Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 16, 2017
File Nos. 033-62470
811-07704


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Post-Effective Amendment No. 175
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 176

SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

211 Main Street
San Francisco, California 94105
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(800) 648-5300
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

Marie Chandoha
211 Main Street
San Francisco, California 94105
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copies of communications to:
Douglas P. Dick, Esq.
Dechert LLP
1900 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
John M. Loder, Esq.
Ropes & Gray LLP
800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199-3600
David J. Lekich, Esq.
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
□ Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
☒ On June 19, 2017 pursuant to paragraph (b)
□ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
□ On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
□ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
□ On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
If appropriate, check the following box:
□ This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.



Table of Contents
Laudus MarketMasters Funds ®
Prospectus
June 19, 2017
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund™
 Investor Shares SWOSX
 Select Shares ® SWMSX
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund™
 Investor Shares SWOIX
 Select Shares ® SWMIX
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved these securities or passed on whether the information in this prospectus is adequate and accurate. Anyone who indicates otherwise is committing a federal crime.

 

Laudus MarketMasters Funds
Fund summaries  

1

5
Fund details  

9

11

14

16

19

24

24

25

27

27

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Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund™
Ticker Symbols: Investor Shares: SWOSX Select Shares ® : SWMSX
Investment objective
The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fund fees and expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the  fund.
Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
  Investor
Shares
  Select
Shares ®
  None   None
Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
Management fees 1.17   1.17
Distribution (12b-1) fees None   None
Other expenses 0.39   0.35
Total annual fund operating expenses 1.56   1.52
Less expense reduction (0.21)   (0.32)
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reduction¹ 1.35   1.20
1 The investment adviser and its affiliates have agreed to limit the total annual  fund operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes and certain non-routine expenses) of the Investor Shares and Select Shares to 1.35% and 1.20%, respectively, for so long as the investment adviser serves as the adviser to the fund. This agreement may only be amended or terminated with the approval 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 time periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. The figures are based on total annual  fund operating expenses after expense reduction. The expenses would be the same whether you stayed in the  fund or sold your shares at the end of each period. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Expenses on a $10,000 investment
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Investor Shares $137 $ 428 $ 739 $1,624
Select Shares $122 $381 $660 $1,455
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 may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual  fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 85% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal investment strategies
Under normal circumstances, the fund pursues its goal by investing at least 80% of its net assets (net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of companies with small market capitalizations or investments with similar economic characteristics, such as futures. The fund will notify its shareholders at least 60 days before changing this policy. Companies with small market capitalizations generally are those with market capitalizations within the universe of the Russell 2000 Index at the time of purchase by the fund. The market capitalization range of the Russell 2000 Index was $144 million to $4.37 billion as of May 12, 2017, and will change as market conditions change.
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM) allocates portions of the fund’s assets to several investment managers, who then manage their respective portions under the general supervision of CSIM. In choosing the investment managers and their allocations, CSIM considers a number of factors, including market trends, its own outlook for a given market capitalization or investment style category, and the investment managers’ performance in various market conditions. In addition to monitoring and coordinating the investment managers, CSIM also manages the cash portion of the fund. CSIM may also directly manage portions of the fund during transitions between investment managers.
Each investment manager uses its own securities selection process and has discretion to select portfolio securities for its allocation of
 
 
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the fund’s assets. At the same time, each investment manager invests within a specific market capitalization range and investment style under the general supervision of CSIM. CSIM has developed parameters for each investment manager based on CSIM’s assessment of the investment manager’s investment style and expertise. By assigning more specific parameters to each investment manager, CSIM attempts to capitalize on the strengths of each investment manager and to combine their investment activities in a complementary fashion.
CSIM may use derivatives, primarily futures contracts, to seek returns on the fund’s otherwise uninvested cash assets. In addition, the investment managers may use futures contracts as a substitute for investing directly in an underlying asset or to increase returns.
The fund may buy and sell portfolio securities actively. In addition, one investment manager may purchase portfolio securities at the same time that another investment manager sells the same securities. As a result, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate and transaction costs may rise, which may lower fund performance and increase the likelihood of capital gains distributions.
For temporary defensive purposes during unusual economic or market conditions or for liquidity purposes, the fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, money market instruments, repurchase agreements and other short-term obligations. When the fund engages in such activities, it may not achieve its investment objective.
Principal risks
The  fund is subject to risks, any of which could cause an investor to lose money. The fund's principal risks include:
Market Risk.  Financial markets rise and fall in response to a variety of factors, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. As with any investment whose performance is tied to these markets, the value of an investment in the fund will fluctuate, which means that an investor could lose money over short or long periods.
Investment Style Risk.  The fund’s investment managers attempt to reduce the impact of the performance of any given investment style by investing in both value and growth style stocks. But whenever value stocks fall out of favor with investors, they may underperform growth stocks, and vice versa.
Equity Risk.  The prices of equity securities rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Market Capitalization Risk . Securities issued by companies of different market capitalizations tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. During a period when securities of a particular market capitalization fall behind other types of investments, the fund’s performance could be impacted.
Small-Cap Company Risk. Securities issued by small-cap companies may be riskier than those issued by larger companies, and their prices may move sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns.
Mid-Cap Company Risk . Mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more
established companies and the value of securities issued by these companies may move sharply.
Management Risk.  As with all actively managed funds, the fund is subject to the risk that its investment adviser and investment managers will select investments or allocate assets in a manner that could cause the fund to underperform or otherwise not meet its objective.  Poor stock selection or a focus on securities in a particular sector may cause the fund to underperform its benchmark or other funds with a similar investment objective.
Derivatives Risk.  The fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. The fund's use of derivatives could reduce the fund's performance, increase the fund's volatility, and could cause the fund to lose more than the initial amount invested. In addition, investments in derivatives may involve leverage, which means a small percentage of assets invested in derivatives can have a disproportionately large impact on the fund.
Multi-Manager Risk.  Although CSIM monitors and seeks to coordinate the overall management of the fund, each investment manager makes investment decisions independently, and it is possible that the investment styles of the investment managers may not complement one another. As a result, the fund’s exposure to a given stock, industry or investment style could unintentionally be smaller or larger than if the fund had a single manager.
Liquidity Risk.  The fund may be unable to sell certain securities, such as illiquid securities, readily at a favorable time or price, or the fund may have to sell them at a loss.
For more information on the risks of investing in the fund, please see the “Fund details” section in the prospectus.
Performance
The bar chart below shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compared to that of an index. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the  fund. All figures assume distributions were reinvested. Keep in mind that future performance (both before and after taxes) may differ from past performance. For current performance information, please see www.csimfunds.com/laudusfunds_prospectus.
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Annual total returns (%) as of 12/31
Investor Shares
Best Quarter: 17.90% Q2 2009
Worst Quarter: (24.50%) Q4 2008
Year-to-date performance (before taxes) as of 3/31/17: 2.36%
Average annual total returns as of 12/31/16
  1 year 5 years 10 years
Investor Shares      
Before taxes 18.52% 11.87% 5.40%
After taxes on distributions 18.20% 11.34% 5.10%
After taxes on distributions and sale of shares 10.74% 9.41% 4.28%
Select Shares      
Before taxes 18.70% 12.05% 5.56%
Comparative Index (reflects no deduction for expenses or taxes)      
Russell 2000 Index 21.31% 14.46% 7.07%
The after-tax figures reflect the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during the period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. The after-tax figures are shown for one share class only, and would be different for the other share class. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation. In addition, after-tax returns are not relevant if you hold your  fund shares through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan, an individual retirement account (IRA) or other tax-advantaged account.
Fund management
The fund’s investment adviser is Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
Portfolio manager
Omar Aguilar, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Equities of the investment adviser, has managed the fund since May 2011.
Jane Shi, Portfolio Manager of the investment adviser, has managed the fund since February 2017.
Investment managers
The fund has four investment managers: Mellon Capital Management Corp., The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC, Voya Investment Management Co. LLC and Wellington Management Company LLP. The table below shows investment managers that are (or are expected to be) responsible for managing
more than 30% of the fund’s net assets, and the portfolio managers serving as portfolio managers for those investment managers.
Investment manager
and address
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC
230 Park Avenue, 13 th Flr
New York, NY 10169
    
Portfolio manager(s) Employment experience
James Hasso, Head of U.S. Small Cap and Portfolio Manager Mr. Hasso joined Voya as an analyst in 2006. He holds a B.A. degree in economics from Lehman College and an MBA in finance from Fordham University.
Joseph Basset, CFA, Equity Analyst and Portfolio Manager Mr. Basset joined Voya in June 2005. He holds a B.A. degree in economics from Tulane University and an MBA and ABD in finance from the University of Texas. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst ® designation.
    
Investment manager
and address
Wellington Management Company LLP
280 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210
    
Portfolio manager(s) Employment experience
Timothy J. McCormack, CFA Senior Managing Director and Equity Portfolio Manager Began his investment career in 1991. Joined Wellington Management as an investment professional in 2000. Has served as portfolio manager for the fund since 2012.
Shaun F. Pederson
Senior Managing Director and Equity Portfolio Manager
Began his investment career in 1991. Joined Wellington Management as an investment professional in 2004. Has been involved in portfolio management and securities analysis for the fund since 2012.
For more information on the fund’s other investment managers, please see the “Fund details” and “Fund management” sections in the prospectus.
Purchase and sale of  fund shares
The  fund is open for business each day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. If the NYSE is closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the  fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate its share price as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day. When you place orders to purchase, exchange or redeem  fund shares through an account at
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Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) or another financial intermediary, you must follow Schwab’s or the other financial intermediary’s transaction procedures.
Eligible Investors (as determined by the  fund and which generally are limited to institutional investors) may invest directly in the  fund by placing purchase, exchange and redemption orders through the fund's transfer agent. Eligible Investors must contact the transfer agent by phone or in writing to obtain an account application. Eligible Investors may contact the transfer agent:
•by telephone at 1-800-407-0256; or
•by mail to Boston Financial Data Services, Attn: Schwab Funds, P.O. Box 8283, Boston, MA 02266-8323.
The minimum initial investment for the Investor Shares of the fund is $100, and $50,000 for Select Shares of the fund. The minimum may be waived for certain investors or in the fund’s sole discretion.
Tax information
Dividends and capital gains distributions received from the  fund will generally be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged account.
Payments to 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  fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the  fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Laudus International MarketMasters Fund™
Ticker Symbols: Investor Shares: SWOIX Select Shares ® : SWMIX
Investment objective
The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Fund fees and expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the  fund.
Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
  Investor
Shares
  Select
Shares ®
  None   None
Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
Management fees 1.27   1.27
Distribution (12b-1) fees None   None
Other expenses 0.34   0.27
Total annual fund operating expenses 1.61   1.54
Less expense reduction (0.21)   (0.29)
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reduction¹ 1.40   1.25
1 The investment adviser and its affiliates have agreed to limit the total annual  fund operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes and certain non-routine expenses) of the Investor Shares and Select Shares to 1.40% and 1.25%, respectively, for so long as the investment adviser serves as the adviser to the fund. This agreement may only be amended or terminated with the approval 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 time periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. The figures are based on total annual  fund operating expenses after expense reduction. The expenses would be the same whether you stayed in the  fund or sold your shares at the end of each period. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Expenses on a $10,000 investment
  1 year 3 years 5 years 10 years
Investor Shares $143 $443 $ 766 $1,680
Select Shares $127 $ 397 $686 $ 1,511
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 may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in the annual  fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 69% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal investment strategies
To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests a substantial amount of its assets in equity securities of companies outside the United States. The fund expects to invest in companies across all market capitalization ranges. The fund typically focuses on developed markets, but may invest in companies from emerging markets as well. In determining whether a company is international, the portfolio managers will consider various factors, including where the company is headquartered, where the company’s principal operations are located, where the company’s revenues are derived, where the principal trading market is located and the country in which the company was legally organized. The weight given to each of these factors will vary depending on the circumstances in a given case.
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM) allocates portions of the fund’s assets to several investment managers, who then manage their respective portions under the general supervision of CSIM. In choosing the investment managers and their allocations, CSIM considers a number of factors, including global economic trends, its own outlook for a given market capitalization or investment style category and regions and countries that offer the greatest potential for growth, and the investment managers’ performance in various market conditions. In addition to monitoring and coordinating the investment managers, CSIM also manages the cash portion of the fund. CSIM may also
 
 
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directly manage portions of the fund during transitions between investment managers.
Each investment manager uses its own securities selection process and has discretion to select portfolio securities for its allocation of the fund’s assets. At the same time, each investment manager invests within a specific market capitalization range and investment style under the general supervision of CSIM. CSIM has developed parameters for each investment manager based on CSIM’s assessment of the investment manager’s investment style and expertise. By assigning more specific parameters to each investment manager, CSIM attempts to capitalize on the strengths of each investment manager and to combine their investment activities in a complementary fashion.
CSIM may use derivatives, primarily futures contracts, to seek returns on the fund’s otherwise uninvested cash assets. In addition, the investment managers may use futures contracts as a substitute for investing directly in an underlying asset or to increase returns. The fund may invest in forward foreign currency contracts to hedge currency risks associated with the purchase of individual securities denominated in a particular currency.
The fund may buy and sell portfolio securities actively. In addition, one investment manager may purchase portfolio securities at the same time that another investment manager sells the same securities. As a result, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate and transaction costs may rise, which may lower fund performance and increase the likelihood of capital gains distributions.
For temporary defensive purposes during unusual economic or market conditions or for liquidity purposes, the fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, money market instruments, repurchase agreements and other short-term obligations. When the fund engages in such activities, it may not achieve its investment objective.
Principal risks
The  fund is subject to risks, any of which could cause an investor to lose money. The fund's principal risks include:
Market Risk.  Financial markets rise and fall in response to a variety of factors, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. As with any investment whose performance is tied to these markets, the value of an investment in the fund will fluctuate, which means that an investor could lose money over short or long periods.
Investment Style Risk.  The fund’s investment managers attempt to reduce the impact of the performance of any given investment style by investing in both value and growth style stocks. But whenever value stocks fall out of favor with investors, they may underperform growth stocks, and vice versa.
Equity Risk.  The prices of equity securities rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. In addition, equity markets tend to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Management Risk.  As with all actively managed funds, the fund is subject to the risk that its investment adviser and investment managers will select investments or allocate assets in a manner that could cause the fund to underperform or otherwise not meet its objective.  Poor stock selection or a focus on securities in a
particular sector may cause the fund to underperform its benchmark or other funds with a similar investment objective.
Market Capitalization Risk . Securities issued by companies of different market capitalizations tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. During a period when securities of a particular market capitalization fall behind other types of investments, the fund’s performance could be impacted.
Large-Cap Company Risk . Large-cap companies are generally more mature and the securities issued by these companies may not be able to reach the same levels of growth as the securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies.
Mid-Cap Company Risk . Mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies and the value of securities issued by these companies may move sharply.
Small-Cap Company Risk. Securities issued by small-cap companies may be riskier than those issued by larger companies, and their prices may move sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns.
Foreign Investment Risk.  The fund’s investments in securities of foreign issuers involve certain risks that may be greater than those associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. These include risks of adverse changes in foreign economic, political, regulatory and other conditions; changes in currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations (including limitations on currency movements and exchanges); the imposition of economic sanctions or other government restrictions; differing accounting, auditing, financial reporting and legal standards and practices; differing securities market structures; and higher transaction costs. These risks may negatively impact the value or liquidity of the fund’s investments, and could impair the fund’s ability to meet its investment objective or invest in accordance with its investment strategy. There is a risk that investments in securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency hedged, resulting in the dollar value of the fund’s investment being adversely affected. To the extent the fund’s investments in a single country or a limited number of countries represent a large percentage of the fund’s assets, the fund’s performance may be adversely affected by the economic, political, regulatory and social conditions in those countries, and the fund’s price may be more volatile than the price of a fund that is geographically diversified.
Emerging Markets Risk.  Emerging market countries may be more likely to experience political turmoil or rapid changes in market or economic conditions than more developed countries. Emerging market countries often have less uniformity in accounting and reporting requirements and greater risk associated with the custody of securities. In addition, the financial stability of issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may be more precarious than in developed countries. As a result, there may be an increased risk of illiquidity and price volatility associated with the fund’s investments in emerging market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar, and, at times, it may be difficult to value such investments.
Derivatives Risk.  The fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated
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with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. The fund's use of derivatives could reduce the fund's performance, increase the fund's volatility, and could cause the fund to lose more than the initial amount invested. In addition, investments in derivatives may involve leverage, which means a small percentage of assets invested in derivatives can have a disproportionately large impact on the fund.
Liquidity Risk.  The fund may be unable to sell certain securities, such as illiquid securities, readily at a favorable time or price, or the fund may have to sell them at a loss.
Multi-Manager Risk.  Although CSIM monitors and seeks to coordinate the overall management of the fund, each investment manager makes investment decisions independently, and it is possible that the investment styles of the investment managers may not complement one another. As a result, the fund’s exposure to a given stock, industry or investment style could unintentionally be smaller or larger than if the fund had a single manager.
For more information on the risks of investing in the fund, please see the “Fund details” section in the prospectus.
Performance
The bar chart below shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compared to that of an index. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the  fund. All figures assume distributions were reinvested. Keep in mind that future performance (both before and after taxes) may differ from past performance. For current performance information, please see www.csimfunds.com/laudusfunds_prospectus.
Annual total returns (%) as of 12/31
Investor Shares
Best Quarter: 27.81% Q2 2009
Worst Quarter: (25.19%) Q4 2008
Year-to-date performance (before taxes) as of 3/31/17: 9.43%
 
Average annual total returns as of 12/31/16
  1 year 5 years 10 years
Investor Shares      
Before taxes (0.39%) 7.44% 3.17%
After taxes on distributions (0.38%) 7.02% 2.75%
After taxes on distributions and sale of shares 0.09% 6.05% 2.68%
Select Shares      
Before taxes (0.28%) 7.61% 3.31%
Comparative Index (reflect no deduction for expenses or taxes)      
MSCI EAFE Index (Net) 1 1.00% 6.53% 0.75%
1 The net version of the index reflects reinvested dividends net of withholding taxes, but reflects no deductions for expenses or other taxes.
The after-tax figures reflect the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during the period and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. The after-tax figures are shown for one share class only, and would be different for the other share class. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation. In addition, after-tax returns are not relevant if you hold your  fund shares through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan, an individual retirement account (IRA) or other tax-advantaged account. In some cases, the return after taxes may exceed the return before taxes due to an assumed benefit from any losses on a sale of shares at the end of the measurement period.
Fund management
The fund’s investment adviser is Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
Portfolio manager
Omar Aguilar, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Equities of the investment adviser, has managed the fund since May 2011.
Jane Shi, Portfolio Manager of the investment adviser, has managed the fund since February 2017.
Investment managers
The fund has five investment managers: American Century Investment Management, Inc., Harris Associates L.P., Mellon Capital Management Corp., Mondrian Investment Partners Limited and William Blair Investment Management, LLC. As of May 31, 2017, none of the investment managers managed more than 30% of the fund’s net assets nor are any expected to manage more than 30% of the fund’s assets. For information on the fund’s investment managers, please see the “Fund details” and “Fund management’’ sections in the prospectus.
Purchase and sale of  fund shares
The  fund is open for business each day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. If the NYSE is closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the  fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate its share price as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day. When you place orders to purchase, exchange or redeem  fund shares through an account at
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Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) or another financial intermediary, you must follow Schwab’s or the other financial intermediary’s transaction procedures.
Eligible Investors (as determined by the  fund and which generally are limited to institutional investors) may invest directly in the  fund by placing purchase, exchange and redemption orders through the fund's transfer agent. Eligible Investors must contact the transfer agent by phone or in writing to obtain an account application. Eligible Investors may contact the transfer agent:
•by telephone at 1-800-407-0256; or
•by mail to Boston Financial Data Services, Attn: Schwab Funds, P.O. Box 8283, Boston, MA 02266-8323.
The minimum initial investment for Investor Shares of the fund is $100, and $50,000 for Select Shares of the fund. The minimum may be waived for certain investors or in the fund’s sole discretion.
Tax information
Dividends and capital gains distributions received from the  fund will generally be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged account.
Payments to 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  fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the  fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Fund details
There can be no assurance that the funds will achieve their objectives. Except as explicitly described otherwise, the strategies and policies of each fund may be changed without shareholder approval.
The principal investment strategies and the main risks associated with investing in each fund are summarized in the fund summaries at the front of this prospectus. This section takes a more detailed look at some of the types of securities, the associated risks, and the various investment strategies that may be used in the day-to-day portfolio management of the funds, as described below. In addition to the particular types of securities and strategies that are described in this prospectus, each fund may use strategies that are not described herein in support of its overall investment goal. These additional strategies and the risks associated with them are described in the “Investment Strategies, Securities and Risks” section in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI).
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund
Investment objective
The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
More about the fund’s investment managers and principal risks
The fund’s investment adviser, CSIM, acts as “manager of managers” for the fund. In this role, CSIM, subject to approval by the fund’s Board of Trustees, hires investment managers to manage portions of the fund’s assets.
The following table identifies the fund’s investment managers as of May 31, 2017, their areas of focus, and approximate asset allocation.
Investment manager Investment Style Approximate
allocation of
net assets (%) 1
The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC Small-/mid-cap core 20.2%
Mellon Capital Management Corp. Small-cap blend 0% 2
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC Small-cap growth 37.6%
Wellington Management Company LLP Small-cap value 36.9%
Cash and other assets 5.2%
1 Allocations may not add to 100% due to rounding.
2 Mellon Capital Management Corp. currently does not manage fund assets.
The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC (The Boston Company). The Boston Company is a performance-driven active equity manager. The Boston Company builds portfolios that are rooted in fundamental research, bottom-up stock selection, macro perspectives and appropriate risk controls.
Mellon Capital Management Corp. (Mellon Capital) seeks to track the returns of the Russell 2000 Index. The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which is made up of 3,000 of the biggest U.S. stocks. Mellon Capital’s experienced team of portfolio managers seeks to execute on this strategy by employing a risk-controlled, cost-effective approach. Specifically, in managing their allocation from the fund, the portfolio managers intend to employ a full index replication approach for assets greater than $50 million, and index sampling where assets allocated to Mellon Capital fall below $50 million.
When trading in the open market, Mellon Capital employs a strategic trading approach to minimize transaction costs and preserve value. This approach allows the portfolio managers to minimize market impact by trading small blocks and to take advantage of any favorable movement of the stock price when other managers move into and out of the market.
Furthermore, when index composition changes as a result of corporate actions, Mellon Capital’s portfolio managers screen all potential trades against a list of securities that have pending corporate action activities and evaluate the terms of the corporate action to determine whether the security should be traded or omitted from the trade. The economic value of the alternatives is thoroughly analyzed to maximize the value of client portfolios.
Additionally, when portfolio managers anticipate upcoming changes to the composition of an index, they use dividend cash flows to fund shares purchases to the extent possible. Mellon Capital continually looks for opportunities to allocate cash inflows towards expected index constituent changes in order to minimize transaction costs.
Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (Voya). Voya’s investment strategy is based on fundamental research performed by its small-cap research analysts, who specialize in specific sectors. The Voya U.S. Small Cap team identifies candidates in the Russell 2000 Growth plus companies outside the index, with market caps that fall within the parameters of the index. Sector valuation methodologies refine the universe by ranking each stock relative to stocks within its sector. Secular and cyclical themes likely to drive growth are then identified. Analysts “follow the cash flow” by evaluating cash flow, balance sheets and income statements to determine the company’s ability to fund
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expected growth and generate attractive returns. Analysts also analyze sector/industry fundamentals, competitive positioning and company management. Holdings typically have accelerating revenue, EPS and cash flow growth and attractive valuations based on price/sales, forward PE, cash flow yield and net cash/market capitalization, and are beneficiaries of a secular or cyclical theme. Portfolio construction is based on attractiveness of each stock, given benchmark weight, expected return, perceived risk and liquidity.
Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington Management) selects stocks using a bottom-up, value-oriented investment approach, employing proprietary fundamental research to identify securities of issuers that Wellington Management believes are undervalued. Wellington Management focuses on companies with a record of above average rates of profitability that sell at a discount relative to the overall small cap market. Through fundamental research, Wellington Management seeks to identify those companies which possess one or more of the following characteristics: a history of above-average rates of profitability, a strong and sustainable competitive position within a market niche, robust cash flows that build the value of the business or fund measures that otherwise benefit shareholders over time, financial structures that are more conservative than the relevant industry average, and quality management with incentives aligned with shareholders.
Principal investment risks
The fund is subject to risks, any of which could cause an investor to lose money.
Equity Risk.  The prices of equity securities rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. 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. In addition, the equity market tends to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Market Capitalization Risk. Securities issued by companies of different market capitalizations tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. In addition, there may be less trading volume in securities issued by mid- and small-cap companies than those issued by larger companies and, as a result, trading volatility may have a greater impact on the value of securities of mid- and small-cap companies. Securities issued by large-cap companies, on the other hand, may not be able to attain the high growth rates of some mid- and small-cap companies. During a period when securities of a particular market capitalization fall behind other types of investments the fund’s performance could be impacted.
Small-Cap Company Risk. Small-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies and their securities may be riskier than those issued by larger companies. The value of securities issued by small-cap companies may be based in substantial part on future expectations rather than current achievements and their prices may move sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns. In addition, small-cap companies may have limited financial resources, management experience, product lines and markets, and their securities may trade less frequently and in more limited volumes than the securities of larger companies. Further, small-cap companies may have less publicly available information and such information may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Mid-Cap Company Risk. Mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies and their securities may be riskier than those issued by large-cap companies. The value of securities issued by mid-cap companies may be based in substantial part on future expectations rather than current achievements and their prices may move sharply, especially during market upturns or downturns.
Management Risk.  As with all actively managed funds, the fund is subject to the risk that its investment adviser and investment managers will select investments or allocate assets in a manner that could cause the fund to underperform or otherwise not meet its objective. The fund's investment managers apply their own investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the fund, but there can be no guarantee that they will produce the desired results. These risks may cause the fund to underperform its benchmark or other funds with a similar investment objective.
Derivatives Risk.  The fund may use derivatives to enhance returns or hedge against market declines. Examples of derivatives are options, futures, options on futures and swaps. An option is the right to buy or sell an instrument at a specific price before a specific date. A future is an agreement to buy or sell a financial instrument at a specific price on a specific day. A swap is an agreement whereby two parties agree to exchange payment streams calculated in relation to a rate, index, instrument or certain securities and a predetermined amount. A credit default swap is an agreement in which the seller agrees to make a payment to the buyer in the event of a specified credit event in exchange for a fixed payment or series of fixed payments.
The fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from or possibly greater than the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Certain of these risks, such as liquidity risk, market risk and management risk, are discussed elsewhere in this prospectus. The fund’s use of derivatives is also subject to credit risk, leverage risk, lack of availability risk, valuation risk, correlation risk and tax risk. Lack of availability risk is the risk that suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances for risk management or other purposes. Credit risk is the risk that the counterparty to a derivatives transaction may not fulfill its obligations. Leverage risk is the risk that a small percentage of assets invested in derivatives can have a disproportionately large impact on the fund. Valuation risk is the risk that a particular derivative may be valued incorrectly. Correlation risk is the risk that changes
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in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Tax risk is the risk that the use of derivatives may cause the fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains. The fund's use of derivatives could reduce the fund's performance, increase its volatility, and could cause the fund to lose more than the initial amount invested. The use of derivatives, subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), could cause the fund to become a commodity pool, which would require the fund to comply with certain CFTC rules.
Liquidity Risk.  Liquidity risk exists when particular investments may be difficult to purchase, sell or value, especially during stressed market conditions. The market for certain investments may become illiquid due to specific adverse changes in the conditions of a particular issuer or under adverse market or economic conditions independent of the issuer. In such cases, the fund, due to limitations on investments in illiquid securities and the difficulty in readily purchasing and selling such securities at favorable times or prices, may decline in value, experience lower returns and/or be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain issuer or sector. Further, transactions in illiquid securities may entail transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in liquid securities. Liquidity risk also includes the risk that market conditions or large shareholder redemptions may impact the ability of the fund to meet redemption requests within the required time period. In order to meet such redemption requests, the fund may be forced to sell securities at inopportune times or prices.
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund
Investment objective
The fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
More about the fund’s investment managers and principal risks
The fund’s investment adviser, CSIM, acts as “manager of managers” for the fund. In this role, CSIM, subject to approval by the fund’s Board of Trustees, hires investment managers to manage portions of the fund’s assets.
The following table identifies the fund’s investment managers as of May 31, 2017, their areas of focus, and approximate asset allocation.
Investment manager Investment style Approximate
allocation of
net assets (%) 1
American Century Investment Management, Inc. International small-cap growth 25.8%
Harris Associates L.P. International large-cap value 25.3%
Mellon Capital Management Corp. International blend 3.5%
Mondrian Investment Partners Limited International small-cap value 21.1%
William Blair Investment Management, LLC International multi-cap growth 21.3%
Cash and other assets 2.9%
1 Allocations may not add to 100% due to rounding.
American Century Investment Management, Inc.’s (American Century) portfolio managers look for stocks of companies they believe will increase in value over time, using an investment strategy developed by American Century. In implementing this strategy, the portfolio managers use a bottom-up approach to stock selection. This means that they make their investment decisions based primarily on their analysis of individual companies, rather than on broad economic forecasts. Management of the fund is based on the belief that, over the long term, stock price movements follow growth in earnings, revenues and/or cash flow.
Using a variety of analytical research tools, the portfolio managers track financial information for individual companies to identify and evaluate trends in earnings, revenues and other business fundamentals. Under normal market conditions, the fund’s portfolio managers seek securities of companies whose earnings, revenues or key business fundamentals are not only growing, but growing at an accelerating pace. This includes companies whose growth rates, although still negative, are less negative than prior periods, and companies whose growth rates are expected to accelerate. Other analytical techniques help identify additional signs of business improvement, such as increasing cash flows, or other indications of the relative strength of a company’s business. These techniques help the portfolio managers buy or hold the stocks of companies they believe have favorable growth prospects and sell the stocks of companies whose characteristics no longer meet their criteria.
The portion of the fund’s assets managed by American Century are invested primarily in equity securities of companies that are small-sized at the time of purchase and are located in developed foreign countries or emerging market countries. The portfolio managers generally consider small-sized companies to include those with a market capitalization within the range of the MSCI ACWI ex-US Small-Cap Growth Index; however the portfolio managers do not eliminate companies from consideration based solely on market capitalization. If the companies in which the fund invests are successful, these companies may grow into medium- and large-sized companies. In addition, if the portfolio managers determine that the availability of small-sized companies in which to invest is not adequate to meet the fund’s investment needs, the portfolio managers may invest in medium- and large-sized companies.
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In addition to locating strong companies with earnings, revenue and/or cash flow growth, the portfolio managers believe that it is important to diversify the fund’s holdings across different countries and geographical regions in an effort to manage the risks of an international portfolio. For this reason, the portfolio managers also consider the prospects for relative economic growth among countries or regions, economic and political conditions, expected inflation rates, currency exchange fluctuations and tax considerations when making investments.
The portfolio managers do not attempt to time the market. Instead, under normal market conditions, they intend to keep the fund essentially fully invested in stocks regardless of the movement of stock prices generally.
Harris Associates L.P. (Harris) uses a value investment philosophy in selecting equity securities. This investment philosophy is based upon the belief that, over time, a company’s stock price converges with Harris’ estimate of its intrinsic or true business value. By “true business value,” Harris means their estimate of the price a knowledgeable buyer would pay to acquire the entire business. Harris believes that investing in securities priced significantly below what they believe is the true business value presents the best opportunity to achieve the fund’s investment objective. Harris uses this value philosophy to identify companies that it believes have discounted stock prices compared to the companies’ true business values. In assessing such companies, Harris looks for the following characteristics, although not all of the companies selected will have these attributes: (1) free cash flows and intelligent investment of excess cash; (2) earnings that are growing and are reasonably predictable; and (3) high level of manager ownership.
In making its investment decisions, Harris uses a “bottom-up” approach focused on individual companies, rather than focusing on specific economic factors or specific industries. In order to select investments that meet the criteria described above, Harris uses independent, in-house research to analyze each company. As part of this selection process, Harris’ analysts typically visit companies and conduct other research on the companies and their industries. Once Harris identifies a stock that it believes is selling at a significant discount to Harris’ estimated intrinsic value and that the company has the additional qualities mentioned above, Harris generally will consider buying that stock for the fund. Harris usually sells a stock when the price approaches its estimated worth. This means Harris sets specific “buy” and “sell” targets for each stock held by the fund. Harris also monitors each holding and adjusts those price targets as warranted to reflect changes in a company’s fundamentals.
Mellon Capital seeks to track the returns of the MSCI-EAFE Index. This index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure market equity performance in Europe, Australasia and the Far East. Mellon Capital’s experienced team of portfolio managers seeks to execute on this strategy by employing a risk-controlled, cost-effective approach. Specifically, in managing their allocation from the fund, the portfolio managers intend to employ a full index replication approach for assets greater than $50 million, and index sampling where assets allocated to Mellon Capital fall below $50 million.
When trading in the open market, Mellon Capital employs a strategic trading approach to minimize transaction costs and preserve value. This approach allows the portfolio managers to minimize market impact by trading small blocks and to take advantage of any favorable movement of the stock price when other managers move into and out of the market.
Furthermore, when index composition changes as a result of corporate actions, Mellon Capital’s portfolio managers screen all potential trades against a list of securities that have pending corporate action activities and evaluate the terms of the corporate action to determine whether the security should be traded or omitted from the trade. The economic value of the alternatives is thoroughly analyzed to maximize the value of client portfolios.
Additionally, when portfolio managers anticipate upcoming changes to the composition of the index, they use dividend cash flows to fund shares purchases to the extent possible. Mellon Capital continually looks for opportunities to allocate cash inflows towards expected index constituent changes in order to minimize transaction costs.
Mondrian Investment Partners Limited (Mondrian) In managing its segment of the fund’s assets, Mondrian conducts research on a global basis in an effort to identify securities that have the potential for long term total return. The center of the research effort is a value-oriented dividend discount methodology toward individual securities and market analysis that identifies value across country boundaries. This approach focuses on future anticipated dividends and discounts the value of those dividends back to what they would be worth if they were being paid today. Comparisons of the values of different possible investments are then made. In an international portfolio, currency returns can be an integral component of an investment’s total return. Mondrian uses a purchasing power parity approach to assess the value of individual currencies. Purchasing power parity attempts to identify the amount of goods and services that a dollar will buy in the United States and compares that to the amount of a foreign currency required to buy the same amount of goods and services in another country.
William Blair Investment Management, LLC (William Blair) seeks companies that historically have had superior growth, profitability and quality relative to companies within the same industry worldwide, and that are expected to continue such performance. Companies with above-average returns on equity, strong balance sheets and consistent, above-average earnings growth at reasonable valuation levels will be the primary focus. Stock selection will take into account both local and global comparisons. William Blair will vary the geographic diversification and types of securities based upon their continuous evaluation of economic, market and political trends throughout the world, by considering such factors as the conditions and growth potential of various economies and securities markets, currency exchange rates, technological developments in the various countries and other pertinent financial, social, national and political factors. William Blair
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will seek investment opportunities in companies at different stages of development ranging from large, well-established companies to smaller companies at an earlier stage of development. Companies become candidates for sale if their long-term growth outlook is compromised or if management’s actions alter the outlook or risk profile for the business.
Principal investment risks
The fund is subject to risks, any of which could cause an investor to lose money.
Equity Risk.  The prices of equity securities rise and fall daily. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries or the securities market as a whole. 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. In addition, the equity market tends to move in cycles, which may cause stock prices to fall over short or extended periods of time.
Management Risk.  As with all actively managed funds, the fund is subject to the risk that its investment adviser and investment managers will select investments or allocate assets in a manner that could cause the fund to underperform or otherwise not meet its objective. The fund's investment managers apply their own investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the fund, but there can be no guarantee that they will produce the desired results. These risks may cause the fund to underperform its benchmark or other funds with a similar investment objective.
Market Capitalization Risk. Securities issued by companies of different market capitalizations tend to go in and out of favor based on market and economic conditions. In addition, there may be less trading volume in securities issued by mid- and small-cap companies than those issued by larger companies and, as a result, trading volatility may have a greater impact on the value of securities of mid- and small-cap companies. Securities issued by large-cap companies, on the other hand, may not be able to attain the high growth rates of some mid- and small-cap companies. During a period when securities of a particular market capitalization fall behind other types of investments the fund’s performance could be impacted.
Small-Cap Company Risk. Small-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies and their securities may be riskier than those issued by larger companies. The value of securities issued by small-cap companies may be based in substantial part on future expectations rather than current achievements and their prices may move sharply, especially during market upturns and downturns. In addition, small-cap companies may have limited financial resources, management experience, product lines and markets, and their securities may trade less frequently and in more limited volumes than the securities of larger companies. Further, small-cap companies may have less publicly available information and such information may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Large-Cap Company Risk . Large-cap companies are generally more mature than smaller companies. They also may have fewer new market opportunities for their products or services, may focus resources on maintaining their market share, and may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges. As a result, the securities issued by these companies may not be able to reach the same levels of growth as the securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies.
Mid-Cap Company Risk. Mid-cap companies may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies and their securities may be riskier than those issued by large-cap companies. The value of securities issued by mid-cap companies may be based in substantial part on future expectations rather than current achievements and their prices may move sharply, especially during market upturns or downturns.
Foreign Investment Risk.  The fund’s investments in securities of foreign issuers involve certain risks that may be greater than those associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. These include risks of adverse changes in foreign economic, political, regulatory and other conditions; changes in currency exchange rates or exchange control regulations (including limitations on currency movements and exchanges); differing accounting, auditing, financial reporting and legal standards and practices; differing securities market structures; and higher transaction costs. In certain countries, legal remedies available to investors may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the U.S. These risks may negatively impact the value or liquidity of the fund’s investments and could impair the fund’s ability to meet its investment objective or invest in accordance with its investment strategy. In addition, the fund’s investments in foreign securities may be subject to economic sanctions or other government restrictions. There also is the risk that the cost of buying, selling, and holding foreign securities, including brokerage, tax, and custody costs, may be higher than those involved in domestic transactions. The securities of some foreign companies may be less liquid and, at times, more volatile than securities of comparable U.S. companies. The fund may also experience more rapid or extreme changes in value as compared to a fund that invests solely in securities of U.S. companies because the securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number of companies representing a small number of industries. To the extent the fund’s investments in a single country or a limited number of countries represent a large percentage of the fund’s assets, the fund’s performance may be adversely affected by the economic, political, regulatory and social conditions in those countries, and the fund’s price may be more volatile than the price of a fund that is geographically diversified.
Currency Risk.  The fund’s investments in securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, will subject the fund to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will
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decline in value relative to the currency hedged. In either event, the dollar value of an investment in the fund would be adversely affected. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate in response to factors extrinsic to that country’s economy, which makes the forecasting of currency market movements extremely difficult. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates; intervention (or failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund; or by the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the United States or abroad. These can result in losses to the fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or monies in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs. Forward contracts on foreign currencies are not traded on exchanges; rather, a bank or dealer will act as agent or as principal in order to make or take future delivery of a specified lot of a particular currency for the fund’s account. The fund is subject to the risk of a counterparty’s failure, inability or refusal to perform with respect to such contracts.
Emerging Markets Risk.  The risks of foreign investments apply to, and may be heightened in connection with, investments in emerging market countries or securities of issuers that conduct their business in emerging markets. Emerging market countries may be more likely to experience political turmoil or rapid changes in market or economic conditions than more developed countries. Emerging market countries often have less uniformity in accounting and reporting requirements and greater risk associated with the custody of securities. It is sometimes difficult to obtain and enforce court judgments in such countries. There is often a greater potential for nationalization, expropriation, confiscatory taxation, government regulation, social instability or diplomatic developments (including war) in emerging market countries, which could adversely affect the economies of, or investments in securities of issuers located in, such countries. In addition, emerging markets are substantially smaller than developed markets, and the financial stability of issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may be more precarious than in developed countries. As a result, there will tend to be an increased risk of illiquidity and price volatility associated with the fund’s investments in emerging market countries which may be magnified by currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar, and, at times, it may be difficult to value such investments.
Derivatives Risk.  The fund may use derivatives to enhance returns or hedge against market declines. Examples of derivatives are options, futures, options on futures and swaps. An option is the right to buy or sell an instrument at a specific price before a specific date. A future is an agreement to buy or sell a financial instrument at a specific price on a specific day. A swap is an agreement whereby two parties agree to exchange payment streams calculated in relation to a rate, index, instrument or certain securities and a predetermined amount. A credit default swap is an agreement in which the seller agrees to make a payment to the buyer in the event of a specified credit event in exchange for a fixed payment or series of fixed payments.
The fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Certain of these risks, such as liquidity risk, market risk and management risk, are discussed elsewhere in this section. The fund’s use of derivatives is also subject to credit risk, leverage risk, lack of availability risk, valuation risk, correlation risk and tax risk. Lack of availability risk is the risk that suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances for risk management or other purposes. Credit risk is the risk that the counterparty to a derivatives transaction may not fulfill its obligations. Leverage risk is the risk that a small percentage of assets invested in derivatives can have a disproportionately large impact on the fund. Valuation risk is the risk that a particular derivative may be valued incorrectly. Correlation risk is the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Tax risk is the risk that the use of derivatives may cause the fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains. The fund's use of derivatives could reduce the fund's performance, increase its volatility, and could cause the fund to lose more than the initial amount invested. The use of derivatives, subject to regulation by the CFTC, could cause the fund to become a commodity pool, which would require the fund to comply with certain CFTC rules.
Liquidity Risk.  Liquidity risk exists when particular investments may be difficult to purchase, sell or value, especially during stressed market conditions. The market for certain investments may become illiquid due to specific adverse changes in the conditions of a particular issuer or under adverse market or economic conditions independent of the issuer. In such cases, the fund due to limitations on investments in illiquid securities and the difficulty in readily purchasing and selling such securities at favorable times or prices, may decline in value, experience lower returns and/or be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain issuer or sector. Further, transactions in illiquid securities may entail transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in liquid securities. Liquidity risk also includes the risk that market conditions or large shareholder redemptions may impact the ability of the fund to meet redemption requests within the required time period. In order to meet such redemption requests, the fund may be forced to sell securities at inopportune times or prices.
Portfolio holdings
The funds may make various types of portfolio securities information available to shareholders. The funds post a detailed list of the securities held by each fund at www.csimfunds.com/laudusfunds_prospectus (under “Portfolio Holdings”) as of the most recent calendar quarter-end. This list is generally updated approximately 15-20 days after the end of each calendar quarter and will remain available online until at least the following calendar quarter. The funds also post in the fund summary section of the website and on fund fact sheets certain summary portfolio attributes, including top ten holdings, approximately 5-25 days after the end of the calendar quarter. The funds may
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exclude any portion of these portfolio holdings from publication when deemed in the best interest of a fund. Further information regarding the funds’ policy and procedures on the disclosure of portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.
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Financial highlights
This section provides further details about the financial history of each share class of each fund for the past five years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. “Total return” shows the percentage that an investor in each fund would have earned or lost during a given period, assuming all distributions were reinvested. Each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (PwC), audited these figures. PwC’s full report is included in the funds’ annual report (see back cover).
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund
Investor Shares 11/1/15–
10/31/16
11/1/14–
10/31/15
11/1/13–
10/31/14
11/1/12–
10/31/13
11/1/11–
10/31/12
 
