 billion in market capitalization    Yes
Equity Securities and Options on Such Securities (Common, ADR’s, and Preferred Stock) – where the underlying issuer has less than $ 5 billion in market capitalization    Yes
Exchange Traded Funds    Yes

 

1   the information must be current as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date the person becomes an employee or, for annual reports, no more than 45 days before the report is submitted.

 

9


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  Closed End Funds    Yes
  Open Ended Mutual Funds (other than Reportable Funds)    No
  Reportable Funds   

Yes

*Holdings Disclosure Forms are located at Appendix B

  Unit Investment Trusts    Yes
  Fixed Income Securities
  US Agencies    Yes
  Corporate Bonds    Yes
  Municipal Bonds    Yes
  Mortgage Backed /Asset Backed Securities    Yes
  Direct Obligations of the US Government    No
  Other
  Variable Annuities    No
  Listed index options and futures    Yes
  Money Market Instruments (Certificates of Deposits, Time Deposits, Banker’s Acceptances, Repurchase Agreements)    No
  Automatic Investment Plans, including automatic 401(k) plan investments, and Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs)    Yes
  Private Placements    Yes

 

  B. Reporting Personal Securities Transactions.

 

  1. Each Covered Person shall (i) identify to MIM any brokerage or other account in which the person has a beneficial interest and (ii) instruct the broker or custodian to deliver to MIM duplicate confirmations of all transactions and duplicate account statements.

 

  2. Each Covered Person shall report all personal securities transactions during a quarter to MIM no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the quarter.

 

10


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

Quarterly transaction reports shall include the following information:

For each transaction:

 

    the date of the transaction;

 

    title, interest rate and maturity date (if applicable), number of shares and the principal amount of each security involved;

 

    the nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale, gift, or other type of acquisition or disposition);

 

    the price at which the transaction was effected;

 

    the name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected; and

 

    the date the report is submitted.

In addition, for each account established during the quarter in which securities are held for the benefit of a person, the quarterly report shall include:

 

    the name of the broker, dealer or bank with whom the account was established;

 

    the date the account was established; and

 

    the date the report is submitted.

 

  C. Reports may be in any form. Quarterly transaction reports filed pursuant to Section VII (B)(2) of this Code may be reported via PTCC or in any form (including copies of confirmations or account statements) that includes the information required by Section VII (B)(2).

Any personal securities transaction which for any reason does not appear in the trading or brokerage records described above shall be reported as required by Section VII (B)(2) of this Code.

 

Security Type

   Quarterly Transaction
Reporting Required?
Equity Securities   
Equity Securities and Options on
Such Securities (Common, ADR’s, and Preferred Stock) – where the underlying issuer has greater than $ 5 billion in market capitalization
   Yes

 

11


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

Equity Securities and Options on Such Securities (Common, ADR’s, and Preferred Stock) – where the underlying issuer has less than $ 5 billion in market capitalization    Yes
Exchange Traded Funds    Yes
Closed End Funds    Yes
Open Ended Mutual Funds (other than Reportable Funds)    No
Reportable Funds    Yes

*Transaction Disclosure
Forms are located at
Appendix B

Unit Investment Trusts    Yes
Fixed Income Securities
US Agencies    Yes
Corporate Bonds    Yes
Municipal Bonds    Yes
Mortgage Backed /Asset Backed Securities    Yes
Direct Obligations of the US Government    No
Other
Variable Annuities    No
Listed index options and futures    Yes
Money Market Instruments (Certificates of Deposits, Time Deposits, Banker’s Acceptances, Repurchase Agreements)    No
Automatic Investment Plans, including automatic 401k plan investments, and Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs)    No
Private Placements    Yes

 

12


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  D. Monitoring of Transactions . The CCO, or his designee, will review the holdings and transaction reports filed and monitor the trading patterns of Covered Persons.

 

  E. Certification of Compliance. Each Covered Person is required to certify annually that he or she has disclosed all reportable holdings required to be disclosed or reported under the Code. To accomplish this, an annual holdings certification shall be distributed via PTCC.

In addition, on a quarterly basis, each Covered Person is required to complete a Quarterly Affirmation of Compliance in which he or she certifies that they have reported all personal securities transactions and/or investment accounts required to be disclosed or reported under the Code via PTCC no later than the 30 th calendar day following the end of the quarter.

Also, whenever there is a material Amendment to the Code, each Covered Person is required to submit an acknowledgement via PTCC that they have received, read, and understood the amendments to the Code.

 

  F. Review by the Boards of Directors/Trustees of Investment Company Clients.

Where required, MIM shall prepare an Annual Issues and Certification Report to the boards of Directors/Trustees of investment company Clients that:

 

  1. summarizes existing procedures concerning personal investing and any changes in those procedures during the past year;

 

  2. describes issues that arose during the previous year under the Code or procedures concerning personal investing, including but not limited to information about material violations of the Code and sanctions imposed;

 

  3. certifies that MIM has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent violations of the Code; and

 

  4. identifies any recommended changes in existing restrictions or procedures based upon experience under the Code, evolving industry practices, or developments in applicable laws or regulations.

 

  G. Reporting Misconduct. If you believe you may have violated any laws, this Code of Ethics, or other standards of conduct adopted by MIM, you are expected to report it to MIM immediately. In addition, if you observe or become aware of any illegal or improper conduct on the part of another employee or a consultant, supplier, client, counterparty or other third party, you should communicate that information to your direct supervisor and, if appropriate or necessary, to a more senior manager or the General Counsel, to make certain the situation will be addressed. All violations, or allegations of violations, of this Code must be reported to the CCO.

 

13


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

Nothing in this policy prohibits you from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General, or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. You do not need the prior authorization of MIM to make any such reports or disclosures and are not required to notify MIM that you have made such reports or disclosures.

 

VIII. GIFT AND ENTERTAINMENT

 

  A. Introduction.

The following are MIM’s policies and procedures on gifts and business entertainment. The goal of these procedures is to strike a balance between the need to entertain clients and prospective clients (“prospects”) in the pursuit of business while, at the same time, complying with various legal restrictions and protecting MIM’s most important asset, its reputation for integrity. As a registered investment adviser, MIM is a fiduciary with respect to its clients. Therefore, it is incumbent upon employees to avoid conflicts of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest. Entertainment or a gift that is excessive creates the potential for such a conflict because it may influence, or be perceived to influence, a person’s decision-making in a way contrary to the best interest of a client.

In adhering to this policy, employees should keep the following general guidelines in mind:

 

  1. It is the responsibility of employees to be familiar with and understand this policy;

 

  2. Employees are expected to exercise sound judgment in all circumstances, thereby avoiding any situation that could adversely impact the reputation of MIM; and

 

  3. Employees are expected to conduct themselves in such a manner so as to avoid even the appearance of a conflict.

 

  B. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

The U.S Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“FCPA”) prohibits, directly or indirectly, the corrupt payment, offer, promise to pay (or authorizing to pay or offer) money or anything of value to a foreign official in order to secure any improper business advantage, such as inducing the entity or individual to act favorably on, or influence others to act favorably on, business proposals or

 

14


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

regulatory decisions. Such payments and gifts are forbidden even if they are customary in the country where they will be given. A corrupt payment is a payment that is intended to induce the recipient to misuse his or her official position to direct business wrongfully to the payer or to any other person. The FCPA also prohibits payments to agents or intermediaries who would use the funds for prohibited purposes (and generally prohibits doing indirectly what may not be done directly). Employees may not hire an agent before obtaining the Legal Department’s approval.

Many countries in the world have adopted statutes similar to the FCPA, and many government agencies have their own rules governing the acceptance of gifts, travel or entertainment. Be aware that these statutes and rules may, in some cases, prohibit conduct that the FCPA would permit. MIM and its employees will abide by all anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA and will not make any payment or contribution which could potentially violate the FCPA or the rules of any country in which MIM may be doing business.

 

  C . Gifts.

 

  1. Solicitation of Gifts.

Covered persons may not solicit gifts or gratuities.

 

  2. Giving Gifts.

In general, no Covered Person may give any gift or other thing of more than a $100 value, per calendar year, to any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of MIM, or seeks to do business with or on behalf of MIM. Gifts given to the spouse of any such individual will be treated as though received by that individual for the purposes of this policy. MIM employees must refrain from giving any gift, regardless of the value, if the act of giving the gift could be construed as committing an act of bribery. Gifts in excess of $100 must be approved in writing by the Covered Person’s Supervisor and the Legal/Compliance Department. Any entertainment where a MIM employee is not in attendance is treated as a gift and is subject to the aforementioned $100 limit. Cash gifts are absolutely prohibited.

 

  3. Accepting Gifts.

Employees may accept gifts with a de minimis value from clients, brokers, consultants, or anyone else with whom the firm may do business. Gifts are of de minimis value if the fair market value does not exceed $100 per calendar year from the same source. Gifts given to the spouse of a MIM employee will be treated as though received by the employee and the gift’s value will be aggregated with the value of gifts received by the employee.

 

15


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

Employees must refuse gifts exceeding $100 in value or return them if practical to do so. Gifts that cannot be returned must be forwarded to the Legal/Compliance Department. Any exceptions to the $100 limit must be approved by the Legal/ Compliance Department.

Regardless of the value of a gift, an employee should never accept a gift that might influence, or could reasonably be viewed as influencing, the employee’s decision making.

 

  4. Cash Gifts.

Covered Persons are prohibited from giving or accepting gifts in the form of cash. Gift cards or gift certificates, however, may be given or accepted provided the value of the gift card or gift certificate does not exceed $25.

 

  5. Gift Reporting.

Covered Persons must report all gifts, whether given or received, valued at $25 or more to the Legal/Compliance Department on a quarterly basis. If the exact amount of the gift is not known, you must make a good faith estimate of the item’s fair market value. In circumstances where a gift received was shared among a group (e.g. gift baskets), the amount of the gift may be prorated among those with whom it was shared.

 

  D. Business Entertainment.

 

  1. Entertainment Provided by MIM Employees.

It is understood that entertainment may be a part of developing business relationships. Employees may entertain clients, prospects, and consultants in those circumstances where it is appropriate to do so. Business entertainment must have a valid business purpose and must provide attendees the opportunity to have legitimate and meaningful business discussions. The venue for the entertainment must be appropriate and consistent with the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

 

  2. MIM Employee(s) Must Be Present.

In situations where a client, prospect, or consultant is entertained, a MIM employee must be present. Any entertainment provided to clients or others where a MIM employee is not present constitutes a gift, which is subject to the $100 annual limit described above.

 

16


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  3. Cost of Entertainment Must Be Reasonable.

The cost of business entertainment must be limited to an amount deemed to be reasonable in light of the circumstances. Entertainment that is excessive in cost has the potential to create either an actual or apparent conflict of interest. MIM will not reimburse employees for the cost of business entertainment that is deemed to be excessive.

 

  4. Acceptable and Unacceptable Business Entertainment.

In addition to the requirement that a MIM employee must be present, there is no bright line test for entertainment that qualifies as acceptable and legitimate business entertainment. Therefore, employees must exercise sound judgment in making this determination. While no single factor is determinative, the following, when considered together, generally suggests what would qualify as legitimate business entertainment:

 

  a. Most of the conversation during the entertainment should be devoted to business topics;

 

  b. The entertainment should occur during or close in time to a business meeting with the individuals being entertained;

 

  c. The entertainment should be infrequent;

 

  d. The entertainment should not involve significant travel; and

 

  e. The cost of entertainment must be reasonable.

 

    Examples of Acceptable and Unacceptable Business Entertainment

Below are examples of business entertainment, which illustrate application of the factors described.

 

    An afternoon meeting is held at the client’s office to discuss MIM’s investment strategies and services. Following the meeting two MIM employees invite two client representatives from the meeting to dinner at a restaurant located downtown. Although various topics are discussed during this meal, the conversation continues to focus largely on MIM’s products and the client’s investment objectives. The cost of the meal is approximately $60 per person. Applying the factors above, this meal qualifies as acceptable business entertainment:

 

    MIM employees are present

 

    Conversation focuses largely on business topics

 

    Meal immediately follows business meeting

 

17


    No travel is involved; and

 

    Cost is reasonable

 

    Following the dinner, one of the MIM employees offers the two individuals tickets to a Chicago Bulls game at the United Center. The tickets have a face value of $150. No MIM associate attends the basketball game.

 

    These tickets do not qualify as acceptable business entertainment because no MIM employee is present at the game

 

    The tickets constitute a gift and exceed the $100 annual limit

 

  E . Entertainment Provided to MIM Employees.

Employees may accept reasonable entertainment from persons or entities doing or seeking to do business with MIM, subject to the limitations and considerations discussed below. The same basic principles that apply to MIM employees providing entertainment to others also apply to situations where entertainment is being provided to a MIM employee. Entertainment must be reasonable and appropriate, and not so lavish in type or value, or excessive in frequency, as to create the appearance of impropriety or an inappropriate obligation or expectation on the part of the recipient. Regardless of the value of the entertainment, employees should never accept entertainment that could be viewed as interfering with the employee’s ability to make fair and objective business decisions. Further, employees should only attend entertainment meals or events at venues that are business appropriate and consistent with the highest ethics and integrity.

Employees should remember that the SEC defines the receipt of gifts and entertainment as a form of compensation. Further, it is unlawful for employees to accept any compensation (including any gifts or entertainment, even of modest value) from any source other than MIM for the purchase or sale of securities to or from client accounts. Therefore, under no circumstances should any employee arrange for client transactions to be directed to a particular broker-dealer in reciprocation for gifts or entertainment.

Entertainment Event Limits

Entertainments such as meals, sporting events, golf outings, spa days, etc. are referred to as “Events”. MIM employees are limited to accepting no more than six (6) Events during a calendar year, with no more than two (2) Events from any one particular source (e.g., a broker-dealer firm) during the year. Employees may not attend events where there is little or no opportunity for meaningful business discussion.

 

18


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

When accepting entertainment, the provider must accompany the MIM employee. If the provider of the entertainment is not present, it is deemed to be a gift and subject to the $100 gift limit. If an employee’s family member(s) participates in an entertainment event, value related to such participation shall be aggregated with the value deemed to have been received by the employee for purposes of determining compliance with these procedures.

Attending premier sporting events such as the Super Bowl, World Series, The Masters, etc. at the expense of persons or entities doing or seeking to do business with MIM is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, due to the limited access to such premier events, this prohibition applies even if the employee is willing to pay the provider for his or her own cost of attending the event. If you are unsure as to whether an event would be deemed a premier event, you must consult with the Legal/Compliance Department.

Entertainment, including, events, that are expected to exceed $250 in value per person must be approved in advance by the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

  F. Entertainment Reporting.

Covered Persons must report all entertainment, from any person or entity that does business with or on behalf of MIM, or seeks to do business with or on behalf of MIM to the Legal/Compliance Department on a quarterly basis. This policy applies to entertainment provided or received and the information required to be reported includes: date of the event; description of the event; individual/entity which provided the entertainment; the persons being entertained; and the approximate value of the entertainment. Reportable entertainment also includes situations whereby MIM participates in entertainment in relation to the monitoring of a particular company for investment or research purposes.

On a quarterly basis, Covered Persons are required to affirm via PTCC that they have reported gifts given or received and entertainment provided or received in accordance with the Code of Ethics.

 

  G. Special Considerations

 

  1. Private Pension Plan Trustees.

Many private pension plans prohibit trustees from accepting anything of value from service providers such as MIM. Some plans do permit trustees to accept business entertainment in a reasonable amount. Before entertaining plan trustees, it is incumbent upon employees to confirm with the trustees whether their plan rules allow them to accept business entertainment.

 

19


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  2. Public Officials.

The laws of many states, cities, and local governments, as well as foreign jurisdictions, significantly restrict or altogether prohibit their employees from accepting anything of value from service providers such as MIM. Before entertaining a public official, employees must apprise themselves of the rules in the official’s jurisdiction. These restrictions often apply to trustees of public plans. However, the application of these rules varies from state to state. In many jurisdictions, these restrictions apply to business entertainment, and, often times, a specific dollar limit is applied to the amount of entertainment that may take place in a given year. The penalties for violating these restrictions can be severe and may include the disqualification of MIM as a vendor in the state or jurisdiction.