Per-Share Data
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 17.42 $18.02 $ 17.28 $13.14 $11.99  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income (loss) 1 0.01 (0.05) (0.05) (0.02) (0.10)  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) (0.15) (0.17) 2 0.79 4.16 1.25  
Total from investment operations (0.14) (0.22) 0.74 4.14 1.15  
Less distributions:            
Distributions from net investment income (0.03)  
Distributions from net realized gains (1.06) (0.35)  
Total distributions (1.06) (0.38)  
Net asset value at end of period $16.22 $ 17.42 $18.02 $ 17.28 $ 13.14  
Total return (0.64%) (1.18%) 4.28% 31.51% 9.59%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Ratios to average net assets:            
Net operating expenses 1.35% 1.35% 1.35% 1.35% 1.42% 3  
Gross operating expenses 1.56% 1.55% 1.56% 1.59% 1.59%  
Net investment income (loss) 0.04% (0.26%) (0.26%) (0.16%) (0.79%)  
Portfolio turnover rate 85% 51% 79% 97% 144%  
Net assets, end of period (x 1,000,000) $ 55 $ 62 $ 70 $ 76 $ 65  
1
Calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2
The per share amount does not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities during the period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values.
3
Effective June 6, 2012, the net operating expense limitation was lowered. The ratio presented for period ended 10/31/12 is a blended ratio.
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Select Shares 11/1/15–
10/31/16
11/1/14–
10/31/15
11/1/13–
10/31/14
11/1/12–
10/31/13
11/1/11–
10/31/12
 
Per-Share Data
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 17.73 $18.33 $ 17.56 $13.33 $12.14  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income (loss) 1 0.03 (0.02) (0.02) (0.00) 2 (0.08)  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) (0.15) (0.17) 3 0.79 4.23 1.27  
Total from investment operations (0.12) (0.19) 0.77 4.23 1.19  
Less distributions:            
Distributions from net investment income (0.06)  
Distributions from net realized gains (1.06) (0.35)  
Total distributions (1.06) (0.41)  
Net asset value at end of period $16.55 $ 17.73 $18.33 $ 17.56 $13.33  
Total return (0.50%) (0.99%) 4.39% 31.73% 9.80%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Ratios to average net assets:            
Net operating expenses 1.20% 1.20% 1.20% 1.20% 1.27% 4  
Gross operating expenses 1.52% 1.51% 1.51% 1.53% 1.51%  
Net investment income (loss) 0.19% (0.09%) (0.13%) (0.03%) (0.60%)  
Portfolio turnover rate 85% 51% 79% 97% 144%  
Net assets, end of period (x 1,000,000) $ 98 $ 107 $ 122 $ 113 $ 88  
1
Calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2
Per-share amount was less than $0.005.
3
The per share amount does not accord with the change in aggregate gains and losses in securities during the period because of the timing of sales and repurchases of fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values.
4
Effective June 6, 2012, the net operating expense limitation was lowered. The ratio presented for period ended 10/31/12 is a blended ratio.
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Laudus International MarketMasters Fund
Investor Shares 11/1/15–
10/31/16
11/1/14–
10/31/15
11/1/13–
10/31/14
11/1/12–
10/31/13
11/1/11–
10/31/12
 
Per-Share Data
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 22.71 $ 22.95 $23.68 $ 19.03 $ 17.45  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income (loss) 0.17 1 0.18 1 0.25 0.23 0.21  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) (0.24) (0.10) (0.66) 4.85 1.52  
Total from investment operations (0.07) 0.08 (0.41) 5.08 1.73  
Less distributions:            
Distributions from net investment income (0.27) (0.32) (0.32) (0.43) (0.15)  
Distributions from net realized gains (1.20)  
Total distributions (1.47) (0.32) (0.32) (0.43) (0.15)  
Net asset value at end of period $ 21.17 $ 22.71 $ 22.95 $23.68 $ 19.03  
Total return (0.14%) 0.39% (1.73%) 27.23% 10.05%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Ratios to average net assets:            
Net operating expenses 1.40% 1.40% 1.40% 1.40% 1.53% 2  
Gross operating expenses 1.61% 1.59% 1.59% 1.60% 1.62%  
Net investment income (loss) 0.81% 0.76% 1.06% 1.10% 1.19%  
Portfolio turnover rate 69% 72% 74% 65% 68%  
Net assets, end of period (x 1,000,000) $ 447 $ 536 $ 631 $ 675 $ 592  
 
Select Shares 11/1/15–
10/31/16
11/1/14–
10/31/15
11/1/13–
10/31/14
11/1/12–
10/31/13
11/1/11–
10/31/12
 
Per-Share Data
Net asset value at beginning of period $ 22.71 $ 22.95 $23.68 $ 19.03 $ 17.46  
Income (loss) from investment operations:            
Net investment income (loss) 0.19 1 0.21 1 0.28 0.28 0.25  
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) (0.23) (0.10) (0.65) 4.83 1.50  
Total from investment operations (0.04) 0.11 (0.37) 5.11 1.75  
Less distributions:            
Distributions from net investment income (0.31) (0.35) (0.36) (0.46) (0.18)  
Distributions from net realized gains (1.20)  
Total distributions (1.51) (0.35) (0.36) (0.46) (0.18)  
Net asset value at end of period $ 21.16 $ 22.71 $ 22.95 $23.68 $ 19.03  
Total return 0.00% 3 0.56% (1.57%) 27.43% 10.20%  
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Ratios to average net assets:            
Net operating expenses 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.25% 1.37% 2  
Gross operating expenses 1.54% 1.50% 1.47% 1.44% 1.47%  
Net investment income (loss) 0.93% 0.91% 1.20% 1.26% 1.40%  
Portfolio turnover rate 69% 72% 74% 65% 68%  
Net assets, end of period (x 1,000,000) $1,063 $1,395 $ 1,592 $1,590 $1,062  
1
Calculated based on the average shares outstanding during the period.
2
Effective June 6, 2012, the net operating expense limitation was lowered. The ratio presented for period ended 10/31/12 is a blended ratio.
3
Less than 0.005%.
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Fund management
The investment adviser for the funds is Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM), 211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Founded in 1989, CSIM serves as investment adviser for all of the Schwab Funds ® , Schwab ETFs ® and Laudus Funds ® . As of May 31, 2017, CSIM managed approximately $320 billion in assets.
Subject to oversight by the funds’ Board of Trustees, CSIM acts as the “manager of managers” for the funds and has overall responsibility for the management of the funds. CSIM may recommend the appointment of additional or replacement investment managers to the funds’ Board of Trustees. The funds and CSIM have received exemptive relief from the SEC to permit CSIM and the funds to hire or terminate investment managers without shareholder approval, subject to certain conditions. One of the conditions requires approval by the Board of Trustees before any such hiring is implemented. In addition, the exemptive order currently prohibits CSIM from entering into sub-advisory agreements with affiliates of CSIM without shareholder approval. Within 90 days of the hiring of any new investment manager, CSIM will furnish shareholders of the affected fund with the required information about the new investment manager.
As the investment adviser, CSIM oversees the asset management and administration of the funds. As compensation for these services, CSIM receives a management fee from each fund. For the 12 months ended October 31, 2016, these fees were 0.99% for the Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund and 1.08% for the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund. These figures, which are expressed as a percentage of each fund’s average daily net assets, represent the actual amounts paid, including the effects of reductions, and are based on the fees that applied for that period. CSIM pays the investment managers out of the management fee it receives from the funds.
A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the investment advisory agreement with CSIM and each sub-advisory agreement (other than the sub-advisory agreement with Voya Investment Management Co. LLC) is available in the funds’ 2016 annual report, which covers the period of November 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016. A discussion regarding the Board of Trustees’ approval of the sub-advisory agreement with Voya Investment Management Co. LLC will be available in the funds’ 2017 semiannual report, which covers the period of November 1, 2016 through April 30, 2017.
Omar Aguilar, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Equities and Multi-Asset Strategies, has overall responsibility for all aspects of the management of the funds. Prior to joining CSIM in 2011, Mr. Aguilar was with Financial Engines, where he was responsible for managing assets from leading retirement plan sponsors in the defined contribution market. Prior to joining Financial Engines in 2009, Mr. Aguilar was the head of quantitative equity for ING Investment Management, where he was responsible for building and developing the firm’s quantitative equity group. He joined ING in 2004 from Lehman Brothers, where he served as the head of quantitative research for its alternative investment management business. Prior to that, he was a director of quantitative research and portfolio manager with Merrill Lynch Investment Management and Bankers Trust.
Jane Shi, Portfolio Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the funds. Prior to joining CSIM in 2011, Ms. Shi was a vice president investment analyst at Bailard, Inc. since 2006, where she developed quantitative models for domestic equity and tactical asset allocation strategies, and was also responsible for performance measurement and attribution. Prior to that, she was a treasury analyst at Sun Microsystems, Inc.
The funds’ investment managers
The table below shows each fund’s current investment managers and the individuals who serve as portfolio managers for each investment manager’s portion of fund assets.
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund
Investment manager
and address
Year founded/
assets under
management
(as of 12/31/16)
Portfolio
manager(s)
Employment
experience
The Boston Company Asset Management LLC
One Boston Place
Boston, MA 02108
Founded: 1970
$38 billion
David A. Daglio Jr., CFA,
Senior Managing Director
and Head of the Opportunistic
Value Strategies
Began his investment career in 1998. Joined The Boston Company as an equity analyst in 1998. He holds a B.S. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
       
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Investment manager
and address
Year founded/
assets under
management
(as of 12/31/16)
Portfolio
manager(s)
Employment
experience
Mellon Capital Management Corp .
50 Fremont St., Suite 3900
San Francisco, CA 94105
Founded:  1983
$341 billion
Karen Q. Wong, CFA 
Managing Director, Head of
Equity Portfolio Management
Ms. Wong is a managing director of equity index strategies with Mellon Capital, where she has been employed since 2000. She holds a MBA from San Francisco State University in Finance, and a BS from San Francisco State University in Accounting and Statistics.
    Richard A. Brown, CFA
Managing Director, Senior
Portfolio Manager, Team
Leader
Mr. Brown is a managing director of equity portfolio management with Mellon Capital, where he has been employed since 1995. He holds an MBA from California State University at Hayward.
    Thomas J. Durante, CFA
Managing Director, Senior
Portfolio Manager, Team
Leader
Mr. Durante is a managing director of equity portfolio management with Mellon Capital, where he has been employed since 2000. He holds a B.A. degree from Fairfield University in Accounting.
       
Voya Investment Management
Co. LLC
230 Park Avenue, 13 th Floor
New York, NY 10169
Founded: 1972
$91 billion
James Hasso, Head of U.S. Small Cap and Portfolio Manager Mr. Hasso joined Voya as an analyst in 2006. He holds a B.A. degree in economics from Lehman College and an MBA in finance from Fordham University.
    Joseph Basset, CFA,
Equity Analyst and Portfolio Manager
Mr. Basset joined Voya in June 2005. He holds a B.A. degree in economics from Tulane University and an MBA and ABD in finance from the University of Texas. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst ® designation.
       
Wellington Management
Company LLP
280 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02210
Founded: 1933
$979 billion
Timothy J. McCormack, CFA
Senior Managing Director and
Equity Portfolio Manager
Began his investment career in 1991. Joined Wellington Management as an investment professional in 2000. Has served as portfolio manager for the fund since 2012.
    Shaun F. Pederson, Senior
Managing Director and
Equity Portfolio Manager
Began his investment career in 1991. Joined Wellington Management as an investment professional in 2004. Has been involved in portfolio management and securities analysis for the fund since 2012.
Additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the fund is available in the funds’ SAI.
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Laudus International MarketMasters Fund
Investment manager
and address
Year founded/
assets under
management
(as of 12/31/16)
Portfolio
manager(s)
Employment
experience
American Century Investment
Management, Inc.
4500 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
Founded:  1958
$156.8 billion
Trevor Gurwich, Vice President
and Senior Portfolio Manager
Rejoined the team that manages International Small Cap Strategy in 2005. He previously was a member of the team from 2001 until 2002. He joined American Century Investments in 1998 and became a portfolio manager in 2001.
    Federico Laffan, Vice President
and Portfolio Manager
Has been a member of the team that manages International Small Cap strategy since 2014 after previously being on the team from 2001 to 2008. He joined American Century Investments in 2001 and became a portfolio manager in 2004.
       
Harris Associates L.P.
111 S. Wacker Drive
Suite 4600
Chicago, IL 60606
Founded:  1976
$108 billion
David G. Herro, CFA,
Deputy Chairman, Chief
Investment Officer,
International Equities and
Portfolio Manager
Began his investment career in 1986. Joined Harris Associates in 1992. Mr. Herro holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a MA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
       
    Mike L. Manelli, CFA,
Vice President, Portfolio Manager
and International Investment
Analyst
Mr. Manelli joined Harris Associates L.P. in 2005. Mr. Manelli has 16 years investment experience and holds a BBA from the University of Iowa.
       
Mellon Capital Management Corp.
50 Fremont St., Suite 3900
San Francisco, CA 94105
Founded:  1983
$341 billion
Karen Q. Wong, CFA,
Managing Director, Head of
Equity Portfolio Management
Ms. Wong is a managing director of equity index strategies with Mellon Capital, where she has been employed since 2000. She holds a MBA from San Francisco State University in Finance, and a BS from San Francisco State University in Accounting and Statistics.
    Richard A. Brown, CFA,
Managing Director, Senior
Portfolio Manager, Team Leader
Mr. Brown is a managing director of equity portfolio management with Mellon Capital, where he has been employed since 1995. He holds an MBA from California State University at Hayward.
    Thomas J. Durante, CFA,
Managing Director, Senior
Portfolio Manager, Team Leader
Mr. Durante is a managing director of equity portfolio management with Mellon Capital, where he has been employed since 2000. He holds a B.A. degree from Fairfield University in Accounting.
       
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Investment manager
and address
Year founded/
assets under
management
(as of 12/31/16)
Portfolio
manager(s)
Employment
experience
Mondrian Investment Partners
Limited
Fifth Floor
10 Gresham Street
London EC2V 7JD
Founded:  1990
$59 billion
Ormala Krishnan, PhD
(Investment and Finance),
CIO – Small Cap Equities
primarily responsible for
day-to-day management
and investment decisions.
Began investment career in 1993. Joined Mondrian in May 2000 as a portfolio manager, emerging markets. Named to current position in 2013 and currently heads the international small capitalization team.
    Frances M. Cuthbert
Senior Portfolio Manager
Ms. Cuthbert is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh where she completed a MA (Hons) degree in Economics. She commenced her career at Deutsche Bank before joining Mondrian in 1999 with responsibilities in the International Small Capitalization Team. Ms. Cuthbert is a CFA Charterholder, a member of the CFA Institute and a member of the CFA Society of the UK.
    Aidan Nicholson
Senior Portfolio Manager
Having graduated from Pembroke College, Oxford with a Masters in Engineering, Economics & Management, Mr. Nicholson worked at Cazenove & Co. in the UK Smaller Companies Team, before moving to Mondrian in 2003 where he is a Senior Portfolio Manager on the International Small Capitalization Team. Mr. Nicholson is a CFA Charterholder, a member of the CFA Institute and a member of the CFA Society of the UK.
       