 

  3. Union Officials and Employees.

The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act requires that MIM file an annual report when employees make payments to Taft-Hartley union officials or union employees in excess of $250 on Form LM-10. Payments are identified broadly to include meals, travel expenses and reimbursements, gifts, tickets, products or services, social events, fees paid to union sponsored events, and payments to charities including payments made from your personal funds. Because of the reporting requirements and other considerations, some unions do not permit their officials and employees to accept gifts or entertainment from service providers such as MIM. Before entertaining union officials and employees, MIMs employees should apprise themselves of whether the union in question has a policy regarding gifts and entertainment. The LM-10 must be signed by the CEO and Treasurer under penalty of perjury. Criminal and/or monetary penalties may apply for false filings or failure to file. In order to maintain accurate tracking of payments to Taft-Hartley union officials or union employees, MIM employees are required to provide sufficient information regarding the names and titles of the union officials/employees and a description of the nature and value of the gift or entertainment in order for the firm to satisfy its regulatory filing requirement.

 

  H. Anti-Bribery Policies and Procedures.

MIM recognizes the importance of protecting its reputation for integrity and ethical behavior. Conduct which creates the appearance of unethical or illegal activity is strictly prohibited and is not tolerated in any capacity. MIM employees are prohibited from offering or accepting any bribe in any form from any person, company, public official or government body. Additionally, as stated in previous sections of this Code, MIM and its employees are prohibited from giving or receiving gifts, entertainment, or any other inducement in any form that is intended to influence the recipient’s decision making.

 

20


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

Further, MIM recognizes that it has a duty when selecting and engaging third party service providers to select only those that operate in a manner consistent with MIM’s values with respect to high ethical standards.

 

IX. OUTSIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

No Covered Person may become an officer, director or employee of a company not affiliated with MIM, or otherwise engage in outside business activities without receiving prior written approval from the Legal/Compliance Department via the Outside Business Activity Questionnaire. Failure to obtain such approval may subject MIM to regulatory penalties and civil liability and you to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Activities on behalf of trade associations are not included in this prohibition. In no event may you participate in any outside activity that interferes with your duties at MIM.

Covered Persons are required to request and receive written approval from their supervisor and the CCO (or the CCO’s designee), before they may: (1) engage in any business other than that of MIM; (2) accept employment or compensation from any person or organization other than MIM; (3) serve as an officer, director, member, partner, or employee of a business organization other than MIM; or (4) except as provided below, own any stock or have any financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any other business organization.

Also, note that involvement in an outside business activity that begins permissibly may evolve into a violation of applicable laws and regulations if the nature or scope of that business or participation changes. Covered Persons should notify the Legal/Compliance Department promptly of any changes to the business plan or business lines of the outside business activity or of any changes in participation.

On an annual basis, Covered Persons are required to affirm via PTCC that they have reported and received approval for all Outside Business Activities in accordance with this policy.

 

X. EXCEPTIONS

 

  A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the CCO, or his designee, in keeping with the general principles and objectives of this Code, may refuse to grant clearance of a personal securities transaction in their sole discretion without being required to specify any reason for the refusal.

 

  B. Other persons that are not full time employees of MIM (such as independent contractors, consultants, temporary employees, interns, and individuals engaged through a temporary staffing agency) will be reviewed on a case by case basis to determine if they have access to client investment transactions and recommendations. If it is determined by the CCO that they do have such access, the person will:

 

21


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  a. Be subject to the reporting requirements as noted in Section VII (Reporting and Disclosure of Personal Holdings and Transactions), Item B (Reporting Personal Securities Transactions) of this Code from the time in which the consulting arrangement, temporary employment, or internship began.

 

  b. Be subject to the restrictions on Personal Securities Transactions as noted in Section III, (Restrictions on Personal Securities Transactions), and the preclearance requirements as noted in Section IV (Transaction Preclearance Requirements), of this Code after six months from the commencement of the consulting arrangement, temporary employment, or internship.

The CCO may grant exceptions to this policy based upon his or her determination of specific circumstances. The CCO may also in his or her determination, subject the consultant, temporary employee or intern to all or only a portion of the provisions of this Code at the commencement of the consulting arrangement, temporary employment or internship based upon specific circumstances.

 

  C. Upon proper request by a Covered Person, the CEO, or his designee, will consider for relief or exemption from any restriction, limitation or procedure contained herein, which restriction, limitation or procedure is claimed to cause a hardship for such Covered Person. The CCO will in his/her sole discretion determine whether the request is appropriate for consideration by the CEO. The decision regarding such relief or exemption is within the sole discretion of the CEO.

 

XI. CONSEQUENCES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE CODE

Compliance with this Code of Ethics is a condition of employment by and membership of MIM. Taking into consideration all relevant circumstances, MIM will determine what action is appropriate for any breach of the provisions of the Code. Possible actions include letters of sanction, financial penalty, suspension, termination of employment, or removal from office, or in serious cases, referral to law enforcement or regulatory authorities.

Reports filed pursuant to the Code will be maintained in confidence but will be reviewed by MIM to verify compliance with the Code. Additional information may be required to clarify the nature of particular transactions.

 

XII. RETENTION OF RECORDS

MIM shall maintain the records listed below for a period of five years at MIM’s principal place of business in an easily accessible place:

 

  A. A list of all Covered Persons during the period;

 

22


Exhibit (p)(5)

 

  B. Electronic certification by all Covered Persons acknowledging receipt of copies of the Code and acknowledging that they are subject to it;

 

  C. A copy of each code of ethics that has been in effect at any time during the period;

 

  D. Holdings and transactions reports made pursuant to the Code, including any brokerage confirmation and account statements made in lieu of these reports;

 

  E. A record of any violation of the Code and any action taken as a result of such violation for five years from the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurred; and

 

  F. A record of any decision and supporting reasons for approving the acquisition of securities by Covered Persons in limited offerings.

Adopted effective: July 1, 2016

 

23


Appendix A - Examples of Beneficial Ownership

For purposes of the Code, you will be deemed to have a beneficial interest in a security if you have the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the security. Examples of beneficial ownership under this definition include:

 

  securities you own, no matter how they are registered, and including securities held for you by others (for example, by a custodian or broker, or by a relative, executor or administrator) or that you have pledged to another (as security for a loan, for example);

 

  securities held by a trust of which you are a beneficiary (except that, if your interest is a remainder interest and you do not have or participate in investment control of trust assets, you will not be deemed to have a beneficial interest in securities held by the trust);

 

  securities held by you as trustee or co-trustee, where either you or any member of your immediate family ( i.e. , spouse, children or descendants, stepchildren, parents and their ancestors, and stepparents, in each case treating a legal adoption as blood relationship) has a beneficial interest (using these rules) in the trust.

 

  securities held by a trust of which you are the settlor, if you have the power to revoke the trust without obtaining the consent of all the beneficiaries and have or participate in investment control;

 

  securities held by any partnership in which you are a general partner, to the extent of your interest in partnership capital or profits;

 

  securities held by a personal holding company controlled by you alone or jointly with others;

 

  securities held by (i) your spouse, unless legally separated, or you and your spouse jointly, or (ii) your minor children or any immediate family member of you or your spouse (including an adult relative), directly or through a trust, who is sharing your home, even if the securities were not received from you and the income from the securities is not actually used for the maintenance of your household; or

 

  securities you have the right to acquire (for example, through the exercise of a derivative security), even if the right is not presently exercisable, or securities as to which, through any other type of arrangement, you obtain benefits substantially equivalent to those of ownership.

You will not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of securities in the following situations:

 

  securities held by a limited partnership in which you do not have a controlling interest and do not have or share investment control over the partnership’s portfolio; and

 

  securities held by a foundation of which you are a trustee and donor, provided that the beneficiaries are exclusively charitable and you have no right to revoke the gift.

These examples are not exclusive. There are other circumstances in which you may be deemed to have a beneficial interest in a security. Any questions about whether you have a beneficial interest should be directed to the Legal/Compliance Department.

 


Appendix B

McDonnell Investment Management, LLC

Transaction Reporting Form - Reportable Funds

 

Print Name:   

 

 
Reporting Date:           

 

 

I represent that:

 

  1. I have effected the following transactions in the securities indicated below for my own account or other account in which I have a beneficial interest. I affirm that these transactions are not based on any material, non-public information, and I am not aware of any facts suggesting that these transactions represent potential conflicts of interest.

 

  2. Prior to reporting transactions, I have reviewed the Reportable Fund list for the applicable quarter.

 

  3. I have reviewed and am in compliance with the holding period requirements for the securities listed below.

 

Account Name/Number   

Firm where

account is held

  

Trade

Date

   Name of Fund    Ticker    B/S   

    Number of    

Shares

   Principal
Amount
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    

If more space is needed, you may submit multiple forms to Compliance.

         I have no Reportable Fund transactions that I am required to report.

 

 

Signature       Date   

 


Appendix B

McDonnell Investment Management, LLC

Initial Holdings Reporting Form - Reportable Funds

 

Print Name:   

 

 
Reporting Date:           

 

 

I represent that:

 

  1. I have reviewed the Reportable Fund list for the applicable reporting period.

 

  2. I have reviewed all accounts in which I have a beneficial interest, including those that are not otherwise reportable.

 

  3. I have reviewed and am in compliance with the holding period requirements for the securities listed below.

 

Account Name/ Number   

Firm where account is

held

   Name of Fund    Ticker        Number of    
Shares
   Principal
Amount
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          
                          

If more space is needed, you may submit multiple forms to Compliance.

         I have no Reportable Fund holdings that I am required to report.

 

 

Signature       Date   

 


Appendix B

McDonnell Investment Management, LLC

Annual Holdings Reporting Form - Reportable Funds

 

Print Name:   

 

  
Reporting Date:               

 

  

I represent that:

 

  1. I have reviewed the Reportable Fund list for the applicable reporting period.

 

  2. I have reviewed all accounts in which I have a beneficial interest, including those that are not otherwise reportable.

 

  3. I have reviewed and am in compliance with the holding period requirements for the securities listed below.

 

Account Name/ Number

   Firm where account is
held
    

Name of Fund

   Ticker      Number of
Shares
     Principal
Amount
 
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              

If more space is needed, you may submit multiple forms to Compliance.

       I have no Reportable Fund holdings that I am required to report.

 

 

 

Signature

     

 

Date

  

 

Exhibit (p)(7)

 

Harris Associates L.P., Harris Associates Securities L.P. and Harris Associates Investment Trust

Code of Ethics and Statement on Insider Trading

As Amended, Effective as of March 9, 2016

 

I. DEFINITIONS

 

  A. Firm or Harris. The term “Firm” or “Harris” shall include Harris Associates L.P. (“HALP”) and Harris Associates Securities L.P. (“HASLP”).

 

  B. Trust. The term “Trust” shall mean Harris Associates Investment Trust, including any series of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust (each, a “Fund”).

 

  C. Employee. The term “Employee” shall include any person employed by the Firm, whether on a full or part-time basis and all partners, officers, shareholders and directors (other than Non-Access Directors (as defined below)) of the Firm.

 

  D. Access Person. The term “Access Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 17j-1(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and rules thereunder (the “Act”) and Section 204A-1(e)(1) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”). Accordingly, Access Person means any director, officer, general partner, or Advisory Person (as defined below) of the Trust or HALP, but shall not include (1) any trustee of the Trust who is not an “interested person” of the Trust; (2) any trustee of the Trust who is designated an “interested person”, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, but is not a director, officer, general partner or Advisory Person of HALP, HASLP or Harris Associates, Inc.; and (3) in the case of HALP, shall not include any Non-Access Director.

 

  E. Advisory Person. The term “Advisory Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 17j-1(a)(2) of the Act. Accordingly, Advisory Person means any Employee of the Firm, who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities (as defined below) by a Client (as defined below), or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to purchases and sales. For the purpose of this Code, each Employee of the Firm with an office at the Firm’s principal place of business shall be deemed to be an Advisory Person.

 

  F. Persons Subject to this Code. Each Employee is subject to this Code. In addition, Non-Access Directors are subject to the following provisions of this Code: II.A, II.B, II.C.i, II.J, and III (except for III.B.3 (i), (ii) and (iv) and the last sentence of III.B.4).

 

1


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

  G. Covered Security. The term “Covered Security” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(36) of the Act 1 , including any right to acquire such security, except that it shall not include securities which are direct obligations of the Government of the United States or any other country, bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, high quality short-term debt instruments (including repurchase agreements), and shares issued by open-end investment companies other than Reportable Funds (defined below). In addition, all exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), whether registered as open-end management companies or unit investment trusts, shall be treated as Covered Securities for reporting purposes only.

 

  H. Reportable Fund. The term “Reportable Fund” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 204A-1(e)(9) of the Advisers Act. Reportable Fund means any investment company registered under the Act that is advised or sub-advised or distributed by the Firm or any affiliated company (e.g. Natixis Asset Management Advisers, Loomis Sayles). Reportable Funds include, for example, open-ended investment companies and closed-end funds 2 . A current list of Reportable Funds is maintained on the Compliance page of the Firm’s intranet site.

 

  I. Beneficial Interest or Ownership. The term “beneficial interest or 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 in determining whether a person is subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and rules thereunder, which includes any interest in which a person, directly or indirectly, has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest. A pecuniary interest is the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from any transaction. Each person will be assumed to have a pecuniary interest, and therefore, beneficial interest or ownership, in all securities held by that person, that person’s spouse or live-in/domestic partner who shares your household and combines his or her financial resources in a manner similar to that of married persons, all members of that person’s immediate family and adults sharing the same household with that person (other than mere roommates) and all minor children of that person and in all accounts subject to their direct or indirect influence or control and/or through which they obtain the substantial equivalent of ownership, such as trusts in which

 

 

1   Sec. 2(a)(36) “Security” means any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, 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, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a “security,” or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing.
2  

Reportable Funds that are money market funds are not subject to the Code’s reporting requirements (see Section II.G – Procedures to Implement Trading Restrictions and Reporting Obligations).

 

2


  they are a trustee or beneficiary, partnerships in which they are the general partner, corporations in which they are a controlling shareholder or any other similar arrangement. Any questions an Employee may have about whether an interest in a security or an account constitutes beneficial interest or ownership should be directed to the Firm’s General Counsel or Compliance Department. Examples of beneficial interest or ownership are attached as Appendix A.

 

  J. Client . The term “Client” shall mean any client of HALP, including any Fund.

 

  K. Non-Access Director. The term “Non-Access Director” shall mean any person who is a Director of Harris Associates, Inc., the corporate general partner of HALP and HASLP, but who is not an officer or employee of any of HALP, HASLP or Harris Associates, Inc. and who meets all of the following conditions:

 

  i. He or she, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, does not make, participate in or obtain information regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by a registered investment company, and whose functions do not relate to the making of recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales;

 

  ii. He or she does not have access to nonpublic information regarding any Firm clients’ purchases or sales of securities (other than information contained in standard account statements or reports that the Firm may furnish to such person in his or her capacity as a client of the Firm), or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Reportable Fund; and

 

  iii. He or she is not involved in making securities recommendations to Firm clients, and does not have access to such recommendations that are nonpublic (other than information contained in standard account statements or reports that the Firm may furnish to such person in his or her capacity as a client of the Firm).

 

II. CODE OF ETHICS

 

  A. GENERAL STATEMENT

Harris seeks to foster a reputation for integrity and professionalism. That reputation is a vital business asset. The confidence and trust placed in us by investors in mutual funds and clients with accounts advised by the Firm is something that is highly valued and must be protected. The Firm owes a fiduciary duty to its advisory clients, and the fundamental principle of the Firm is that at all times the interests of its Clients come first. As a result, any activity which creates even the suspicion of misuse of material non-public information by the Firm or any of its Employees, which gives rise to or appears to give rise to any breach of fiduciary duty owed to any Client, or which creates any actual or potential conflict of interest between any Client and the Firm or any of its Employees or even the appearance of any conflict of interest must be avoided and is prohibited.

 

3


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

The Investment Company Act and rules make it illegal for any person covered by the Code, directly or indirectly, in connection with the purchase or sale of a security held or to be acquired by the Trust to:

i.) employ any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud the Trust;

ii.) make any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of circumstances under which they are made, not misleading or in any way mislead the Trust regarding a material fact;

iii.) engage in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the Trust; or

iv.) engage in any manipulative practice with respect to the Trust.

The restrictions on personal securities transactions contained in this Code are intended to help the Firm monitor for compliance with these prohibitions.

Additionally, the federal securities laws require that an investment adviser maintain a record of every transaction in any Covered Security and Reportable Fund in which an Access Person acquires any direct or indirect beneficial interest or ownership, except any transaction in an account in which the Access Person has no direct or indirect control or influence.

To attempt to ensure that each Person Subject to this Code satisfies this Code and these record keeping obligations, the Firm has developed the following rules relating to personal securities trading, outside employment, personal investments with external investment managers and confidentiality.

The General Counsel, President, and Chief Compliance Officer, acting in concert, have the authority to grant written waivers of the provisions of this Code in appropriate instances. However, the Firm expects that waivers will be granted only in rare instances, and some provisions of the Code that are mandated by the Act or the Advisers Act cannot be waived.

The Firm expects all Access Persons to comply with the spirit of the Code as well as the specific rules contained in the Code. Any violations of the Code must be reported promptly to the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer.

 

4


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

  B. COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS

More generally, Firm personnel and Non-Access Directors are required to comply with applicable federal securities laws at all times. Examples of applicable federal securities laws include:

 

  i.) the Securities Act of 1933, Securities Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and SEC rules thereunder;

 

  ii.) the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and SEC rules thereunder;

 

  iii.) the Investment Company Act of 1940 and SEC rules thereunder;

 

  iv.) Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (privacy and security of client non-public information); and

 

  v.) the Bank Secrecy Act, as it applies to mutual funds and investment advisers, and SEC and Department of the Treasury rules thereunder.

 

  C. RESTRICTIONS ON EMPLOYEE TRADING

No trading activity by an Employee in any security in which an Employee has any beneficial interest or ownership which is also the subject of a Client portfolio purchase or sale shall disadvantage or appear to disadvantage such Client transaction. Further, the following specific restrictions apply to all trading activity for Advisory Persons:

 

  i.) Any transaction in a security in anticipation of client orders (“frontrunning”) is prohibited,

 

  ii.) Any transaction in a security which is the subject of approval by one of the Firm’s stock selection groups for addition to an approved list is prohibited until the tenth business day following the dissemination of that recommendation, or any longer period specified in this Code,

 

  iii.) Any transaction in a security which the Advisory Person knows or has reason to believe is being purchased or sold or considered for purchase or sale 3 by any investment company advised by the Firm is prohibited until the transaction by such investment company has been completed or consideration of such transaction has been abandoned, 4

 

 

3   A security is “being considered for purchase or sale”; the earlier of, when a recommendation to purchase or sell has been made and communicated or the security is placed on the research project list and, with respect to the person making the recommendation, when such person seriously considers making such a recommendation.
4  

Among the clients of the Firm are private investment partnerships (“partnerships”) in which various Employees of the Firm have equity interests. This trading prohibition shall not restrict purchases or sales for the accounts of such partnerships provided that the Trust and such accounts are treated fairly and equitably in connection with such purchases and sales.

 

5


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

  iv.) Any transaction in a security on the same day or within two business days after any Client, including a registered investment company, advised by the Firm has a pending or actual transaction is prohibited. If an Advisory Person places a same day order for such security prior to the Client placing an order, the Employee’s order will be canceled,

 

  v.) Any transaction involving options 5 , single stock futures, or other derivatives relating to any security on the Firm’s approved and project lists, or which are held by any investment company or other client account advised by the Firm that appears to evade the restrictions of the Code is prohibited, and

 

  vi.) Any acquisition of an equity security in an initial public offering is prohibited.

Additionally, no Employee of the Firm shall knowingly sell to or purchase from the Funds or the Trust any security or other property except, in the case of the Funds, securities issued by the Funds. Neither shall the Firm, HASL nor any Employee share in the profits or losses in any account of a customer carried by the Firm or HASL or any other FINRA member, except to the extent provided for by Rule 205-3 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 and/or NASD Rule 2330 and/or FINRA Rule 2150, as applicable.

 

  D. PRIVATE PLACEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS WITH EXTERNAL MONEY MANAGERS.

No Advisory Person or Access Person shall acquire any security or interest in a private placement or commit initial capital to any account for which such person has any beneficial interest (other than non-affiliated mutual funds where the account is held directly at such fund) with an external investment manager without the prior written approval of the Firm’s President and Chief Compliance Officer. For purposes of this Code, “private placement” shall mean any limited offering that is generally not available to the public, including unregistered investment pool vehicles (e.g., hedge funds, commodity pools), Rule 144A securities, limited partnerships, etc.

 

 

5   The only form of equity option trading that is permitted is writing covered calls on equity securities that are not held in clients’ accounts or on the Firm’s approved or project lists. Index option trading is permitted subject to having an approved option agreement on file with Pershing prior to trading.

 

6


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

In deciding whether to grant approval, consideration will be given to whether the investment is consistent with the Firm’s investment philosophy and guidelines and should be offered to Clients, and whether the investment creates an actual conflict or the appearance of a conflict of interest. An Advisory Person who has acquired a security in a private placement must disclose that investment to the Firm’s President and Chief Compliance Officer if such Advisory Person later participates in the consideration of that issuer for inclusion on any list of securities approved for purchase by Firm clients.

 

  E. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTION ON FUND MANAGERS OF INVESTMENT COMPANY ACCOUNTS.

Any Access Person who is a fund manager of any registered investment company that is advised or subadvised by the Firm is prohibited from buying or selling a security for an account in which he or she has a beneficial interest within fifteen calendar days before and after the investment company that he/she manages trades in that security. Any profits realized on trades within the proscribed periods shall be required to be disgorged. 6 Any losses realized on trades within the proscribed periods shall be borne by the fund manager if it was the manager’s actions which caused the violation.

 

  F. CERTAIN ACCOUNTS EXEMPT FROM REQUIREMENTS OF CODE.

Any account (including open-end investment companies and limited partnerships) for which the Firm acts as investment adviser or general partner shall be managed in accordance with the Firm’s trading procedures for a Client account. Any such account shall be exempt from the provisions of Sections C and E of Part II of this Code if: (1) the account has been seeded by affiliated persons of the firm and is being managed in anticipation of investments by persons not affiliated with the Firm; or (2) unaffiliated persons of the Firm are also invested in the account; or (3) the account is operated as a model portfolio in contemplation of management of client accounts in the same or a similar strategy.

 

  G. PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT TRADING RESTRICTIONS AND REPORTING OBLIGATIONS.

 

  1. Trading through Harris’ Trading Desk.

All Advisory Persons who have personal accounts that hold or can hold Covered Securities are required to maintain such accounts at Pershing LLC (“Pershing”), the Firm’s prime broker. All transactions in Covered Securities in which an Advisory Person has any beneficial interest or ownership, or in any accounts in which an Advisory Person has discretion, other than fee paying accounts that are professionally managed on a discretionary basis, must be pre-approved through the Firm’s automated personal trading system.

 

 

6  

Any profits disgorged shall be taken as gains in Harris’s error account at Pershing.

 

7


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

Transactions at brokers or banks other than Pershing are not permitted except in unusual circumstances and then only after the Advisory Person has: (i) provided a request in writing to his/her Supervisor and the Chief Compliance Officer prior to opening or placing an initial order in an account with such other broker or bank, (ii) obtained the written approval of his/her Supervisor and the Chief Compliance Officer prior to opening or placing an initial order in such account, (iii) provided such other broker or bank with a written notice of the Advisory Person’s affiliation with Harris and request that copies of confirmations and statements be sent to the Firm’s Compliance Department, and provide a report to the Firm that includes the name of the broker or bank with whom the account was established, the date the account was established, and the date the report is submitted. A copy of such written notice and request should also be provided to his/her Supervisor and the Compliance Department.

Reportable Funds in which an Advisory Person has any beneficial interest or ownership may be held in a Pershing account, an approved outside brokerage account, directly with the Fund or through the Firm’s profit sharing and savings plan, and are subject to the reporting requirements described in Section II.G.6 below. Reportable Fund transactions effected pursuant to an automatic investment plan, or in any account over which the Access Person has no direct or indirect influence or control, do not need to be reported.

Even after an Advisory Person has obtained approval to open a non-discretionary account at a bank or broker to execute Covered Securities transactions, the Advisory Person must acquire approval through the automated personal trading system. The Advisory Person must promptly present Compliance with a confirmation reflecting the details of the transaction and clearly indicating that the transaction has been completed. Non-Pershing discretionary account transactions do not need to be presented to Trading for review and approval. Compliance will review these statements upon their receipt.

 

  2. Monitoring of Trades.

Transactions for an account of an Advisory Person that are executed through the Firm’s trading desk are to be monitored by Compliance and reviewed and approved by the Chief Compliance Officer (or such party to whom he or she delegates). These transactions are non-discretionary transactions and may not be executed if they are in conflict with Harris’ discretionary orders.

The Firm’s Compliance Department will access Advisory Person trade information online from Pershing (including the title and exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number of each Covered Security or Reportable Fund involved, the date of the transaction, the interest rate and maturity rate (if applicable), the number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security or Reportable Fund involved, the nature of the transaction (i.e. buy/sell), the price at which the transaction was effected, the name of the broker or bank through which the transaction was effected, and the date on which the report is submitted).

 

8


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

Transactions at brokers other than Pershing are to be monitored by the Compliance Department. To accomplish this, all Access Persons shall submit to the Compliance Department within thirty days after the month end in which any transaction occurred a report which includes the title and exchange ticker or CUSIP number of the Covered Security or Reportable Fund, the date of the transaction, the interest rate and maturity rate (if applicable), the number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security or Reportable Fund involved, the nature of the transaction (i.e. buy/sell), the price at which the transaction was effected, the name of the broker or bank through which the transaction was effected and the date on which the report is submitted. This requirement may be satisfied by having the broker or bank send the Firm duplicate copies of confirmations and statements, provided that such confirmations and statements contain all of the information otherwise required to be provided in the report. The Compliance Department will maintain copies of all such transaction reports.

 

  3. Cancellation of Trades.

Any transaction for an account of an Access Person is subject to cancellation or reversal if it is determined by either the President or the CCO (or such party to whom he or she delegates) that the transaction is or was in conflict with or appeared to be in conflict with any Client transaction or any of the trading restrictions of this Code. Cancellations or reversals of transactions may be required after an extended period past the settlement date. A trader may also prevent the execution of orders for an Advisory Person’s account if it appears that the trade may have to be canceled or reversed.

Client transactions include transactions for any investment company managed by the Firm, any other discretionary advisory clients or any other accounts managed or advised by Employees of the Firm for a fee.

The determination that a transaction of an Access Person may conflict with a Client transaction will be subjective and individualized and may include questions about timely and adequate dissemination of information, availability of bids and offers, as well as many other factors deemed pertinent for that transaction or series of transactions. It is possible that a cancellation or reversal of a transaction could be costly to an Access Person or his/her family. Therefore, great care is required to adhere to the Firm’s trading restrictions and avoid conflicts or the appearance of conflicts.

 

  4. Participation in Dividend Reinvestment Plans and Systematic Purchase Plans.

Advisory Persons may purchase Covered Securities through dividend reinvestment plans or systematic purchase plans without processing such transactions through the Firm’s automated

 

9


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

personal trading system. Purchases are permitted only after the Advisory Person has: (i) provided notice in writing to his/her Supervisor and the Compliance Department prior to opening an account or placing an initial purchase, and (ii) obtained the written approval of his/her Supervisor and the Compliance Department prior to opening an account or placing an initial purchase. Notice and approval shall not be required in connection with purchase of shares or units of ETFs. Even after the Advisory Person has obtained approval to invest in such a plan, the Advisory Person must provide the Compliance Department with duplicate copies of statements within thirty days after the end of each calendar quarter. Such report or statements must contain all of the information required to be reported with respect to transactions in Covered Securities under II(F)(2) above. The Compliance Department will maintain copies of all such transaction reports.

 

  5. Reporting All Other Securities Transactions.

Because the obligations of an investment adviser to maintain records of Employee’s personal securities transactions is broader than the type of transactions discussed above in this Section, all Employees have the following additional reporting obligations. Any transaction in a Covered Security not required to be placed through the Firm’s automated personal trading system in which an Employee has any beneficial interest or ownership (such as, real estate or oil and gas limited partnership interests and other privately placed securities and funds) must be reported to the Compliance Department. This report must be submitted within thirty days after the end of each calendar quarter and include: the title and exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, price, number of shares and principal amount of each Covered Security involved, the date and nature of the transaction (i.e. buy/sell), the name of the broker or bank used, if any, interest rate and maturity, if applicable, and the date on which the report is submitted. This report may be in any form, including a copy of a confirmation or monthly statement. However, no report is necessary for any transaction in an account in which the Employee has no control or influence.

 

  6. Initial, Quarterly and Annual Reporting Requirements.

Each Access Person shall initially disclose in writing to the Compliance Department within ten days of becoming an Access Person, and annually thereafter, within forty-five days after each calendar year-end, the title and exchange ticker or CUSIP number, type of security, number of shares and principal amount of all Covered Securities and Reportable Funds beneficially owned by such Access Person, and the date the Access Person submits the report, with information as of a date that is no more than forty-five days from the date of becoming a Access Person, or as of the preceding December 31 for annual reporting, and the name of the broker or bank with whom the Access Person maintains an account in which he or she has beneficial ownership of any security. An Access Person need not make an Initial or Annual Report for Covered Securities held in any account over which the Employee has no direct or indirect influence or control.

Additionally, each Access Person shall submit quarterly transaction reports and responses to quarterly questionnaires no later than 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter.

 

10


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

  H. CONFIDENTIALITY & OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYEES

During the period of employment with the Firm an Employee will have access to certain “confidential information” concerning the Firm and its clients. This information is a valuable asset and the sole property of the Firm and may not be misappropriated and used outside of the Firm by an Employee or former Employee. “Confidential Information”, defined as all information not publicly available about the business of the Firm, may include, but is not limited to, Client and prospect names and records, research, trading and portfolio information and systems, information concerning externally managed entities or accounts which have been considered or made on behalf of fee paying clients, and the financial records of the Firm and/or its Employees. In order to protect the interests of the Firm, an Employee or ex-Employee shall not, without the express written consent of the Firm’s President, disclose directly or indirectly confidential information to anyone outside of the Firm. An Employee should be extremely careful to avoid inadvertent disclosures and to exercise maximum effort to keep confidential information confidential. Any questions concerning the confidentiality of information should be directed to the Chief Compliance Officer or the General Counsel. An abuse of the Firm’s policy of confidentiality could subject an Employee to immediate disciplinary action that may include dismissal from the Firm. Nothing in this Code is intended to prevent an Employee from reporting a violation of applicable laws or regulations to an appropriate regulatory authority.

 

  I. OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT, ASSOCIATIONS AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES 7

 

  1. Outside Employment and Associations .

Harris requires that all Advisory Persons make their positions with the Firm their primary employment. Except in the case of business entities managed or sponsored by the Firm, it is Harris’s policy not to permit Advisory Persons to hold outside positions of authority, including that of being an officer, partner, director or employee, in another business entity. The approval of Harris, and in some cases the approval of FINRA, is required before any Advisory Person may hold any outside position with any business organization, regardless of whether such position is compensated or not. Any exception to this policy must be approved in writing by the Firm’s President or his or her designee and the Advisory Person’s Supervisor, and a copy of such approval is maintained by the Compliance Department. Any change in the status of such approved position immediately must be reported in writing to the Compliance Department and the Advisory Person’s Supervisor. Any income or compensation received by an Advisory Person for serving in such position must be paid in full to the Firm, unless a waiver is granted by the

 

 

7  

As used in this section, the terms “business entity” and “business organization” include nonprofits such as charities, foundations, religious and arts organizations, universities, and other similar types of entities.