William Blair Investment Management, LLC
(formerly, William Blair & Company, LLC)
222 West Adams St.
Chicago, IL 60606
Founded:  2014
$64 billion
Jeffrey A. Urbina,
Partner, Portfolio Manager
Jeffrey A. Urbina joined William Blair & Company, LLC (an affiliate of William Blair Investment Management, LLC) in 1996 as an international portfolio manager. Prior to joining the firm, he was Senior Vice President/Director of Emerging Market Research and a Portfolio Manager for the Van Kampen American Capital Navigator Fund. Prior to that, he spent ten years at Citicorp in various capacities. Mr. Urbina has the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute. Education. He holds a BA from Northwestern University and an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
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Investment manager
and address
Year founded/
assets under
management
(as of 12/31/16)
Portfolio
manager(s)
Employment
experience
    Simon Fennell,
Partner, Portfolio Manager
Simon Fennell joined William Blair & Company, LLC (an affiliate of William Blair Investment Management, LLC) in 2011. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Fennell was a Managing Director in the Equities division at Goldman Sachs in London and Boston, where he was responsible for institutional, equity research coverage for European and International stocks. Previously, he was in the Corporate Finance Group at Lehman Brothers in London and Hong Kong, working in the M&A and Debt Capital Markets Groups. Mr. Fennell holds an MA from the University of Edinburgh and an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management.
    Stephanie G. Braming, CFA
Partner, Portfolio Manager
Stephanie Braming joined William Blair & Company, LLC (an affiliate of William Blair Investment Management, LLC) in 2004. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Braming was a Principal at Mercer Investment Consulting, where she was responsible for the strategic investment direction of her institutional clients. She is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago where she served on the Society’s Board of Directors. She holds a BA from DePauw University and an MBA from University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Additional information about the portfolio managers’ compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in the fund is available in the funds’ SAI.
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Investing in the funds
In this section, you will find information on buying, selling and exchanging shares. You may invest in the funds through an intermediary by placing orders through your brokerage account at Schwab or an account with another broker/dealer, investment adviser, 401(k) plan, employee benefit plan, administrator, bank, or other financial intermediary (intermediary) that is authorized to accept orders on behalf of the funds (intermediary orders). Eligible Investors (as defined herein) may invest directly in a fund by placing orders through the fund’s transfer agent (direct orders). You also will see how to choose a distribution option for your investment. Helpful information on taxes is included as well.
Investing through a financial intermediary
Placing orders through your intermediary
When you place orders through Schwab or other intermediary, you are not placing your orders directly with a fund, and you must follow Schwab’s or the other intermediary’s transaction procedures. Your intermediary may impose different or additional conditions than the funds on purchases, redemptions and exchanges of fund shares. These differences may include initial, subsequent and maintenance investment requirements, exchange policies, fund choices, cut-off times for investment and trading restrictions. Your intermediary may independently establish and charge its customers transaction fees, account fees and other fees in addition to the fees charged by the funds, and the intermediary may require its customers to pay a commission when transacting in fund shares. These additional fees will vary between intermediaries and may vary over time and would increase the cost of your investment and lower investment returns. Shares of the fund are available in other share classes that have different fees and expenses. You should consult your intermediary directly for information regarding these conditions and fees. The funds are not responsible for the failure of your intermediary to carry out its responsibilities.
Only certain intermediaries are authorized to accept orders on behalf of a fund. If your fund shares are no longer held by an authorized intermediary, the fund may impose restrictions on your ability to manage or maintain your shares. For example, you will not be able to place orders to purchase additional shares. To remove these restrictions, you have two options. First, you may move your shares to Schwab or another intermediary that is authorized to accept fund orders. Second, you may maintain a direct account with a fund if you meet the eligibility requirements for placing direct orders and your completed account application and supporting documentation is returned to and accepted by the fund’s transfer agent, Boston Financial Data Services (transfer agent). The eligibility requirements and instructions for submitting an account application are set forth in the “Investing directly with the funds” section of the prospectus. If you do not exercise one of these options within ninety days, each fund reserves the right to redeem your shares.
Buying, selling and exchanging shares through an intermediary
To purchase, redeem or exchange shares held in your Schwab account or in your account at another intermediary, you must place your orders with the intermediary that holds your shares. You may not purchase, redeem or exchange shares held in your intermediary account directly with a fund.
When selling or exchanging shares, you should be aware of the following fund policies:
•For accounts held through a financial intermediary, each fund typically expects to pay sale proceeds to the financial intermediary for payment to redeeming shareholders within two business days following receipt of a shareholder redemption order. For sale proceeds that are paid directly to a shareholder by a fund, the fund typically expects to pay sales proceeds by wire, ACH, or by mailing a check, to redeeming shareholders within two business days, following receipt of the shareholder redemption order. In each case, however, a fund may take up to seven days to pay sale proceeds.
•Each fund reserves the right to honor redemptions in liquid portfolio securities instead of cash when your redemptions over a 90-day period exceed $250,000 or 1% of the fund’s assets, whichever is less. You may incur transaction expenses and taxable gains in converting these securities to cash. In addition, a redemption in liquid portfolio securities would be treated as a taxable event for you and may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.
•Exchange orders are limited to other Schwab Funds ® (that are not Sweep Investments ® ) and Laudus MarketMasters Funds, and must meet the minimum investment and other requirements for the fund and share class, if applicable, into which you are exchanging.
•You must obtain and read the prospectus for the fund into which you are exchanging prior to placing your order.
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Investing directly with the funds
Investor eligibility requirements for placing direct orders
Only Eligible Investors (as defined below) may purchase shares directly from the a fund’s transfer agent, Boston Financial Data Services. Eligible Investors include, but are not limited to, qualified and non-qualified employee benefit plans (including but not limited to defined benefit plans, defined contribution plans, and 401(k) plans), foundations and endowments, banks, trusts, investment companies and corporate capital and cash management accounts. Eligible Investors may also be shareholders who receive shares of a Schwab Fund as a result of a reorganization of a fund. The funds reserve the right to determine which potential investors qualify as Eligible Investors. Shares held by a non-Eligible Investor directly with a fund are subject to involuntary redemption by the fund.
Opening an account to place direct orders
You must satisfy the investor eligibility requirements for direct order clients to place direct orders for a fund’s shares. Eligible Investors must open an account with a fund through the fund’s transfer agent prior to placing direct orders. You may obtain an account application by calling the transfer agent at 1-800-407-0256. Your completed application and supporting documents must be returned to, and accepted by, the transfer agent before you can place direct orders. You cannot place direct orders through your Schwab account or through your account at another intermediary.
Initial and additional direct purchases by wire
Subject to acceptance by a fund, you may make your initial purchase and any additional purchases of shares by wiring federal funds to the transfer agent. If you have not yet opened an account with a fund, you must fax a signed, hard copy of the completed account application and all supporting documents to the transfer agent at 1-816-218-0490. You must call the transfer agent at 1-800-407-0256 prior to the close of a fund (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time or the close of the NYSE) to place your order and to receive wire instructions. Orders received by the transfer agent in good order on or prior to the close of a fund will be processed at the net asset value per share of the fund for that day. Your wired funds must be received and accepted by the transfer agent prior to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time or the deadline for the Fedwire Funds Service for initiating third party transfers, whichever is earlier, on the day your purchase order is placed. Please call the transfer agent at 1-800-407-0256 if you have any questions or need additional information.
Initial and additional direct purchases by mail
Subject to acceptance by a fund, you may open an account and make your initial purchase and any additional purchases of the fund’s shares by mail. To open an account by mail, complete and sign the account application and mail the account application, all supporting documents and a check for the desired purchase amount to the transfer agent at Boston Financial Data Services, Attn: Schwab Funds, PO Box 8283, Boston, MA 02266-8323. Additional investments may be made at any time by mailing a check (payable to Schwab Funds) to the transfer agent at the address above. Be sure to include your account number on your check.
Subject to acceptance by a fund, payment for the purchase of shares received by mail will be credited to a shareholder’s account at the net asset value per share of the fund next determined after receipt, even though the check may not yet have been converted into federal funds. For purposes of calculating the purchase price of fund shares, a purchase order is received by the fund on the day that it is in good order unless it is rejected by the fund’s transfer agent. For a cash purchase order of fund shares to be in good order on a particular day, a check must be received on or before the close of a fund (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time or the close of the NYSE) on that day. If the payment is received by the fund after the deadline, the purchase price of fund shares will be based upon the next determination of net asset value of fund shares. No currency, third party checks, foreign checks, starter checks, credit card checks, traveler’s checks or money orders will be accepted by the funds.
Direct redemptions and exchanges
When selling or exchanging shares directly, you should be aware of the following fund policies:
•Each fund typically expects to pay sale proceeds by wire, ACH, or by mailing a check, to redeeming shareholders within two business days following receipt of a shareholder redemption order; however, each fund may take up to seven days to pay sale proceeds.
•Each fund reserves the right to honor redemptions in liquid portfolio securities instead of cash when your redemptions over a 90-day period exceed $250,000 or 1% of the fund’s assets, whichever is less. You may incur transaction expenses and taxable gains in converting these securities to cash. In addition, a redemption in liquid portfolio securities would be treated as a taxable event for you and may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.
•Exchange orders are limited to other Schwab Funds (that are not Sweep Investments) and Laudus MarketMasters Funds, and must meet the minimum investment and other requirements for the fund and share class, if applicable, into which you are exchanging.
•If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check, the proceeds may be delayed until the check for purchase clears; this may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase.
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•You must obtain and read the prospectus for the fund into which you are exchanging prior to placing your order.
Direct redemptions by telephone
If you authorized the telephone redemption option in the account application, you may place a redemption order by calling the transfer agent at 1-800-407-0256 and requesting that the redemption proceeds be wired per the authorized instructions in the account application or mailed to the primary registration address. Your redemption order will be processed at the net asset value per share of a fund next determined after receipt of your telephone redemption order by the transfer agent. Please note that the transfer agent may only act on telephone instructions believed by the transfer agent to be genuine. The transfer agent’s records of such instructions are binding on the shareholder. The funds and their service providers (including the transfer agent, Schwab and CSIM) are not responsible for any losses or costs that may arise from following telephone instructions that the transfer agent reasonably believes to be genuine. The transfer agent will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated are genuine. These procedures include tape recording of telephone instructions and requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting upon instructions received by telephone.
Direct redemptions by mail
You may redeem your fund shares by mail by sending a request letter to the funds’ transfer agent at Boston Financial Data Services, Attn: Schwab Funds, PO Box 8283, Boston, MA 02266-8323. Your redemption request will be processed by the fund at the net asset value per share of the fund next determined after the request is received in good order. To be in good order, the redemption request must include the name of the fund and the number of shares or the dollar amount to be redeemed, all required signatures and authorizations and any required signature guarantees.
Additional direct redemption information
To protect you, the funds and their service providers from fraud, signature guarantees may be required to enable the transfer agent to verify the identity of the person who has authorized a redemption from an account. Signature guarantees are required for (1) redemptions where the proceeds are to be sent to someone other than the registered shareholder(s) at the registered address, (2) redemptions if your account address has changed within the last 10 business days, (3) share transfer requests, and (4) redemptions where the proceeds are wired in connection with bank instructions not already on file with the transfer agent. Signature guarantees may be obtained from certain eligible financial institutions, including, but not limited to, the following: U.S. banks, trust companies, credit unions, securities brokers and dealers, savings and loan associations and participants in the Securities and Transfer Association Medallion Program (STAMP), the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP) or the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (MSP). Signature guarantees from non-U.S. banks that do not include a stamp may require a U.S. consulate stamp. You may contact the transfer agent at 1-800-407-0256 for further details.
Direct exchange privileges
Upon request, and subject to certain limitations, shares of the funds may be exchanged into shares of any other Schwab Fund or Laudus MarketMasters Fund that is not a Sweep Investment. In order to exchange your shares to another fund, you must meet the minimum investment and other requirements for the fund and share class into which you are exchanging or converting. Further, you must obtain and read the prospectus for the fund into which you are exchanging prior to placing your order. A new account opened by an exchange must be established with the same name(s), address(es) and tax identification number(s) as the existing account. All exchanges will be made based on the respective net asset values next determined following receipt of the request by the fund containing the information indicated below.
The funds reserve the right to suspend or terminate the privilege of exchanging shares of the funds by mail or by telephone at any time.
Direct exchanges by telephone
If you authorized the telephone redemption option in the account application, you may exchange fund shares by telephone by calling the funds’ transfer agent at 1-800-407-0256. Please be prepared to provide the following information: (a) the account number, tax identification number and account registration; (b) the class of shares to be exchanged (if applicable); (c) the name of the fund from which and the fund into which the exchange is to be made; and (d) the dollar or share amount to be exchanged. Please note that the transfer agent may act only on telephone instructions believed by the transfer agent to be genuine. Please see the section entitled “Direct redemptions by telephone” for more information regarding transacting with the funds’ transfer agent via telephone.
Direct exchanges by mail
To exchange fund shares by mail, simply send a letter of instruction to the funds’ transfer agent at Boston Financial Data Services, Attn: Schwab Funds, PO Box 8283, Boston, MA 02266-8323. The letter of instruction must include: (a) your account number; (b) the class of shares to be exchanged (if applicable); (c) the fund from and the fund into which the exchange is to be made; (d) the dollar or share amount to be exchanged; and (e) the signatures of all registered owners or authorized parties.
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Share price
The funds are open for business each day that the NYSE is open. Each fund calculates its share price each business day as of the close of the NYSE (generally 4 p.m. Eastern time). If the NYSE is closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, each fund reserves the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate its share prices as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day. A fund’s share price is its net asset value per share, or NAV, which is the fund’s net assets divided by the number of its shares outstanding. Orders to buy, sell or exchange shares that are received by a fund in good order on or prior to the close of the fund (generally 4 p.m. Eastern time) will be executed at the next share price calculated that day.
If you place an order through your Schwab account or an account at another intermediary, please consult with your intermediary to determine when your order will be executed. Generally, you will receive the share price next calculated after a fund receives your order from your intermediary. However, some intermediaries, such as Schwab, may arrange with the fund for you to receive the share price next calculated after your intermediary has received your order. Some intermediaries may require that they receive orders prior to a specified cut-off time.
In valuing its securities, a fund uses market quotes or official closing prices if they are readily available. In cases where quotes are not readily available or the investment adviser deems them unreliable, a fund may value securities based on fair values developed using methods approved by the fund’s Board of Trustees.
Shareholders of the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund™ should be aware that because foreign markets are often open on weekends and other days when the fund is closed, the value of the fund’s portfolio may change on days when it is not possible to buy or sell shares of the fund.
Additional policies affecting your investment
Investment minimums
Choose a fund and share class then decide how much you want to invest. Your choice may depend on the amount of your investment. The minimums shown below are for each fund and share class. The Select Shares have lower expenses than the Investor Shares. You may convert your Investor Shares into Select Shares at any time if your account balance in the fund is at least $50,000. You must contact the fund, Schwab or your other intermediary to request an interclass exchange of your Investor Shares for Select Shares—conversion is not automatic. If you no longer meet the minimum balance requirement for Select Shares, each fund reserves the right to (i) convert your Select Share holdings to Investor Shares of the same fund; or (ii) redeem your holdings. A fund will notify you in writing 60 days before any automatic conversion or redemption occurs. Select Shares may not be available through intermediaries other than Schwab.
Share class Minimum initial investment Minimum balance
Investor Shares $100 None
Select Shares $50,000 $40,000
These minimums may be waived for certain retirement plans and plan participants, and for certain investment programs, or in a fund’s sole discretion. Investment advisers may aggregate investments across client accounts in order to reach the Select Shares initial minimum investment and minimum balance requirements.
Choose an option for fund distributions. If you are an Eligible Investor placing direct orders with a fund, you will have one of the three options described below for fund distributions. If you don’t indicate a choice, you will receive the first option. If you are placing orders through an intermediary, you will select from the options for fund distributions provided by your intermediary, which may be different than those provided by the funds to Eligible Investors. You should consult with your financial intermediary to discuss available options.
Option Feature
Reinvestment All dividends and capital gains distributions are invested automatically in shares of the fund.
Cash/reinvestment mix You receive payment for dividends, while any capital gains distributions are invested in shares of your fund.
Cash You receive payment for all dividends and capital gains distributions.
Each fund reserves certain rights, including the following:
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•If your account balance falls below the stated minimum balance requirement for the Select Shares for any reason, to automatically convert your holdings to Investor Shares of that same fund upon 60 days written notice or to automatically redeem your shares upon 60 days written notice.
•To materially modify or terminate the exchange privilege upon 60 days’ written notice to shareholders.
•To change or waive a fund’s investment minimums.
•To suspend the right to sell shares back to the fund, and delay sending proceeds, during times when trading on the NYSE is restricted or halted, or otherwise as permitted by the SEC.
•To withdraw or suspend any part of the offering made by this prospectus.
Payments by the investment adviser or its affiliates
The investment adviser or its affiliates may make cash payments out of their own resources, or provide products and services at a discount, to certain brokerage firms, banks, retirement plan service providers and other financial intermediaries that perform shareholder, recordkeeping, sub-accounting and other administrative services in connection with investments in fund shares. These payments or discounts are separate from, and may be in addition to, any shareholder service fees or other administrative fees the funds may pay to those intermediaries. The investment adviser or its affiliates may also make cash payments out of their own resources, or provide products and services at a discount, to certain financial intermediaries that perform distribution, marketing, promotional or other distribution-related services. The payments or discounts described by this paragraph may be substantial; however, distribution-related services provided by such intermediaries are paid by the investment adviser or its affiliates, not by the funds or their shareholders.
Shareholder servicing plan
The Board of Trustees has adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan (the Plan) on behalf of the funds. The Plan enables a fund to bear expenses relating to the provision by financial intermediaries, including Schwab (together, “service providers”), of certain account maintenance, customer liaison and shareholder services to the current shareholders of the funds.
Pursuant to the Plan, each fund’s shares are subject to an annual shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.20% for Select Shares and 0.25% for Investor Shares. The shareholder servicing fee paid to a particular service provider is made pursuant to its written agreement with Schwab, as distributor of the funds (or, in the case of payments made to Schwab acting as a service provider, pursuant to Schwab’s written agreement with the funds), and a fund will pay no more than 0.20% for Select Shares and 0.25% for Investor Shares of the average annual daily net asset value of the fund shares owned by shareholders holding shares through such service provider. Payments under the Plan are made as described above without regard to whether the fee is more or less than the service provider’s actual cost of providing the services, and if more, such excess may be retained as profit by the service provider.
Policy regarding short-term or excessive trading
The funds are intended for long-term investment and not for short-term or excessive trading (collectively “market timing”). Market timing may adversely impact the funds’ performance by disrupting the efficient management of the funds, increasing fund transaction costs and taxes, causing the funds to maintain higher cash balances, and diluting the value of the funds’ shares.
To discourage market timing, the funds’ Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to reduce the risk of market timing by fund shareholders. Each fund seeks to deter market timing through several methods. These methods may include: fair value pricing and trade activity monitoring. Fair value pricing is discussed more thoroughly in the subsequent pages of this prospectus and is considered an element of the funds’ policy regarding short term or excessive trading. Trade activity monitoring is risk based and seeks to identify patterns of activity in amounts that might be detrimental to the funds.
The funds and their service providers maintain risk-based surveillance procedures designed to detect market timing in fund shares in amounts that might be detrimental to the fund. Under these procedures, the funds have requested that service providers to the funds monitor transactional activity in amounts and frequency determined by each fund to be significant to the fund and in a pattern of activity that potentially could be detrimental to the fund. Generally, excessive trading activity in a fund is measured by the number of roundtrip transactions in a shareholder’s account. A roundtrip transaction occurs when a shareholder completes a purchase of shares and then sells the same fund’s shares (including exchanges). If an investor engages in multiple roundtrips in a fund within a 60 day period or the fund, in its sole discretion based on these or other factors, determines that a shareholder has engaged in market timing, it may refuse to process future purchases or exchanges into such fund by that shareholder for a period of 90 days. Subsequent violations within a 12 month period will be evaluated to determine whether a permanent block is appropriate. These procedures may be modified from time to time as appropriate to improve the detection of market timing and to comply with applicable laws.
If trades are effected through a financial intermediary, each fund or its service providers will work with the intermediary to monitor possible market timing activity. The funds reserve the right to request that the intermediary provide certain shareholder transaction information to the funds and may require the intermediary to restrict the shareholder from future purchases or exchanges in the funds. Transactions by fund shareholders investing through intermediaries may also be subject to the restrictions of the intermediary’s own
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frequent trading policies, which may differ from those of the funds. Each fund may defer to an intermediary’s frequent trading policies with respect to those shareholders who invest in the fund through such intermediary. Each fund will defer to an intermediary’s policies only after the fund determines that the intermediary’s frequent trading policies are reasonably designed to deter transactional activity in amounts and frequency that are deemed to be significant to the fund and in a pattern of activity that potentially could be detrimental to the fund. Shareholders should consult with their intermediary to determine if additional frequent trading restrictions apply to their fund transactions. A fund’s ability to impose restrictions with respect to accounts traded through particular intermediaries may vary depending on the systems’ capabilities, applicable contractual and legal restrictions and cooperation of those intermediaries.
Although these methods are designed to discourage market timing, there can be no guarantee that the funds will be able to identify and restrict investors that engage in such activities. In addition, some of these methods are inherently subjective and involve judgment in their application. Each fund and its service providers seek to make these judgments and applications uniformly and in a manner that they believe is consistent with interests of the fund’s long-term shareholders. The funds may amend these policies and procedures without prior notice in response to changing regulatory requirements or to enhance the effectiveness of the program.
The funds reserve the right to restrict, reject or cancel within a reasonable time, without prior notice, any purchase or exchange order for any reason.
Fair value pricing
The Board of Trustees has adopted procedures to fair value each fund’s securities when market prices are not “readily available” or are unreliable. For example, a fund may fair value a security when a security is de-listed or its trading is halted or suspended; when a security’s primary pricing source is unable or unwilling to provide a price; when a security’s primary trading market is closed during regular market hours; or when a security’s value is materially affected by events occurring after the close of the security’s primary trading market.
By fair valuing securities whose prices may have been affected by events occurring after the close of trading, each fund seeks to establish prices that investors might expect to realize upon the current sales of these securities. This methodology is designed to deter “arbitrage” market timers, who seek to exploit delays between the change in the value of a fund’s portfolio holdings and the net asset value of the fund’s shares, and seeks to help ensure that the prices at which the fund’s shares are purchased and redeemed are fair and do not result in dilution of shareholder interest or other harm to shareholders.
Each fund makes fair value determinations in good faith in accordance with the fund’s valuation procedures. Due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, there can be no assurance that a fund could obtain the fair value assigned to the security upon the sale of such security.
Methods to meet redemptions
Under normal market conditions, the funds expect to meet redemption orders by using holdings of cash/cash equivalents or by the sale of portfolio investments. In unusual or stressed market conditions or as CSIM determines appropriate, each fund may borrow through the funds’ bank line of credit or through the funds’ interfund lending facility to meet redemption requests. Each fund may also utilize its custodian overdraft facility to meet redemptions, if necessary. As noted above, each fund also reserves the right to honor redemptions in liquid portfolio securities instead of cash when your redemptions over a 90-day period exceed $250,000 or 1% of the fund’s assets, whichever is less. You may be subject to market risk and you may incur transaction expenses and taxable gains in converting the securities to cash. In addition, a redemption in liquid portfolio securities would be treated as a taxable event for you and may result in the recognition of gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.
Large shareholder redemptions
Certain accounts or Schwab affiliates may from time to time own (beneficially or of record) or control a significant percentage of a fund's shares. Redemptions by these shareholders of their holdings in a  fund may impact a fund's liquidity and NAV. These redemptions may also force a  fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact a funds' brokerage costs.
Customer identification and verification and anti-money laundering program
Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. When you open your account, you will have to provide your name, address, date of birth, identification number and other information that will allow the funds or your financial intermediary to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening an account.
The funds or your financial intermediary are required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided. The fund or your financial intermediary may contact you in an attempt to collect any missing information required on the application, and your application may be rejected if they are unable to obtain this information. In certain instances, the fund or your financial intermediary is required to collect documents that will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.
The funds will accept investments and your order will be processed at the NAV next determined after receipt of your application in proper form (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application). The funds, however, reserve the right to close and/or
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liquidate your account at the then-current day’s price if the fund or your financial intermediary is unable to verify your identity. As a result, you may be subject to a gain or loss on fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax consequences.
Customer identification and verification is part of the funds’ overall obligation to deter money laundering under U.S. federal law. The funds have adopted an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program designed to prevent the funds from being used for money laundering or the financing of terrorist activities. In this regard, the funds reserve the right to (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the funds or in cases when a fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the funds are required to withhold such proceeds.
Distributions and taxes
Any investment in a fund typically involves several tax considerations. The information below is meant as a general summary for U.S. citizens and residents. Please see the funds’ SAI for additional information. Because each person’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of your investment in a fund. You also can visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website at www.irs.gov.
As a shareholder, you are entitled to your share of the dividends and gains a fund earns. Every year, each fund distributes to its shareholders substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains, if any. These distributions typically are paid in December to all shareholders of record. During the fourth quarter of the year, typically in early November, an estimate of each fund’s capital gains distribution, if any, may be made available on the fund’s website: www.csimfunds.com.
Unless you are investing through an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged retirement account, your fund distributions generally have tax consequences. Each fund’s net investment income and short-term capital gains are distributed as dividends and will be taxable as ordinary income or qualified dividend income. Other capital gains distributions are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the fund. The maximum individual rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” and long-term capital gains is generally either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. Distributions generally are taxable in the tax year in which they are declared, whether you reinvest them or take them in cash.
Generally, any sale or exchange of your shares is a taxable event. For tax purposes, an exchange of your shares for shares of another Schwab Fund or Laudus MarketMasters Fund is treated the same as a sale. An exchange between classes within a fund is not reported as a taxable sale. A sale may result in a capital gain or loss for you. The gain or loss generally will be treated as short-term if you held the shares for one-year or less, long-term if you held the shares longer. The maximum individual rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” and long-term capital gains is generally either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gains distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares 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.
If a fund’s distributions exceed its taxable income and capital gains realized during a taxable year, all or a portion of the distributions made in the taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will not be taxable to the extent of a shareholder’s adjusted basis but will reduce such basis and result in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold. To the extent of a return of capital distribution exceeds a shareholder’s adjusted basis, the distribution will be treated as gain from the sale of shares.
An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gains distributions received from a fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
Shareholders in the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund may have additional tax considerations as a result of foreign tax payments made by the fund. Typically, these payments will reduce the fund’s dividends but, if eligible, the fund may elect for these payments to be included in your taxable income. In such event, you may be able to claim a tax credit or deduction for your portion of foreign taxes paid by the fund, however.
At the beginning of every year, each fund provides shareholders with information detailing the tax status of any distributions the fund paid during the previous calendar year. Schwab customers also receive information on distributions and transactions in their monthly account statements.
Prior to January 1, 2012, when shareholders sold fund shares from a taxable account, they typically received information on their tax forms that calculated their gain or loss using the average cost method. This information was not previously reported to the IRS, and shareholders
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had the option of calculating gains or losses using an alternative IRS permitted method. However, in accordance with legislation passed by Congress in 2008, each fund reports cost basis information to the IRS for shares purchased on or after January 1, 2012 and sold thereafter. Shareholders elect their preferred cost basis method; however, in the absence of an election, a fund will use an average cost basis method. Please consult your tax adviser to determine the appropriate cost basis method for your particular tax situation and to learn more about how the new cost basis reporting laws apply to you and your investments, including investments made prior to January 1, 2012 and sold thereafter.
A fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on all taxable distributions and redemption proceeds payable to shareholders if shareholders fail to provide the funds with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or if they have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against U.S. federal income tax liability.
Foreign shareholders may be subject to different U.S. federal income tax treatment, including withholding tax at the rate of 30% (unless a lower treaty rate applies) on amounts treated as ordinary dividends from the funds, as discussed in more detail in the funds’ SAI. Furthermore, the funds will be required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable dividends and (effective January 1, 2019) redemption proceeds and certain capital gain dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to the funds to enable the funds to determine whether withholding is required.
A fund’s investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes. In that case, a fund’s return on those securities would be decreased. In addition, a fund’s investments in foreign securities or foreign currencies may increase or accelerate a fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of a fund’s distributions. If more than 50% of a fund’s assets at fiscal year-end is represented by debt and equity securities of foreign corporations, the fund intends to elect to permit shareholders who are U.S. citizens, resident aliens or U.S. corporations to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction (but not both) on their U.S. income tax returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the fund to foreign countries in respect of foreign securities the fund has held for at least the minimum period specified in the Code. For the purposes of the foreign tax credit, each such shareholder would include in gross income from foreign sources its pro rata share of such taxes. Certain limitations imposed by the Code may prevent shareholders from receiving a full foreign tax credit or deduction for their allocable amount of such taxes.
To the extent such investments are permissible for a fund, the fund’s transactions in options, futures contracts, hedging transactions, forward contracts, equity swap contracts and straddles will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, and wash sale rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the fund, defer losses to the fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gains into short-term gains or convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. A fund’s use of such transactions may result in the fund realizing more short-term capital gains (subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates) and ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in such transactions.
The foregoing is a general summary of the federal income tax consequences of investing in a fund to shareholders who are U.S. citizens or U.S. corporations. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors about the tax consequences of an investment in a fund in light of each shareholder’s particular tax situation. Shareholders should also consult their own tax advisors about consequences under foreign, state, local or other applicable tax laws.
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Prospectus
June 19, 2017
Laudus MarketMasters Funds
To learn more
This prospectus contains important information on the funds and should be read and kept for reference. You also can obtain more information from the following sources:
Annual and semiannual reports, which are mailed to current  fund investors, contain more information about the funds' holdings and detailed financial information about the funds. Annual reports also contain information from the funds' managers about strategies, recent market conditions and trends and their impact on  fund performance during the funds’ last fiscal period.
The Statement of Additional Information (SAI) includes a more detailed discussion of investment policies and the risks associated with various investments. The SAI is incorporated by reference into the prospectus, making it legally part of the prospectus.
For a free copy of any of these documents or to request other information or ask questions about the funds, call Schwab at 1-877-824-5615. In addition, you may visit www.csimfunds.com/laudusfunds_prospectus for a free copy of a prospectus, SAI or an annual or semiannual report.
The SAI, the funds’ annual and semiannual reports and other related materials are available from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). You can obtain copies of this information, after paying a duplicating fee, by sending a request by e-mail to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. You can also review and copy information about the funds, including the funds' SAI, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call 1-202-551-8090 for information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room.
SEC File Number
Schwab Capital Trust 811-07704
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Statement Of Additional Information
Schwab Capital Trust
LAUDUS MARKETMASTERS FUNDS ®
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund™
Investor Shares: SWOSX Select Shares ® : SWMSX
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund™
Investor Shares: SWOIX Select Shares ® : SWMIX
June 19, 2017
The Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the funds' prospectus dated June 19, 2017 (as amended from time to time).
The funds' audited financial statements and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon from the funds' annual report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.
For a free copy of these documents or to request other information or ask questions about the funds, call Schwab Funds ® at 1-877-824-5615. For TDD service, call 1-800-345-2550. In addition, you may visit the Laudus Funds ® ’ website at www.csimfunds.com/laudusfunds_prospectus for a free copy of a prospectus, SAI or an annual or semiannual report.
Each fund is a series of Schwab Capital Trust (the Trust). The funds are part of the Schwab complex of funds (Schwab Funds).
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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation.
Change of Investment Objective
Each fund’s investment objective may be changed only by vote of a majority of its outstanding voting shares. A majority of the outstanding voting shares of a fund means the affirmative vote of the lesser of: (a) 67% or more of the voting shares represented at the meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares of a fund are represented at the meeting or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares of a fund.
There is no guarantee the funds will achieve their objectives.
Investment Policies of the Funds
It is the Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund’s policy that, under normal circumstances, it will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of companies with small market capitalizations or investments with similar economic characteristics, such as futures. The fund will notify its shareholders at least 60 days before changing this policy. For purposes of this policy, net assets mean net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes. Companies with small market capitalizations generally are those with market capitalizations within the universe of the Russell 2000 Index at the time of purchase by the fund. The market capitalization range of the Russell 2000 Index was $144 million to $4.37 billion as of May 12, 2017, and will change as market conditions change.
It is the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund’s policy that, under normal circumstances, it will invest a substantial amount of its assets in equity securities of companies outside the United States. The fund expects to invest in companies across all market capitalization ranges. The fund typically focuses on developed markets, but may invest in companies from emerging markets as well.
Investment Strategies, Securities And RISKS
The funds’ investment adviser, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM), acts as “manager of managers” for the funds. In this role, CSIM, subject to approval by the funds’ Board of Trustees, hires sub-advisers (investment managers or sub-advisers) to manage portions of the funds’ assets.
The different types of investments that the funds typically may invest in, the investment techniques they may use and the risks normally associated with these investments are discussed below. The following investment policies, securities, strategies, risks and limitations supplement those set forth in the funds’ prospectus and may be changed without shareholder approval, unless otherwise noted. Also, policies and limitations that state a maximum percentage of assets that may be invested in a security or other asset, or that set forth a quality standard, shall be measured immediately after and as a result of a fund’s acquisition of such security or asset, unless otherwise noted. Thus, any subsequent change in values, net assets or other circumstances does not require a fund to sell an investment if it could not then make the same investment. Not all investment securities or techniques discussed below are eligible investments for each fund. A fund will make investments that are intended to help achieve its investment objective.
From time to time the funds may hold certain securities not otherwise discussed in this SAI as a permissible investment for a particular fund. To the extent an investment becomes part of a fund’s principal or non-principal investment strategy, the fund will take the necessary steps to identify them as permissible investments. In addition, a fund may receive (i.e., not actively invest) certain securities as a result of a corporate action, such as securities dividends, spin-offs or rights issues. In such cases, if the security is not a permissible investment for the fund, the fund will not actively add to its position and generally will dispose of the securities as soon as reasonably practicable.
Bankers' Acceptances ​ or notes are credit instruments evidencing a bank’s obligation to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer. These instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the full amount of the instrument upon maturity. A fund will invest only in bankers’ acceptances of banks that have capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $100 million.
Borrowing. A fund may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes; for example, a fund may borrow at times to meet redemption requests rather than sell portfolio securities to raise the necessary cash. A fund’s borrowings will be subject to interest costs. Borrowing can also involve leveraging when securities are purchased with the borrowed money. Leveraging creates interest expenses that can exceed the income from the assets purchased with the borrowed money. In addition, leveraging may magnify changes in the net asset value of a fund’s shares and in its portfolio yield. A fund can avoid leverage by not purchasing securities while borrowings are outstanding. A fund will earmark or segregate assets to cover such borrowings in accordance with positions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). If assets used to secure a borrowing decrease in value, a fund may be required to pledge additional collateral to avoid liquidation of those assets.
Each fund may establish lines-of-credit (lines) with certain banks by which it may borrow funds for temporary or emergency purposes. A borrowing is presumed to be for temporary or emergency purposes if it is repaid by a fund within 60 days and is not
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extended or renewed. Each fund may use the lines to meet large or unexpected redemptions that would otherwise force a fund to liquidate securities under circumstances which are unfavorable to the fund’s remaining shareholders. Each fund will pay a fee to the bank for using the lines.
Concentration means that substantial amounts of assets are invested in a particular industry or group of industries. Concentration increases investment exposure to industry risk. For example, the automobile industry may have a greater exposure to a single factor, such as an increase in the price of oil, which may adversely affect the sale of automobiles and, as a result, the value of the industry’s securities.
Debt Securities are obligations issued by domestic and foreign entities, including governments and corporations, in order to raise money. They are basically “IOUs,” but are commonly referred to as bonds or money market securities. These securities normally require the issuer to pay a fixed, variable or floating rate of interest on the amount of money borrowed (principal) until it is paid back upon maturity.
Debt securities experience price changes when interest rates change. For example, when interest rates fall, the prices of debt securities generally rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the prices of debt securities generally fall. Certain debt securities have call features that allow issuers to redeem their outstanding debts prior to final maturity. Depending on the call feature, an issuer may pre-pay its outstanding debts and issue new ones paying lower interest rates. This is more likely to occur in a falling interest rate environment. In a rising interest rate environment, prepayment on outstanding debt securities is less likely to occur. This is known as extension risk and may cause the value of debt securities to depreciate as a result of the higher market interest rates. Typically, longer-maturity securities react to interest rate changes more severely than shorter-term securities (all things being equal), but generally offer greater rates of interest. If an issuer redeems its debt securities prior to final maturity, a fund may have to replace these securities with lower yielding securities, which could result in a lower return.
A change in the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy (or that of other central banks) or improving economic conditions, among other things, may lead to an increase in interest rates, which could significantly impact the value of debt securities in which a fund invests. A sharp rise in interest rates could cause a fund’s share price to fall. Some debt securities, such as bonds with longer durations, are more sensitive to interest rate changes than others and may experience an immediate and considerable reduction in value if interest rates rise. Longer duration securities tend to be more volatile than shorter duration securities. As the values of debt securities in a fund’s portfolio adjust to a rise in interest rates, the fund’s share price may fall. In the event that a fund holds a large portion of its portfolio in longer duration securities when interest rates increase, the share price of the fund may fall significantly.
Debt securities also are subject to the risk that the issuers will not make timely interest and/or principal payments or fail to make them at all. This is called credit risk. Corporate debt securities (bonds) tend to have higher credit risk generally than U.S. government debt securities. Debt securities also may be subject to price volatility due to market perception of future interest rates, the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity (market risk). Investment-grade debt securities are considered medium- and/or high-quality securities, although some still possess varying degrees of speculative characteristics and risks. Debt securities rated below investment-grade are riskier, but may offer higher yields. These securities are sometimes referred to as high yield securities or “junk bonds.”
Corporate bonds are debt securities issued by corporations. Although a higher return is expected from corporate bonds, these securities, while subject to the same general risks as U.S. government securities, are subject to greater credit risk than U.S. government securities. Their prices may be affected by the perceived credit quality of their issuer.
Depositary Receipts include American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts (EDRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs), and are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. Depositary receipts may be sponsored or unsponsored. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.
Investments in the securities of foreign issuers may subject the funds to investment risks that differ in some respects from those related to investments in securities of U.S. issuers. Such risks include future adverse political and economic developments, possible imposition of withholding taxes on income, possible seizure, nationalization or expropriation of foreign deposits, possible establishment of exchange controls or taxation at the source or greater fluctuation in value due to changes in exchange rates. Foreign issuers of securities often engage in business practices different from those of domestic issuers of similar securities, and there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers. In addition, foreign issuers are, generally speaking, subject to less government supervision and regulation and different accounting treatment than are those in the United States. Please see the section titled “Foreign Securities” for more detail.
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Although the two types of depositary receipt facilities (unsponsored or sponsored) are similar, there are differences regarding a holder’s rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. A depository may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. The depository of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the underlying issuer or to pass through voting rights to depositary receipt holders with respect to the underlying securities.
Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipts holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositories of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request.
Derivative Instruments are commonly defined to include securities or contracts whose values depend on (or “derive” from) the value of one or more other assets such as securities, currencies, or commodities. These “other assets” are commonly referred to as “underlying assets.” The funds may use derivatives, principally futures contracts, primarily to seek returns on a fund’s otherwise uninvested cash assets.
A derivative instrument generally consists of, is based upon, or exhibits characteristics similar to options or forward contracts. Options and forward contracts are considered to be the basic “building blocks” of derivatives. For example, forward-based derivatives include forward contracts, as well as exchange-traded futures. Option-based derivatives include privately negotiated, over-the-counter (OTC) options (including caps, floors, collars, and options on forward and swap contracts) and exchange-traded options on futures. Diverse types of derivatives may be created by combining options or forward contracts in different ways, and applying these structures to a wide range of underlying assets.
Risk management strategies include investment techniques designed to facilitate the sale of portfolio securities, manage the average duration of the portfolio or create or alter exposure to certain asset classes, such as equity, other debt or foreign securities.
In addition to the derivative instruments and strategies described in this SAI, the investment adviser or sub-adviser expects to discover additional derivative instruments and other investment, hedging or risk management techniques. The investment adviser or sub-adviser may utilize these new derivative instruments and techniques to the extent that they are consistent with a fund’s investment objective and permitted by a fund’s investment limitations, operating policies, and applicable regulatory authorities.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulates the trading of commodity interests, including certain futures contracts, options, and swaps in which a fund may invest. A fund that invests in commodity interests will generally be subject to certain CFTC regulatory requirements if it is considered a commodity pool. The Trust, on behalf of each fund, has filed a notice of eligibility for exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” (CPO) under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (CEA), with respect to each fund’s operation. Therefore, each fund and its investment adviser are not subject to regulation as a CPO under the CEA. If a fund were no longer able to claim the exclusion, the fund’s investment adviser may be required to register as a CPO and the fund and its investment adviser would be subject to regulation as a CPO under the CEA. If a fund or its investment adviser is subject to CFTC regulation, it may incur additional expenses and/or may choose to make changes to its investment strategies.
Options Contracts generally provide the right to buy or sell a security, commodity, futures contract or foreign currency in exchange for an agreed upon price. If the right is not exercised after a specified period, the option expires and the option buyer forfeits the money paid to the option seller.
A call option gives the buyer the right to buy a specified number of shares of a security at a fixed price on or before a specified date in the future. For this right, the call option buyer pays the call option seller, commonly called the call option writer, a fee called a premium. Call option buyers are usually anticipating that the price of the underlying security will rise above the price fixed with the call writer, thereby allowing them to profit. If the price of the underlying security does not rise, the call option buyer’s losses are limited to the premium paid to the call option writer. For call option writers, a rise in the price of the underlying security will be offset, in part, by the premium received from the call option buyer. If the call option writer does not own the underlying security, however, the losses that may ensue if the price rises could be potentially unlimited. If the call option writer owns the underlying security or commodity, this is called writing a covered call. All call and put options written by a fund will be covered, which means that a fund will own the securities subject to the option so long as the option is outstanding or the fund will earmark or segregate assets for any outstanding option contracts.
A put option is the opposite of a call option. It gives the buyer the right to sell a specified number of shares of a security at a fixed price on or before a specified date in the future. Put option buyers are usually anticipating a decline in the price of the
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underlying security, and wish to offset those losses when selling the security at a later date. All put options the funds write will be covered, which means that the fund will earmark or segregate cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid securities with a value at least equal to the exercise price of the put option, or will otherwise “cover” its position as required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (1940 Act) (e.g., the fund will hold a put option on the same underlying security with the same or higher strike price). The purpose of writing such options is to generate additional income for the funds. However, in return for the option premium, the funds accept the risk that they may be required to purchase the underlying securities at a price in excess of the securities’ market value at the time of purchase.
A fund may purchase and write put and call options on any securities in which it may invest or any securities index or basket of securities based on securities in which it may invest. In addition, the funds may purchase and sell foreign currency options and foreign currency futures contracts and related options. The funds may purchase and write such options on securities that are listed on domestic or foreign securities exchanges or traded in the over-the-counter market. Like futures contracts, option contracts are rarely exercised. Option buyers usually sell the option before it expires. Option writers may terminate their obligations under a written call or put option by purchasing an option identical to the one it has written. Such purchases are referred to as “closing purchase transactions.” A fund may enter into closing sale transactions in order to realize gains or minimize losses on options it has purchased or written.
An exchange-traded currency option position may be closed out only on an options exchange that provides a secondary market for an option of the same series. Although the funds generally will purchase or write only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option or at any particular time. If a fund is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction with respect to options it has written, it will not be able to sell the underlying securities or dispose of assets earmarked or held in a segregated account until the options expire or are exercised. Similarly, if a fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options it has purchased, it would have to exercise the options in order to realize any profit and will incur transaction costs upon the purchase or sale of underlying securities.
Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market on an exchange include the following: (1) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; (2) an exchange may impose restrictions on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; (3) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options; (4) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; (5) the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume; or (6) 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), although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by the OCC as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The ability to terminate over-the-counter options is more limited than with exchange-traded options and may involve the risk that broker-dealers participating in such transactions will not fulfill their obligations. Until such time as the staff of the SEC changes its position, the funds will treat purchased over-the-counter options and all assets used to cover written over-the-counter options as illiquid securities, except that with respect to options written with primary dealers in U.S. government securities pursuant to an agreement requiring a closing purchase transaction at a formula price, the amount of illiquid securities may be calculated with reference to a formula the staff of the SEC approves.