 

11


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

Firm’s President. Under no circumstance may an Advisory Person represent or suggest that Harris has approved or recommended the business activities of the outside organization or any person associated with it.

Certain types of associations with non-business entities - charitable or volunteer organizations where the Advisory Person does not hold a position of authority (e.g., is not a member of the board or senior management), and the activity is voluntary in nature (e.g., Boy or Girl Scouts leader, Parent/Teacher Association), or involve random and infrequent participation in industry associations or marketing focus groups where an honorarium is paid, and other similarly situated positions are exempted from this section’s restrictions and reporting.

 

  2. Outside Business Activities.

To further avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest and to maintain impartial investment advice, and equally important, the appearance of impartial investment advice, each Advisory Person must disclose in writing to the Compliance Department any special relationships and/or investments or business activities that they or their families have which could influence the investment activities of the Firm. If an Employee has any questions about any activities and the need for disclosure, the Employee should be cautious and direct any questions to the Firm’s General Counsel or Compliance Department.

 

  J. Certification of Compliance by Access Persons.

In addition to new-hire training on the Code, each Access Person will receive annual training over certain aspects of the Code. The Firm shall distribute the Code to each Employee and Non-Access Director upon inception of employment and whenever the Code is amended, but no less frequently than annually. Each Access Person and Non-Access Director is required to certify in writing annually that (i) he or she has read and understands the Code, (ii) recognizes that he or she is subject to the Code, and, in the case of Access Persons, (iii) he or she has disclosed or reported all Personal Securities Transactions required to be disclosed or reported under the Code.

Each Access Person who has not engaged in any personal securities transactions during the preceding year for which a report was required to be filed pursuant to the Code shall include a certification to that effect in his or her annual certification.

 

  K. Annual Report to the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

HALP, as the adviser to the Trust, shall prepare an annual report to the board of trustees of the Trust that:

 

  i.) summarizes existing procedures concerning personal investing and any changes in those procedures during the past year;

 

12


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

  ii.) describes issues that arose during the previous year under the Code or procedures concerning personal investing, including but not limited to information about material violations of the Code and sanctions imposed;

 

  iii.) certifies to the board that the Trust, the Trust’s adviser (HALP), and the Trust’s principal distributor (HASLP) have adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent their Investment Personnel and Access Persons from violating the Code; and

 

  iv.) identifies any recommended changes in existing restrictions or procedures based upon experience under the Code, evolving industry practices, or developments in applicable laws or regulations.

 

III. POLICY STATEMENT ON INSIDER TRADING

 

  A. BACKGROUND

Trading securities while in possession of material, nonpublic information or improperly communicating that information to others may expose you to stringent penalties. Criminal sanctions may include a fine of up to $1,000,000 and/or ten years imprisonment. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) can recover the profits gained or losses avoided through the violative trading, obtain a penalty of up to three times the illicit windfall and issue an order permanently barring you from the securities industry. Finally, you may be sued by investors seeking to recover damages for insider trading violations.

Regardless of whether a government inquiry occurs, Harris views seriously any violation of this Policy Statement. Such violations constitute grounds for disciplinary sanctions, including dismissal.

The law of insider trading is unsettled; an individual legitimately may be uncertain about the application of the Policy Statement in a particular circumstance. Often, a single question can forestall disciplinary action or complex legal problems. You should direct any questions relating to the Policy Statement to the General Counsel, the Chief Compliance Officer or, in their absence, their respective deputies. You also must notify the General Counsel, the Chief Compliance Officer or, in their absence, their respective deputies immediately if you have any reason to believe that a violation of the Policy Statement has occurred or is about to occur.

 

  B. POLICY STATEMENT ON INSIDER TRADING

No person to whom this Policy Statement applies may trade , either personally or on behalf of others (such as Clients), while in possession of material, nonpublic information; nor may such

 

13


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

persons communicate material, nonpublic information to others in violation of the law. This Policy Statement is drafted broadly; it will be applied and interpreted in a similar manner. This Policy Statement applies to securities trading and information handling by all Access Persons (including their spouse or domestic/live-in partner, minor children and adult members of their households).

The section below reviews principles important to this Policy Statement.

 

  1. What is Material Information?

Information is “material” when there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in making his or her investment decisions. Generally, this is information whose disclosure will have a substantial effect on the price of a company’s securities. No simple “bright line” test exists to determine when information is material; assessments of materiality involve a highly fact-specific inquiry. For this reason, you should direct any questions about whether information is material to the General Counsel or Chief Compliance Officer, or, in their absence, the President of Harris.

Material information often relates to a company’s results and operations including, for example, dividend changes, earnings results, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, major litigation, liquidation problems, and extraordinary management developments.

Material information also may relate to the market for a company’s securities. Information about a significant order to purchase or sell securities may, in some contexts, be deemed material. Similarly, prepublication information regarding reports in the financial press also may be deemed material.

 

  2. What is Nonpublic Information?

Information is “nonpublic” until it has been disseminated broadly to investors in the marketplace. Tangible evidence of such dissemination is the best indication that the information is public. For example, information is public after it has become available to the general public through a public filing with the SEC or some other governmental agency, the Dow Jones “tape” or the WALL STREET JOURNAL or some other publication of general circulation, and after sufficient time has passed so that the information has been disseminated widely.

 

14


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

  3. Identifying Inside Information

Before executing any trade for yourself or others, including Clients, you must determine whether you have access to material, nonpublic information. If you think that you might have access to material, nonpublic information, you should take the following steps:

 

  i.) Immediately alert the Trading Department to restrict trading in the security. No reason or explanation should be given to the Trading Department for the restriction.

 

  ii.) Report the information and proposed trade immediately to the General Counsel or the Chief Compliance Officer, or in their absence, the President of Harris.

 

  iii.) Do not purchase or sell the securities on behalf of yourself or others, including Clients.

 

  iv.) Do not communicate the information inside or outside Harris other than to the above individuals.

 

  v.) After the above individuals have reviewed the issue, the Firm will determine whether the information is material and nonpublic and, if so, what action(s) the Firm should take.

 

  4. Contacts with Public Companies

For Harris, contacts with public companies represent an important part of our research efforts. Harris may make investment decisions on the basis of the Firm’s conclusions formed through such contacts and analysis of publicly-available information. Difficult legal issues arise, however, when, in the course of these contacts, an Access Person becomes aware of material , nonpublic information. This could happen, for example, if a company’s Chief Financial Officer prematurely discloses quarterly results to an analyst or an investor relations representative makes a selective disclosure of adverse news to a handful of investors. In such situations, Harris must make a judgment as to its further conduct. To protect yourself, Clients and the Firm, you should contact the General Counsel the Chief Compliance Officer or, in their absence, the President of the Firm immediately if you believe that you may have received material, nonpublic information.

 

  5. Tender Offers

Tender offers represent a particular concern in the law of insider trading for two reasons. First, tender offer activity often produces extraordinary gyrations in the price of the target company’s securities. Trading during this time period is more likely to attract regulatory attention (and produces a disproportionate percentage of insider trading cases). Second, the SEC has adopted a rule which expressly forbids trading and “tipping” while in possession of material, nonpublic information regarding a tender offer received from the tender offeror, the target company or anyone acting on behalf of either. Employees should exercise particular caution any time they become aware of nonpublic information relating to a tender offer.

 

15


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

  C. PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT THE POLICY STATEMENT ON INSIDER TRADING

 

  1. Personal Securities Trading

The restrictions on Employee trading and procedures to implement those restrictions and the Firm’s reporting obligations, which are set forth in Section II above and in the Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees, constitute the same procedures to implement this Policy Statement. Review those procedures carefully and direct any questions about their scope or applicability to the General Counsel or the Compliance Department.

 

  2. Restrictions on Disclosures

Harris Employees shall not disclose any nonpublic information (whether or not it is material) relating to Harris or its securities transactions to any person outside Harris (unless such disclosure has been authorized by Harris). Material, nonpublic information may not be communicated to anyone, including persons within Harris, except as provided in Section III(B)(3) above. Such information must be secured. For example, access to files containing material, nonpublic information and computer files containing such information should be restricted, and conversations containing such information, if appropriate at all, should be conducted in private.

 

IV. RETENTION OF RECORDS

The Compliance Department or the Secretary of the Trust will maintain the records listed below for a period of five years. Such records shall be maintained at the Firm’s principal place of business in an easily accessible place:

 

  i.) a list of all persons subject to the Code during that period;

 

  ii.) receipts signed by all persons subject to the Code acknowledging receipt of copies of the Code and acknowledging that they are subject to it;

 

  iii.) a copy of each Code of Ethics that has been in effect at any time during the period;

 

  iv.) a copy of each report filed pursuant to the Code and a record of any known violations and actions taken as a result thereof during the period as well as a record of all persons responsible for reviewing these reports; and

 

  v.) a copy of any decision and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve the acquisition of Limited Offerings.

 

16


Exhibit (p)(7)

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF CODE OF ETHICS AND STATEMENT ON INSIDER TRADING

Code of Ethics .

Harris Associates L.P. (“HALP”), Harris Associates Securities L.P. (“HASLP”) and Harris Associates Investment Trust (the “Trust”) have adopted a written Code of Ethics and Statement on Insider Trading (the “Code”) and Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees to avoid potential conflicts of interest by HALP and HASLP personnel and to govern the use and handling of material non-public information. A copy of the Code and Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees is attached to this acknowledgement. As a condition of your continued employment with HALP and HASLP, and/or the retention of your position, if any, as an officer of the Trust or a member of the board of HALP’s general partner, you are required to read, understand and abide by the Code and Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees.

Compliance Program .

The Code requires that all personnel (other than Non-Access Directors) furnish to the Compliance Department information regarding any investment account in which you have a “beneficial interest.” You are also required to furnish to the Compliance Department copies of your monthly or quarterly account statements, or other documents, showing all purchases or sales of securities in any such account, or which are effected by you or for your benefit, or the benefit of any member of your household. Additionally, you are required to furnish a report of your personal securities holdings within ten calendar days of commencement of your employment with HALP or HASLP and annually thereafter. These requirements apply to any investment account, such as an account at a brokerage house, trust account at a bank, custodial account or similar types of accounts.

This compliance program also requires that employees report any contact with any securities issuer, government or its personnel, or others, that, in the usual course of business, might involve material non-public financial information. The Code requires that employees bring to the attention of the General Counsel any information they receive from any source, which might be material non-public information.

Any questions concerning the Code or Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees should be directed to the General Counsel or the Compliance Department.

I affirm that I have received new-hire training covering certain key aspects of the Code and Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees from Compliance, and have read and understand the Code and Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees. I agree to the terms and conditions set forth in the Code and Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees.

If I am acting in the capacity as a contractor, consultant, temporary employee or intern to Harris, I acknowledge that all references to “employee” in the Code and Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees shall be construed to mean “agent”. My agreement and affirmation are made in the capacity as an agent, and not as an employee of Harris, and are not intended to impact my status as an independent contractor.

 

 

Signature

     

 

Date

 

1


ANNUAL AFFIRMATION OF COMPLIANCE

FOR ACCESS PERSONS AND NON-ACCESS DIRECTORS

I affirm that:

 

1. I have received annual training pertaining to certain aspects of the Code of Ethics and Statement of Insider Trading (the “Code”) and Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees, and have again read and, to the best of my knowledge, have complied with provisions of the Code and Procedures for Personal Trading by Employees that pertain to me during the past year.

 

2. I have provided to the Compliance Department the names and addresses of each investment account that I have with any firm, including, but not limited to, broker-dealers, banks and others. (List of known accounts attached.) (Access Persons only)

 

3. I have provided to the Compliance Department copies of account statements or other reports showing each and every transaction in any security in which I have a beneficial interest, as defined in the Code, during the most recently ended calendar year

or

during the most recent calendar year there were no transactions in any security in which I had a beneficial interest required to be reported pursuant to the Code. (Access Persons only)

 

4. I have provided to the Compliance Department a report of my personal securities holdings as of the end of the most recent calendar year, including all required information for each security in which I have any direct or indirect beneficial ownership. (Access Persons only)

 

5. With respect to the activities conducted at Harris, I am unaware of any violations of applicable laws or regulations that have not otherwise been reported to the Chief Compliance Officer or an appropriate regulatory authority.

 

6. If I am acting in the capacity as a contractor, consultant, temporary employee or intern at Harris, I acknowledge that any reference to “employee” in the Code shall be construed to mean “agent”. My agreement and affirmation made herein are made in the capacity as an agent, and not as an employee of Harris, and are not intended to impact my independent contractor status.

 

 

Signature

     

 

Date

 

1


APPENDIX A

Examples of Beneficial Interest

For purposes of the Code, you will be deemed to have a beneficial interest in a security if you have the opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from a transaction in the security. Examples of beneficial ownership under this definition include:

 

    securities you own, no matter how they are registered, and including securities held for you by others (for example, by a custodian or broker, or by a relative, executor or administrator) or that you have pledged to another (as security for a loan, for example);

 

    securities held by a trust of which you are a beneficiary (except that, if your interest is a remainder interest and you do not have or participate in investment control of trust assets, you will not be deemed to have a beneficial interest in securities held by the trust);

 

    securities held by you as trustee or co-trustee, where either you or any member of your immediate family ( i.e. , spouse, domestic/live-in partner, children or descendants, stepchildren, parents and their ancestors, and stepparents, in each case treating a legal adoption as blood relationship) has a beneficial interest (using these rules) in the trust.

 

    securities held by a trust of which you are the settlor, if you have the power to revoke the trust without obtaining the consent of all the beneficiaries and have or participate in investment control;

 

    securities held by any partnership in which you are a general partner, to the extent of your interest in partnership capital or profits;

 

    securities held by a personal holding company controlled by you alone or jointly with others;

 

    securities held by (i) your spouse or domestic/live-in partner, unless legally separated, or you and your spouse or domestic/live-in partner jointly, or (ii) your minor children or any immediate family member of you or your spouse or domestic/live-in partner (including an adult relative), directly or through a trust, who is sharing your home, even if the securities were not received from you and the income from the securities is not actually used for the maintenance of your household; or

 

    securities you have the right to acquire (for example, through the exercise of a derivative security), even if the right is not presently exercisable, or securities as to which, through any other type of arrangement, you obtain benefits substantially equivalent to those of ownership.

 

1


APPENDIX A

 

You will not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of securities in the following situations:

 

    securities held by a limited partnership in which you do not have a controlling interest and do not have or share investment control over the partnership’s portfolio; and

 

    securities held by a foundation of which you are a trustee and donor, provided that the beneficiaries are exclusively charitable and you have no right to revoke the gift.

These examples are not exclusive. There are other circumstances in which you may be deemed to have a beneficial interest in a security. Any questions about whether you have a beneficial interest should be directed to the General Counsel or Compliance Department.

 

2

Exhibit (p)(8)

 

LOOMIS, SAYLES & CO., L.P.

Code of Ethics

 

 

 

Policy on Personal Trading and

Related Activities

by Loomis Sayles Personnel

 

 

EFFECTIVE:

January 14, 2000

AS AMENDED:

August 11, 2016

 

- 1 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

Table of Contents

 

1.

 

INTRODUCTION

     3   

2.

 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES

     3   

3.

 

A FEW KEY TERMS

     4   

3.1.

 

Covered Security

     4   

3.2.

 

Beneficial Ownership

     5   

3.3.

 

Investment Control

     6   

3.4.

 

Maintaining Personal Accounts

     7   

4.

 

SUBSTANTIVE RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONAL TRADING

     8   

4.1.

 

Pre-clearance

     8   

4.2.

 

Good Until Canceled and Limit Orders

     9   

4.3.

 

Short Term Trading Profits

     10   

4.4.

 

Restrictions on Round Trip Transactions in Loomis Advised Funds

     10   

4.5.