Additional risks are involved with options trading because of the low margin deposits required and the extremely high degree of leverage that may be involved in options trading. There may be imperfect correlation between the change in market value of the securities held by a fund and the prices of the options, possible lack of a liquid secondary market, and the resulting inability to close such positions prior to their maturity dates.
A fund may write or purchase an option only when the market value of that option, when aggregated with the market value of all other options transactions made on behalf of the fund, does not exceed 5% of its net assets.
Puts are agreements that allow the buyer to sell a security at a specified price and time to the seller or “put provider.” When a fund buys a security with a put feature, losses could occur if the put provider does not perform as agreed. If a put provider fails to honor its commitment upon a fund’s attempt to exercise the put, a fund may have to treat the security’s final maturity as its effective maturity. If that occurs, the security’s price may be negatively impacted, and its sensitivity to interest rate changes may be increased, possibly contributing to increased share price volatility for a fund. This also could lengthen a fund’s overall average effective maturity. Standby commitments are types of puts.
Swap Agreements are contracts between two parties that generally involve an exchange of payment streams calculated in relation to a rate, index, instrument or certain securities (referred to as the “underlying”) and a predetermined amount (referred to as the “notional amount”). The underlying for a swap may be an interest rate (fixed or floating), a currency exchange rate, a commodity price index, a security, group of securities or a securities index, a combination of any of these, or various other rates, assets or indices. Swap agreements generally do not involve the delivery of the underlying or principal, and a party’s obligations generally are equal to only the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the swap agreement.
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Swap agreements can be structured to increase or decrease a fund’s exposure to long or short term interest rates, corporate borrowing rates and other conditions, such as changing security prices and inflation rates. They also can be structured to increase or decrease a fund’s exposure to specific issuers or specific sectors of the bond market such as mortgage securities. For example, if a fund agreed to pay a longer-term fixed rate in exchange for a shorter-term floating rate while holding longer-term fixed rate bonds, the swap would tend to decrease a fund’s exposure to longer-term interest rates. Swap agreements tend to increase or decrease the overall volatility of a fund’s investments and its share price and yield. Changes in interest rates, or other factors determining the amount of payments due to and from a fund, can be the most significant factors in the performance of a swap agreement. If a swap agreement calls for payments from a fund, a fund must be prepared to make such payments when they are due. In order to help minimize risks, a fund will earmark or segregate appropriate assets for any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed under the terms of a swap agreement entered into on a net basis. All other swap agreements will require a fund to earmark or segregate assets in the amount of the accrued amounts owed under the swap. A fund could sustain losses if a counterparty does not perform as agreed under the terms of the swap. A fund will enter into swap agreements with counterparties deemed creditworthy by the investment adviser.
In addition, the funds may invest in swaptions, which are privately-negotiated option-based derivative products. Swaptions give the holder the right to enter into a swap. A fund may use a swaption in addition to or in lieu of a swap involving a similar rate or index.
Certain standardized swaps are subject to mandatory central clearing and trade execution requirements. Unlike uncleared swaps, which are negotiated bilaterally and traded over-the-counter, cleared swaps must trade through a futures commission merchant and be cleared through a clearinghouse that serves as the central counterparty to the transaction. Funds post initial and variation margin for cleared swaps by making payments to their clearing member futures commission merchants. While the new central clearing and trade execution requirements are intended to reduce counterparty and credit risk, they do not eliminate these types of risks from a transaction. Any type of swap agreement poses a risk for the funds and may cause them to lose money.
Regulators are in the process of developing rules that would require trading and execution of most liquid swaps on trading facilities. Moving trading to an exchange-type system may increase market transparency and liquidity but may require the fund to incur increased expenses to access the same types of swaps.
For purposes of applying the funds’ investment policies and restrictions (as stated in the prospectus and this SAI) swap agreements are generally valued by the funds at market value. In the case of a credit default swap sold by a fund (i.e., where the fund is selling credit default protection), however, the fund will generally value the swap at its notional amount. The manner in which certain securities or other instruments are valued by the funds for purposes of applying investment policies and restrictions may differ from the manner in which those investments are valued by other types of investors.
Diversification involves investing in a wide range of securities and thereby spreading and reducing the risks of investment. Each fund is a series of an open-end investment management company. Each fund is a diversified mutual fund.
Emerging or Developing Markets exist in countries that are considered to be in the initial stages of industrialization. The risks of investing in these markets are similar to the risks of international investing in general, although the risks are greater in emerging and developing markets. Countries with emerging or developing securities markets tend to have economic structures that are less stable than countries with developed securities markets. This is because their economies may be based on only a few industries and their securities markets may trade a small number of securities. Prices on these exchanges tend to be volatile, and securities in these countries historically have offered greater potential for gain (as well as loss) than securities of companies located in developed countries. There are no strict definitions of what is emerging or developing versus what is considered developed and certain countries are considered emerging or developing in some indices yet developed in others.
A fund’s investments in emerging markets can be considered speculative, and therefore may offer higher potential for gains and losses than investments in developed markets of the world. With respect to an emerging market country, there may be a greater potential for nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political changes, government regulation, social instability or diplomatic developments (including war) which could affect adversely the economies of such countries or investments in such countries. The economies of developing countries generally are heavily dependent upon international trade and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange or currency controls, managed adjustments in relative currency values and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade.
In addition to the risks of investing in emerging market country debt securities, a fund’s investment in government or government-related securities of emerging market countries and restructured debt instruments in emerging markets are subject to special risks, including the inability or unwillingness to repay principal and interest, requests to reschedule or restructure outstanding debt, and requests to extend additional loan amounts. A fund may have limited recourse in the event of default on such debt instruments.
Equity Securities represent ownership interests in a company, and are commonly called “stocks.” Equity securities historically have outperformed most other securities, although their prices can fluctuate based on changes in a company’s financial condition, market conditions and political, economic or even company-specific news. When a stock’s price declines, its market value is lowered even though the intrinsic value of the company may not have changed. Sometimes factors, such as economic conditions
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or political events, affect the value of stocks of companies of the same or similar industry or group of industries, and may affect the entire stock market.
Types of equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities, rights and warrants, depositary receipts (ADRs, EDRs and GDRs), and interests in real estate investment trusts and interests in business development companies. (For more information on real estate investment trusts (REITs), see the section entitled “Real Estate Investment Trusts,” for more information on depositary receipts, see the section entitled “Depositary Receipts,” and for more information on business development companies, see the section titled “Business Development Companies”).
Common Stocks , which are probably the most recognized type of equity security, represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer and usually entitle the owner to voting rights in the election of the corporation’s directors and any other matters submitted to the corporation’s shareholders for voting, as well as to receive dividends on such stock. The market value of common stock can fluctuate widely, as it reflects increases and decreases in an issuer’s earnings. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of bond owners, other debt holders and owners of preferred stock take precedence over the claims of common stock owners. Common stocks are typically categorized by their market capitalization as large-, mid- or small-cap.
Small-Cap Stocks include common stocks issued by operating companies with market capitalizations that place them at the lower end of the stock market, as well as the stocks of companies that are determined to be small based on several factors, including the capitalization of the company and the amount of revenues. Historically, small-cap company stocks have been riskier than stocks issued by large- or mid-cap companies for a variety of reasons. Small-cap companies may have less certain growth prospects and are typically less diversified and less able to withstand changing economic conditions than larger capitalized companies. Small-cap companies also may have more limited product lines, markets or financial resources than companies with larger capitalizations, and may be more dependent on a relatively small management group. In addition, small-cap companies may not be well known to the investing public, may not have institutional ownership and may have only cyclical, static or moderate growth prospects. Most small-cap company stocks pay low or no dividends.
These factors and others may cause sharp changes in the value of a small-cap company’s stock, and even cause some small-cap companies to fail. Additionally, small-cap stocks may not be as broadly traded as large- or mid-cap stocks, and a fund’s positions in securities of such companies may be substantial in relation to the market for such securities. Accordingly, it may be difficult for a fund to dispose of securities of these small-cap companies at prevailing market prices in order to meet redemptions. This lower degree of liquidity can adversely affect the value of these securities. For these reasons and others, the value of a fund’s investments in small-cap stocks is expected to be more volatile than other types of investments, including other types of stock investments. While small-cap stocks are generally considered to offer greater growth opportunities for investors, they involve greater risks and the share price of a fund that invests in small-cap stocks may change sharply during the short term and long term.
Convertible Securities are typically preferred stocks or bonds that are exchangeable for a specific number of another form of security (usually the issuer’s common stock) at a specified price or ratio. A convertible security generally entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued on bonds or the dividend paid on preferred stock until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. A corporation may issue a convertible security that is subject to redemption after a specified date, and usually under certain circumstances. A holder of a convertible security that is called for redemption would be required to tender it for redemption to the issuer, convert it to the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. The convertible structure allows the holder of the convertible bond to participate in share price movements in the company’s common stock. The actual return on a convertible bond may exceed its stated yield if the company’s common stock appreciates in value and the option to convert to common stocks becomes more valuable.
Convertible securities typically pay a lower interest rate than nonconvertible bonds of the same quality and maturity because of the conversion feature. Convertible securities are also rated below investment grade (high yield) or are not rated, and are subject to credit risk.
Prior to conversion, convertible securities have characteristics and risks similar to nonconvertible debt and equity securities. In addition, convertible securities are often concentrated in economic sectors, which, like the stock market in general, may experience unpredictable declines in value, as well as periods of poor performance, which may last for several years. There may be a small trading market for a particular convertible security at any given time, which may adversely impact market price and a fund's ability to liquidate a particular security or respond to an economic event, including deterioration of an issuer’s creditworthiness.
Convertible preferred stocks are nonvoting equity securities that pay a fixed dividend. These securities have a conversion feature similar to convertible bonds, but do not have a maturity date. Due to their fixed income features, convertible securities provide higher income potential than the issuer’s common stock, but typically are more sensitive to interest rate changes than the underlying common stock. In the event of a company’s liquidation, bondholders have claims on company assets senior to those of shareholders; preferred shareholders have claims senior to those of common shareholders.
Convertible securities typically trade at prices above their conversion value, which is the current market value of the common stock received upon conversion, because of their higher yield potential than the underlying common stock. The difference between
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the conversion value and the price of a convertible security will vary depending on the value of the underlying common stock and interest rates. When the underlying value of the common stocks declines, the price of the issuer’s convertible securities will tend not to fall as much because the convertible security’s income potential will act as a price support. While the value of a convertible security also tends to rise when the underlying common stock value rises, it will not rise as much because its conversion value is more narrow. The value of convertible securities also is affected by changes in interest rates. For example, when interest rates fall, the value of convertible securities may rise because of their fixed income component.
Preferred Stocks represent an equity or ownership interest in an issuer but do not ordinarily carry voting rights, though they may carry limited voting rights. Preferred stocks normally have preference over the corporation’s assets and earnings, however. For example, preferred stocks have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends. Preferred stocks normally pay dividends at a specified rate. However, preferred stock may be purchased where the issuer has omitted, or is in danger of omitting, payment of its dividend. Such investments would be made primarily for their capital appreciation potential. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of bond owners take precedence over the claims of preferred and common stock owners. Certain classes of preferred stock are convertible into shares of common stock of the issuer. By holding convertible preferred stock, a fund can receive a steady stream of dividends and still have the option to convert the preferred stock to common stock. Preferred stock is subject to many of the same risks as common stock and debt securities.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are pooled investment vehicles, which invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests and, in some cases, manage real estate. REITs are sometimes referred to as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or hybrid REITs. An equity REIT invests primarily in properties and generates income from rental and lease properties and, in some cases, from the management of real estate. Equity REITs also offer the potential for growth as a result of property appreciation and from the sale of appreciated property. Mortgage REITs invest primarily in real estate mortgages, which may secure construction, development or long term loans, and derive income for the collection of interest payments. Hybrid REITs may combine the features of equity REITs and mortgage REITs. REITs are generally organized as corporations or business trusts, but are not taxed as a corporation if they meet certain requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Internal Revenue Code). To qualify, a REIT must, among other things, invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including other REITs), cash and government securities, distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders and receive at least 75% of that income from rents, mortgages and sales of property.
Like any investment in real estate, a REIT’s performance depends on many factors, such as its ability to find tenants for its properties, to renew leases, and to finance property purchases and renovations. In general, REITs may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an exaggerated effect to the extent a REIT concentrates its investment in certain regions or property types. For example, rental income could decline because of extended vacancies, increased competition from nearby properties, tenants’ failure to pay rent, or incompetent management. Property values could decrease because of overbuilding, environmental liabilities, uninsured damages caused by natural disasters, a general decline in the neighborhood, losses due to casualty or condemnation, increases in property taxes, or changes in zoning laws. Ultimately, a REIT’s performance depends on the types of properties it owns and how well the REIT manages its properties. Additionally, declines in the market value of a REIT may reflect not only depressed real estate prices, but may also reflect the degree of leverage utilized by the REIT.
In general, during periods of rising interest rates, REITs may lose some of their appeal for investors who may be able to obtain higher yields from other income-producing investments, such as long-term bonds. Higher interest rates also mean that financing for property purchases and improvements is more costly and difficult to obtain. During periods of declining interest rates, certain mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that mortgagors elect to prepay, which can reduce the yield on securities issued by mortgage REITs. Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of borrowers to repay debts to the REIT when due and equity REITs may be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent.
Like small-cap stocks in general, certain REITs have relatively small market capitalizations and their securities can be more volatile than and at times will perform differently from large-cap stocks. In addition, because small-cap stocks are typically less liquid than large-cap stocks, REIT stocks may sometimes experience greater share-price fluctuations than the stocks of larger companies. Further, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification, and are therefore subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs indirectly through a fund, a shareholder will bear indirectly a proportionate share of the REIT’s expenses in addition to their proportionate share of a fund’s expenses. Finally, REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act and CFTC regulations.
Rights and Warrants. Rights and warrants are types of securities that entitle the holder to purchase a proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price for a specific period of time. Rights allow a shareholder to buy more shares directly from the company, usually at a price somewhat lower than the current market price of the outstanding shares. Warrants are usually issued with bonds and preferred stock. Rights and warrants can trade on the market separately from the company’s stock. The prices of rights and warrants do not necessarily move parallel to the prices of the underlying common stock. Rights usually expire within a few weeks of issuance, while warrants may not expire for several years. If a right or warrant is not exercised within the specified
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time period, it will become worthless and a fund will lose the purchase price it paid for the right or warrant and the right to purchase the underlying security.
Initial Public Offering. The funds may purchase shares issued as part of, or a short period after, a company's initial public offering (IPOs), and may at times dispose of those shares shortly after their acquisition. A fund’s purchase of shares issued in IPOs exposes it to the risks associated with companies that have little operating history as public companies, as well as to the risks inherent in those sectors of the market where these new issuers operate. The market for IPO issuers has been volatile, and share prices of newly-public companies have fluctuated significantly over short periods of time.
Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs). MLPs are limited partnerships in which the common units are publicly traded. MLP common units are freely traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market and are generally registered with the SEC. MLPs often own several properties or businesses (or own interests) that are related to real estate development and oil and gas industries, but they also may finance motion pictures, research and development and other projects. MLPs generally have two classes of owners, the general partner and limited partners. The general partner is typically owned by a major energy company, an investment fund, the direct management of the MLP or is an entity owned by one or more of such parties. The general partner may be structured as a private or publicly traded corporation or other entity. The general partner typically controls the operations and management of the MLP through an up to 2% equity interest in the MLP plus, in many cases, ownership of common units and subordinated units. Limited partners own the remainder of the partnership, through ownership of common units, and have a limited role, if any, in the partnership’s operations and management.
MLPs are typically structured such that common units and general partner interests have first priority to receive quarterly cash distributions up to an established minimum amount (minimum quarterly distributions). Common and general partner interests also accrue arrearages in distributions to the extent the minimum quarterly distribution is not paid. Once common and general partner interests have been paid, subordinated units receive distributions of up to the minimum quarterly distribution; however, subordinated units do not accrue arrearages. Distributable cash in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution paid to both common and subordinated units is distributed to both common and subordinated units generally on a pro rata basis. The general partner is also eligible to receive incentive distributions if the general partner operates the business in a manner which results in distributions paid per common unit surpassing specified target levels. As the general partner increases cash distributions to the limited partners, the general partner receives an increasingly higher percentage of the incremental cash distributions. A common arrangement provides that the general partner can reach a tier where it receives 50% of every incremental dollar paid to common and subordinated unit holders. These incentive distributions are intended to encourage the general partner to streamline costs, increase capital expenditures and acquire assets in order to increase the partnership’s cash flow and raise the quarterly cash distribution in order to reach higher tiers. Such results are intended to benefit all security holders of the MLP, however, such incentive distribution payments give rise to potential conflicts of interest between the common unit holders and the general partner.
MLP common units represent a limited partnership interest in the MLP. Common units are listed and traded on U.S. securities exchanges or over-the-counter, with their value fluctuating predominantly based on prevailing market conditions and the success of the MLP. The funds may purchase common units in market transactions as well as directly from the MLP or other parties in private placements. Unlike owners of common stock of a corporation, owners of common units have limited voting rights and have no ability to annually elect directors. MLPs generally distribute all available cash flow (cash flow from operations less maintenance capital expenditures) in the form of quarterly distributions. Common units along with general partner units, have first priority to receive quarterly cash distributions up to the minimum quarterly distribution and have arrearage rights. In the event of liquidation, common units have preference over subordinated units, but not debt or preferred units, to the remaining assets of the MLP.
MLP subordinated units are typically issued by MLPs to their original sponsors, such as their founders, corporate general partners of MLPs, entities that sell assets to the MLP, and investors. Subordinated units may be purchased directly from these persons as well as newly-issued subordinated units from MLPs themselves. Subordinated units have similar voting rights as common units and are generally not publicly traded. Once the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units, including any arrearages, has been paid, subordinated units receive cash distributions up to the minimum quarterly distribution prior to any incentive payments to the MLP’s general partner. Unlike common units, subordinated units do not have arrearage rights. In the event of liquidation, common units and general partner interests have priority over subordinated units. Subordinated units are typically converted into common units on a one-to-one basis after certain time periods and/or performance targets have been satisfied. The purchase or sale price of subordinated units is generally tied to the common unit price less a discount. The size of the discount varies depending on the likelihood of conversion, the length of time remaining to conversion, the size of the block purchased relative to trading volumes, and other factors, including smaller capitalization partnerships or companies potentially having limited product lines, markets or financial resources, lacking management depth or experience, and being more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic development than larger more established companies.
General partner interests of MLPs are typically retained by an MLP’s original sponsors, such as its founders, corporate partners, entities that sell assets to the MLP and investors. A holder of general partner interests can be liable under certain circumstances for amounts greater than the amount of the holder’s investment in the general partner interest. General partner interests often confer
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direct board participation rights and in many cases, operating control, over the MLP. These interests themselves are not publicly traded, although they may be owned by publicly traded entities. General partner interests receive cash distributions, typically 2% of the MLP’s aggregate cash distributions, which are contractually defined in the partnership agreement. In addition, holders of general partner interests typically hold incentive distribution rights, which provide them with a larger share of the aggregate MLP cash distributions as the distributions to limited partner unit holders are increased to prescribed levels. General partner interests generally cannot be converted into common units. The general partner interest can be redeemed by the MLP if the MLP unitholders choose to remove the general partner, typically with a supermajority vote by limited partner unitholders.
Additional risks involved with investing in a MLP are risks associated with the specific industry or industries in which the partnership invests, such as the risks of investing in real estate, or oil and gas industries.
Certain MLPs are dependent on their parent companies or sponsors for a majority of their revenues. Any failure by a MLP’s parents or sponsors to satisfy their payments or obligations would impact the MLP’s revenues and cash flows and ability to make distributions.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) such as Standard and Poor’s Depositary Receipts (SPDRs) Trusts, are investment companies that typically are registered under the 1940 Act as open-end funds or unit investment trusts (UITs). ETFs are actively traded on national securities exchanges and are generally based on specific domestic and foreign market indices. Shares of an ETF may be bought and sold throughout the day at market prices, which may be higher or lower than the shares’ net asset value. Market prices of ETF shares will fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and materially, in response to various factors including changes in the ETF’s net asset value, the value of ETF holdings, and supply of and demand for ETF shares. Although the creation/redemption feature of ETFs generally makes it more likely that ETF shares will trade close to their net asset value, market volatility, lack of an active trading market for ETF shares, disruptions at market participants (such as Authorized Participants or market makers) and any disruptions in the ordinary functioning of the creation/redemption process may result in ETF shares trading significantly above (at a “premium”) or below (at a “discount”) their net asset value. An ETF’s investment results are based on the ETF’s daily net asset value. Investors transacting in ETF shares in the secondary market, where market prices may differ from net asset value, may experience investment results that differ from results based on the ETF’s daily net asset value. An “index-based ETF” seeks to track the performance of an index holding in its portfolio either the contents of the index or a representative sample of the securities in the index. Because ETFs are based on an underlying basket of stocks or an index, they are subject to the same market fluctuations as these types of securities in volatile market swings. ETFs, like mutual funds, have expenses associated with their operation, including advisory fees. When a fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, it will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. As with any exchange listed security, ETF shares purchased in the secondary market are subject to customary brokerage charges.
Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC to iShares and certain additional ETFs (together, the “Permitted ETFs”) and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, each fund may invest in the Permitted ETFs beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, but not to exceed 25% of the fund’s total assets, provided that the fund has described ETF investments in its prospectus and otherwise complies with the conditions of the exemptive order and other applicable investment limitations. Neither the Permitted ETFs nor their investment adviser make any representations regarding the advisability of investing in a fund.
Foreign Currency Transactions. All funds that may invest in foreign currency-denominated securities also may purchase and sell foreign currency options and foreign currency futures contracts and related options and may engage in foreign currency transactions either on a spot (cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market at the time or through forward currency contracts (forwards) with terms generally of less than one year. The funds may engage in these transactions in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign exchange rates in the purchase and sale of securities.
The funds may also use foreign currency options and foreign currency forward contracts to increase exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another. Each fund will earmark or segregate assets for any open positions in forwards used for non-hedging purposes and mark to market daily as may be required under the federal securities laws.
A forward involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts may be bought or sold to protect a fund against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar or to increase exposure to a particular foreign currency. Many foreign securities markets do not settle trades within a time frame that would be considered customary in the U.S. stock market. Therefore, a fund may engage in forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to secure exchange rates for fund securities purchased or sold, but awaiting settlement. These transactions do not seek to eliminate any fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities involved. Instead, the transactions simply establish a rate of exchange that can be expected when the fund settles its securities transactions in the future. Forwards involve certain risks. For example, if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts or if the value of the foreign currency changes unfavorably, the fund could sustain a loss.
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The funds also may engage in forward foreign currency exchange options and contracts to protect the value of specific portfolio positions, which is called “position hedging.” When engaging in position hedging, a fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange transactions to protect against a decline in the values of the foreign currencies in which portfolio securities are denominated (or against an increase in the value of currency for securities that the fund expects to purchase).
Buying and selling foreign currency exchange options and contracts involves costs and may result in losses. The ability of a fund to engage in these transactions may be limited by tax considerations. Although these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to declines in the value of the hedged currency, they tend to limit any potential gain that might result from an increase in the value of such currency. Transactions in these contracts involve certain other risks. Unanticipated fluctuations in currency prices may result in a poorer overall performance for the funds than if they had not engaged in any such transactions. Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between the fund’s holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts into which the fund enters. Such imperfect correlation may cause a fund to sustain losses, which will prevent it from achieving a complete hedge or expose it to risk of foreign exchange loss. A fund’s transactions in foreign currency exchange contracts may cause a portion of the fund’s distributions to constitute returns of capital for tax purposes.
Suitable hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that a fund will engage in such transactions at any given time or from time to time. Also, such transactions may not be successful and may eliminate any chance for a fund to benefit from favorable fluctuations in relevant foreign currencies.
Forwards will be used primarily to adjust the foreign exchange exposure of each fund with a view to protecting the outlook, and the funds might be expected to enter into such contracts under the following circumstances:
Lock In . When the investment adviser or sub-adviser desires to lock in the U.S. dollar price on the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency.
Cross Hedge . If a particular currency is expected to decrease against another currency, a fund may sell the currency expected to decrease and purchase a currency which is expected to increase against the currency sold in an amount approximately equal to some or all of the fund’s portfolio holdings denominated in the currency sold.
Direct Hedge . If the investment adviser or sub-adviser wants to eliminate substantially all of the risk of owning a particular currency, and/or if the investment adviser or sub-adviser thinks that a fund can benefit from price appreciation in a given country’s bonds but does not want to hold the currency, it may employ a direct hedge back into the U.S. dollar. In either case, a fund would enter into a forward contract to sell the currency in which a portfolio security is denominated and purchase U.S. dollars at an exchange rate established at the time it initiated the contract. The cost of the direct hedge transaction may offset most, if not all, of the yield advantage offered by the foreign security, but a fund would benefit from an increase in value of the bond.
Proxy Hedge . The investment adviser or sub-adviser might choose to use a proxy hedge, which may be less costly than a direct hedge. In this case, a fund, having purchased a security, will sell a currency whose value is believed to be closely linked to the currency in which the security is denominated. Interest rates prevailing in the country whose currency was sold would be expected to be closer to those in the U.S. and lower than those of securities denominated in the currency of the original holding. This type of hedging entails greater risk than a direct hedge because it is dependent on a stable relationship between the two currencies paired as proxies and the relationships can be very unstable at times.
Costs of Hedging . When a fund purchases a foreign bond with a higher interest rate than is available on U.S. bonds of a similar maturity, the additional yield on the foreign bond could be substantially reduced or lost if the fund were to enter into a direct hedge by selling the foreign currency and purchasing the U.S. dollar. This is what is known as the “cost” of hedging. Proxy hedging attempts to reduce this cost through an indirect hedge back to the U.S. dollar. It is important to note that hedging costs are treated as capital transactions and are not, therefore, deducted from a fund’s dividend distribution and are not reflected in its yield. Instead such costs will, over time, be reflected in a fund’s net asset value per share.
Tax Consequences of Hedging . Under applicable tax law, the funds may be required to limit their gains from hedging in foreign currency forwards, futures, and options. Although the funds are expected to comply with such limits, the extent to which these limits apply is subject to tax regulations as yet unissued. Hedging may also result in the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Those provisions could result in an increase (or decrease) in the amount of taxable dividends paid by the funds and could affect whether dividends paid by the funds are classified as capital gains or ordinary income.
Foreign Securities. Investments in foreign securities involve additional risks, including foreign currency exchange rate risks, because they are issued by foreign entities, including foreign governments, banks and corporations or because they are traded principally overseas. Foreign securities in which the funds may invest include those issued by foreign entities that are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. corporations. In addition, there may be less publicly available information about foreign entities. Foreign economic, political and legal developments, as well as fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates and withholding taxes, could have more dramatic effects on the value of foreign securities. For example, conditions within and around foreign countries, such as the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, diplomatic developments, the imposition of trade sanctions,
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change of government or war could affect the value of foreign investments. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.
Foreign securities typically have less volume and are generally less liquid and more volatile than securities of U.S. companies. Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S. exchanges, although the funds will endeavor to achieve the most favorable overall results on portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers, dealers and listed companies than in the United States, thus increasing the risk of delayed settlements of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates for portfolio securities. There may be difficulties in obtaining or enforcing judgments against foreign issuers as well. Bankruptcy laws in some foreign countries are sometimes biased to borrowers and against the creditors. These factors and others may increase the risks with respect to the liquidity of a fund, and its ability to meet a large number of shareholder redemption requests.
In addition, a fund’s investments in foreign securities may be subject to economic sanctions or other government restrictions. These restrictions may negatively impact the value or liquidity of a fund’s investments, and could impair a fund’s ability to meet its investment objective or invest in accordance with its investment strategy. For example, a fund may be prohibited from investing in securities issued by companies subject to such restrictions. In addition, these restrictions may require a fund to freeze its existing investments in certain foreign securities, which would prohibit the fund from buying, selling, receiving or delivering those securities or other financial instruments. As a result, such restrictions may limit a fund’s ability to meet a large number of shareholder redemption requests.
Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures and, in certain markets, there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Such delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of a fund is uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause a fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Losses to a fund arising out of the inability to fulfill a contract to sell such securities also could result in potential liability for a fund.
Investments in the securities of foreign issuers may be made and held in foreign currencies. In addition, the funds may hold cash investments in foreign currencies. These investments may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations, and may cause a fund to incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. The rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and other currencies is determined by the forces of supply and demand in the foreign exchange market as well as by political and economic factors. Changes in the foreign currency exchange rates also may affect the value of dividends and interest earned, gains and losses realized on the sale of securities, and net investment income and gains, if any, to be distributed to shareholders by a fund.
During the recent global financial crisis, financial markets in Europe experienced significant volatility due, in part, to concerns about rising levels of government debt and the prevalence of increased budget deficits. As a result, many economies in the region suffered through prolonged economic downturns. Although some European economies have shown signs of recovery, any recovery may be slow as the region continues to face difficult challenges including high unemployment rates, significant levels of government debt, continuing trade deficits, significant austerity measures and lack of access to capital. Furthermore, due to economic integration of the region, another economic downturn in one European country may have a negative impact on the economies of other European countries.
In a 2016 referendum, citizens of the United Kingdom (the UK) voted to withdraw from the European Union (the EU), which caused significant volatility in global financial markets. The UK has formally notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”) by invoking Article 50, which triggers a two-year period of negotiations on the terms of Brexit. There is significant uncertainty regarding the consequences and timeframe for Brexit. During this period of uncertainty, the UK and European economies and the broader global economy may experience increased volatility and illiquidity, and companies that conduct a significant amount of business in the UK or Europe may experience lower revenue and/or profit growth, all of which may adversely affect the value of a fund’s investments. Brexit also may cause additional member states to contemplate departing the EU, which would likely perpetuate political and economic instability in the region and cause additional market disruption in global financial markets.
As the fund may hold investments in issuers that are located in Europe or that depend on revenues generated from operations in Europe, any material negative developments in Europe could have a negative impact on the value and liquidity of these investments, which could harm the fund’s performance.
Forward Contracts are sales contracts between a buyer (holding the “long” position), and the seller (holding the “short” position) for an asset with delivery deferred to a future date. The buyer agrees to pay a fixed price at the agreed future date and the seller agrees to deliver the asset. The seller hopes that the market price on the delivery date is less than the agreed upon price, while the buyer hopes for the contrary. The change in value of a forward-based derivative generally is roughly proportional to the change in value of the underlying asset.
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Futures Contracts are instruments that represent an agreement between two parties that obligates one party to buy, and the other party to sell, specific instruments at an agreed-upon price on a stipulated future date. In the case of futures contracts relating to an index or otherwise not calling for physical delivery at the close of the transaction, the parties usually agree to deliver the final cash settlement price of the contract. A fund may purchase and sell futures contracts based on securities, securities indices and foreign currencies, interest rates, or any other futures contracts traded on U.S. exchanges or boards of trade that the CFTC licenses and regulates on foreign exchanges. Although positions are usually marked to market on a daily basis with an intermediary (executing broker), there remains a credit risk with the futures exchange.
Each fund must maintain a small portion of its assets in cash to process shareholder transactions in and out of the fund and to pay its expenses. In order to reduce the effect this otherwise uninvested cash would have on its performance, a fund may purchase futures contracts. Such transactions allow the fund’s cash balance to produce a return similar to that of the underlying security or index on which the futures contract is based. Also, a fund may purchase or sell futures contracts on a specified foreign currency to “fix” the price in U.S. dollars of the foreign security it has acquired or sold or expects to acquire or sell. A fund may enter into futures contracts for other reasons as well.
When buying or selling futures contracts, a fund must place a deposit with its broker equal to a fraction of the contract amount. This amount is known as “initial margin” and must be in the form of liquid debt instruments, including cash, cash-equivalents and U.S. government securities. Subsequent payments to and from the broker, known as “variation margin” may be made daily, if necessary, as the value of the futures contracts fluctuates. This process is known as “marking-to-market.” The initial margin amount will be returned to the fund upon termination of the futures contracts assuming all contractual obligations are satisfied. Because margin requirements are normally only a fraction of the amount of the futures contracts in a given transaction, futures trading can involve a great deal of leverage. To avoid the creation of a senior security, each fund will earmark or segregate liquid assets for any outstanding futures contracts as may be required under the federal securities laws.
While a fund may purchase and sell futures contracts in order to simulate full investment, there are risks associated with these transactions. Adverse market movements could cause a fund to experience substantial losses when buying and selling futures contracts. Of course, barring significant market distortions, similar results would have been expected if a fund had instead transacted in the underlying securities directly. There also is the risk of losing any margin payments held by a broker in the event of its bankruptcy. Additionally, a fund incurs transaction costs (e.g., brokerage fees) when engaging in futures trading. To the extent a fund also invests in futures in order to simulate full investment, these same risks apply.
When interest rates are rising or securities prices are falling, a fund may seek, through the sale of futures contracts, to offset a decline in the value of their current portfolio securities. When rates are falling or prices are rising, a fund, through the purchase of futures contracts, may attempt to secure better rates or prices than might later be available in the market when they effect anticipated purchases. Similarly, a fund may sell futures contracts on a specified currency to protect against a decline in the value of that currency and its portfolio securities that are denominated in that currency. A fund may purchase futures contracts on a foreign currency to fix the price in U.S. dollars of a security denominated in that currency that a fund have acquired or expect to acquire.
Futures contracts may require actual delivery or acquisition of an underlying security or cash value of an index on the expiration date of the contract. In most cases, however, the contractual obligation is fulfilled before the date of the contract by buying or selling, as the case may be, identical futures contracts. Such offsetting transactions terminate the original contracts and cancel the obligation to take or make delivery of the underlying securities or cash. There may not always be a liquid secondary market at the time a fund seeks to close out a futures position. If a fund is unable to close out its position and prices move adversely, the fund would have to continue to make daily cash payments to maintain its margin requirements. If a fund had insufficient cash to meet these requirements it may have to sell portfolio securities at a disadvantageous time or incur extra costs by borrowing the cash. Also, a fund may be required to make or take delivery and incur extra transaction costs buying or selling the underlying securities. A fund seeks to reduce the risks associated with futures transactions by buying and selling futures contracts that are traded on national exchanges or for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market.
With respect to futures contracts that are not legally required to “cash settle,” a fund may cover the open position by setting aside or earmarking liquid assets in an amount equal to the notional value (i.e., the purchase or delivery obligation) of the futures contracts. With respect to futures contracts that are required to “cash settle,” however, a fund is permitted to set aside or earmark liquid assets in an amount equal to the fund’s daily marked to market (net) obligation, if any, (in other words, the fund’s daily net liability, if any) rather than the notional value of the futures contracts. By setting aside assets or earmarking equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled futures, a fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the fund were required to set aside or earmark assets equal to the full notional value of the futures contract.
Illiquid Securities generally are any securities that cannot be disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the amount at which a fund has valued the instruments. The liquidity of a fund’s investments is monitored under the supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees. Investments currently not considered liquid, among others, include repurchase agreements not maturing within seven days that are not subject to a demand feature of seven days or less and certain restricted securities.
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Interfund Borrowing and Lending. The SEC has granted an exemption to the funds that permits the funds to borrow money from and/or lend money to other funds in the Fund Complex as defined under “Management of the Funds”. All loans are for temporary or emergency purposes and the interest rates to be charged will be the average of the overnight repurchase agreement rate and the short term bank loan rate. All loans are subject to numerous conditions designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participating funds/portfolios. The interfund lending facility is subject to the oversight and periodic review of the Board of Trustees.
Money Market Securities are high-quality, short term debt securities that may be issued by entities such as the U.S. government, corporations and financial institutions (like banks). Money market securities include commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, notes and time deposits. Certificates of deposit and time deposits are issued against funds deposited in a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate. Bankers’ acceptances are credit instruments evidencing a bank’s obligation to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer. These instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the full amount of the instrument upon maturity. Commercial paper consists of short term, unsecured promissory notes issued to finance short term credit needs.
Money market securities pay fixed, variable or floating rates of interest and are generally subject to credit and interest rate risks. The maturity date or price of and financial assets collateralizing a security may be structured in order to make it qualify as or act like a money market security. These securities may be subject to greater credit and interest rate risks than other money market securities because of their structure. Money market securities may be issued with puts or sold separately; these puts, which are sometimes called demand features or guarantees, are agreements that allow the buyer to sell a security at a specified price and time to the seller or “put provider.” When a fund buys a put, losses could occur as a result of the costs of the put or if it exercises its rights under the put and the put provider does not perform as agreed. Standby commitments are types of puts.
Each fund may keep a portion of its assets in cash for business operations. A fund may invest in money market securities to reduce the effect this otherwise uninvested cash would have on its performance. Each fund may also invest in money market securities to the extent it is consistent with its investment objective.
Certificates of Deposit or Time Deposits are issued against funds deposited in a banking institution for a specified period of time at a specified interest rate. A fund will invest only in certificates of deposit of banks that have capital, surplus and undivided profits, in the aggregate, in excess of $100 million.
Commercial Paper consists of short term, promissory notes issued by banks, corporations and other institutions to finance short term credit needs. These securities generally are discounted but sometimes may be interest bearing. Commercial paper, which also may be unsecured, is subject to credit risk.
Fixed Time Deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties, which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. There are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is no market for such deposits. A fund will not invest in fixed time deposits, which (1) are not subject to prepayment or (2) provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits) if, in the aggregate, more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in such deposits, repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days and other illiquid assets.
Promissory Notes are written agreements committing the maker or issuer to pay the payee a specified amount either on demand or at a fixed date in the future, with or without interest. These are sometimes called negotiable notes or instruments and are subject to credit risk. Bank notes are notes used to represent obligations issued by banks in large denominations.
Repurchase Agreements are instruments under which a buyer acquires ownership of certain securities (usually U.S. government securities) from a seller who agrees to repurchase the securities at a mutually agreed-upon time and price, thereby determining the yield during the buyer’s holding period. Any repurchase agreements the fund enters into will involve the fund as the buyer and banks or broker-dealers as sellers. The period of repurchase agreements is usually short, from overnight to one week, although the securities collateralizing a repurchase agreement may have longer maturity dates. Default by the seller might cause the fund to experience a loss or delay in the liquidation of the collateral securing the repurchase agreement. The fund also may incur disposition costs in liquidating the collateral. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default of a repurchase agreement’s seller, the fund might incur expenses in enforcing its rights, and could experience losses, including a decline in the value of the underlying securities and loss of income. The fund will make payment under a repurchase agreement only upon physical delivery or evidence of book entry transfer of the collateral to the account of its custodian bank.
Non-Publicly Traded Securities and Private Placements. A fund may invest in securities that are neither listed on a stock exchange nor traded over-the-counter, including privately placed securities. Such unlisted securities may involve a higher degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses. As a result of the absence of a public trading market for these securities, they may be less liquid than publicly traded securities. Although these securities may be resold in privately negotiated transactions, the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid by the fund or less than what may be considered the fair value of such securities. Furthermore, companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not be subject to
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the disclosure and other investor protection requirements which might be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. If such securities are required to be registered under the securities laws of one or more jurisdictions before being sold, a fund may be required to bear the expenses of registration.
Restricted Securities are securities that are subject to legal restrictions on their sale. Difficulty in selling restricted securities may result in a loss or be costly to a fund. Restricted securities generally can be sold in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), or in a registered public offering. Where registration is required, the holder of a registered security may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expense and a considerable period may elapse between the time it decides to seek registration and the time it may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the holder might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to seek registration of the security. Certain restricted securities, such as Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper and Rule 144A securities under the 1933 Act, may be considered to be liquid if they meet the criteria for liquidity established by the Board. To the extent a fund invests in restricted securities that are deemed liquid, the general level of illiquidity in the fund’s portfolio may be increased if such securities become illiquid.
Securities Lending of portfolio securities is a common practice in the securities industry. A fund may engage in security lending arrangements. When a fund is lending portfolio securities, a fund may receive cash collateral and may invest it in short-term, interest-bearing obligations, but will do so only to the extent that it will not lose the tax treatment available to RICs. Lending portfolio securities involves risks that the borrower may fail to return the securities or provide additional collateral. Also, voting rights with respect to the loaned securities may pass with the lending of the securities and efforts to re-call such securities promptly may be unsuccessful, especially for foreign securities. Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in, or delay in recovery of, the loaned securities, if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent. A fund will also bear the risk of any decline in value of securities acquired with cash collateral.
A fund may loan portfolio securities to qualified broker-dealers or other institutional investors provided: (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. government securities, letters of credit, cash or cash equivalents or other permitted instruments maintained on a daily marked-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned; (2) the fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of the securities loaned; (3) the fund will receive payments in lieu of interest or dividends paid on the loaned securities; and (4) the aggregate market value of securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the fund, including collateral received from the loan (at market value computed at the time of the loan).
Although voting rights with respect to loaned securities pass to the borrower, the lender retains the right to recall a security (or terminate a loan) for the purpose of exercising the security’s voting rights. Efforts to recall such securities promptly may be unsuccessful, especially for foreign securities or thinly traded securities such as small-cap stocks. In addition, because recalling a security may involve expenses to a fund, it is expected that a fund will do so only where the items being voted upon are, in the judgment of the investment adviser, either material to the economic value of the security or threaten to materially impact the issuer’s corporate governance policies or structure.
To the extent any fund participates in securities lending under the current securities lending agreements with unaffiliated lending agents, costs and expenses, including agent fees, associated with securities lending activities under the securities lending program paid to the lending agent are approximately 10% of the gross lending revenues (with the ability to reach further breakpoints). All remaining revenue is retained by a fund, as applicable. No portion of the lending revenue is paid to or retained by CSIM or any affiliate of CSIM.
Securities of Other Investment Companies. Investment companies generally offer investors the advantages of diversification and professional investment management, by combining shareholders’ money and investing it in securities such as stocks, bonds and money market instruments. Investment companies include: (1) open-end funds (commonly called mutual funds) that issue and redeem their shares on a continuous basis; (2) BDCs that generally invest in, and provide services to, privately-held companies or thinly-traded public companies (see the sub-section titled “Business Development Companies” for more information); (3) closed-end funds that offer a fixed number of shares, and are usually listed on an exchange; (4) unit investment trusts that generally offer a fixed number of redeemable shares; and (5) money market funds that typically seek current income by investing in money market securities (see the section titled “Money Market Securities” for more information). Certain open-end funds, closed-end funds and unit investment trusts are traded on exchanges (see the section titled “Exchange Traded Funds” for more information).
To the extent a fund invests, or has invested, in shares of other investment companies, including BDCs, during its prior fiscal year, the fund, pursuant to SEC rules, must disclose any material fees and expenses indirectly incurred by the fund as a result of such investments. These indirect fees and expenses, to the extent incurred, will appear in the fee table of the fund’s prospectus as a separate line item captioned “Acquired fund fees and expenses.”
Investment companies may make investments and use techniques designed to enhance their performance. These may include delayed-delivery and when-issued securities transactions; swap agreements; buying and selling futures contracts, illiquid, and/or restricted securities and repurchase agreements; and borrowing or lending money and/or portfolio securities. The risks of investing
14

 

in a particular investment company will generally reflect the risks of the securities in which it invests and the investment techniques it employs. Also, investment companies charge fees and incur expenses.
Federal law restricts the ability of one registered investment company to invest in another. As a result, the extent to which a fund may invest in another investment company may be limited. The funds are prohibited from acquiring any securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(G) or Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act.
The funds may buy securities of other investment companies, including those of foreign issuers, in compliance with the requirements of federal law or any SEC exemptive order. A fund may invest in investment companies that are not registered with the SEC or in privately placed securities of investment companies (which may or may not be registered), such as hedge funds and offshore funds. Unregistered funds are largely exempt from the regulatory requirements that apply to registered investment companies. As a result, unregistered funds may have a greater ability to make investments, or use investment techniques, that offer a higher potential investment return (for example, leveraging), but which may carry high risk. Unregistered funds, while not regulated by the SEC like registered funds, may be indirectly supervised by the financial institutions (e.g., commercial and investment banks) that may provide them with loans or other sources of capital. Investments in unregistered funds may be difficult to sell, which could cause a fund selling an interest in an unregistered fund to lose money. For example, many hedge funds require their investors to hold their investments for at least one year.
Business Development Companies (BDCs) are closed-end investment companies that have elected to be BDCs under the 1940 Act and are taxed as regulated investment companies (RICs) under the Internal Revenue Code. BDCs operate as venture capital companies and typically invest in, lend capital to, and provide significant managerial assistance to developing private companies or thinly-traded public companies. Under the 1940 Act, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their total assets primarily in securities of privately-held U.S. companies or thinly-traded U.S. public companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. In addition, a BDC may only incur indebtedness in amounts such that the BDC’s coverage ratio of total assets to total senior securities equals at least 200% after such incurrence.
BDCs generally invest in debt securities that are not rated by a credit rating agency and are considered below investment grade quality (junk bonds). Little public information generally exists for the type of companies in which a BDC may invest and, therefore, there is a risk that investors may not be able to make a fully informed evaluation of the BDC and its portfolio of investments. In addition, investments made by BDCs are typically illiquid and are difficult to value for purposes of determining a BDC’s net asset value.
Short Sales may be used by a fund as part of its overall portfolio management strategies or to offset (hedge) a potential decline in the value of a security. A fund may engage in short sales that are either “against the box” or “uncovered.” A short sale is “against the box” if at all times during which the short position is open, a fund owns at least an equal amount of the securities or securities convertible into, or has the right to acquire, at no added cost, the securities of the same issue as the securities that are sold short. A short sale against the box is a taxable transaction to a fund with respect to the securities that are sold short. “Uncovered” short sales are transactions under which a fund sells a security it does not own. To complete such transaction, a fund may borrow the security through a broker to make delivery to the buyer and, in doing so, the fund becomes obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of the replacement. A fund also may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities, which would increase the cost of the security. In addition, a fund is often obligated to pay any accrued interest and dividends on the securities until they are replaced. The proceeds of the short sale position will be retained by the broker until a fund replaces the borrowed securities.
A fund will incur a loss if the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the fund replaces the borrowed security and, conversely, the fund will realize a gain if the price declines. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. A short sale creates the risk of an unlimited loss, as the price of the underlying securities could theoretically increase without limit, thus increasing the cost of buying those securities to cover the short position. If a fund sells securities short “against the box,” it may protect unrealized gains, but will lose the opportunity to profit on such securities if the price rises. The successful use of short selling as a hedging strategy may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.
A fund’s obligation to replace the securities borrowed in connection with a short sale will be secured by collateral deposited with the broker that consists of cash or other liquid securities. In addition, a fund will earmark cash or liquid assets or place in a segregated account an amount of cash or other liquid assets equal to the difference, if any, between (1) the market value of the securities sold short, marked-to-market daily, and (2) any cash or other liquid securities deposited as collateral with the broker in connection with the short sale.
Temporary Defensive Strategies. During unusual economic or market conditions or for temporary defensive or liquidity purposes, each fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, money market instruments, repurchase agreements and other short-term obligations that would not ordinarily be consistent with the funds’ objectives. A fund will do so only if the investment adviser or sub-advisers believe that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for capital gains or higher income. When a fund engages in such activities, it may not achieve its investment objective.
15

 

U.S. Government Securities are issued by the U.S. Treasury or issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. Not all U.S. government securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Some U.S. government securities, such as those issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae), and the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by a line of credit the issuing entity has with the U.S. Treasury. Securities issued by other issuers are supported solely by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality such as obligations issued by the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation. There can be no assurance that the U.S. government will provide financial support to U.S. government securities of its agencies and instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so under law. U.S. government securities, including U.S. Treasury securities, are among the safest securities, however, not unlike other debt securities, they are still sensitive to interest rate changes, which will cause their yields and prices to fluctuate.
On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality. Under these Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (SPAs), the U.S. Treasury has pledged to provide up to $100 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. On May 6, 2009, the U.S. Treasury increased its maximum commitment to each instrumentality under the SPAs to $200 billion per instrumentality. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury further amended the SPAs to allow the cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s net worth through the end of 2012. On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the SPAs to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10% dividend annually on all amounts received under the funding commitment. Instead, they will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount of $3 billion. The new amendment is designed to put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac no longer have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. Under the new arrangement, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are required to reduce their investment portfolios over time.
The actions of the U.S. Treasury are intended to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. No assurance can be given that the U.S. Treasury initiatives will be successful. The future for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac remains uncertain. The U.S. Congress continues to evaluate proposals to reduce the U.S. government’s role in the mortgage market and to wind down, restructure, consolidate, or privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Should the federal government adopt any such proposal, the value of a fund’s investments in securities issued by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac would be impacted.
Although the risk of default with U.S. government securities is considered unlikely, any default on the part of a portfolio investment could cause a fund's share price or yield to fall.
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
The following investment limitations may be changed only by vote of a majority of each fund’s outstanding shares.
The Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund may not:
(1) Purchase securities of any issuer unless consistent with the maintenance of its status as a diversified company under the 1940 Act.
(2) Concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, or the rules or regulations thereunder.
(3) Purchase or sell commodities, commodities contracts or real estate, lend or borrow money, issue senior securities, underwrite securities, or pledge, mortgage or hypothecate any of its assets, except as permitted by the 1940 Act or the rules or regulations thereunder.
The Laudus International MarketMasters Fund may not:
(1) Purchase securities of an issuer, except as consistent with the maintenance of its status as an open-end diversified company under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
(2) Concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
(3) Purchase or sell commodities or real estate, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
16

 

(4) Make loans to other persons, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
(5) Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
(6) Issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
(7) Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
The following descriptions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions.
Borrowing . The 1940 Act restricts an investment company from borrowing (including pledging, mortgaging or hypothecating assets) in excess of 33 1/3% of its total assets (not including temporary borrowings not in excess of 5% of its total assets). Transactions that are fully collateralized in a manner that does not involve the prohibited issuance of a “senior security” within the meaning of Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act, shall not be regarded as borrowings for the purposes of a fund’s investment restriction.
Concentration. The SEC has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company’s total assets in an industry or group of industries, with certain exceptions.
Diversification. Under the 1940 Act and the rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder, a “diversified company,” as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies, or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the fund.
Lending . Under the 1940 Act, an investment company may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies.
Real Estate. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments. Each fund has adopted a fundamental policy that would permit direct investment in real estate. However, each fund has a non-fundamental investment limitation that prohibits it from investing directly in real estate. This non-fundamental policy may be changed only by vote of a fund’s Board of Trustees.
Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by an investment company evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits each fund from issuing senior securities, although it provides allowances for certain borrowings and certain other investments, such as short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, firm commitment agreements and standby commitments, when such investments are “covered” or with appropriate earmarking or segregation of assets to cover such obligations.
Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves an investment company purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.
The following are non-fundamental investment policies and restrictions, and may be changed by the Board of Trustees.
Each Fund may not:
(1) Invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
(2) Purchase securities of other investment companies, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
(3) Sell securities short unless it owns the security or the right to obtain the security or equivalent securities, or unless it covers such short sale as required by current SEC rules and interpretations (transactions in futures contracts, options and other derivative instruments are not considered selling securities short).
(4) Purchase securities on margin, except such short term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of securities and provided that margin deposits in connection with futures contracts, options on futures or other derivative instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.
(5) Borrow money except that the fund may (i) borrow money from banks or through an interfund lending facility, if any, only for temporary or emergency purposes (and not for leveraging) and (ii) engage in reverse repurchase agreements with any party; provided that (i) and (ii) in combination do not exceed 33 1/3% of its total assets (any borrowings that come to exceed this amount will be reduced to the extent necessary to comply with the limitation within three business days).
17

 

(6) Lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties (this restriction does not apply to purchases of debt securities or repurchase agreements).
(7) Purchase securities (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result of such purchase, 25% or more of the value of its total assets would be invested in any industry or group of industries.
(8) Purchase or sell commodities, commodity contracts or real estate, including interests in real estate limited partnerships, provided that the fund may (i) purchase securities of companies that deal in real estate or interests therein (including REITs), (ii) purchase or sell futures contracts, options contracts, equity index participations and index participation contracts, and (iii) purchase securities of companies that deal in precious metals or interests therein.
Policies and investment limitations that state a maximum percentage of assets that may be invested in a security or other asset, or that set forth a quality standard shall be measured immediately after and as a result of a fund’s acquisition of such security or asset, unless otherwise noted. Except with respect to limitations on borrowing and futures and option contracts, any subsequent change in total assets or net assets, as applicable, or other circumstances does not require a fund to sell an investment if it could not then make the same investment. With respect to the limitation on illiquid securities, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause a fund to exceed its limitation, the fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of illiquid instruments back within the limitations as soon as reasonably practicable.
Management of the FUNDS
The funds are overseen by a Board of Trustees. The trustees are responsible for protecting shareholder interests. The trustees regularly meet to review the investment activities, contractual arrangements and the investment performance of each fund. The trustees met 5 times during the most recent fiscal year.
Certain trustees are “interested persons.” A trustee is considered an interested person of the Trust under the 1940 Act if he or she is an officer, director or an employee of CSIM or Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab or the distributor). A trustee also may be considered an interested person of the Trust under the 1940 Act if he or she owns stock of The Charles Schwab Corporation (CSC), a publicly traded company and the parent company of CSIM and Schwab.
As used herein, the terms “Fund Complex” and “Family of Investment Companies” each refer collectively to The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust which, as of May 31, 2017, included 110 funds. As used herein, the term “Schwab Funds” refers collectively to The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Schwab Capital Trust; the term “Laudus Funds” refers to Laudus Trust; and the term “Schwab ETFs” refers to Schwab Strategic Trust.
Each of the officers and/or trustees serves in the same capacity, unless otherwise noted, for The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust. The tables below provide information about the trustees and officers for the Trust, which includes funds in this SAI. The address of each individual listed below is 211 Main Street, San Francisco, California 94105.
NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH, AND
POSITION(S) WITH THE TRUST;
(TERM OF OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF TIME SERVED 1 )
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS
DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY THE
TRUSTEE
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
DURING THE
PAST FIVE
YEARS
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Robert W. Burns
1959
Trustee
(Trustee of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009; The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2016)
Retired/Private Investor (Jan. 2009-present). Formerly, Managing Director, Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (PIMCO) and President, PIMCO Funds. 110 Director, PS Business Parks, Inc. (2005-2012)
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NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH, AND
POSITION(S) WITH THE TRUST;
(TERM OF OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF TIME SERVED 1 )
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS
DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY THE
TRUSTEE
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
DURING THE
PAST FIVE
YEARS
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
John F. Cogan
1947
Trustee
(Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust and Schwab Annuity Portfolios since 2008; Laudus Trust since 2010; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2016)
Senior Fellow, The Hoover Institution at Stanford University (Oct. 1979-present); Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (2000-present); Professor of Public Policy, Stanford University (1994-2015). 110 Director, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (2005-present)
Stephen Timothy Kochis
1946
Trustee
(Trustee of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2012; The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2016)
CEO and Owner, Kochis Global (wealth management consulting) (May 2012-present); Chairman and CEO, Aspiriant, LLC (wealth management) (Jan. 2008-Apr. 2012). 110 None
David L. Mahoney
1954
Trustee
(Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2011; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2016)
Private Investor. 110 Director, Symantec Corporation (2003-present)