 

Derivatives

     11   

4.6.

 

Short Sales

     11   

4.7.

 

Competing with Client Trades

     11   

4.8.

 

Large Cap/De Minimis Exemption

     12   

4.9.

 

Investment Person Seven-Day Blackout Rule

     12   

4.10.

 

Research Recommendations

     13   

4.11.

 

Initial Public Offerings

     15   

4.12.

 

Private Placement Transactions

     15   

4.13.

 

Insider Trading

     15   

4.14.

 

Restricted and Concentration List

     16   

4.15.

 

Loomis Sayles Hedge Funds

     17   

4.16.

 

Exemptions Granted by the Chief Compliance Officer

     17   

5.

 

PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES

     17   

5.1.

 

Public Company Board Service and Other Affiliations

     17   

5.2.

 

Participation in Investment Clubs and Private Pooled Vehicles

     18   

6.

 

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

     18   

6.1.

 

Initial Holdings Reporting, Account Disclosure and Acknowledgement of Code

     18   

6.2.

 

Brokerage Confirmations and Brokerage Account Statements

     19   

6.3.

 

Quarterly Transaction Reporting and Account Disclosure

     20   

6.4.

 

Annual Reporting

     21   

6.5.

 

Review of Reports by Chief Compliance Officer

     21   

6.6.

 

Internal Reporting of Violations to the Chief Compliance Officer

     22   

7.

 

SANCTIONS

     22   

8.

 

RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS

     23   

9.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

     23   

9.1.

 

Confidentiality

     23   

9.2.

 

Disclosure of Client Trading Knowledge

     23   

9.3.

 

Notice to Access Persons, Investment Persons and Research Analysts as to Code Status

     23   

9.4.

 

Notice to Personal Trading Compliance of Engagement of Independent Contractors

     23   

9.5.

 

Questions and Educational Materials

     24   

 

- 2 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

LOOMIS, SAYLES & CO., L.P.

Code of Ethics

 

 

 

Policy on Personal Trading and

Related Activities

 

 

1. INTRODUCTION

This Code of Ethics (“Code”) has been adopted by Loomis, Sayles & Co., L.P. (“Loomis Sayles”) to govern certain conduct of Loomis Sayles’ Supervised Persons and personal trading in securities and related activities of those individuals who have been deemed Access Persons thereunder, and under certain circumstances, those Access Persons’ family members and others in a similar relationship to them.

The policies in this Code reflect Loomis Sayles’ desire to detect and prevent not only situations involving actual or potential conflicts of interest or unethical conduct, but also those situations involving even the appearance of these.

2. STATEMENT OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES

It is the policy of Loomis Sayles that no Access Person or Supervised Person as such terms are defined under the Code, (please note that Loomis Sayles treats all employees as Access Persons ) shall engage in any act, practice or course of conduct that would violate the Code, the fiduciary duty owed by Loomis Sayles and its personnel to Loomis Sayles’ clients, Rule 204A-1 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or the provisions of Section 17(j) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and Rule 17j-1 there under. It is required that all Access Persons must comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations including, but not limited to the Federal Securities Laws . The fundamental position of Loomis Sayles is, and has been, that it must at all times place the interests of its clients first. Accordingly, your personal financial transactions (and in some cases, those of your family members and others in a similar relationship to you) and related activities must be conducted consistently with this Code and in such a manner as to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest or abuse of your position of trust and responsibility.

Without limiting in any manner the fiduciary duty owed by Loomis Sayles to its clients, it should be noted that Loomis Sayles considers it proper that purchases and sales be made by Access Persons in the marketplace of securities owned by Loomis Sayles’ clients, provided that such securities transactions comply with the spirit of, and the specific restrictions and limitations set forth in the Code. In making personal investment decisions, however, you must exercise extreme care to ensure that the provisions of the Code are not violated and under no circumstances, may an Access Person use the knowledge of Covered Securities purchased or sold by any client of Loomis Sayles or Covered Securities being considered for purchase or sale by any client of Loomis Sayles to profit personally, directly or indirectly, by the market effect of such transactions.

Improper trading activity can constitute a violation of the Code. The Code can also be violated by an Access Person’s failure to file required reports, by making inaccurate or misleading reports or statements concerning trading activity, or by opening an account with a non- Select Broker without proper approval as set forth in the Code.

 

- 3 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

It is not intended that these policies will specifically address every situation involving personal trading. These policies will be interpreted and applied, and exceptions and amendments will be made, by Loomis Sayles in a manner considered fair and equitable, but in all cases with the view of placing Loomis Sayles’ clients’ interests paramount. It also bears emphasis that technical compliance with the procedures, prohibitions and limitations of this Code will not automatically insulate you from scrutiny of, and sanctions for, securities transactions which indicate an abuse of Loomis Sayles’ fiduciary duty to any of its clients.

You are encouraged to bring any questions you may have about the Code to Personal Trading Compliance .

Personal Trading Compliance , the Chief Compliance Officer and the Loomis Sayles Ethics Committee will review the terms and provisions of the Code at least annually, and make amendments as necessary. Any amendments to the Code will be provided to you.

3. A FEW KEY TERMS

Boldfaced terms have special meaning in this Code. The application of a particular Code requirement to you may hinge on the elements of the definition of these terms. See the Glossary at the end of this Code for definitions of these terms. In order to have a basic understanding of the Code, however, you must have an understanding of the terms “ Covered Security ”, “ Beneficial Ownership ” and “ Investment Control ” as used in the Code.

 

  3.1. Covered Security

This Code generally relates to transactions in and ownership of an investment that is a Covered Security . Currently, this means any type of equity or debt security (such as common and preferred stocks, and corporate and government bonds or notes), any equivalent (such as ADRs), any derivative, instrument representing, or any rights relating to, a Covered Security , and any closely related security (such as certificates of participation, depository receipts, collateral–trust certificates, put and call options, warrants, and related convertible or exchangeable securities and securities indices). Shares of closed-end funds, municipal obligations and securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government (e.g. GNMA obligations) are also considered Covered Securities under the Code.

Additionally, the shares of any investment company registered under the Investment Company Act and the shares of any collective investment vehicle (“CIV”), (e.g. SICAVs, OEICs, UCITs, etc.) that is advised, sub-advised, or distributed by Loomis Sayles, Natixis, or a Natixis affiliate (“ Reportable Funds ”) are deemed to be Covered Securities for purposes of certain provisions of the Code. Reportable Funds include open-end and closed-end funds and CIVs that are advised, sub-advised, or distributed by Loomis Sayles, Natixis, or a Natixis affiliate, but exclude money market funds. A current list of Reportable Funds is attached as Exhibit One and will be maintained on the firm’s intranet site under the Legal and Compliance page.

 

Explanatory Note:

   While the definition of Reportable Funds encompasses funds or CIVs that are advised, sub-advised and/or distributed by Natixis and its affiliates, only those funds or CIVs advised or sub-advised by Loomis Sayles (“Loomis Advised Fund”) are subject to certain trading restrictions of the Code (specifically, the Short-Term Trading Profit and Round Trip Transaction restrictions). Please refer to Section 4.3 and 4.4 of the Code for further explanation of these trading restrictions. Additionally, Exhibit One

 

- 4 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

   distinguishes between those funds and CIVs that are only subject to reporting requirements under the Code (all Reportable Funds ), and those that are subject to both the reporting requirements and the aforementioned trading restrictions (Loomis Advised Funds).

Shares of exchange traded funds (“ETFs”) and closed-end funds are deemed to be Covered Securities for the purposes of certain provisions of the Code. Broad based open-ended ETFs with either a market capitalization exceeding U.S. $1 billion OR an average daily trading volume exceeding 1 million shares (over a 90 day period); options on such ETFs, options on the indices of such ETFs; and ETFs that invest 80% of their assets in securities that are not subject to the pre-clearance requirements of the Code, are exempt from certain provisions of the Code (“ Exempt ETFs ”). A current list of Exempt ETFs is attached as Exhibit Two and will be maintained on the firm’s intranet site under the Legal and Compliance page.

Explanatory Note: Broad based open-ended ETFs are determined by Personal Trading Compliance using Bloomberg data.

All Access Persons are expected to comply with the spirit of the Code, as well as the specific rules contained in the Code. Therefore, while the lists of Reportable Funds and Exempt ETFs are subject to change, it is ultimately the responsibility of all Access Persons to review these lists which can be found in Exhibit(s) One and Two , prior to making an investment in a Reportable Fund or ETF.

It should be noted that private placements, hedge funds and investment pools are deemed to be Covered Securities for purposes of the Code whether or not advised, sub-advised, or distributed by Loomis Sayles or a Natixis investment adviser. Investments in such securities are discussed under sections 4.12 and 5.2.

Please see Exhibit Three for the application of the Code to a specific Covered Security or instrument, including exemptions from pre-clearance.

 

  3.2. Beneficial Ownership

The Code governs any Covered Security in which an Access Person has any direct or indirect “ Beneficial Ownership .” Beneficial Ownership for purposes of the Code means a direct or indirect “pecuniary interest” that is held or shared by you directly or indirectly (through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise) in a Covered Security . The term “pecuniary interest” in turn generally means your opportunity directly or indirectly to receive or share in any profit derived from a transaction in a Covered Security, whether or not the Covered Security or the relevant account is in your name and regardless of the type of account (i.e. brokerage account, direct account, or retirement plan account). Although this concept is subject to a variety of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and interpretations, you should know that you are presumed under the Code to have an indirect pecuniary interest as a result of:

 

    ownership of a Covered Security by your spouse or minor children;

 

    ownership of a Covered Security by a live-in partner who shares your household and combines his/her financial resources in a manner similar to that of married persons;

 

   

ownership of a Covered Security by your other family members sharing your household

 

- 5 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

 

(including an adult child, a stepchild, a grandchild, a parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, mother- or father-in-law, sister- or brother-in-law, and son- or daughter-in-law);

 

    your share ownership, partnership interest or similar interest in Covered Securities held by a corporation, general or limited partnership or similar entity you control;

 

    your right to receive dividends or interest from a Covered Security even if that right is separate or separable from the underlying securities;

 

    your interest in a Covered Security held for the benefit of you alone or for you and others in a trust or similar arrangement (including any present or future right to income or principal); and

 

    your right to acquire a Covered Security through the exercise or conversion of a “derivative Covered Security .”

In addition, life events such as marriage, death of a family member (i.e., inheritance), etc. may result in your acquiring Beneficial Ownership and/or Investment Control over accounts previously belonging to others. Therefore, any Covered Security , including Reportable Funds, along with any account that holds or can hold a Covered Security , including Reportable Funds , in which you have a Beneficial Ownership and/or Investment Control, as described in Section 3.2 and Section 3.3 of the Code, resulting from marriage or other life event must be reported to Personal Trading Compliance promptly, and no later than the next applicable quarterly reporting period.

 

Explanatory Note:

   All accounts that hold or can hold a Covered Security in which an Access Person has Beneficial Ownership are subject to the Code (such accounts include, but are not limited to, personal brokerage accounts, mutual fund accounts, accounts of your spouse, accounts of minor children living in your household, Family of Fund accounts, transfer agent accounts holding mutual funds or book entry shares, IRAs, 401Ks, trusts, DRIPs, ESOPs, etc).

Please see Exhibit Four for specific examples of the types of interests and accounts subject to the Code.

 

  3.3. Investment Control

The Code governs any Covered Security in which an Access Person has direct or indirect “ Investment Control .” The term Investment Control encompasses any influence (i.e., power to manage, trade, or give instructions concerning the investment disposition of assets in the account or to approve or disapprove transactions in the account), whether sole or shared, direct or indirect, you exercise over the account or Covered Security .

You should know that you are presumed under the Code to have Investment Control as a result of having:

 

    Investment Control (sole or shared) over your personal brokerage account(s);

 

    Investment Control (sole or shared) over an account(s) in the name of your spouse or minor children, unless, you have renounced an interest in your spouse’s assets (subject to the approval of the Chief Compliance Officer );

 

- 6 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

    Investment Control (sole or shared) over an account(s) in the name of any family member, friend or acquaintance;

 

    Involvement in an Investment Club;

 

    Trustee power over an account(s); and

 

    The existence and/or exercise of a power of attorney over an account.

Please see Exhibit Four for specific examples of the types of interests and accounts subject to the Code.

 

  3.4. Maintaining Personal Accounts

All Access Persons who have personal accounts that hold or can hold Covered Securities in which they have direct or indirect Investment Control and Beneficial Ownership are required to maintain such accounts at one of the following firms: Ameriprise, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab, Citi Personal Wealth Management, E*TRADE, Fidelity Investments, Interactive Brokers, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, TD Ameritrade, Scottrade, UBS, Vanguard, or Wells Fargo (collectively, the “ Select Brokers ”). Additionally, an Access Person may only purchase and hold shares of Reportable Funds through either a Select Broker , directly from the Reportable Fund through its transfer agent, or through one or more of Loomis Sayles’ retirement plans.

Accounts in which the Access Person only has either Investment Control or Beneficial Ownership ; certain retirement accounts with an Access Person’s prior employer; accounts managed by an outside adviser in which the Access Person exercises no investment discretion; accounts in which the Access Person s spouse is employed by another investment firm and must abide by that firm’s Code of Ethics; and/or the retirement accounts of an Access Person’s spouse may be maintained with a firm other than the Select Brokers with the approval of Personal Trading Compliance or the Chief Compliance Officer . However, Access Persons are responsible for ensuring that Personal Trading Compliance receives duplicate confirms as and when transactions are executed in such accounts, and statements on a monthly basis, if available, or at least quarterly. In addition, Personal Trading Complianc e or the Chief Compliance Officer may grant exemptions to the Select Broker requirement for accounts not used for general trading purposes such as ESOPs, DRIPs, securities held physically or in book entry form, family of fund accounts or situations in which the Access Person has a reasonable hardship for maintaining their accounts with a Select Broker .

In addition, Access Persons with a residence outside the U.S. are not required to maintain their personal accounts with a Select Broker . However, such Access Persons who have personal accounts that hold or can hold Covered Securities , including Reportable Funds in which they have direct or indirect Investment Control and/or Beneficial Ownership , are responsible for ensuring that Personal Trading Compliance receives duplicate confirms as and when transactions are executed in the account, and statements on a monthly basis, if available, or at least quarterly. All of the remaining requirements and restrictions of the Code apply to Access Persons with a residence outside the U.S.

 

Explanatory Note:

   While certain accounts may be granted an exemption from certain provisions of the Code, inclusive of the Select Broker requirement, they are still subject to the reporting requirements of the Code and may be subject to the pre-

 

- 7 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

   clearance requirements of the Code (e.g. joint accounts). The terms of a specific exemption will be outlined in an exemption memorandum which is issued to the Access Person by Personal Trading Compliance. An Access Person s failure to abide by the terms and conditions of an account exemption issued by Personal Trading Compliance could result in a violation of the Code.

4. SUBSTANTIVE RESTRICTIONS ON PERSONAL TRADING

The following are substantive prohibitions and restrictions on Access Persons’ personal trading and related activities. In general, the prohibitions set forth below relating to trading activities apply to accounts holding Covered Securities in which an Access Person has Beneficial Ownership and Investment Control .

4.1. Pre-clearance

Each Access Person must pre-clear through the PTA Pre-clearance System (“PTA”) all Volitional transactions in Covered Securities (i.e. transactions in which the Access Person has determined the timing as to when the purchase or sale transaction will occur and amount of shares to be purchased or sold) in which he or she has Investment Control and in which he or she has or would acquire Beneficial Ownership . Exceptions to the pre-clearance requirement include, but are not limited to: Open-ended mutual funds and CIVs meeting the criteria described below, Exempt ETFs listed in Exhibit Two , and US Government Agency bonds (i.e. GNMA, FNMA, FHLMC), as set forth in Exhibit(s) Three and Five .

 

Explanatory Note:

   A CIV is exempt from preclearance under the following conditions: issues shares that shareholders have the right to redeem on demand; calculates an NAV on a daily basis in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 2(a)(41) of the 1940 Act and Rule 2a-4 thereunder; issues and redeems shares at the NAV next determined after receipt of the relevant purchase or redemption order consistent with the “forward pricing” principles of Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act; and there is no secondary market for the shares of the CIV.

Explanatory Note:

   Futures, options and swap transactions in Covered Securities must be manually pre-cleared by Personal Trading Compliance since PTA cannot handle such transactions. Initial public offerings, private placement transactions, including hedge funds whether or not they are advised, sub-advised, or distributed by Loomis Sayles or a Natixis investment adviser, participation in investment clubs and private pooled vehicles require special pre-clearance as detailed under Sections 4.11, 4.12 and 5.2 of the Code.

Explanatory Note:

   Broad based open-ended ETFs with either a market capitalization exceeding $1billion OR an average daily trading volume exceeding 1 million shares (over a 90 day period); options on such ETFs, options on the indices of such ETFs; and ETFs that invest 80% of their assets in securities that are not

 

- 8 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

   subject to the pre-clearance requirements of the Code, are exempt from the pre-clearance and trading restrictions set forth in Sections 4.1, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.9, and 4.10 of the Code. A list of the Exempt ETFs is provided in Exhibit Two of the Code. All closed end-funds, closed-end ETFs, sector based/narrowly defined ETFs and broad based open-ended ETFs with a market capitalization below U.S. $1 billion AND an average daily trading volume below 1 million shares (over a 90 day period) are subject to the pre-clearance and trading restrictions detailed under Section 4 of the Code.
   All closed-end funds and ETFs, including those Exempt ETFs and their associated options as described above, are subject to the reporting requirements detailed in Section 6 of the Code.

Any transaction approved pursuant to the pre-clearance request procedures must be executed by the end of the trading day on which it is approved unless Personal Trading Compliance extends the pre-clearance for an additional trading day. If the Access Person’s trade has not been executed by the end of the same trading day (or the next trading day in the case of an extension), the pre-clearance will lapse and the Access Person may not trade without again seeking and obtaining pre-clearance of the intended trade.

For Access Persons with a U.S. residence, pre-clearance requests can only be submitted through PTA and/or to Personal Trading Compliance Monday – Friday from 9:30am-4:00pm Eastern Standard Time. Access Persons with a residence outside the U.S. will be given separate pre-clearance guidelines instructing them on the availability of PTA and Personal Trading Compliance support hours.

If after pre-clearance is given and before it has lapsed, an Access Person becomes aware that a Covered Security as to which he or she obtained pre-clearance has become the subject of a buy or sell order or is being considered for purchase or sale for a client account, the Access Person who obtained the pre-clearance must consider the pre-clearance revoked and must notify Personal Trading Compliance immediately . If the transaction has already been executed before the Access Person becomes aware of such facts, no violation will be considered to have occurred as a result of the Access Person’s transaction.

If an Access Person has actual knowledge that a requested transaction is nevertheless in violation of this Code or any provision thereof, approval of the request will not protect the Access Person s transaction from being considered in violation of the Code. The Chief Compliance Officer or Personal Trading Compliance may deny or revoke pre-clearance for any reason that is deemed to be consistent with the spirit of the Code.

 

  4.2. Good Until Canceled and Limit Orders

No Access Person shall place a “good until canceled,” “limit” or equivalent order with his/her broker except that an Access Person may utilize a “day order with a limit” so long as the transaction is consistent with provisions of this Code, including the pre-clearance procedures. All orders must expire at the end of the trading day on which they are pre-cleared unless otherwise extended by Personal Trading Compliance.

 

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Exhibit (p)(8)

 

  4.3. Short Term Trading Profits

No Access Person may profit from the Volitional purchase and sale, or conversely the Volitional sale and purchase, of the same or equivalent Covered Security ( including Loomis Advised Funds) within 60 calendar days (unless the sale involved shares of a Covered Security that were acquired more than 60 days prior). Hardship exceptions may be requested (in advance) from Personal Trading Compliance .

An Access Person may sell a Covered Security (including Loomis Advised Funds ) or cover an existing short position at a loss within 60 calendar days. Such requests must be submitted through the PTA System and to Personal Trading Compliance for approval because the PTA System does not have the capability to determine whether the Covered Security will be sold at a gain or a loss.

 

Explanatory Note:

   For purposes of calculating the 60 day holding period, the trade date of a given purchase or sale is deemed to be day zero. 60 full days must pass before an Access Person can trade that same Covered Security for a profit and therefore, allowing the Access Person to do so on the 61st day.

Explanatory Note:

   The Short Term Trading Profits provision is applicable to transactions that are executed across all of an Access Person’s accounts. For example, if an Access Person sold shares of ABC in his/her Fidelity brokerage account today, that Access Person would not be allowed to buy shares of ABC in his/her Charles Schwab IRA account at a lower price within 60 days following the sale.

Explanatory Note:

   Please refer to Exhibit One for a current list of Loomis Advised Funds . Please also note that all closed-end funds are subject to the trading restrictions of Section 4.3 of the Code.

 

  4.4. Restrictions on Round Trip Transactions in Loomis Advised Funds

In addition to the 60 day holding period requirement for purchases and sales of Loomis Advised Funds, an Access Person is prohibited from purchasing, selling and then re-purchasing shares of the same Loomis Advised Fund within a 90 day period (“Round Trip Restriction”). The Round Trip Restriction does not limit the number of times an Access Person can purchase a Loomis Advised Fund or sell a Loomis Advised Fund during a 90 day period. In fact, subject to the holding period requirement described above, an Access Person can purchase a Loomis Advised Fund (through one or multiple transactions) and can liquidate their position in that fund (through one or several transactions) during a 90 day period. However, an Access Person cannot then reacquire a position in the same Loomis Advised Fund previously sold within the same 90 day period.

The Round Trip Restriction will only apply to Volitional transactions in Loomis Advised Funds . Therefore, shares of Loomis Advised Funds acquired through a dividend reinvestment or dollar cost averaging program, and automatic monthly contributions to the firm’s 401K plan will not be considered when applying the Round Trip Restriction.

Finally, all Volitional purchase and sale transactions of Loomis Advised Funds, in any share class and in any employee account (i.e., direct account with the Loomis Advised Fund , Select Broker account, 401K account, etc.) will be matched for purposes of applying the Round Trip Restriction.

 

- 10 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

Explanatory Note:

   Only Loomis Advised Funds are subject to Section 4.4 of the Code. Please refer to Exhibit One for a current list of Loomis Advised Funds .

 

  4.5. Derivatives

No Access Person shall use derivatives, including but not limited, to options, futures, swaps or warrants on a Covered Security to evade the restrictions of the Code. In other words, no Access Person may use derivative transactions with respect to a Covered Security if the Code would prohibit the Access Person from taking the same position directly in the underlying Covered Security .

 

Explanatory Note:

   When transacting in derivatives, Access Persons must pre-clear the derivative and the underlying security in PTA as well as receive manual approval from Personal Trading Compliance before executing their transaction. Please note that options on Exempt ETFs and the underlying index of the ETF, as well as futures on currencies, commodities, cash instruments (such as loans or deposits), stock indexes and interest rates do not require pre-clearance. For more detailed information, please see Section 4.1 of the Code.

 

  4.6. Short Sales

No Access Person may purchase a put option, sell a call option, sell a Covered Security short or otherwise take a short position in a Covered Security then being held long in a Loomis Sayles client account, unless, in the cases of the purchase of a put or sale of a call option, the option is on a broad based index.

 

Explanatory Note:

   If an Access Person seeks pre-clearance to purchase a put option or sell a call option to hedge an existing long position in the same underlying securities, PTC will compare the value of the underlying long position to the option to determine whether the Access Person’s net position would be long or short. If short, the option transaction will be denied.

 

  4.7. Competing with Client Trades

Except as set forth in Section 4.8, an Access Person may not, directly or indirectly, purchase or sell a Covered Security ( Reportable Funds are not subject to this rule.) when the Access Person knows, or reasonably should have known, that such Covered Securities transaction competes in the market with any actual or considered Covered Securities transaction for any client of Loomis Sayles, or otherwise acts to harm any Loomis Sayles client’s Covered Securities transactions.

Generally pre-clearance will be denied if:

 

    a Covered Security or a closely related Covered Security is the subject of a pending “buy” or “sell” order for a Loomis Sayles client until that buy or sell order is executed or withdrawn.

 

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Exhibit (p)(8)

 

    the Covered Security is being considered for purchase or sale for a Loomis Sayles client, until that security is no longer under consideration for purchase or sale.

The PTA System has the information necessary to deny pre-clearance if any of these situations apply. Therefore, if you receive an approval in PTA, you may assume the Covered Security is not being considered for purchase or sale for a client account unless you have actual knowledge to the contrary, in which case the pre-clearance you received is null and void. For Covered Securities requiring manual pre-clearance (i.e. futures, options and other derivative transactions in Covered Securities ), the applicability of such restrictions will be determined by Personal Trading Compliance upon the receipt of the pre-clearance request.

 

  4.8. Large Cap/De Minimis Exemption

An Access Person who wishes to make a trade in a Covered Security that would otherwise be denied pre-clearance solely because the Covered Security is under consideration or pending execution for a client, as provided in Section 4.7, will nevertheless receive approval when submitted for pre-clearance provided that:

 

    the issuer of the Covered Security in which the Access Person wishes to transact has a market capitalization exceeding U.S. $5 billion (a “Large Cap Security”); AND

 

    the aggregate amount of the Access Person’s transactions in that Large Cap Security on that day across all personal accounts does not exceed $10,000 USD.

Such transactions will be subject to all other provisions of the Code.

 

  4.9. Investment Person Seven-Day Blackout Rule

No Investment Person shall, directly or indirectly, purchase or sell any Covered Security ( Reportable Funds are not subject to this rule) within a period of seven (7) calendar days (trade date being day zero) before and after the date that a Loomis Sayles client, with respect to which he or she has the ability to influence investment decisions or has prior investment knowledge regarding associated client activity, has purchased or sold such Covered Security or a closely related Covered Security . It is ultimately the Investment Person’s responsibility to understand the rules and restrictions of the Code and to know what Covered Securities are being traded in his/her client(s) account(s) or any account(s) with which he/she is associated.

 

Explanatory Note:

   The “seven days before” element of this restriction is based on the premise that an Investment Person who has the ability to influence investment decisions or has prior investment knowledge regarding associated client activity can normally be expected to know, upon execution of his or her personal trade, whether any client as to which he or she is associated, has traded, or will be trading in the same or closely related Covered Security within seven days of his or her personal trade. Furthermore, an Investment Person who has the ability to influence investment decisions has a fiduciary obligation to recommend and/or affect suitable and attractive trades for clients regardless of whether such trades may cause a prior personal trade to

 

- 12 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

  

be considered an apparent violation of this restriction. It would constitute a breach of fiduciary duty and a violation of this Code to delay or fail to make any such recommendation or transaction in a client account in order to avoid a conflict with this restriction.

   It is understood that there may be particular circumstances (i.e. news on an issuer, a client initiated liquidation, subscription or rebalancing) that may occur after an Investment Person’s personal trade which gives rise to an opportunity or necessity for an associated client to trade in that Covered Security which did not exist or was not anticipated by that person at the time of that person’s personal trade. Personal Trading Compliance will review all extenuating circumstances which may warrant the waiving of any remedial actions in a particular situation involving an inadvertent violation of this restriction. In such cases, an exception to the Investment Person Seven-Day Blackout Rule will be granted upon approval by the Chief Compliance Officer .
   The Chief Compliance Officer , or designee thereof, may grant a waiver of the Investment Person Seven-Day Blackout Rule if the Investment Person’s proposed transaction is conflicting with client “cash flow” trading in the same security (i.e., purchases of a broad number of portfolio securities in order to invest a capital addition to the account or sales of a broad number of securities in order to generate proceeds to satisfy a capital withdrawal from the account). Such “cash flow” transactions are deemed to be non-volitional at the security level since they do not change the weighting of the security being purchased or sold in the client’s portfolio.

Explanatory Note:

   The trade date of an Investment Person ’s purchase or sale is deemed to be day zero. Any associated client trade activity executed, in either that Covered Security or a closely related Covered Security , 7 full calendar days before or after an Access Person ’s trade will be considered a violation of the Investment Person Seven-Day Blackout Rule. For example, if a client account purchased shares of company ABC on May 4th, any Access Person who is associated with that client account cannot trade ABC in a personal account until May 12th without causing a potential conflict with the Investment Person Seven-Day Blackout Rule.

Explanatory Note:

   While the Investment Person Seven-Day Blackout Rule is designed to address conflicts between Investment Persons and their clients, it is the fiduciary obligation of all Access Persons to not affect trades in their personal account if they have prior knowledge of client trading or pending trading activity in the same or equivalent securities. The personal trade activity of all Access Persons is monitored by Personal Trading Compliance for potential conflicts with client trading activity.

 

  4.10. Research Recommendations

The Loomis Sayles Fixed Income Research Analysts issue “Buy,” “Sell,” and “Hold” recommendations on the fixed income securities that they cover. The Loomis Sayles Equity Research Analysts issue price targets and other types of recommendations on the companies they

 

- 13 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

cover, and certain Equity products have their own research analysts that provide recommendations to their respective investment teams. Collectively the fixed income and equity recommendations and equity price targets are hereinafter referred to as “Recommendations”.

Recommendations are intended to be used for the benefit of the firm’s clients. It is also understood Access Persons may use Recommendations as a factor in the investment decisions they make in their personal and other brokerage accounts that are covered by the Code. The fact that Recommendations may be used by the firm’s investment teams for client purposes and Access Persons may use them for personal reasons creates a potential for conflicts of interests. Therefore, the following rules apply to Recommendations :

 

    During the three (3) business day period before a Research Analyst issues a recommendation on a Covered Security, that the Research Analyst has reason to believe that his/her Recommendation is likely to result in client trading in the Covered Security , the Research Analyst may not purchase or sell said Covered Security for any of his/her personal brokerage accounts or other accounts covered by the Code.

 

Explanatory Note:

   It is understood that there may be particular circumstances such as a news release, change of circumstance or similar event that may occur after a Research Analyst’s personal trade which gives rise to a need, or makes it appropriate, for the Research Analyst to issue a Recommendation on said Covered Security. A Research Analyst has an affirmative duty to make unbiased Recommendations and issue reports, both with respect to their timing and substance, without regard to his or her personal interest in the Covered Security . It would constitute a breach of a Research Analyst’s fiduciary duty and a violation of this Code to delay or fail to issue a Recommendation in order to avoid a conflict with this restriction.
   Personal Trading Compliance will review any extenuating circumstances which may warrant the waiving of any remedial sanctions in a particular situation involving an inadvertent violation of this restriction.

 

    Access Persons are prohibited from using a Recommendation for purposes of transacting in the Covered Security covered by the Recommendation in their personal accounts and other accounts covered by the Code until such time Loomis Sayles’ clients have completed their transactions in said securities in order to give priority to Loomis Sayles’ clients’ best interests.

 

        

 

Explanatory Note:

   Personal Trading Compliance utilizes various automated reports to monitor Access Persons’ trading in Covered Securities relative to Recommendations and associated client transactions. It also has various tools to determine whether a Recommendation has been reviewed by an Access Person . An Access Person’s trading in a Covered Security following a Recommendation and subsequent client trading in the same security and in the same direction will be deemed a violation of the Code unless Personal Trading Compliance determines otherwise.

 

- 14 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

  4.11. Initial Public Offerings

Investing in Initial Public Offerings of Covered Securities is prohibited unless such opportunities are connected with your prior employment compensation (i.e. options, grants, etc.) or your spouse’s employment compensation. No Access Person may, directly or indirectly, purchase any securities sold in an Initial Public Offering without obtaining prior written approval from the Chief Compliance Officer .