Director, Corcept Therapeutics
Incorporated (2004-present)

Director, Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2009-present)
Kiran M. Patel
1948
Trustee
(Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2011; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2016)
Retired. Executive Vice President and General Manager of Small Business Group, Intuit, Inc. (financial software and services firm for consumers and small businesses) (Dec. 2008-Sept. 2013). 110 Director, KLA-Tencor Corporation (2008-present)
Kimberly S. Patmore
1956
Trustee
(Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2016)
Consultant, Patmore Management Consulting (management consulting) (2008-present). 110 None
Charles A. Ruffel
1956
Trustee
(Trustee of Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009; The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2015)
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Kudu Investment Management, LLC (financial services) (Jan. 2015-present); Partner, Kudu Advisors, LLC (financial services) (June 2008-Jan. 2015); Advisor, Asset International, Inc. (publisher of financial services information) (Aug. 2008-Jan. 2015). 110 None
19

 

NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH, AND
POSITION(S) WITH THE TRUST;
(TERM OF OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF TIME SERVED 1 )
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS
DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY THE
TRUSTEE
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
DURING THE
PAST FIVE
YEARS
INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Gerald B. Smith
1950
Trustee
(Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust and Schwab Annuity Portfolios since 2000; Laudus Trust since 2010; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2016)
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Smith Graham & Co. (investment advisors) (Mar. 1990-present). 110 Director, Eaton (2012-present)

Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee, Oneok Partners LP (2003-2013)

Director, Oneok, Inc. (2009-2013)

Lead Independent Director, Board of Cooper Industries (2002-2012)
Joseph H. Wender
1944
Trustee
(Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust and Schwab Annuity Portfolios since 2008; Laudus Trust since 2010; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2016)
Senior Consultant, Goldman Sachs & Co., Inc. (investment banking and securities firm) (Jan. 2008-present); Partner, Colgin Partners, LLC (vineyards) (Feb. 1998-present). 110 Board Member and Chairman of the Audit Committee, Ionis Pharmaceuticals (1994-present)

Lead Independent Director and Chair of Audit Committee, OUTFRONT Media Inc. (2014-present)
INTERESTED TRUSTEES​
Walter W. Bettinger II 2
1960
Chairman and Trustee
(Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust and Schwab Annuity Portfolios since 2008; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009; Laudus Trust since 2010)
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Charles Schwab Corporation (Oct. 2008-present); President and Chief Executive Officer (Oct. 2008-present), Director (May 2008-present), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Director, Charles Schwab Bank (Apr. 2006-present); Director, Schwab Holdings, Inc. (May 2008-present); and Director, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (July 2016-present). 110 Director, The Charles Schwab Corporation (2008-present)
20

 

NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH, AND
POSITION(S) WITH THE TRUST;
(TERM OF OFFICE AND
LENGTH OF TIME SERVED 1 )
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS
DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS
NUMBER OF
PORTFOLIOS
IN FUND
COMPLEX
OVERSEEN
BY THE
TRUSTEE
OTHER
DIRECTORSHIPS
DURING THE
PAST FIVE
YEARS
INTERESTED TRUSTEES​
Marie A. Chandoha 2
1961
Trustee
(Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2016)
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Dec. 2010-present), Chief Investment Officer (Sept. 2010-Oct. 2011), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Trustee (Jan. 2016-present), President, Chief Executive Officer (Dec. 2010-present), and Chief Investment Officer (Sept. 2010-Oct. 2011), Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs; Director, Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds plc and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited (Jan. 2011-present); Global Head of Fixed Income Business Division, BlackRock, Inc. (formerly Barclays Global Investors) (Mar. 2007-Aug. 2010). 110 None
Joseph R. Martinetto 2
1962
Trustee
(Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2016)
Senior Executive Vice President (July 2015-present), Chief Financial Officer (July 2015-May 2017), Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (May 2007-July 2015), The Charles Schwab Corporation and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Director, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (May 2007-present); Director (Apr. 2010-present) and Chief Executive Officer (July 2013-Apr. 2015), Charles Schwab Bank; Director (May 2007-present), Chief Financial Officer (May 2007-May 2017), Senior Executive Vice President (Feb. 2016-present), and Executive Vice President (May 2007-Feb. 2016), Schwab Holdings, Inc. 110 None
    
NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH, AND
POSITION(S) WITH THE TRUST;
(TERM OF OFFICE AND LENGTH OF TIME
SERVED 3 )
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING THE PAST
FIVE YEARS
OFFICERS
Marie A. Chandoha
1961
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2010)
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Dec. 2010-present), Chief Investment Officer (Sept. 2010-Oct. 2011), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Trustee (Jan. 2016-present), President, Chief Executive Officer (Dec. 2010-present), and Chief Investment Officer (Sept. 2010-Oct. 2011), Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs; Director, Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds plc and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited (Jan. 2011-present); Global Head of Fixed Income Business Division, BlackRock, Inc. (formerly Barclays Global Investors) (Mar. 2007-Aug. 2010).
21

 

NAME, YEAR OF BIRTH, AND
POSITION(S) WITH THE TRUST;
(TERM OF OFFICE AND LENGTH OF TIME
SERVED 3 )
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS DURING THE PAST
FIVE YEARS
OFFICERS
Mark Fischer
1970
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2013)
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs (Jan. 2016-present); Assistant Treasurer, Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds (Dec. 2013-Dec. 2015), Schwab ETFs (Nov. 2013-Dec. 2015); Vice President, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (Oct. 2013-present); Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Investor Services (Apr. 2011-Sept. 2013); Assistant Treasurer, Massachusetts Financial Service Investment Management (May 2005-Mar. 2011).
George Pereira
1964
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
(Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust and Schwab Annuity Portfolios since 2004; Laudus Trust since 2006; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009)
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Nov. 2004-present), Chief Operating Officer (Jan. 2011-present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (Jan. 2016-present), Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Laudus Funds (June 2006-Dec. 2015); Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer, Schwab Funds (Nov. 2004-Dec. 2015) and Schwab ETFs (Oct. 2009-Dec. 2015); Director, Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds plc and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited (Apr. 2005-present).
Omar Aguilar
1970
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Equities and Multi-Asset Strategies
(Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2011)
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Equities and Multi-Asset Strategies, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (Apr. 2011-present); Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Equities, Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs (June 2011-present); Head of the Portfolio Management Group and Vice President of Portfolio Management, Financial Engines, Inc. (May 2009-Apr. 2011); Head of Quantitative Equity, ING Investment Management (July 2004-Jan. 2009).
Brett Wander
1961
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income
(Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2011)
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (Apr. 2011-present); Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income, Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs (June 2011-present); Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Active Fixed-Income Strategies, State Street Global Advisors (Jan. 2008-Oct. 2010); Director of Alpha Strategies Loomis, Sayles & Company (Apr. 2006-Jan. 2008).
David Lekich
1964
Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, Schwab Funds and Schwab ETFs
Vice President and Assistant Clerk, Laudus Funds
(Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2011)
Senior Vice President (Sept. 2011-present), Vice President (Mar. 2004-Sept. 2011), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel (Sept. 2011-present), Vice President (Jan. 2011-Sept. 2011), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Secretary (Apr. 2011-present) and Chief Legal Officer (Dec. 2011-present), Schwab Funds; Vice President and Assistant Clerk, Laudus Funds (Apr. 2011-present); Secretary (May 2011-present) and Chief Legal Officer (Nov. 2011-present), Schwab ETFs.
Catherine MacGregor
1964
Vice President and Assistant Secretary, Schwab Funds and Schwab ETFs
Chief Legal Officer, Vice President and Clerk, Laudus Funds

(Officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust since 2005; Schwab Strategic Trust since 2009)
Vice President, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (July 2005-present); Vice President (Dec. 2005-present), Chief Legal Officer and Clerk (Mar. 2007-present), Laudus Funds; Vice President (Nov. 2005-present) and Assistant Secretary (June 2007-present), Schwab Funds; Vice President and Assistant Secretary, Schwab ETFs (Oct. 2009-present).
1 Each Trustee shall hold office until the election and qualification of his or her successor, or until he or she dies, resigns or is removed. The retirement
22

 

  policy requires that each independent trustee retire by December 31 of the year in which the Trustee turns 74 or the Trustee’s twentieth year of service as an independent trustee on any trust in the Fund Complex, whichever occurs first.
2 Mr. Bettinger, Ms. Chandoha and Mr. Martinetto are Interested Trustees because they own stock of The Charles Schwab Corporation, the parent company of the investment adviser.
3 The President, Treasurer and Secretary/Clerk hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Each of the other officers serves at the pleasure of the Board.
Board Leadership Structure
The Chairman of the Board, Walter W. Bettinger II, is Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of CSC and an interested person of the Trust as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 Act. The Board is comprised of a super-majority (75 percent) of trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (i.e., independent trustees). The Trust does not have a single lead independent trustee. There are three primary committees of the Board: the Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee; the Governance Committee; and the Investment Oversight Committee. Each of the Committees is chaired by an independent trustee, and each Committee is comprised solely of independent trustees. The Committee chairs preside at Committee meetings, participate in formulating agendas for those meetings, and coordinate with management to serve as a liaison between the independent trustees and management on matters within the scope of the responsibilities of each Committee as set forth in its Board-approved charter. The Board has determined that this leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Board made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent trustees of the Trust constitute a super-majority of the Board, the fact that Committee chairs are independent trustees, the number of funds (and classes) overseen by the Board, and the total number of trustees on the Board.
Board Oversight of Risk Management
Like most investment companies, fund management and its other service providers have responsibility for day-to-day risk management for the funds. The Board’s duties, as part of its risk oversight of the Trust, consist of monitoring risks identified during regular and special reports to the Committees of the Board, as well as regular and special reports to the full Board. In addition to monitoring such risks, the Committees and the Board oversee efforts of fund management and service providers to manage risks to which the funds of the Trust may be exposed. For example, the Investment Oversight Committee meets with portfolio managers and receives regular reports regarding investment risk and credit risk of a fund’s portfolio. The Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee meets with the funds’ Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Financial Officer and receives regular reports regarding compliance risks, operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. From its review of these reports and discussions with management, each Committee receives information about the material risks of the funds of the Trust and about how management and service providers mitigate those risks, enabling the independent Committee chairs and other independent members of the Committees to discuss these risks with the full Board.
The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the funds can be identified nor can processes and controls be developed to eliminate or mitigate the occurrence or effects of certain risks; some risks are simply beyond the reasonable control of the funds, their management, and service providers. Although the risk oversight functions of the Board, and the risk management policies of fund management and fund service providers, are designed to be effective, there is no guarantee that they will eliminate or mitigate all risks. In addition, it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve each fund’s investment objective. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the funds’ ability to manage risk is subject to significant limitations.
Individual Trustee Qualifications
The Board has concluded that each of the trustees should initially and continue to serve on the Board because of (i) his or her ability to review and understand information about the Trust provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management regarding material factors bearing on the management of the Trust, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Trust's shareholders and (ii) the trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills as described below.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Bettinger should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience he gained as president and chief executive officer of The Charles Schwab Corporation, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as trustee of the Schwab Funds since 2008, the Schwab ETFs since 2009, and the Laudus Funds since 2010.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Burns should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience he gained as managing director of Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (PIMCO) and president of PIMCO Funds as well as the experience he has gained serving as trustee of the Schwab ETFs since 2009, and his experience serving as chair of the Schwab ETFs’ Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee until December 2015.
The Board has concluded that Ms. Chandoha should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience she gained as president and chief executive officer of Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., the Schwab Funds, Schwab ETFs and Laudus Funds, as well as her knowledge of and experience in financial and investment management services.
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The Board has concluded that Mr. Cogan should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience he has gained serving as a senior fellow and professor of public policy at a university and his former service in government, the experience he has gained serving as trustee of the Schwab Funds since 2008 and Laudus Funds since 2010, and his service on other public company boards.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Kochis should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience he gained serving as chair and chief executive officer of Aspiriant, LLC, an advisory firm, as well as his knowledge of and experience in wealth management consulting and the experience he has gained serving as trustee of the Schwab ETFs since 2012.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Mahoney should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience he gained serving as trustee of the Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds since 2011, as co-chief executive officer of a healthcare services company, and his service on other public company boards.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Martinetto should serve as trustee of the Trust because of his experience serving as senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Charles Schwab Corporation and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Patel should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience he gained serving as trustee of the Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds since 2011, as executive vice president, general manager and chief financial officer of a software company, his service on other public company boards, and his experience serving as chair of the Schwab Funds’ and Laudus Funds’ Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee.
The Board has concluded that Ms. Patmore should serve as trustee of the Trust because of her experience serving as chief financial officer and executive vice president of First Data Payment Business and First Data Corporation, as well as her knowledge of and experience in management consulting.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Ruffel should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience he gained as the founder and former chief executive officer of a publisher and information services firm specializing in the retirement plan industry, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, the experience he has gained serving as trustee of the Schwab ETFs since 2009, and his experience serving as chair of the Schwab ETFs’ Investment Oversight Committee until December 2015.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Smith should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience he has gained as managing partner of his own investment advisory firm, the experience he has gained serving as trustee of the Schwab Funds since 2000, as trustee of the Laudus Funds since 2010, his service on other public company boards, and his experience serving as chair of the Schwab Funds’ and Laudus Funds’ Investment Oversight Committee.
The Board has concluded that Mr. Wender should serve as trustee of the Trust because of the experience he gained serving as former partner and head of the financial institutions group of an investment bank, the experience he has gained serving as trustee of the Schwab Funds since 2008, as trustee of the Laudus Funds since 2010, and his service on other public company boards.
Trustee Committees
The Board of Trustees has established certain committees and adopted Committee charters with respect to those committees, each as described below:
•The Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee reviews the integrity of the Trust’s financial reporting processes and compliance policies, procedures and processes, and the Trust’s overall system of internal controls. The Audit, Compliance and Valuation Committee also reviews and evaluates the qualifications, independence and performance of the Trust’s independent auditors; and the implementation and operation of the Trust's valuation policy and procedures. This Committee is comprised of at least three independent trustees and currently has the following members: Kiran M. Patel (Chairman), Robert W. Burns, John F. Cogan and Kimberly S. Patmore. The Committee met 4 times during the most recent fiscal year.
•The Governance Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Board regarding Trust governance-related matters, including but not limited to Board compensation practices, retirement policies and term limits, Board self-evaluations, the effectiveness and allocation of assignments and functions by the Board, the composition of Committees of the Board, and the training of trustees. The Governance Committee is responsible for selecting and nominating candidates to serve as trustees. The Governance Committee does not have a written policy with respect to consideration of candidates for trustee submitted by shareholders. However, if the Governance Committee determined that it would be in the best interests of the Trust to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees, and a shareholder submitted a candidate for consideration by the Board of Trustees to fill the vacancy, the Governance Committee would evaluate that candidate in the same manner as it evaluates nominees identified by the Governance Committee. Nominee recommendations may be submitted to the Secretary of the Trust at the Trust’s principal business address. This Committee is comprised of at least three independent trustees and currently has the following members: John F. Cogan (Chairman), Stephen Timothy Kochis, David L. Mahoney and Joseph H. Wender. The Committee met 4 times during the most recent fiscal year.
•The Investment Oversight Committee reviews the investment activities of the Trust and the performance of the funds’ investment advisers. This Committee is comprised of at least three trustees (at least two-thirds of whom shall be
24

 

independent trustees) and currently has the following members: Gerald B. Smith (Chairman), Stephen Timothy Kochis, David L. Mahoney, Charles A. Ruffel and Joseph H. Wender. The Committee met 4 times during the most recent fiscal year.
Trustee Compensation
The following table provides trustee compensation for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016 earned with respect to the funds in this SAI and the Fund Complex.
Name of Trustee Aggregate Compensation
from the Funds in this SAI
Pension or Retirement
Benefits
Accrued as Part of Fund
Expenses
Total Compensation from the
Funds and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees
Interested Trustees
Walter W. Bettinger II None N/A None
Marie A. Chandoha 1 None N/A None
Joseph R. Martinetto 1 None N/A None
Independent Trustees
Robert W. Burns 1 $2,893 N/A $295,072
John F. Cogan $3,201 N/A $323,499
Stephen Timothy Kochis 1 $2,893 N/A $295,072
David L. Mahoney $2,893 N/A $295,072
Kiran M. Patel $3,098 N/A $315,999
Kimberly S. Patmore 1 $2,893 N/A $295,072
Charles A. Ruffel $2,893 N/A $295,072
Gerald B. Smith $3,098 N/A $315,999
Joseph H. Wender $2,893 N/A $295,072
1 Trustee joined the Schwab Capital Trust Board effective January 1, 2016.
Securities Beneficially Owned by Each Trustee
The following table provides each trustee’s equity ownership of the funds and ownership of all registered investment companies overseen by each trustee in the Family of Investment Companies as of December 31, 2016:
Name of Trustee Dollar Range of Trustee Ownership of the Funds
Included in the SAI
Aggregate Dollar
Range of Trustee
Ownership in the
Family of Investment Companies
Interested Trustees
Walter W. Bettinger II Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund None
Over $100,000
Marie A. Chandoha Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund $10,001-$50,000
Over $100,000
Joseph R. Martinetto Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund None
Over $100,000
Independent Trustees
Robert W. Burns Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund None
Over $100,000
John F. Cogan Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund None
Over $100,000
Stephen Timothy Kochis Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund None
Over $100,000
David L. Mahoney Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund None
Over $100,000
Kiran M. Patel Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund Over $100,000
Over $100,000
Kimberly S. Patmore Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund None
Over $100,000
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Name of Trustee Dollar Range of Trustee Ownership of the Funds
Included in the SAI
Aggregate Dollar
Range of Trustee
Ownership in the
Family of Investment Companies
Independent Trustees
Charles A. Ruffel Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund None
Over $100,000
Gerald B. Smith Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund $50,001-$100,000
Over $100,000
Joseph H. Wender Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund None
$50,001-$100,000
As of December 31, 2016, none of the independent trustees or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities of CSIM or Schwab, or in a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with CSIM or Schwab.
Deferred Compensation Plan
Independent Trustees may enter into a fee deferral plan. Under this plan, deferred fees will be credited to an account established by the Trust as of the date that such fees would have been paid to the trustee. The value of this account will equal the value that the account would have if the fees credited to the account had been invested in the shares of Schwab Funds ® selected by the trustee. Currently, none of the independent trustees has elected to participate in this plan.
Code of Ethics
The funds, CSIM and Schwab have adopted a Code of Ethics as required under the 1940 Act. Subject to certain conditions or restrictions, the Code of Ethics permits the trustees, directors, officers or advisory representatives of the funds or CSIM or the directors or officers of Schwab to buy or sell directly or indirectly securities for their own accounts. This includes securities that may be purchased or held by the funds. Securities transactions by some of these individuals may be subject to prior approval of the investment adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer or alternate. Most securities transactions are subject to quarterly reporting and review requirements.
In addition, each sub-adviser has adopted a Code of Ethics and, subject to certain conditions, each sub-adviser’s Code of Ethics permits directors or officers of the sub-adviser to buy or sell securities for their own account, including securities that may be purchased or held by the funds. Securities transactions by some of these individuals may be subject to prior approval of the sub-adviser’s chief compliance officer or alternate. Most securities transactions are subject to quarterly reporting and review requirements.
Control Persons And Principal Holders Of Securities
As of May 31, 2017, the officers and trustees of the Trust, as a group, owned, of record or beneficially, less than 1% of the outstanding voting securities of the funds.
Persons who owned of record or beneficially more than 25% of a fund’s outstanding shares may be deemed to control the fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling the fund could have the ability to vote a majority of the shares of the fund on any matter requiring the approval of shareholders of the fund.
As of May 31, 2017, Appendix – Principal Holders of Securities lists persons or entities that owned, of record or beneficially, 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of any class of the funds.
Investment Advisory and Other Services
Investment Adviser and Sub-Advisers
CSIM, a wholly owned subsidiary of CSC, 211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as the funds’ investment adviser and administrator pursuant to an Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement (Advisory Agreement) between it and the Trust. Schwab is an affiliate of CSIM and is the Trust's distributor. Charles R. Schwab is the founder, Chairman and Director of CSC. As a result of his ownership of and interests in CSC, Mr. Schwab may be deemed to be a controlling person of CSIM and Schwab.
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Advisory Agreement
The continuation of a fund’s Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (1) by the vote of the trustees or by a vote of the shareholders of the fund, and (2) by the vote of a majority of the trustees who are not parties to the investment advisory agreement or “interested persons” of any party (independent trustees), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
Each year, the Board of Trustees calls and holds a meeting to decide whether to renew the Advisory Agreement between the Trust and CSIM with respect to existing funds in the Trust. In preparation for the meeting, the Board requests and reviews a wide variety of materials provided by CSIM, as well as extensive data provided by third parties, and the independent trustees receive advice from counsel to the independent trustees.
Each of the funds is actively managed by a team of dedicated investment professionals, led by CSIM, who serves as the “manager of managers,” and a team of sub-advisers, each of which manages a portion of the assets of each fund. CSIM oversees the advisory services provided to the funds. CSIM also manages a portion of the funds’ assets including each fund’s cash position. Pursuant to separate sub-advisory agreements, and under the supervision of CSIM and the funds’ Board of Trustees, a number of sub-advisers are responsible for the day-to-day investment management of a discrete portion of the assets of the funds. The sub-advisers also are responsible for managing their employees who provide services to the funds. Subject to Board review, CSIM allocates and, when appropriate, reallocates the funds’ assets among sub-advisers, monitors and evaluates sub-adviser performance, and oversees sub-adviser compliance with the funds’ investment objectives, policies and restrictions.
The following are the sub-advisers for the funds.
American Century Investment Management, Inc. (American Century) serves as sub-adviser to the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund. American Century has been managing mutual funds since 1958. American Century’s principal office is located at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.
American Century is a wholly owned, direct subsidiary of American Century Companies, Inc. The Stowers Institute for Medical Research (SIMR) controls American Century Companies, Inc. by virtue of its beneficial ownership of more than 25% of the voting securities of American Century Companies, Inc. SIMR is part of a not-for-profit biomedical research organization dedicated to finding the keys to the causes, treatments and prevention of disease.
The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC (The Boston Company) serves as sub-adviser to the Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund. The Boston Company is a registered investment adviser and a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. The Boston Company, a financial services company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. As of December 31, 2016, The Boston Company had approximately $38 billion in assets under management. The Boston Company has managed investments for individuals and institutions since 1989. Its principal address is located at One Boston Place, Boston, MA 02108.
Harris Associates L.P. (Harris Associates) serves as sub-adviser to the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund. Harris Associates is a limited partnership managed by its general partner, Harris Associates, Inc. (HAI). Harris Associates and HAI are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Natixis Global Asset Management, L.P., which is an indirect subsidiary of Natixis Global Asset Management (S.A.) (NGAM), an international asset management group based in Paris, France. NGAM is owned by Natixis, a French investment banking and financial services firm that is principally owned by BPCE, France’s second largest banking group. Together with its predecessor firms, Harris Associates has advised and managed mutual funds since 1970. The principal office of Harris Associates is located at 111 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL, 60606.
Mellon Capital Management Corp. (Mellon Capital) serves as a sub-adviser to the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund and the Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund. Mellon Capital was established in 1983, and is a wholly-owned, indirect subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, a publicly traded financial holding company. Mellon Capital’s principal office is located at 50 Fremont Street, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94105.
Mondrian Investment Partners Limited (Mondrian) serves as a sub-adviser to the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund. Mondrian Investment Partners Limited was established as a limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales in 1990 under the name Delaware International Advisers Limited, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Delaware Holdings, Inc. In 2004, a senior management team, together with private equity funds sponsored by Hellman & Friedman, LLC (H&F), acquired Delaware International Advisers Limited and changed its name to Mondrian Investment Partners Limited. Following the acquisition and immediately prior to July 12, 2011, Mondrian was 73% owned by approximately 80 of its senior employees, including the majority of investment professionals, senior client service officers, and senior operations personnel through Atlantic Value Investment Partnership LP, and 27% owned by private equity funds sponsored by H&F. On July 12, 2011, Mondrian’s partnership of senior management purchased the 27% stake in Mondrian owned by the H&F sponsored private equity funds. Since July 12, 2011, Mondrian has been 100% employee owned by its senior employees through Atlantic Value Investment Partnership LP. The principal office of Mondrian Investment Partners Limited is located at 10 Gresham Street, Fifth Floor, London, United Kingdom, EC2V 7JD.
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Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (Voya) serves as sub-adviser to the Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund. Voya is a Delaware limited liability company, was founded in 1972 and is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser. Voya is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Voya Financial, Inc. and is an affiliate of the Adviser. Voya has acted as adviser or sub-adviser to mutual funds since 1994 and has managed institutional accounts since 1972. As of December 31, 2016, Voya managed approximately $91 billion in assets under management. Its principal address is located at 230 Park Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10169.
Wellington Management Company LLP (Wellington Management) serves as sub-adviser to the Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund. Wellington Management is a Delaware limited liability partnership with principal offices at 280 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. Wellington Management is a professional investment counseling firm which provides investment services to investment companies, employee benefit plans, endowments, foundations and other institutions. Wellington Management and its predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services for over 80 years. Wellington Management is owned by the partners of Wellington Management Group LLP, a Massachusetts limited liability partnership. As of December 31, 2016, Wellington Management has investment management authority with respect to approximately $979 billion in assets.
William Blair Investment Management, LLC (formerly, William Blair & Company, LLC) (William Blair) serves as a sub-adviser to the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund. William Blair was established in 2014 and is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. William Blair is affiliated with William Blair & Company, LLC, a firm founded in 1935 and registered with the SEC as both an investment adviser and securities broker-dealer. William Blair and William Blair & Company, LLC (each of which is a privately held company) are each a wholly owned subsidiary of WBC Holdings, L.P. WBC Holdings, L.P. is wholly owned by current William Blair and William Blair & Company, LLC employees. William Blair’s principal office is located at 222 West Adams St., Chicago, IL 60606.
As described below, the investment adviser is entitled to receive from each fund a graduated annual fee, payable monthly, for its advisory and administrative services to each fund. The table below sets forth the advisory fees paid by the funds to the investment adviser for the past three fiscal years ended October 31, or, if shorter, the period of the fund’s operations. The figures in the “net fees paid” row represent the actual amounts paid to the investment adviser, which include the effect of any reductions due to the application of a fund’s expense limitation (expense cap). The figures in the “gross fees reduced by” row represent the amount, if any, the advisory fees payable to the investment adviser were reduced due to the application of a fund’s expense cap.
The expense cap is not intended to cover all fund expenses, and a fund’s expenses may exceed the expense cap. For example, the expense cap does not cover investment-related expenses, such as brokerage commissions, interest, taxes and the fees and expenses of pooled investment vehicles, such as ETFs, REITs, and other investment companies, that are held by the funds, nor does it cover extraordinary or non-routine expenses, such as shareholder meeting costs.
The investment adviser pays the sub-advisers their fees out of the amount it receives from the funds.
Fund and
Advisory Fee
Schedule
  2016
(In dollars and as a
percent of
the fund’s
average net
assets)
2015
(In dollars and as a
percent of
the fund’s
average net
assets)
2014
(In dollars and as a
percent of
the fund’s
average net
assets)
Expense
Limitation *
Laudus Small-Cap
MarketMasters Fund

1.17% of the fund’s average
daily net assets not in excess of $500 million,
1.13% of such net assets in
excess of $500 million and less than $1 billion,
and 1.07% of such net assets over $1 billion.
Net fees paid
to the Adviser:
$1,556,700 $1,862,300 $1,835,886 Investor
Shares: 1.35%

Select Shares:
1.20%
Gross fees
reduced by:
$282,688 $331,144 $340,874  
Fees paid to
the sub-
advisers by the
investment
adviser:
$868,770

0.55%
$1,069,128

0.57%
$1,070,157

0.58%
 
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Fund and
Advisory Fee
Schedule
  2016
(In dollars and as a
percent of
the fund’s
average net
assets)
2015
(In dollars and as a
percent of
the fund’s
average net
assets)
2014
(In dollars and as a
percent of
the fund’s
average net
assets)
Expense
Limitation *
Laudus International
MarketMasters Fund

1.29% of the fund’s average
daily net assets not in excess of $500 million,
1.275% of such net assets in
excess of $500 million and less than $1 billion,
and 1.25% of such net assets over $1 billion.
Net fees paid
to the Adviser:
$17,624,348 $22,927,273 $24,903,327 Investor
Shares: 1.40%

Select Shares:
1.25%
Gross fees
reduced by:
$3,139,893 $3,855,852 $4,097,344  
Fees paid to
the sub-
advisers by the
investment
adviser:
$8,989,175

0.55%
$11,236,332

0.53%
$11,607,396

0.51%
 
* The investment adviser and its affiliates have agreed to limit the total annual operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, and certain non-routine expenses) of each fund to the percentage shown in this column for so long as the investment adviser serves as the adviser to the fund. This agreement is limited to each fund’s direct operating expenses and does not apply to any applicable acquired fund fees and expenses (AFFE). The agreement may only be amended or terminated with approval of the funds’ Board of Trustees.
Distributor
Pursuant to a Second Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement between Schwab and the Trust, Schwab, located at 211 Main Street, San Francisco, California 94105, is the principal underwriter for shares of the funds and is the Trust’s agent for the purpose of the continuous offering of the funds' shares. The funds pay for prospectuses and shareholder reports to be prepared and delivered to existing shareholders. Schwab pays such costs when the described materials are used in connection with the offering of shares to prospective investors and for supplemental sales literature and advertising. Schwab receives no fee under the Distribution Agreement.
Shareholder Servicing Plan
The Trust's Board has adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan (the Plan) on behalf of the funds. The Plan enables these funds to bear expenses relating to the provision by financial intermediaries, including Schwab (together, service providers), of certain shareholder services to the current shareholders of the funds (or classes of such funds). Pursuant to the Plan, each fund is subject to an annual shareholder servicing fee, up to the amount set forth below:
Fund Shareholder
Servicing Fee
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund - Investor Shares 0.25%
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund - Select Shares 0.20%
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund – Investor Shares 0.25%
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund – Select Shares 0.20%
Pursuant to the Plan, the funds may pay service providers (including Schwab) that, pursuant to written agreements with Schwab or the Trust, provide certain account maintenance, customer liaison and shareholder services to fund shareholders. The service providers may provide fund shareholders with the following shareholder services, among other shareholder services: (i) maintaining records for shareholders that hold shares of a fund; (ii) communicating with shareholders, including the mailing of regular statements and confirmation statements, distributing fund-related materials, mailing prospectuses and reports to shareholders, and responding to shareholder inquiries; (iii) communicating and processing shareholder purchase, redemption and exchange orders; (iv) communicating mergers, splits or other reorganization activities to fund shareholders; and (v) preparing and filing tax information, returns and reports.
The shareholder servicing fee paid to a particular service provider is calculated at the annual rate set forth in the chart above and is based on the average daily net asset value of the fund (or class) shares owned by shareholders holding shares through such
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service provider. Payments under the Plan are made as described above, without regard to whether the fee is more or less than the service provider’s actual cost of providing the services, and if more, such excess may be retained as profit by the service provider.
The Plan shall continue in effect for a fund for so long as its continuance is specifically approved at least annually by a vote of the majority of both (i) the Board of the Trust and (ii) the trustees of the Trust who are not interested persons of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or any agreements related to it (the qualified trustees). The Plan requires that Schwab or any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the funds pursuant to the Plan furnish quarterly written reports of amounts spent under the Plan and the purposes of such expenditures to the Board of the Trust for review. All material amendments to the Plan must be approved by votes of the majority of both (i) the Board and (ii) the qualified trustees.
Transfer Agent
Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (BFDS), 2000 Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-0953, serves as the funds’ transfer agent. As part of these services, the firm maintains records pertaining to the sale, redemption and transfer of the funds’ shares.
Custodian and Fund Accountant
State Street Bank & Trust Company (State Street), One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, serves as the funds’ custodian and fund accountant. The custodian is responsible for the daily safekeeping of securities and cash held or sold by the funds. The fund accountant maintains all books and records related to each fund’s transactions.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (PwC), Three Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111-4004, audits and reports on the annual financial statements of the funds and reviews certain regulatory reports and each fund’s federal income tax return. PwC also performs other professional, accounting, auditing, tax and advisory services, when engaged to do so by the Trust.
Portfolio Managers
CSIM is responsible for monitoring and coordinating the overall management of each of the funds.
Other Accounts. In addition to the funds, the portfolio managers (Portfolio Managers) are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below. The accounts listed below are not subject to a performance-based advisory fee. Unless otherwise noted, the information below is provided as of October 31, 2016.
Name Other Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
Omar Aguilar 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
Jane Shi 1 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
1 As of February 28, 2017.
Conflicts of Interest. A portfolio manager’s management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with its management of a fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts include separate accounts and other mutual funds advised by CSIM (collectively, the Other Managed Accounts). The Other Managed Accounts might have similar investment objectives as a fund, track the same index a fund tracks or otherwise hold, purchase, or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased, or sold by a fund. While the Portfolio Manager’s management of Other Managed Accounts may give rise to the potential conflicts of interest listed below, CSIM does not believe that the conflicts, if any, are material or, to the extent any such conflicts are material, CSIM believes it has adopted policies and procedures that are designed to manage those conflicts in an appropriate way.
Knowledge of the Timing and Size of Fund Trades . A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the Portfolio Manager’s day-to-day management of the funds. Because of his positions with the funds, the Portfolio Manager knows the size, timing, and possible market impact of fund trades. It is theoretically possible that the Portfolio Manager could use this information to the advantage of the Other Managed Accounts they manages and to the possible detriment of a fund. However, CSIM has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time. Moreover, with respect to index funds, which seek to track their respective benchmark indexes, much of this information is publicly available. When it is determined to be in the best interest of both accounts, the Portfolio Manager may aggregate trade orders for the Other Managed Accounts, excluding separate accounts, with those of a fund. All aggregated orders are subject to CSIM’s
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aggregation and allocation policy and procedures, which provide, among other things, that (i) a Portfolio Manager will not aggregate orders unless he or she believes such aggregation is consistent with his or her duty to seek best execution; (ii) no account will be favored over any other account; (iii) each account that participates in an aggregated order will participate at the average security price with all transaction costs shared on a pro-rata basis; and (iv) if the aggregated order cannot be executed in full, the partial execution is allocated pro-rata among the participating accounts in accordance with the size of each account’s order.
Investment Opportunities. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the Portfolio Manager’s management of a fund and Other Managed Accounts which, in theory, may allow him to allocate investment opportunities in a way that favors the Other Managed Accounts over a fund, which conflict of interest may be exacerbated to the extent that CSIM or the Portfolio Manager receives, or expects to receive, greater compensation from his management of the Other Managed Accounts than the fund. Notwithstanding this theoretical conflict of interest, it is CSIM’s policy to manage each account based on its investment objectives and related restrictions and, as discussed above, CSIM has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time and in a manner consistent with each account’s investment objectives and related restrictions. For example, while the Portfolio Manager may buy for an Other Managed Account securities that differ in identity or quantity from securities bought for a fund or refrain from purchasing securities for an Other Managed Account that he is otherwise buying for a fund in an effort to outperform its specific benchmark, such an approach might not be suitable for a fund given its investment objective and related restrictions.
Compensation. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio Manager’s compensation consisted of a fixed annual (base) salary and a discretionary bonus. The base salary is determined considering compensation payable for a similar position across the investment management industry and an evaluation of the individual Portfolio Manager’s overall performance such as the Portfolio Manager’s contribution to the investment process, good corporate citizenship, risk management and mitigation, and functioning as an active contributor to the firm’s success. The discretionary bonus is determined in accordance with the CSIM Equity and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager Incentive Plan (the Plan) as follows:
There are two independent funding components for the Plan:
•75% of the funding is based on equal weighting of Investment Fund Performance and Risk Management and Mitigation
•25% of the funding is based on Corporate results
Investment Fund Performance and Risk Management and Mitigation (75% weight)
Investment Fund Performance:
At the close of the year, each fund's performance will be determined by its 1-year, 1- and 2-year, or 1- and 3-year percentile standing (based on pre-tax return before expenses) within its designated benchmark, peer group, or category, depending on the strategy of the fund (i.e., whether the fund is passively or actively managed) using standard statistical methods approved by CSIM senior management. Investment Fund Performance measurements may be changed or modified at the discretion of the CSIM President and CSIM Chief Operating Officer. As each participant may manage and/or support a number of funds, there may be several funds considered in arriving at the incentive compensation funding.
Risk Management and Mitigation:
Risk Management and Mitigation will be rated by CSIM’s Chief Investment Officer, CSIM’s Head of Investment Risk, CSIM’s Chief Legal Officer, CSIM’s Chief Compliance Officer and CSIM’s Head of Operations Risk (or individuals with comparable responsibilities). Factors they will consider will include, but are not limited to:
•Balancing safety of fund principal with appropriate limits that provide investment flexibility given existing market conditions
•Making timely sell recommendations to avoid significant deterioration of value resulting from the weakening condition of the issuer
•Escalating operating events and errors for prompt resolution
•Identifying largest risks and actively discussing with management
•Accurately validating fund information disseminated to the public (e.g., Annual and Semi-Annual reports, fund fact sheets, fund prospectus)
•Executing transactions timely and without material trade errors that result in losses to the funds
•Ensuring ongoing compliance with prospectus and investment policy guidelines
•Minimizing fund compliance exceptions
•Actively following up and resolving compliance exceptions
Corporate Performance (25% weight)
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The Corporate Bonus Plan is an annual bonus plan that provides discretionary awards based on the financial performance of CSC during the annual performance period. Quarterly advances may be paid for the first three quarters. Allocations are discretionary and aligned with CSC and individual performance. Funding for the Plan is determined at the conclusion of the calendar year. Funding will be capped at 200% of target.
At year-end, the full-year funding for both components of the Plan will be pooled together. The total pool is allocated to Plan participants by CSIM senior management based on their assessment of a variety of performance factors.
Factors considered in CSIM senior management’s allocation process will include objective and subjective factors that will take into consideration total performance and will include, but are not limited to:
•Fund performance relative to performance measure
•Risk management and mitigation
•Individual performance against key objectives
•Contribution to overall group results
•Functioning as an active contributor to the firm’s success
•Team work
•Collaboration between Analysts and Portfolio Managers
•Regulatory/Compliance management.
The Portfolio Manager's compensation is not based on the value of the assets held in a fund’s portfolio.
Ownership of Fund Shares. Unless otherwise noted, the following table shows the dollar amount range of the Portfolio Managers' “beneficial ownership” of shares of the funds managed, as of October 31, 2016. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act).
Portfolio Manager Fund Dollar Range
of Shares
Omar Aguilar Laudus International MarketMasters Fund $50,001-$100,000
  Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
Jane Shi 1 Laudus International MarketMasters Fund None
  Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund None
1 As of February 28, 2017.
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Sub-Adviser Portfolio Manager Disclosure
American Century sub-advises the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund (the “Fund”).
Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are also responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as indicated in the following table. These accounts do not have an advisory fee based on the performance of the account. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2016.
Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
Trevor Gurwich 2 $143.6 million 2 $75 million 5 $117.2 million
Federico Laffan 2 $143.6 million 2 $75 million 5 $117.2 million
Conflicts of Interest. Certain conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the management of multiple portfolios. Potential conflicts include, for example, conflicts among investment strategies, such as one portfolio buying or selling a security while another portfolio has a differing, potentially opposite position in such security. This may include one portfolio taking a short position in the security of an issuer that is held long in another portfolio (or vice versa). Other potential conflicts may arise with respect to the allocation of investment opportunities, which are discussed in more detail below. American Century has adopted policies and procedures that are designed to minimize the effects of these conflicts.
Responsibility for managing American Century client portfolios is organized according to investment discipline. Investment disciplines include, for example, disciplined equity, U.S. growth, value, global and non-U.S., fixed income, and multi-asset strategies. Within each discipline are one or more portfolio teams responsible for managing specific client portfolios. Generally, client portfolios with similar strategies are managed by the same team using the same objective, approach, and philosophy. Accordingly, portfolio holdings, position sizes, and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar portfolios, which minimizes the potential for conflicts of interest. In addition, American Century Investments maintains an ethical wall around each of its equity investment disciplines (U.S. growth, value, disciplined equity and global and non-U.S.), meaning that access to information regarding any portfolio’s transactional activities is only available to team members of the investment discipline that manages such portfolio. The ethical wall is intended to aid in preventing the misuse of portfolio holdings information and trading activity in the other disciplines.
For each investment strategy, one portfolio is generally designated as the “policy portfolio.” Other portfolios with similar investment objectives, guidelines and restrictions, if any, are referred to as “tracking portfolios.” When managing policy and tracking portfolios, a portfolio team typically purchases and sells securities across all portfolios that the team manages. American Century’s trading systems include various order entry programs that assist in the management of multiple portfolios, such as the ability to purchase or sell the same relative amount of one security across several funds. In some cases a tracking portfolio may have additional restrictions or limitations that cause it to be managed separately from the policy portfolio. Portfolio managers make purchase and sale decisions for such portfolios alongside the policy portfolio to the extent the overlap is appropriate, and separately, if the overlap is not.
American Century may aggregate orders to purchase or sell the same security for multiple portfolios when it believes such aggregation is consistent with its duty to seek best execution on behalf of its clients. Orders of certain client portfolios may, by investment restriction or otherwise, be determined not available for aggregation. American Century has adopted policies and procedures to minimize the risk that a client portfolio could be systematically advantaged or disadvantaged in connection with the aggregation of orders. To the extent equity trades are aggregated, shares purchased or sold are generally allocated to the participating portfolios pro rata based on order size. Because initial public offerings (IPOs) are usually available in limited supply and in amounts too small to permit across-the-board pro rata allocations, American Century has adopted special procedures designed to promote a fair and equitable allocation of IPO securities among clients over time. Fixed income securities transactions are not executed through a centralized trading desk. Instead, portfolio teams are responsible for executing trades with broker/dealers in a predominantly dealer marketplace. Trade allocation decisions are made by the portfolio manager at the time of trade execution and orders entered on the fixed income order management system.
Finally, investment of American Century’s corporate assets in proprietary accounts may raise additional conflicts of interest. To mitigate these potential conflicts of interest, American Century has adopted policies and procedures intended to provide that trading in proprietary accounts is performed in a manner that does not give improper advantage to American Century to the detriment of client portfolios.
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Compensation. American Century portfolio manager compensation is structured to align the interest of the portfolio manager with those of the shareholders whose assets they manage. As of October 31, 2016, the compensation includes the components described below, each of which is determined with reference to a number of factors such as overall performance, market competition, and internal equity.
Base Salary. Portfolio managers receive base pay in the form of a fixed annual salary.
Bonus. A significant portion of portfolio manager compensation takes the form of an annual incentive bonus tied to performance. Bonus payments are determined by a combination of factors. One factor is fund investment performance. For most American Century mutual funds, investment performance is generally measured by a combination of one-, three- and five-year pre-tax performance relative to various benchmarks and/or internally-customized peer groups. The performance comparison periods may be adjusted based on a fund’s inception date or a portfolio manager’s tenure on the fund. Custom peer groups are constructed using all the funds in the indicated categories as a starting point. Funds are then eliminated from the peer group based on a standardized methodology designed to result in a final peer group that is both more stable over the long term (i.e., has less peer turnover) and that more closely represents the fund’s true peers based on internal investment mandates.
Portfolio managers may have responsibility for multiple American Century mutual funds. In such cases, the performance of each is assigned a percentage weight appropriate for the portfolio manager’s relative levels of responsibility.
Portfolio managers also may have responsibility for portfolios that are managed in a fashion similar to that of other American Century mutual funds. This is the case for the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund. If the performance of a similarly managed account is considered for purposes of compensation, it is measured in the same way as a comparable American Century mutual fund (i.e., relative to the performance of a benchmark and/or peer group). Performance of the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund is not separately considered in determining portfolio manager compensation.
A second factor in the bonus calculation relates to the performance of a number of American Century funds managed according to one of the following investment disciplines: U.S. growth, U.S. value, global and non-U.S., disciplined equity, fixed-income, and multi-asset strategies. Performance is measured for each product individually as described above and then combined to create an overall composite for the product group. These composites may measure one-year performance (equal weighted) or a combination of one-, three- and five- year performance (equal or asset weighted) depending on the portfolio manager’s responsibilities and products managed. This feature is designed to encourage effective teamwork among portfolio management teams in achieving long-term investment success for similarly styled portfolios.
A portion of the portfolio managers’ bonuses may be tied to individual performance goals, such as research projects and the development of new products.
Restricted Stock Plans. Portfolio managers are eligible for grants of restricted stock of American Century Companies, Inc. These grants are discretionary, and eligibility and availability can vary from year to year. The size of an individual's grant is determined by individual and product performance as well as other product-specific considerations such as profitability. Grants can appreciate/depreciate in value based on the performance of the American Century Companies, Inc. stock during the restriction period (generally three to four years).
Deferred Compensation Plans. Portfolio managers are eligible for grants of deferred compensation. These grants are used in very limited situations, primarily for retention purposes. Grants are fixed and can appreciate/depreciate in value based on the performance of the American Century mutual funds in which the portfolio manager chooses to invest them.
Ownership of Fund Shares. As of October 31, 2016, Trevor Gurwich did not own any shares of the Fund. However, Federico Laffan beneficially owned shares of the Fund in the dollar range of $1-$10,000.
The Boston Company sub-advises the Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund (the “Fund”).
Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, the portfolio manager is also responsible for the day-to-day management of other accounts, as indicated in the following table. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2016. There are no accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account.
Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
David A. Daglio Jr. 12 $3,632.4M 4 $729.5M 51 $3,823.9M
Material Conflicts of Interest.
Introduction
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This disclosure statement is intended to describe the general conflicts of interest that have been identified at The Boston Company and the corresponding mitigants. A conflict of interest is a scenario whereby a person or firm has an incentive to serve one interest at the expense of another interest.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all conflicts that currently exist or that may exist in the future.
Side by Side Issues.
•Same investment team managing multiple client accounts
•Allocation of Investment Opportunities
•Favoring clients with performance based fees
Description of Perceived Conflicts : A portfolio manager may favor one account over another account.
Mitigant : All accounts in the same strategy are managed and traded identically with the exception of client imposed restrictions. Accounts in the same strategy are categorized in the same product group(s) and traded accordingly. Trades are typically allocated to accounts on a pre-trade pro-rata basis. Compliance conducts monthly dispersion reviews by strategy.
Related Party Arrangements.
•Management of proprietary accounts alongside other accounts
•Management of affiliated accounts alongside other accounts
•Affiliated brokerage
•Affiliated underwriting
Description of Perceived Conflicts : Affiliated and proprietary accounts will be advantaged over other accounts. The Boston Company will participate in syndicate deals (IPOs and secondary offerings) where an affiliate is part of the underwriting syndicate to benefit the affiliate. The Boston Company will execute trades with affiliated broker-dealers for reasons other than best execution.
Mitigants : All accounts (including affiliated and proprietary accounts) in the same strategy are managed identically as described in the Side by Side Issues section. Trading does not use affiliate brokers to execute trades unless expressly instructed to do so by clients. Compliance is notified of all syndicate deals that the firm is participating in and confirms whether or not an affiliate is part of the underwriting syndicate. Where an affiliate is involved, the affiliate is never the executing broker and Compliance ensures that only permissible accounts participate.
Brokerage Related Conflicts.
•Soft dollars
•Broker selection
•Simultaneous trading
Description of Perceived Conflicts : Client commissions are used to purchase research and brokerage that is outside of the Section 28(e) safe harbor. Client commissions are used to purchase research and brokerage that is duplicative.
Brokers are selected for reasons other than for purposes of best execution.
Simultaneous trading occurs when a single investment decision results in multiple buyers or sellers being in the market at the same time. Multiple orders create the appearance of increased supply or demand that may increase or decrease prices. Such simultaneous trading may occur any time where The Boston Company makes portfolio decisions but does not execute the corresponding trades (i.e. model or UMA business, total return swaps).
Mitigants : All requests for services paid for with soft dollars are approved by the following individuals: requester’s manager, Director of Vendor Management, CIO, Head Trader, CCO and COO. In addition, all services paid for with soft dollars are reviewed by the Brokerage Practices Committee no less often than annually.
Executing brokers are selected by The Boston Company traders and must be on one of the approved broker lists. The Boston Company has commissioned a 3rd party vendor to perform trade cost analysis (TCA). The head trader reviews TCA reports with lead portfolio managers along with the designated trader responsible for executing trades for the strategy. TCA reports are also reviewed at the Brokerage Practices Committee at least annually. The Boston Company has entered into commission sharing arrangements (CCA’s or CSA’s) with several counterparties pursuant to which The Boston Company may execute transactions through a broker and request that the broker allocate a portion of the commission or commission credits to another firm that provides research and other products to The Boston Company. These arrangements allow the execution decision to be independent of the research decision.
The impact of simultaneous trading is mitigated through coordinated trading arrangements and monitored through trade cost analysis.
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Where The Boston Company participates as an investment manager in UMA and SMA (wrap) programs or provides securities recommendations as a non-discretionary investment manager (model accounts) there is a possibility that such accounts will trade behind fully discretionary accounts (sequenced trading), trade alongside fully discretionary accounts (simultaneous trading) or be traded in a coordinated manner across the respective trading desks. The methodology employed will depend upon certain factors, including but not limited to, the liquidity profile of the investment strategy and total AUM of the relevant investment strategy.
Personal Interests.
•Personal trading
•Outside affiliations and directorship
•Gifts and entertainment
Description of Perceived Conflicts : Employees are permitted to trade in stocks that the firm recommends and trades in for its clients.
Employee’s outside interests may be in direct or indirect conflict with their job responsibilities at The Boston Company.
There is a perception that portfolio managers and research analysts purchase research with client commissions from brokers and independent providers that provide gifts and/or entertainment. Likewise, there is a perception that traders may execute trades with brokers that provide gifts and/or entertainment without taking into account execution capabilities.
Mitigants : The Boston Company has in place a comprehensive Securities Trading Policy which requires that all personal trades (with few exceptions) be precleared; prohibits short term trading; and requires extensive reporting and certification of compliance. Monitoring and back testing is performed by the Compliance Department on an on-going basis.
Employees that hold positions at unaffiliated entities must disclose such positions and in certain cases obtain approval.
The Boston Company has in place a Gifts and Entertainment Policy that requires all employees to report all gifts and any entertainment accepted that has a value greater than $10.00. The Compliance Department reviews gifts and entertainment received to identify concerning patterns or trends.
The Boston Company has implemented policies and procedures to comply with Rule 206(4)-5 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Certain employees that are considered “covered persons” must report and obtain approval prior to making any campaign donations for state or local elections.
Compensation Conflicts.
Description of perceived conflict: Portfolio managers will provide preferential treatment to certain types of accounts, such as those that pay a higher advisory fee and/or have a performance fee, include an investment by the portfolio manager or otherwise result in an increase in compensation payable to the portfolio manager.
Mitigant : Compensation of investment personnel includes both a fixed base salary and a discretionary bonus. The discretionary bonus is not tied to the performance of any one account. Compensation of investment teams that manage hedge funds alongside other accounts is subject to long-only account performance hurdles.
Operational Conflicts.
•Valuation and pricing
•Product development
•Disclosure practices
•Error correction
•Proxy Voting
Description of Perceived Conflicts : Securities may be improperly valued and priced resulting in inflated performance results and advisory fees.
Products may be developed or new activities undertaken that create new conflicts or undermine the mitigation of pre-existing conflicts.
Certain clients may be provided with information that other clients do not have access to.
Errors resulting in client accounts may have a negative impact on performance and result in lower advisory fees. As a result, unnecessary risks may be assumed in an effort to reverse the impact of the error.
Proxies associated with companies of clients or prospects may be voted in a manner that places the firm’s interests ahead of the interests of client accounts.
Mitigants : All securities are priced through a 3rd party pricing service. Where a security is not priced or where the price is stale or otherwise impeded, The Boston Company has in place fair value pricing procedures implemented by a Valuation Working
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Group and overseen by a Valuation Steering Committee. Portfolio managers and research analysts serve as an input, but are not the determining factor in matters of pricing and valuation of securities.
New activities and products are vetted through the Product Development Committee. If the committee approves the new activity or product, a pre-defined on-boarding process occurs where a component of the process is a risk assessment that factors in whether the new activity or product introduces new conflicts or impacts existing mitigants to current conflicts.
The Disclosure Policy provides guidance when information may be released to clients, prospects, consultants and other third parties. In addition, The Boston Company’s Form ADV is made available to all clients, prospects, consultants and other third parties upon request. The Form ADV provides detailed information regarding the firm’s policies and practices.
The Boston Company participates in the BNY Mellon Proxy Policy Committee. This committee applies detailed, predetermined proxy voting guidelines in an objective and consistent manner based upon internal and external research and recommendations.
Compensation . The Boston Company’s rewards program was designed to be market-competitive and align our compensation with the goals of our clients. Individual performance is at the heart of every compensation decision, and all of The Boston Company’s employees are assessed on their ability to meet goals set during the year and to work productively as a team member to achieve those goals. Other broader variables and metrics may also affect compensation-related decisions, including current margin levels, aggregate firm investment performance and The Boston Company’s performance against our financial plan. Investment performance by team and strategy is also considered as part of award decisions.
The following factors encompass our investment professional rewards program.
•Base salary
•Annual cash bonus
•Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”)
•Deferred cash
•BNY Mellon restricted stock and/or
•The Boston Company equity
Ownership of Fund Shares. As of October 31, 2016, the portfolio manager did not beneficially own any of the Fund’s shares.
Harris Associates sub-advises the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund (the “Fund”).
Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below, as of October 31, 2016. Harris is manager to one account whose advisory fees are partially based on performance metrics.
Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
David G. Herro 12 $36,047,175,610 28 $7,578,015,715 48 $11,656,702,529
Mike L. Manelli 1 9 $32,409,023,527 17 $3,700,177,167 29 $6,743,898,725
Accounts where compensation is based on account performance.
Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
David G. Herro 0 $0 0 $0 1 $157,044,628
Mike L. Manelli 1 0 $0 0 $0 1 $166,337,898
1 Information is provided as of December 31, 2016, the date Mr. Manelli became a portfolio manager of the fund.
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 the 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 have a
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different advisory fee arrangement (including any accounts that pay performance-based fees), accounts of affiliated companies, or accounts in which the portfolio manager has a personal investment. With respect to the allocation of investment opportunities, Harris Associates makes decisions to recommend, purchase, sell or hold securities for all of its client accounts, including the Fund, based on the specific investment objectives, guidelines, restrictions and circumstances of each account. It is Harris Associates’ policy to allocate investment opportunities to each account, including the Fund, over a period of time on a fair and equitable basis relative to its other accounts. With respect to the allocation of aggregated orders, each account that participates in the aggregated order will participate at the average share price, and where the order has not been completely filled, each institutional account, including the Fund, will generally participate on a pro rata basis.
Harris Associates has compliance policies and procedures in place that it believes are reasonably designed to mitigate these conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which an actual or potential conflict may arise.
Compensation. Each of Harris Associates’ portfolio managers are compensated solely by Harris Associates, the sub-adviser. Compensation for each of the portfolio managers is based on Harris Associates’ assessment of the individual’s long-term contribution to the investment success of Harris Associates. Each portfolio manager receives a base salary and participates in a discretionary bonus pool. In addition, most portfolio managers also participate in a long-term compensation plan that provides current compensation to certain key employees of Harris Associates and deferred compensation to both current and former key employees. The compensation plan consists of bonus units awarded to participants that vest and are paid out over a period of time.
The determination of the amount of each portfolio manager’s base salary and discretionary bonus pool participation and, where applicable, participation in the long-term compensation plan is based on a variety of qualitative and quantitative factors. The factor given the most significant weight is the subjective assessment of the individual’s contribution to the overall investment results of Harris Associates’ domestic or international investment group, whether as a portfolio manager, a research analyst, or both.
The quantitative factors considered in evaluating the contribution of portfolio managers include the performance of the portfolios managed by that individual relative to benchmarks, peers and other portfolio managers, as well as the assets under management in the accounts managed by the portfolio manager. The portfolio managers’ compensation is not based solely on an evaluation of the performance of the accounts or the amount of assets under management. Performance is measured in a number of ways, including by accounts and by strategy, and is compared to one or more of the following benchmarks: S&P 500, Russell Mid-Cap Value, Russell 1000 Value, Lipper Balanced, 60/40 S&P/Barclays (60% S&P 500 and 40% Barclays Bond Index), MSCI World Index, MSCI World ex U.S. Index, MSCI World ex-U.S. Small Cap Index and Harris Associates’ approved lists of stocks, depending on whether the portfolio manager manages accounts in the particular strategy to which these benchmarks would be applicable. Performance is measured over shorter and longer-term periods, including one year, three years, five years, ten years, since an account’s inception or since the portfolio manager has been managing the account, as applicable. Performance is measured on a pre-tax and after-tax basis to the extent such information is available.
If a portfolio manager also serves as a research analyst, then his compensation is also based on the contribution made to Harris Associates in that role. Mr. Herro and Mr. Manelli also serve as research analysts. The specific quantitative and qualitative factors considered in evaluating a research analyst’s contributions include, among other things, new investment ideas, the performance of investment ideas covered by the analyst during the current year as well as over longer-term periods, the portfolio impact of the analyst’s investment ideas, other contributions to the research process, and an assessment of the quality of analytical work. In addition, an individual’s other contributions to Harris Associates, such as a role in investment thought leadership and management, are taken into account in the overall compensation process.
Ownership of Fund Shares. As of October 31, 2016, Mr. Herro did not beneficially own any of the Fund’s shares. As of December 31, 2016, Mr. Manelli did not beneficially own any of the Fund’s shares.
Mellon Capital sub-advises the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund and the Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund (the “Funds”).
Other Accounts. In addition to the Funds, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below, as of October 31, 2016. There are no accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account.
Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
(separate accounts)
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
Karen Q. Wong, CFA 119 $90,285M 99 $78,940M 99 $87,506M
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Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
(separate accounts)
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
Richard A. Brown, CFA 119 $90,285M 99 $78,940M 99 $87,506M
Thomas J. Durante, CFA 119 $90,285M 99 $78,940M 99 $87,506M
Conflicts of Interest - Mellon Capital (Firm) manages numerous accounts with a variety of interests. This necessarily creates potential conflicts of interest for us. For example, we or an affiliate may cause multiple accounts to invest in the same investment. Such accounts may have conflicting interests and objectives in connection with such investment, including differing views on the operations or activities of the portfolio company, the targeted returns for the transaction, and the timeframe for and method of exiting the investment. Conflicts may also arise in cases where multiple Firm and/or affiliate client accounts are invested in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure. For example, one of our client accounts could acquire debt obligations of a company while an affiliate’s client account acquires an equity investment. In negotiating the terms and conditions of any such investments, we may find that the interests of the debt-holding client accounts and the equity-holding client accounts may conflict. If that issuer encounters financial problems, decisions over the terms of the workout could raise conflicts of interest (including, for example, conflicts over proposed waivers and amendments to debt covenants). For example, debt holding accounts may be better served by a liquidation of an issuer in which it could be paid in full, while equity holding accounts might prefer a reorganization of the issuer that would have the potential to retain value for the equity holders. As another example, holders of an issuer’s senior securities may be able to act to direct cash flows away from junior security holders, and both the junior and senior security holders may be Firm client accounts. Any of the foregoing conflicts of interest will be discussed and resolved on a case-by-case basis. Any such discussions will factor in the interests of the relevant parties and applicable laws.
We have a fiduciary duty to manage all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. To accomplish this, the Firm has adopted various policies and procedures including, but not limited to, policies relating to trading operations, best execution, trade order aggregation and allocation, short sales, cross-trading, code of conduct, personal securities trading, and purchases of securities from affiliated underwriters. These procedures are intended to help employees identify and mitigate potential side-by-side conflicts of interest such as those described above. We have also developed a conflicts matrix listing potential side-by-side conflicts, the compliance policies and procedures reasonably designed to mitigate such potential conflicts of interest, and the corresponding compliance testing program established with the goal of confirming the Firm’s adherence to such policies and procedures.
The primary objectives of the Mellon Capital compensation plans are to:
•Motivate and reward superior investment and business performance
•Motivate and reward continued growth and profitability
•Attract and retain high-performing individuals critical to the on-going success of Mellon Capital
•Create an ownership mentality for all plan participants
Cash compensation is comprised primarily of a market-based base salary and variable incentives (cash and deferred). Base salary is determined by the employees' experience and performance in the role, taking into account ongoing compensation benchmark analyses. Base salary is generally a fixed amount that may change as a result of an annual review, upon assumption of new duties, or when a market adjustment of the position occurs. Funding for the Mellon Capital Annual and Long Term Incentive Plan is through a pre-determined fixed percentage of overall Mellon Capital profitability. Therefore, all bonus awards are based initially on Mellon Capital's financial performance. The performance period under which annual incentive opportunities are earned covers the January 1 through December 31st calendar year. The compensation for each individual is evaluated on a total compensation basis, in which combined salaries and incentives are reviewed against competitive market data (benchmarks) for each position annually. Awards are 100% discretionary. Factors considered in awards include individual performance, team performance, investment performance of the associated portfolio(s) (including both short and long term returns) and qualitative behavioral factors. Other factors considered in determining the award are the asset size and revenue growth/retention of the products managed (if applicable). Awards are paid partially in cash with the balance deferred through the Long Term Incentive Plan.
Participants in the Long Term Incentive Plan have a high level of accountability and a large impact on the success of the business due to the position's scope and overall responsibility. This plan provides for an annual award, payable in cash after a three-year cliff vesting period as well as a grant of BNY Mellon Restricted Stock for senior level roles.
Mellon Capital's Portfolio Managers responsible for managing mutual funds are paid by Mellon Capital and not by the mutual funds. The same methodology described above is used to determine Portfolio Manager compensation with respect to the management of mutual funds and other accounts. Mutual fund Portfolio Managers are also eligible for the standard retirement
39