 

  4.12. Private Placement Transactions

No Access Person may, directly or indirectly, purchase any Covered Security offered and sold pursuant to a Private Placement Transaction , including hedge funds, without obtaining the advance written approval of Personal Trading Compliance, the Chief Compliance Officer and the applicable Access Person’s supervisor or other appropriate member of senior management.    In addition to addressing potential conflicts of interest between the Access Person’s Private Placement Transaction and the firm’s clients’ best interests, the pre-clearance of Private Placements is designed to determine whether the Access Person may come into possession of material non-public information (“MNPI”) on a publically traded company as a result of the Private Placement .

A Private Placement Transaction approval must be obtained by completing an automated Private Placement Pre-clearance Form which can be found on the Legal and Compliance Intranet Homepage under ‘Personal Trading Compliance Forms’.

 

Explanatory Note:

   If you have been authorized to acquire a Covered Security in a Private Placement Transaction , you must disclose to Personal Trading Compliance if you are involved in a client’s subsequent consideration of an investment in the issuer of the Private Placement , even if that investment involves a different type or class of Covered Security . In such circumstances, the decision to purchase securities of the issuer for a client must be independently reviewed by an Investment Person with no personal interest in the issuer.

The purchase of additional shares, (including mandatory capital calls), or the subsequent sale (partial or full) of a previously approved Private Placement , must receive pre-clearance approval from the Chief Compliance Officer . In addition, all transactions in Private Placements must be reported quarterly and annually as detailed in Section 6 of the Code.

 

Explanatory Note:

   To submit a pre-clearance request for subsequent trade activity in a Private Placement , Access Persons must complete the automated Private Placement Pre-clearance Form which will be reviewed by Personal Trading Compliance to ensure there are no conflicts with any underlying Code provisions including the Short-Term Trading Rule.

 

  4.13. Insider Trading

At the start of an Access Person’s engagement with Loomis Sayles, and annually thereafter, each Access Person must acknowledge his/her understanding of and compliance with the Loomis Sayles Insider Trading Policies and Procedures. The firm’s policy is to refrain from trading or recommending trading when in the possession of MNPI.

 

- 15 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

Some examples of MNPI may include:

 

    Earnings estimates or dividend changes

 

    Positive or negative forthcoming news about an issuer

 

    Supplier discontinuances

 

    Mergers or acquisitions

If an Access Person receives or believes that he/she may have received MNPI with respect to a company, the Access Person must contact the Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel immediately, and must not :

 

    purchase or sell that security in question, including any derivatives of that security;

 

    recommend the purchase or sale of that security, including any derivatives of that security; or

 

    relate the information to anyone other than the Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel of Loomis Sayles.

If it has been determined that an Access Person has obtained MNPI on a particular company, its securities will generally be placed on the firm’s Restricted List thereby restricting trading by the firm’s client accounts and Access Persons . The only exception to this policy is with the approval of the Chief Compliance Officer or General Counsel of the firm, and then only in compliance with the firm’s Firewall Procedures.

Separately, Access Persons must inform Personal Trading Compliance if a spouse, partner and/or immediate family member (“Related Person”) is an officer and/or director of a publicly traded company in order to enable Personal Trading Compliance to implement special pre-clearance procedures for said Access Persons in order to prevent insider trading in the Related Person’s company’s securities.

Access Persons should refer to the Loomis Sayles Insider Trading Policies and Procedures which are available on the Legal and Compliance homepage of the firm’s Intranet, for complete guidance on dealing with MNPI.

 

  4.14. Restricted and Concentration List

The Loomis Sayles Restricted and Concentration List (“Restricted List”) is designed to restrict Loomis Sayles and/or Access Persons from trading in or recommending, the securities of companies on the Restricted List for client and/or Access Persons personal accounts. Companies may be added to the Restricted List if Loomis Sayles comes into possession of MNPI about a company. A company’s securities can also be added to the Restricted List due to the size of the aggregate position Loomis Sayles’ clients may have in the company. Finally, there may be regulatory and/or client contractual restrictions that may prevent Loomis Sayles from purchasing securities of its affiliates, and as a result, the securities of all publicly traded affiliates of Loomis Sayles will be added to the Restricted List. No conclusion should be drawn from the addition of an issuer to the Restricted List. The Restricted List is confidential, proprietary information which must not be distributed outside of the firm.

 

- 16 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

At times, an Access Person may have possession of MNPI on a specific company as a result of his/her being behind a firewall. In such cases, Personal Trading Compliance will create a specialized Restricted List in PTA for the Access Person behind the wall in order to prevent trading in the company’s securities until such time as the Chief Compliance Officer has deemed the information in the Access Person’s possession to be in the public domain or no longer material.

If a security is added to either the Loomis Sayles firm-wide Restricted List or an individual or group Access Person Restricted List, Access Persons will be restricted from purchasing or selling all securities related to that issuer until such time as the security is removed from the applicable Restricted List. The PTA System has the information necessary to deny pre-clearance if these situations apply.

 

  4.15. Loomis Sayles Hedge Funds

From time to time Loomis Sayles may manage hedge funds, and Access Persons of Loomis Sayles, including the hedge fund’s investment team and supervisors thereof may make personal investments in such hedge funds. At times, especially during the early stages of a new hedge fund, there may be a limited outside investors (i.e., clients and non-employee individual investors) in such funds. In order to mitigate the appearance that investing personally in a hedge fund can potentially be used as a way to benefit from certain trading practices that would otherwise be prohibited by the Code if Access Persons engaged in such trading practices in their personal accounts, investment team members of a hedge fund they manage are individually required to limit their personal investments in such funds to no more than 20% of the hedge funds’ total assets. In addition, the supervisor of a hedge fund investment team must limit his/her personal investment in such hedge fund to no more than 25% of the hedge fund’s total assets.

By limiting the personal interests in the hedge fund by their investment teams and their supervisors in this manner, all of the portfolio trading activity of the Loomis Sayles hedge funds is deemed to be exempt from the pre-clearance and trading restrictions of the Code.

 

  4.16. Exemptions Granted by the Chief Compliance Officer

Subject to applicable law, Personal Trading Compliance or the Chief Compliance Officer may from time to time grant exemptions, other than or in addition to those described in Exhibit Five , from the trading restrictions, pre-clearance requirements or other provisions of the Code with respect to particular individuals such as non-employee directors, consultants, temporary employees, interns or independent contractors, and types of transactions or Covered Securities , where, in the opinion of the Chief Compliance Officer , such an exemption is appropriate in light of all the surrounding circumstances.

 

5. PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES

 

  5.1. Public Company Board Service and Other Affiliations

To avoid conflicts of interest, MNPI and other compliance and business issues, Loomis Sayles prohibits Access Persons from serving as officers or members of the board of any publicly traded entity. This prohibition does not apply to service as an officer or board member of any parent or subsidiary of the firm.

 

- 17 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

In addition, in order to identify potential conflicts of interests, compliance and business issues, before accepting any service, employment, engagement, connection, association, or affiliation in or within any enterprise, business or otherwise, (herein after, collectively Outside Activity(ies)), an Access Person must obtain the advance written approval of Personal Trading Compliance, the Chief Compliance Officer and the applicable Access Person’s supervisor or other appropriate member of senior management.

An Outside Activity approval can be obtained by completing an automated Outside Activity Form which can be found on the Legal and Compliance Intranet Homepage under ‘Personal Trading Compliance Forms’. In determining whether to approve such Outside Activity, Personal Trading Compliance and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider whether such service will involve an actual or perceived conflict of interest with client trading, place impediments on Loomis Sayles’ ability to trade on behalf of clients or otherwise materially interfere with the effective discharge of Loomis Sayles’ or the Access Person s duties to clients.

 

Explanatory Note:   Examples of Outside Activities include, but are not limited to, family businesses, acting as an officer, partner or trustee of an organization or trust, political positions, second jobs, professional associations, etc. Outside Activities that are not covered by the Code are activities that involve a charity or foundation, as long as you do not provide investment or financial advice to the organization. Examples would include: volunteer work, homeowners’ organizations (such as condos or coop boards), or other civic activities.

 

  5.2. Participation in Investment Clubs and Private Pooled Vehicles

No Access Person shall participate in an investment club or invest in a hedge fund, or similar private organized investment pool (but not an SEC registered open-end mutual fund) without the express permission of Personal Trading Compliance, the Chief Compliance Officer and the applicable Access Person’s supervisor or other appropriate member of senior management, whether or not the investment vehicle is advised, sub-advised or distributed by Loomis Sayles or a Natixis investment adviser.

 

6. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

 

  6.1. Initial Holdings Reporting, Account Disclosure and Acknowledgement of Code

Within 10 days after becoming an Access Person, each Access Person must file with Personal Trading Compliance , a report of all Covered Securities holdings (including holdings of Reportable Funds ) in which such Access Person has Beneficial Ownership or Investment Control . The information contained therein must be current as of a date not more than 45 days prior to the individual becoming an Access Person .

Additionally, within 10 days of becoming an Access Person , such Access Person must report all brokerage or other accounts that hold or can hold Covered Securities in which the Access Person has Beneficial Ownership or Investment Control . The information must be as of the date the person became an Access Person . An Access Person can satisfy these reporting requirements by providing Personal Trading Compliance with a current copy of his or her brokerage account or other account statements, which hold or can hold Covered Securities . An automated Initial Code of Ethics Certification and Disclosure Form can be found on the Legal and Compliance Intranet Homepage under ‘Personal Trading Compliance Forms’. This form must be completed and

 

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Exhibit (p)(8)

submitted to Personal Trading Compliance by the Access Person within 10 days of becoming an Access Person . The content of the Initial Holdings information must include, at a minimum, the title and type of security, the ticker symbol or CUSIP, number of shares, and principal amount of each Covered Security (including Reportable Funds) and the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the securities are held.

 

Explanatory Note:    Loomis Sayles treats all of its employees and certain consultants as Access Persons . Therefore, you are deemed to be an Access Person as of the first day you begin working for the firm.
Explanatory Note:    Types of accounts in which Access Persons are required to report include, but are not limited to: personal brokerage accounts, mutual fund accounts, accounts of your spouse, accounts of minor children living in your household, Family of Fund accounts, transfer agent accounts holding mutual funds or book entry shares, IRAs, 401Ks, trusts, DRIPs, ESOPs etc. that either hold or can hold Covered Securities (including Reportable Funds). In addition, physically held shares of Covered Securities must also be reported. An Access Person should contact Personal Trading Compliance if they are unsure as to whether an account or personal investment is subject to reporting under the Code so the account or investment can be properly reviewed.

At the time of the initial disclosure period, each Access Person must also submit information pertaining to:

 

    His/her participation in any Outside Activity as described in Section 5.1 of the Code;

 

    His/her participation in an Investment Club as described in Section 5.2 of the Code;

 

    Holdings in Private Placements including hedge funds; and

 

    A Related Person that is an officer and/or director of a publicly traded company; if any.

Upon becoming an Access Person, each Access Person will receive a copy of the Code, along with the Loomis Sayles Insider Trading Policies and Procedures and Loomis Sayles Gifts, Business Entertainment and Political Contributions Policies and Procedures. Within the 10 day initial disclosure period and annually thereafter, each Access Person must acknowledge that he or she has received, read and understands the aforementioned policies and recognize that he or she is subject hereto, and certify that he or she will comply with the requirements of each.

 

  6.2. Brokerage Confirmations and Brokerage Account Statements

Each Access Person must notify Personal Trading Compliance immediately upon the opening of an account that holds or may hold Covered Securities (including Reportable Funds ), in which such Access Person has Beneficial Ownership or Investment Control. In addition, if an account has been granted an exemption to the Select Broker requirement and/or the account is unable to be added to the applicable Select Broker’s daily electronic broker feed, which supplies PTA with daily executed confirms and positions, Personal Trading Compliance will instruct the

 

- 19 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

broker dealer of the account to provide it with duplicate copies of the account’s confirmations and statements. If the broker dealer cannot provide Personal Trading Compliance with confirms and statements, the Access Person is responsible for providing Personal Trading Compliance with copies of such confirms as and when transactions are executed in the account, and statements on a monthly basis, if available, but no less than quarterly. Upon the opening of an account, an automated Personal Account Information Form must be completed and submitted to Personal Trading Compliance . This form can be found on the Legal and Compliance Intranet Homepage under ‘Personal Trading Compliance Forms’.

 

Explanatory Note:   If the opening of an account is not reported immediately to Personal Trading Compliance , but is reported during the corresponding quarterly certification period, and there has not been any trade activity in the account, then the Access Person will be deemed to have not violated its reporting obligations under this Section of the Code.
Explanatory Note:   For those accounts that are maintained at a Select Broker and are eligible for the broker’s daily electronic confirm and position feed, Access Persons do not need to provide duplicate confirms and statements to Personal Trading Compliance . However, it is the Access Person’s responsibility to accurately review and certify their quarterly transactions and annual holdings information in PTA, and to promptly notify Personal Trading Compliance if there are any discrepancies.

 

  6.3. Quarterly Transaction Reporting and Account Disclosure

Utilizing PTA, each Access Person must file a report of all Volitional transactions in Covered Securities (including Volitional transactions in Reportable Funds ) made during each calendar quarterly period in which such Access Person has, or by reason of such transaction acquires or disposes of, any Beneficial Ownership of a Covered Security (even if such Access Person has no direct or indirect Investment Control over such Covered Security ), or as to which the Access Person has any direct or indirect Investment Control (even if such Access Person has no Beneficial Ownership in such Covered Security ). Non-volitional transactions in Covered Securities (including Reportable Funds ) such as automatic monthly payroll deductions, changes to future contributions within the Loomis Sayles Retirement Plans, dividend reinvestment programs, dollar cost averaging programs, and transactions made within the Guided Choice Program are still subject to the Code’s annual reporting requirements. If no transactions in any Covered Securities, required to be reported, were effected during a quarterly period by an Access Person , such Access Person shall nevertheless submit a report through PTA within the time frame specified below stating that no reportable securities transactions were affected. The following information will be available in electronic format for Access Persons to verify on their Quarterly Transaction report:

The date of the transaction, the title of the security, ticker symbol or CUSIP, number of shares, and principal amount of each reportable security, nature of the transaction (i.e., purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition), the price of the transaction, and the name of the broker, dealer or bank with which the transaction was effected. However, the Access Person is responsible for confirming the accuracy of this information and informing Personal Trading Compliance if his or her reporting information is inaccurate or incomplete.

With the exception of those accounts described in Exhibit Four, Access Persons are also required to report each account that may hold or holds Covered Securities (including accounts that hold or may hold Reportable Funds ) in which such Access Person has Beneficial Ownership or

 

- 20 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

Investment Control that have been opened or closed during the reporting period. In addition, life events such as marriage, death of a family member (i.e., inheritance), etc. may result in your acquiring Beneficial Ownership and/or Investment Control over accounts previously belonging to others. Therefore, any Covered Security , including Reportable Funds, along with any account that holds or can hold a Covered Security, including Reportable Funds, in which you have a Beneficial Ownership and/or Investment Control, as described in Section 3.2 and Section 3.3 of the Code, resulting from marriage or other life event must be reported to Personal Trading Compliance promptly, and no later than the next applicable quarterly reporting period.

Every quarterly report must be submitted no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the close of each calendar quarter.

 

  6.4. Annual Reporting

On an annual basis, as of a date specified by Personal Trading Compliance, each Access Person must file with Personal Trading Compliance a dated annual certification which identifies all holdings in Covered Securities (including Reportable Funds ) in which such Access Person has Beneficial Ownership and/or Investment Control . This reporting requirement also applies to shares of Covered Securities , including shares of Reportable Funds that were acquired during the year in Non-volitional transactions. Additionally, each Access Person must identify all personal accounts which hold or may hold Covered Securities (including Reportable Funds), in which such Access Person has Beneficial Ownership and/or Investment Control . The information in the Annual Package shall reflect holdings in the Access Person’s account(s) that are current as of a date specified by Personal Trading Compliance . The following information will be available in electronic format for Access Persons to verify on the Annual Holdings report:

The title of the security, the ticker symbol or CUSIP, number of shares, and principal amount of each Covered Security (including Reportable Funds ) and the name of any broker, dealer or bank with which the securities are held. However, the Access Person is responsible for confirming the accuracy of this information and informing Personal Trading Compliance if his or her reporting information is inaccurate or incomplete.

Furthermore, on an annual basis, each Access Person must acknowledge and certify that during the past year he/she has received, read, understood and complied with the Code, Insider Trading Policies and Procedures, and the Policies and Procedures on Gifts, Business Entertainment, and Political Contributions, except as otherwise disclosed in writing to Personal Trading Compliance or the Chief Compliance Officer . Finally, as part of the annual certification, each Access Person must acknowledge and confirm any Outside Activities in which he or she currently participates and any Related Person that is an officer and/or director of a publicly traded company.

All material changes to the Code will be promptly distributed to Access Persons, and also be distributed to Supervised Persons on a quarterly basis. On an annual basis, Supervised Persons will be asked to acknowledge his/her receipt, understanding of and compliance with the Code.

Every annual report must be submitted no later than (45) calendar days after the date specified by Personal Trading Compliance .

 

  6.5. Review of Reports by Chief Compliance Officer

The Chief Compliance Officer shall establish procedures as the Chief Compliance Officer

 

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Exhibit (p)(8)

 

may from time to time determine appropriate for the review of the information required to be compiled under this Code regarding transactions by Access Persons and to report any violations thereof to all necessary parties.

 

  6.6. Internal Reporting of Violations to the Chief Compliance Officer

Prompt internal reporting of any violation of the Code to the Chief Compliance Officer or Personal Trading Compliance is required under Rule 204A-1. While the daily monitoring process undertaken by Personal Trading Compliance is designed to identify any violations of the Code and handle any such violations promptly, Access Persons and Supervised Persons are required to promptly report any violations they learn of resulting from either their own conduct or those of other Access Persons or Supervised Persons to the Chief Compliance Officer or Personal Trading Compliance . It is incumbent upon Loomis Sayles to create an environment that encourages and protects Access Persons or Supervised Persons who report violations. In doing so, individuals have the right to remain anonymous in reporting violations. Furthermore, any form of retaliation against an individual who reports a violation could constitute a further violation of the Code, as deemed appropriate by the Chief Compliance Officer . All Access Persons and Supervised Persons should therefore feel safe to speak freely in reporting any violations.

7. SANCTIONS

Any violation of the substantive or procedural requirements of this Code will result in the imposition of a sanction as set forth in the firm’s then current Sanctions Policy, or as the Ethics Committee may deem appropriate under the circumstances of the particular violation. These sanctions may include, but are not limited to:

 

    a letter of caution or warning (i.e. Procedures Notice);

 

    payment of a fine,

 

    requiring the employee to reverse a trade and realize losses or disgorge any profits;

 

    restitution to an affected client;

 

    suspension of personal trading privileges;

 

    actions affecting employment status, such as suspension of employment without pay, demotion or termination of employment; and

 

    referral to the SEC, other civil authorities or criminal authorities.

Serious violations, including those involving deception, dishonesty or knowing breaches of law or fiduciary duty, will result in one or more of the most severe sanctions regardless of the violator’s history of prior compliance.

 

Explanatory Note:   Any violation of the Code, following a “first offense” whether or not for the same type of violation, will be treated as a subsequent offense.

Fines, penalties and disgorged profits will be donated to a charity selected by the Loomis Sayles Charitable Giving Committee.

 

- 22 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

8. RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS

Loomis Sayles shall maintain and preserve records, in an easily accessible place, relating to the Code of the type and in the manner and form and for the time period prescribed from time to time by applicable law.    Currently, Loomis Sayles is required by law to maintain and preserve:

 

    in an easily accessible place, a copy of this Code (and any prior Code of Ethics that was in effect at any time during the past five years) for a period of five years;

 

    in an easily accessible place a record of any violation of the Code and of any action taken as a result of such violation for a period of five years following the end of the fiscal year in which the violation occurs;

 

    a copy of each report (or information provided in lieu of a report including any manual pre-clearance forms and information relied upon or used for reporting) submitted under the Code for a period of five years, provided that for the first two years such copy must be preserved in an easily accessible place;

 

    copies of Access Persons’ and Supervised Persons’ written acknowledgment of initial receipt of the Code and his/her annual acknowledgement;

 

    in an easily accessible place, a record of the names of all Access Persons within the past five years, even if some of them are no longer Access Persons , the holdings and transactions reports made by these Access Persons, and records of all Access Persons’ personal securities reports (and duplicate brokerage confirmations or account statements in lieu of these reports);

 

    a copy of each report provided to any Investment Company as required by paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act or any successor provision for a period of five years following the end of the fiscal year in which such report is made, provided that for the first two years such record shall be preserved in an easily accessible place; and

 

    a written record of any decision and the reasons supporting any decision, to approve the purchase by an Access Person of any Covered Security in an Initial Public Offering or Private Placement Transaction or other limited offering for a period of five years following the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted.

 

Explanatory Note:    Under Rule 204-2, the standard retention period required for all documents and records listed above is five years, in easily accessible place, the first two years in an appropriate office of Personal Trading Compliance .

9. MISCELLANEOUS

 

  9.1. Confidentiality

Loomis Sayles will keep information obtained from any Access Person hereunder in strict confidence. Notwithstanding the forgoing, reports of Covered Securities transactions and violations hereunder will be made available to the SEC or any other regulatory or self-regulatory organizations to the extent required by law rule or regulation, and in certain circumstances, may in Loomis Sayles’ discretion be made available to other civil and criminal authorities. In addition, information regarding violations of the Code may be provided to clients or former clients of Loomis Sayles that have been directly or indirectly affected by such violations.

 

- 23 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

  9.2. Disclosure of Client Trading Knowledge

No Access Person may, directly or indirectly, communicate to any person who is not an Access Person or other approved agent of Loomis Sayles (e.g., legal counsel) any non-public information relating to any client of Loomis Sayles or any issuer of any Covered Security owned by any client of Loomis Sayles, including, without limitation, the purchase or sale or considered purchase or sale of a Covered Security on behalf of any client of Loomis Sayles, except to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or to effectuate traditional asset management/operations activities on behalf of the client of Loomis Sayles.

 

  9.3. Notice to Access Persons, Investment Persons and Research Analysts as to Code Status

Personal Trading Compliance will initially determine an employee’s status as an Access Person, Research Analyst or Investment Person and the client accounts to which Investment Persons should be associated, and will inform such persons of their respective reporting and duties under the Code.

All Access Persons and/or the applicable supervisors thereof, have an obligation to inform Personal Trading Compliance if an Access Person’s responsibilities change during the Access Person’s tenure at Loomis Sayles.

 

  9.4. Notice to Personal Trading Compliance of Engagement of Independent Contractors

Any Access Person that engages as a non-employee service provider (“NESP”), such as a consultant, temporary employee, intern or independent contractor shall notify Personal Trading Compliance of this engagement, and provide to Personal Trading Compliance the information necessary to make a determination as to how the Code shall apply to such NESP, if at all.

NESP’s are generally not subject to the pre-clearance, trading restrictions and certain reporting provisions of the Code. However, NESP’s must receive, review and acknowledge a Code of Ethics Compliance Statement that further describes his/her Code requirements and fiduciary duties while engaged with Loomis Sayles.

At times, NESP’s are contracted to various departments at Loomis Sayles where they may be involved or be privy to the investment process for client accounts or the Loomis Sayles recommendation process. Prior to their engagement, the Loomis Sayles Human Resources Department will notify Personal Trading Compliance of these NESP’s and depending on the facts and circumstances, the NESP will be communicated what provisions of the Code will apply to them during their engagement.

 

  9.5. Questions and Educational Materials

Employees are encouraged to bring to Personal Trading Compliance any questions you may have about interpreting or complying with the Code about Covered Securities , accounts that hold or may hold Covered Securities or personal trading activities of you, your family, or household members, your legal and ethical responsibilities, or similar matters that may involve the Code.

Personal Trading Compliance will from time to time circulate educational materials or

 

- 24 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

bulletins or conduct training sessions designed to assist you in understanding and carrying out your duties under the Code. On an annual basis, each Access Person is required to successfully complete the Code of Ethics and Fiduciary Duty Tutorial designed to educate Access Persons on their responsibilities under the Code and other Loomis Sayles policies and procedures that generally apply to all employees.

 

- 25 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The boldface terms used throughout this policy have the following meanings:

 

1. Access Person ” means an “access person” as defined from time to time in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act or any applicable successor provision. Currently, this means any director, or officer of Loomis Sayles, or any Advisory Person (as defined below) of Loomis Sayles, but does not include any director who is not an officer or employee of Loomis Sayles or its corporate general partner and who meets all of the following conditions:

 

  a. He or she, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, does not make, participate in or obtain information regarding the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by a registered investment company, and whose functions do not relate to the making of recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales;

 

  b. He or she does not have access to nonpublic information regarding any clients’ purchase or sale of securities, or nonpublic information regarding the portfolio holdings of any Reportable Fund ; and

 

  c. He or she is not involved in making securities recommendations to clients, and does not have access to such recommendations that are nonpublic.

Loomis Sayles treats all employees as Access Persons .

 

2. Advisory Person ” means an “advisory person” and “advisory representative” as defined from time to time in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204-2(a)(12) under the Advisers Act, respectively, or any applicable successor provision. Currently, this means (i) every employee of Loomis Sayles (or of any company in a Control relationship to Loomis Sayles), who, in connection with his or her regular functions or duties, makes, participates in, or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of a Covered Security by Loomis Sayles on behalf of clients, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales; and (ii) every natural person in a Control relationship to Loomis Sayles who obtains information concerning recommendations made to a client with regard to the purchase or sale of a Covered Security. Advisory Person also includes: (a) any other employee designated by Personal Trading Compliance or the Chief Compliance Officer as an Advisory Person under this Code; (b) any consultant, temporary employee, intern or independent contractor (or similar person) engaged by Loomis Sayles designated as such by Personal Trading Compliance or the Chief Compliance Officer as a result of such person’s access to information about the purchase or sale of Covered Securities by Loomis Sayles on behalf of clients (by being present in Loomis Sayles offices, having access to computer data or otherwise).

 

3. Beneficial Ownership is defined in Section 3.2 of the Code.

 

4.

Chief Compliance Officer refers to the officer or employee of Loomis Sayles designated from time to time by Loomis Sayles to receive and review reports of

 

- 1 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

  purchases and sales by Access Persons , and to address issues of personal trading. “ Personal Trading Compliance ” means the employee or employees of Loomis Sayles designated from time to time by the General Counsel of Loomis Sayles to receive and review reports of purchases and sales, and to address issues of personal trading, by the Chief Compliance Officer , and to act for the Chief Compliance Officer in the absence of the Chief Compliance Officer .

 

5. Covered Security ” is defined in Section 3.1 of the Code.

 

6. “Exempt ETF” is defined in Section 3.1 of the Code and a list of such funds is found in Exhibit Two.

 

7. Federal Securities Laws ” refers to the 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 SEC under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to funds and investment advisers, and any rules adopted there under by the SEC or the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and any amendments to the above mentioned statutes.

 

8. Investment Control ” is defined in Section 3.3 of the Code.This means “control” as defined from time to time in Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204-2(a)(12) under the Advisers Act or any applicable successor provision. Currently, this means the power to directly or indirectly influence, manage, trade, or give instructions concerning the investment disposition of assets in an account or to approve or disapprove transactions in an account.

 

9. Initial Public Offering ” means an “initial public offering” as defined from time to time in Rule 17j-l under the 1940 Act or any applicable successor provision. Currently, this means any offering of securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933 the issuer of which immediately before the offering, was not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

10. Investment Company ” means any Investment Company registered as such under the 1940 Act and for which Loomis Sayles serves as investment adviser or subadviser or which an affiliate of Loomis Sayles serves as an investment adviser.

 

11. Investment Person ” means all Portfolio Managers of Loomis Sayles and other Advisory Persons who assist the Portfolio Managers in making and implementing investment decisions for an Investment Company or other client of Loomis Sayles, including, but not limited to, designated Research Analysts and traders of Loomis Sayles. A person is considered an Investment Person only as to those client accounts or types of client accounts as to which he or she is designated by Personal Trading Compliance or the Chief Compliance Officer as such. As to other accounts, he or she is simply an Access Person .

 

12. “Loomis Advised Fund” is any Reportable Fund advised or sub-advised by Loomis Sayles. A list of these funds can be found in Exhibit One .

 

13.

Non-volitional transactions are any transaction in which the employee has not

 

- 2 -


Exhibit (p)(8)

 

  determined the timing as to when the purchase or sale will occur and the amount of shares to be purchased or sold, i.e. changes to future contributions within the Loomis Sayles Retirement Plans, dividend reinvestment programs, dollar cost averaging program, automatic monthly payroll deductions, and any transactions made within the Guided Choice Program. Non-volitional transactions are not subject to the pre-clearance or quarterly reporting requirements under the Code.

 

14. Portfolio Manager ” means any individual employed by Loomis Sayles who has been designated as a Portfolio Manager by Loomis Sayles. A person is considered a Portfolio Manager only as to those client accounts as to which he or she is designated by the Chief Compliance Officer as such. As to other client accounts, he or she is simply an Access Person .

 

15. Private Placement Transaction ” means a “limited offering” as defined from time to time in Rule 17j-l under the 1940 Act or any applicable successor provision. Currently, this means an offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 4(2) or 4(6) or Rule 504, 505 or 506 under that Act, including hedge funds.

 

16. Recommendation ” means any change to a security’s price target or other type of recommendation in the case of an equity Covered Security, or any initial rating or rating change in the case of a fixed income Covered Security in either case issued by a Research Analyst .

 

17. Reportable Fund is defined in Section 3.1 of the Code, and a list of such funds is found in Exhibit One .

 

18. Research Analyst ” means any individual employed by Loomis Sayles who has been designated as a Research Analyst or Research Associate by Loomis Sayles. A person is considered a Research Analyst only as to those Covered Securities which he or she is assigned to cover and about which he or she issues research reports to other Investment Persons or otherwise makes recommendations to Investment Persons beyond publishing their research. As to other securities, he or she is simply an Access Person .

 

19. Select Broker ” is defined in Section 3.4 of the Code.

 

20. Supervised Person ” is defined in Section 202(a)(25) of the Advisers Act and currently includes any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), or employee of Loomis Sayles, or other person who provides investment advice on behalf of Loomis Sayles and is subject to the supervision and control of Loomis Sayles.

 

21. Volitional ” transactions are any transactions in which the employee has determined the timing as to when the purchase or sale transaction will occur and amount of shares to be purchased or sold. Volitional transactions are subject to the pre-clearance and reporting requirements under the Code.

 

- 3 -

Exhibit (q)(1)

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST I

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST II

NATIXIS FUNDS TRUST IV

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS I

LOOMIS SAYLES FUNDS II

GATEWAY TRUST

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Effective July 1, 2016, we, the undersigned, hereby constitute John M. Loder, Russell Kane, Rosa Licea-Mailloux and Michael Kardok, each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for us, and in our names in the capacity indicated below, any and all registration statements and any and all amendments thereto to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of registering from time to time investment companies of which we are now or hereafter a Director or Trustee and to register the shares of such companies and generally to do all such things in our names and on our behalf to enable such registered investment companies to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all requirements and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys and any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.

Witness our hands on the 16 th day of July, 2016.

 

/s/ Kenneth A. Drucker

Kenneth A. Drucker

    

/s/ Peter J. Smail

Peter J. Smail

/s/ Edmond J. English

Edmond J. English

    

/s/ Cynthia L. Walker

Cynthia L. Walker

/s/ Richard A. Goglia

Richard A. Goglia

    

/s/ James P. Palermo

James P. Palermo

/s/ Wendell J. Knox

Wendell J. Knox

    

/s/ Kevin P. Charleston

Kevin P. Charleston

/s/ Martin T. Meehan

Martin T. Meehan

    

/s/ David L. Giunta

David L. Giunta

/s/ Sandra O. Moose

Sandra O. Moose

    

/s/ John T. Hailer

John T. Hailer

/s/ Erik R. Sirri

Erik R. Sirri