 

benefits and health and welfare benefits available to all Mellon Capital employees. Certain Portfolio Managers may be eligible for additional retirement benefits under several supplemental retirement plans that Mellon Capital provides to restore dollar-for-dollar the benefits of management employees that had been cut back solely as a result of certain limits due to the tax laws. These plans are structured to provide the same retirement benefits as the standard retirement benefits. In addition, mutual fund Portfolio Managers whose compensation exceeds certain limits may elect to defer a portion of their salary and/or bonus under The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees.
Ownership of Fund Shares. As of October 31, 2016, the portfolio managers did not beneficially own any of the Funds’ shares.
Mondrian sub-advises the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund (the “Fund”).
Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, the portfolio manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below, as of October 31, 2016. There are no accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account as of that date.
Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
(separate accounts)
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
Ormala Krishnan 2 $752M 3 $3,258M 23 $3,862M
Frances Cuthbert 0 $0 1 $2,146M 5 $1,074M
Aidan Nicholson 0 $0 0 $0 10 $1,699M
Conflicts of Interest. Mondrian does not foresee any material conflicts of interest that may arise in the management of the Fund and any other accounts managed with similar investment guidelines. Mondrian acts solely as an investment manager and does not engage in any other business activities. The following is a list of some potential conflicts of interest that can arise in the course of normal investment management business activities. Mondrian maintains and operates various policies and procedures which are designed to prevent or manage any of the conflicts identified below so that the interests of its clients are put ahead of Mondrian’s own interests or those of its employees and directors:
Access to non-public information
Allocation of aggregated trades
Allocation of investment opportunities
Allocation of new issue opportunities
Broker/dealer selection and allocation
“Cherry picking” (inappropriate attempts to improve the appearance of portfolio performance)
Client order priority – trading across mandates
Client order priority – directed and restricted brokers
Dealing in investments as agent for more than one party
Dealing in investments as principal in connection with the provision of seed capital for Mondrian sponsored Limited Partnerships and other Mondrian Funds
Directorships and external business arrangements
Dual agency (cross trades)
Employee remuneration
Employee personal account dealing
Employee personal charitable giving
Employee personal political giving
Error resolution
Gifts and entertainment
Investment in shares issued by companies who are clients of Mondrian
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Management of investment capacity
Marketing materials
Most favored nation fee arrangements
Performance fees
Personal conflicts of interest
Placement agents and pay to play
Portfolio holdings disclosure
Portfolio pumping (price manipulation to improve portfolio performance)
Pricing and valuation
Product allocation
Proxy voting
Relationships with consultants
“Step out trades” (where a broker shares commission with a third-party)
Transactions with affiliated brokers (Mondrian does not have any affiliated brokers)
“Window dressing” (inappropriate attempts to improve the appearance of portfolio performance)
Monitoring of Compliance with Conflicts of Interest Procedures.
Mondrian’s Compliance Monitoring Program incorporates periodic reviews of areas where the above listed conflicts of interest might arise. Compliance with Mondrian’s policies and procedures is monitored using exception reporting, as well as regular review, testing, and evaluation of the appropriateness of the procedures.
Any apparent violations of the above procedures will be investigated and reported to the Chief Compliance Officer, who will determine any action necessary.
Any material findings would be reported to senior management and the Mondrian Compliance & Risk Committee (a sub-committee of the Company’s Board) and, where required, any relevant Regulator.
Compensation. Mondrian’s compensation program is designed to enable it to retain and motivate a team of high quality employees with both attractive shorter term remuneration and long-term equity incentives that are appropriately competitive, well-structured and which help align the aspirations of individuals with those of clients and the company. Compensation is not based on the performance of specific funds or accounts managed. Mondrian’s compensation program includes:
Competitive Salary All investment professionals are remunerated with a competitive base salary.
Profit Sharing Bonus Pool All Mondrian staff, including portfolio managers and senior officers, qualify for participation in an annual profit sharing pool determined by the company's profitability (approximately 30% of profits).
Equity Ownership Mondrian is employee owned. A high proportion of senior Mondrian staff (investment professionals and other support functions) are shareholders in the business. Equity value is built up over many years with long vesting periods and the value of any individual’s equity is normally paid out in instalments over a number of years post an agreed retirement from the firm. This is a (very) long term incentive plan directly tied to the long term equity value of the firm.
Incentives (Bonus and Equity Programs) therefore focus on the key areas of a) research quality, b) long-term and short-term investment performance of securities that are brought or sold in the groups of portfolios for which the investment professional has research responsibility, c) teamwork, d) client service and e) marketing. As an individual’s ability to influence these factors depends on that individual’s position and seniority within the firm, so the allocation to these factors and of participation in these programs will reflect this.
At Mondrian, the investment management of particular portfolios is not “star manager” based but uses a team system. This means that Mondrian’s investment professionals are primarily assessed on their contribution to the team’s effort and results, though with an important element of their assessment being focused on the quality of their individual research contribution.
Remuneration Committee: In determining the amount of bonus and equity awarded, Mondrian’s Board of Directors consults with the company’s Remuneration Committee, who will make recommendations based on a number of factors including investment research, investment performance contribution, organization management, team work, client servicing and marketing.
Ownership of Fund Shares. As of October 31, 2016, the portfolio managers did not beneficially own any of the Fund’s shares.
Voya sub-advises the Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund (the “Fund”).
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Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are also responsible for the day-to-day management of other accounts, as indicated in the following table. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2016. There are no accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account.
Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
James Hasso 4 $2,250,173,142 6 $666,483,532 13 $1,509,175,146
Joseph Basset, CFA 4 $2,250,173,142 6 $666,483,532 13 $1,509,175,146
Material Conflicts of Interest .
Voya employees have an obligation of loyalty toward their employer; under no circumstances are they to use their professional position directly or indirectly for personal purposes by taking unfair advantage or by profiting in any other way from their professional position. Employees are to avoid any personal conflict of interest with Voya, its affiliates, vendors with whom the firm does business, or clients. Accordingly, employees are expected to conduct their activities in line with the following standards:
■ Client interests come first.
■ Conflicts of interest should be avoided.
■ Compromising situations should be avoided.
Voya’s compliance program is designed to address, monitor and identify issues consistent with its fiduciary duties. The program is multifaceted and consists of policies and procedures that govern numerous activities, including but not limited to personal trading, securing material non-public information, marketing and other firm disclosures, client trading practices (including policies that specifically address best execution, trade aggregation and allocation, and soft dollars), proxy voting and managing conflicts of interest. Each of the firm’s compliance policies and procedures are designed to meet regulatory standards and industry best practices.
Compensation Conflicts
In addition to the investments shown in the tables above, certain portfolio managers may be required to defer a portion of their compensation into an account that tracks the performance of investment options, including certain Voya mutual funds, chosen by the portfolio managers as part of their participation in Voya’s deferred compensation plan and other targeted compensation programs. This deferral will not cause any purchase or sale of Fund shares, but the NAV of the Fund shares will be used as a measurement mechanism for determining the cash amount to be paid under any vesting provisions when the portfolio manager realizes his/her compensation.
The information below shows how much a portfolio manager has allocated to an investment option that tracks the performance of the Fund he/she manages. The portfolio managers may have allocated a portion of their deferral to another investment option which tracks the performance of a fund that they do not manage. Only the amount that a portfolio manager has allocated to an investment option that tracks the performance of Funds that he/she manages is shown below as of October 31, 2016:
Voya SmallCap Opportunities Fund
Portfolio Manager   Dollar Range of Fund Shares Allocated Under Deferred Compensation
James Hasso   $100,000-$200,000
Joseph Basset, CFA   $50,000-$100,000
Compensation.
Key investment professionals, such as portfolio managers and traders are paid competitive base salaries, are eligible for discretionary bonuses, and generally participate in the firm's long-term compensation program.
Bonus Program
The overall design of the annual incentive plan for investment professionals was developed to tie pay to both portfolio performance and profitability and is structured to drive performance and promote retention of top talent. Individual bonus target awards are determined and set based on external market data and internal comparators.
Investment performance is measured on both relative and absolute performance in all areas, and performance goals are set to appropriately reflect requirements for the investment team. The results for overall Voya include a review of firm profitability, team
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performance and the Investment professionals' individual performance, all of which influence the outcome of the discretionary bonus award recommendation process. The measures for each team are reviewed on an annual basis by the firm’s Executive Management, and includes the measure of investment performance versus benchmark and peer groups over one-, three- and five-year periods, and contributions to the firm’s revenue growth, and profitability.
The annual incentive bonus may be subject to a deferral mechanism into a long-term compensation plan, as determined by the plan in effect at the time of payment.
Long-Term Compensation
Voya's long-term incentive plan is designed to provide ownership-like incentives to reward continued employment and to link long-term compensation to the financial performance of the business. Based on job function, internal comparators and external market data, employees may be granted long-term awards; all senior investment professionals participate in the long-term compensation plan. Participants are eligible to receive annual awards determined by the Management Committee based largely on investment performance and their contribution to firm performance. Plan awards are based on the current year’s performance as defined by the Voya component of the annual incentive plan. Awards may include a combination of performance share units, restricted stock units, and/or a notional investment in a predefined set of Voya mutual funds. Awards are subject to a time based vesting schedule.
Plan rules of the award are provided to participants, defining the vest date and the terms in which shares will be delivered to the brokerage account of the participant and/or disbursed as a cash payment based upon the fair market value on vest date.
Ownership of Fund Shares. As of October 31, 2016, the portfolio managers did not beneficially own any of the Fund’s shares.
Wellington Management sub-advises the Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund (the “Fund”).
Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, each portfolio manager (collectively referred to as the “Portfolio Managers”) is responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below. Mr. McCormack is manager to one account that is subject to a performance-based fee and Mr. Pederson manages two accounts that are subject to a performance-based fee. The information in the following tables is provided as of October 31, 2016.
Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
(separate accounts)
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
Timothy J. McCormack 8 $2,034,026,177 6 $1,466,313,124 24 $1,426,200,005
Shaun F. Pederson 8 $2,034,026,177 13 $1,728,174,871 30 $2,273,313,648
Accounts where compensation is based on account performance.
Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
Other Accounts
(separate accounts)
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
Timothy J. McCormack 0 $0 1 $210,164,055 0 $0
Shaun F. Pederson 0 $0 2 $248,773,545 0 $0
Material Conflicts of Interest. Individual investment professionals at Wellington Management manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. These accounts may include mutual funds, separate accounts (assets managed on behalf of institutions, such as pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, or separately managed account programs sponsored by financial intermediaries), bank common trust accounts, and hedge funds. The Fund’s managers listed in the prospectus who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund (Investment Professionals) generally manage accounts in several different investment styles. These accounts may have investment objectives, strategies, time horizons, tax considerations and risk profiles that differ from those of the Fund. The Investment Professionals make investment decisions for each account, including the Fund, based on the investment objectives, policies, practices, benchmarks, cash flows, tax and other relevant investment considerations applicable to that account. Consequently, the Investment Professionals may purchase or sell securities, including IPOs, for one account and not another account, and the performance of securities purchased for one account may vary from the performance of securities
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purchased for other accounts. Alternatively, these accounts may be managed in a similar fashion to the Fund and thus the accounts may have similar, and in some cases nearly identical, objectives, strategies and/or holdings to that of the Fund.
An Investment Professional or other investment professionals at Wellington Management may place transactions on behalf of other accounts that are directly or indirectly contrary to investment decisions made on behalf of the Fund, or make investment decisions that are similar to those made for the Fund, both of which have the potential to adversely impact the Fund, depending on market conditions. For example, an investment professional may purchase a security in one account while appropriately selling that same security in another account. Similarly, an Investment Professional may purchase the same security for the Fund and one or more other accounts at or about the same time. In those instances the other accounts will have access to their respective holdings prior to the public disclosure of the Fund’s holdings. In addition, some of these accounts have fee structures, including performance fees, which are or have the potential to be higher, in some cases significantly higher, than the fees Wellington Management receives for managing the Fund. Messrs. McCormack and Pedersen also manage accounts which pay performance allocations to Wellington Management or its affiliates. Because incentive payments paid by Wellington Management to the Investment Professionals are tied to revenues earned by Wellington Management, and, where noted, to the performance achieved by the manager in each account, the incentives associated with any given account may be significantly higher or lower than those associated with other accounts managed by a given Investment Professional. Finally, the Investment Professionals may hold shares or investments in the other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts identified above. Wellington Management’s goal is to meet its fiduciary obligation to treat all clients fairly and provide high quality investment services to all of its clients. Wellington Management has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, which it believes address the conflicts associated with managing multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition, Wellington Management monitors a variety of areas, including compliance with primary account guidelines, the allocation of IPOs, and compliance with the firm’s Code of Ethics, and places additional investment restrictions on investment professionals who manage hedge funds and certain other accounts. Furthermore, senior investment and business personnel at Wellington Management periodically review the performance of Wellington Management’s investment professionals. Although Wellington Management does not track the time an investment professional spends on a single account, Wellington Management does periodically assess whether an investment professional has adequate time and resources to effectively manage the investment professional’s various client mandates.
Compensation. Wellington Management receives a fee based on the assets under management of the Fund as set forth in the Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Wellington Management and CSIM on behalf of the Fund. Wellington Management pays its investment professionals out of its total revenues, including the advisory fees earned with respect to the Fund. The following information is as of October 31, 2016.
Wellington Management’s compensation structure is designed to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals necessary to deliver high quality investment management services to its clients. Wellington Management’s compensation of the Fund’s managers listed in the prospectus who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund (Investment Professionals) includes a base salary and incentive components. The base salary for each Investment Professional who is a partner (a “Partner”) of Wellington Management Group LLP, the ultimate holding company of Wellington Management, is generally a fixed amount that is determined by the managing partners of Wellington Management Group LLP. Each Investment Professional is eligible to receive an incentive payment based on the revenues earned by Wellington Management from the Fund managed by the Investment Professional and generally each other account managed by such Investment Professional. Each Investment Professional’s incentive payment relating to the Fund is linked to the gross pre-tax performance of the portion of the Fund managed by the Investment Professional compared to the benchmark index and/or peer group identified below over one and three year periods, with an emphasis on three year results. In 2012, Wellington Management began placing increased emphasis on long-term performance and is phasing in a five-year performance comparison period, which will be fully implemented by December 31, 2016. Wellington Management applies similar incentive compensation structures (although the benchmarks or peer groups, time periods and rates may differ) to other accounts managed by these Investment Professionals, including accounts with performance fees.
Portfolio-based incentives across all accounts managed by an investment professional can, and typically do, represent a significant portion of an investment professional’s overall compensation; incentive compensation varies significantly by individual and can vary significantly from year to year. The Investment Professionals may also be eligible for bonus payments based on their overall contribution to Wellington Management’s business operations. Senior management at Wellington Management may reward individuals as it deems appropriate based on factors other than account performance. Each Partner is eligible to participate in a Partner-funded tax qualified retirement plan, the contributions to which are made pursuant to an actuarial formula. Messrs. McCormack and Pedersen are Partners.
Fund   Benchmark Index and/or Peer Group for Incentive Period
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund   Russell 2000 Value
Ownership of Fund Shares. As of October 31, 2016, the portfolio managers did not beneficially own any shares of the fund.
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William Blair sub-advises the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund (the “Fund”).
Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers are also responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as listed below, as of October 31, 2016. There are no accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account as of that date.
Name Registered Investment
Companies
Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
All Other Accounts
Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets Number of
Accounts
Total Assets
Jeffrey A. Urbina 10 $8,904,865,396 24 $7,010,962,169 62 $12,607,754,669
Simon Fennell 11 $8,175,544,245 15 $2,859,948,865 42 $7,807,834,709
Stephanie G. Braming 5 $6,763,253,850 7 $2,232,015,400 43 $8,313,984,502
Material Conflicts of Interest. Since each portfolio manager manages other accounts in addition to the Fund, conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the portfolio manager’s management of the Fund’s investments on the one hand and the investments of such other accounts on the other hand. However, William Blair has adopted policies and procedures designed to address such conflicts, including, among others, policies and procedures relating to allocation of investment opportunities, soft dollars and aggregation of trades.
Compensation. The compensation of the portfolio managers is based on the William Blair’s mission: “to achieve success for its clients.” The portfolio managers are partners of William Blair, and as of October 31, 2016, their compensation consisted of a fixed base salary, a share of the firm’s profits and, in some instances, a discretionary bonus. The discretionary bonus as well as any potential changes to the partners’ ownership stakes is determined by the head of the firm’s Investment Management Department, subject to the approval of the firm’s Executive Committee and is based entirely on a qualitative assessment rather than a formula. The discretionary bonus rewards the specific accomplishments in the prior year, including short-term and long-term investment performance, quality of research ideas, and other contributions to the firm and its clients. Changes in ownership stakes are based on an individual’s sustained, multi-year contribution to long-term investment performance, and to the firm’s revenue, profitability, intellectual capital and brand reputation. The compensation process is a subjective one that takes into account the factors described above. Portfolio managers do not receive any direct compensation based upon the performance of any individual client account and no indices are used to measure performance. In addition, there is no particular weighting or formula for evaluating the factors.
Ownership of Fund Shares. As of October 31, 2016, the portfolio managers did not beneficially own any shares of the Fund.
Brokerage Allocation And Other Practices
Portfolio Turnover
For reporting purposes, each fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated by dividing the value of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year, whichever is less, by the monthly average value of portfolio securities the fund owned during the fiscal year. When making the calculation, all securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less (short term securities) are excluded.
A 100% portfolio turnover rate would occur, for example, if all portfolio securities (aside from short term securities) were sold and either repurchased or replaced once during the fiscal year.
Typically, funds with high turnover (such as 100% or more) tend to generate higher capital gains and transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions.
Variations in turnover rate may be due to a fluctuating volume of shareholder purchase and redemption orders, market conditions, and/or changes in the investment adviser’s investment outlook.
Following are the portfolio turnover rates for the past two fiscal years ended October 31 for each of the funds.
Fund 2016 2015
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund™ 85% 51%
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund™ 69% 72%
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Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
The Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has approved policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the funds’ portfolio securities is in the best interests of fund shareholders, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of the funds’ shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the funds’ investment adviser, principal underwriter or any affiliated person of a fund, its investment adviser or its principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the President of the Trust to authorize the release of the funds’ portfolio holdings prior to regular public disclosure (as outlined in the prospectus) or regular public filings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles.
The Board exercises on-going oversight of the disclosure of fund portfolio holdings by overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the funds’ policies and procedures by the Chief Compliance Officer and by considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning any material compliance matters. The Board will receive periodic updates, at least annually, regarding entities which were authorized to be provided “early disclosure” of the funds’ portfolio holdings information and will periodically review any agreements that the Trust has entered into to selectively disclose portfolio holdings.
A complete list of a fund’s portfolio holdings is published on the funds’ website at www.csimfunds.com/laudusfunds_prospectus, under “Portfolio Holdings”, as discussed in the fund’s prospectus, generally 15-20 days from the calendar quarter end for bond and equity funds. In addition, a list of the funds’ portfolio holdings as included in its semi-annual report filings is published on the website at www.csimfunds.com/laudusfunds_prospectus, under “Prospectuses & Reports”, typically 60-80 days after the end of a fund’s fiscal quarter. On the website, the funds also provide on a monthly or quarterly basis information regarding certain attributes of a fund’s portfolio, such as a fund’s top ten holdings, sector weightings, composition, credit quality and duration and maturity, as applicable. This information is generally updated within 5-25 days after the end of the period. This information on the website is publicly available to all categories of persons.
Each fund may disclose portfolio holdings information to certain persons and entities prior to and more frequently than the public disclosure of such information (early disclosure). The President of the Trust may authorize early disclosure of portfolio holdings information to such parties at differing times and/or with different lag times provided that (a) the President of the Trust determines that the disclosure is in the best interests of the funds and that there are no conflicts of interest between the funds’ shareholders and funds’ adviser and distributor; and (b) the recipient is, either by contractual agreement or otherwise by law, required to maintain the confidentiality of the information.
Portfolio holdings may be made available on a selective basis to ratings agencies, certain industry organizations, consultants and other qualified financial professionals when the President of the Trust determines such disclosure meets the requirements noted above and serves a legitimate business purpose. Agreements entered into with such entities will describe the permitted use of portfolio holdings and provide that, among other customary confidentiality provisions: (i) the portfolio holdings will be kept confidential; (ii) the person will not trade on the basis of any material non-public information; and (iii) the information will be used only for the purpose described in the agreement.
The funds’ service providers including, without limitation, the investment adviser, the investment sub-advisers, the distributor, the custodian, fund accountant, transfer agent, counsel, auditor, proxy voting service provider, pricing information vendors, trade execution measurement vendors, portfolio management system providers, securities lending agents, publisher, printer and mailing agent may receive disclosure of portfolio holdings information as frequently as daily in connection with the services they perform for the funds. The names of those service providers to whom the funds selectively disclose portfolio holdings information will be disclosed in this SAI. CSIM, Glass Lewis, State Street and/or Brown Brothers Harriman, as service providers to the funds, are currently receiving this information on a daily basis. Donnelley Financial Services, as a service provider to the funds, is currently receiving this information on a quarterly basis. PwC, BFDS and Schwab, as service providers to the funds, receive this information on an as-needed basis. Service providers are subject to a duty of confidentiality with respect to any portfolio holdings information they receive whether imposed by the confidentiality provisions of the service providers’ agreements with the Trust or by the nature of its relationship with the Trust. Although certain of the service providers are not under formal confidentiality obligations in connection with disclosure of portfolio holdings, a fund will not continue to conduct business with a service provider who the fund believes is misusing the disclosed information.
To the extent that a fund invests in an ETF, the Trust will, in accordance with exemptive orders issued by the SEC to ETF sponsors and the procedures adopted by the Board, promptly notify the ETF in writing of any purchase or acquisition of shares of the ETF that causes the fund to hold (i) 5% or more of such ETF’s total outstanding voting securities, and (ii) 10% or more of such ETF’s total outstanding voting securities. In addition, CSIM will, upon causing a fund to acquire more than 3% of an open-end ETF’s outstanding shares, notify the open-end ETF of the investment.
The funds’ policies and procedures prohibit the funds, the funds’ investment adviser or any related party from receiving any compensation or other consideration in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information.
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The funds may disclose non-material information including commentary and aggregate information about the characteristics of a fund in connection with or relating to a fund or its portfolio securities to any person if such disclosure is for a legitimate business purpose, such disclosure does not effectively result in the disclosure of the complete portfolio securities of any fund (which can only be disclosed in accordance with the above requirements), and such information does not constitute material non-public information. Such disclosure does not fall within the portfolio securities disclosure requirements outlined above.
Whether the information constitutes material non-public information will be made on a good faith determination, which involves an assessment of the particular facts and circumstances. In most cases, commentary or analysis would be immaterial and would not convey any advantage to a recipient in making a decision concerning a fund. Commentary and analysis include, but are not limited to, the allocation of a fund’s portfolio securities and other investments among various asset classes, sectors, industries, and countries, the characteristics of the stock components and other investments of a fund, the attribution of fund returns by asset class, sector, industry and country, and the volatility characteristics of a fund.
Portfolio Transactions
The investment adviser and sub-advisers make decisions with respect to the purchase and sale of portfolio securities on behalf of the funds. The investment adviser and sub-advisers are responsible for implementing these decisions, including the negotiation of commissions and the allocation of principal business and portfolio brokerage. Purchases and sales of securities on a stock exchange or certain riskless principal transactions placed on NASDAQ are typically effected through brokers who charge a commission for their services. Purchases and sales of fixed income securities may be transacted with the issuer, the issuer’s underwriter, or a dealer. The funds do not usually pay brokerage commissions on purchases and sales of fixed income securities, although the price of the securities generally includes compensation, in the form of a spread or a mark-up or mark-down, which is not disclosed separately. The prices the funds pay to underwriters of newly-issued securities usually include a commission paid by the issuer to the underwriter. Transactions placed through dealers who are serving as primary market makers reflect the spread between the bid and asked prices. The money market securities in which certain of the funds invest are traded primarily in the OTC market on a net basis and do not normally involve either brokerage commissions or transfer taxes. It is expected that the cost of executing portfolio securities transactions of the funds will primarily consist of dealer spreads and brokerage commissions.
The investment adviser and sub-advisers seek to obtain the best execution for the funds’ portfolio transactions. The investment adviser or the sub-advisers may take a number of factors into account in selecting brokers or dealers to execute these transactions. Such factors may include, without limitation, the following: execution price; brokerage commission or dealer spread; size or type of the transaction; nature or character of the markets; clearance or settlement capability; reputation; financial strength and stability of the broker or dealer; efficiency of execution and error resolution; block trading capabilities; willingness to execute related or unrelated difficult transactions in the future; order of call; ability to facilitate short selling; provision of additional brokerage or research services or products; whether a broker guarantees that a fund will receive, on aggregate, prices at least as favorable as the closing prices on a given day when adherence to “market-on-close” pricing aligns with fund objectives; or whether a broker guarantees that a fund will receive the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) for a security for a given trading day (or portion thereof) when the investment adviser or the sub-advisers believe that VWAP execution is in a fund’s best interest. In addition, the investment adviser and the sub-advisers have incentive sharing arrangements with certain unaffiliated brokers who guarantee market-on-close pricing: on a day when such a broker executes transactions at prices better, on aggregate, than market-on-close prices, that broker may receive, in addition to his or her standard commission, a portion of the net difference between the actual execution prices and corresponding market-on-close prices for that day.
The investment adviser and sub-advisers may cause a fund to pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers or dealers in return for brokerage or research services or products if the investment adviser or a sub-adviser believes that such commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided. In addition to agency transactions, the investment adviser and sub-adviser may receive brokerage and research services or products in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC and other regulatory guidelines. In both instances, these services or products may include: company financial data and economic data (e.g., unemployment, inflation rates and GDP figures), stock quotes, last sale prices and trading volumes, research reports analyzing the performance of a particular company or stock, narrowly distributed trade magazines or technical journals covering specific industries, products, or issuers, seminars or conferences registration fees which provide substantive content relating to eligible research, quantitative analytical software and software that provides analyses of securities portfolios, trading strategies and pre/post trade analytics, discussions with research analysts or meetings with corporate executives which provide a means of obtaining oral advice on securities, markets or particular issuers, short-term custody related to effecting particular transactions and clearance and settlement of those trades, lines between the broker-dealer and order management systems operated by a third party vendor, dedicated lines between the broker-dealer and the investment adviser’s order management system, dedicated lines providing direct dial-up service between the investment adviser and the trading desk at the broker-dealer, message services used to transmit orders to broker-dealers for execution, electronic communication of allocation instructions between institutions and broker-dealers, comparison services required by the SEC or another regulator (e.g., use of electronic confirmation and affirmation of institutional trades), exchange of messages among broker-dealers, custodians, and institutions related to a trade, post-trade matching of trade information, routing settlement instructions to custodian banks and
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broker-dealers’ clearing agents, software that provides algorithmic trading strategies, and trading software operated by a broker-dealer to route orders to market centers or direct market access systems. The investment adviser or the sub-advisers may use research services furnished by brokers or dealers in servicing all client accounts, and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions or spreads to the broker or dealer providing such services.
The investment adviser or sub-adviser may receive a service from a broker or dealer that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the investment adviser or sub-adviser will make a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions or spreads, while the investment adviser or a sub-adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the investment adviser or a sub-adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the investment adviser and sub-advisers believe that the costs of such services may be appropriately allocated to their anticipated research and non-research uses.
The investment adviser and sub-advisers may purchase for the funds, new issues of securities in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the investment adviser or sub-advisers with research services, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations permitting these types of arrangements. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act.
The investment adviser and sub-advisers may place orders directly with electronic communications networks or other alternative trading systems. Placing orders with electronic communications networks or other alternative trading systems may enable funds to trade directly with other institutional holders. At times, this may allow funds to trade larger blocks than would be possible trading through a single market maker.
The investment adviser and sub-advisers may aggregate securities sales or purchases among two or more funds. The investment adviser and sub-advisers will not aggregate transactions unless it believes such aggregation is consistent with its duty to seek best execution for each affected fund and is consistent with the terms of the investment advisory agreement for such fund. In any single transaction in which purchases and/or sales of securities of any issuer for the account of a fund are aggregated with other accounts managed by the investment adviser and sub-advisers, the actual prices applicable to the transaction will be averaged among the accounts for which the transaction is effected, including the account of the fund.
In determining when and to what extent to use Schwab or any other affiliated broker-dealer (including affiliates of the sub-advisers) as its broker for executing orders for the funds on securities exchanges, the investment adviser and the sub-advisers follow procedures, adopted by the funds’ Board of Trustees, that are designed to ensure that affiliated brokerage commissions (if relevant) are reasonable and fair in comparison to unaffiliated brokerage commissions for comparable transactions. The Board reviews the procedures annually and approves and reviews transactions involving affiliated brokers quarterly.
PROXY VOTING
The Board of Trustees of the trust has delegated the responsibility for voting proxies to CSIM. The trustees have adopted CSIM’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures with respect to proxies voted on behalf of the various Schwab Funds portfolios. A description of CSIM’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures is included in Appendix Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures.
The Trust is required to disclose annually a fund’s complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX. Each fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12 month period ended June 30 is available by visiting the funds’ website at www.csimfunds.com/laudusfunds_prospectus. Each fund’s Form N-PX will also be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Brokerage Commissions
For each of the last three fiscal years ended October 31, the funds paid the following brokerage commissions. Variances in brokerage commissions paid by a fund from year to year are due to increases and decreases in portfolio turnover in response to asset flows.
Fund 2016 2015 2014
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund™ $224,765 $223,517 $286,365
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund™ $2,324,077 $3,247,802 $3,231,393
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Regular Broker-Dealers
A fund’s regular broker-dealers during its most recent fiscal year are: (1) the ten broker-dealers that received the greatest dollar amount of brokerage commissions from the fund; (2) the ten broker-dealers that engaged as principal in the largest dollar amount of portfolio transactions; and (3) the ten broker-dealers that sold the largest dollar amount of the fund’s shares. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, certain of the funds held securities issued by their respective regular broker-dealers, as indicated below (as of October 31, 2016).
Fund Regular Broker-Dealer Value of
Holdings
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund™ Stifel, Nicolaus, & Co., Inc. $50,491
Investment Technology Group, Inc. $19,291
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund™ Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC $17,673,364
UBS Securities LLC $256,556
Mizuho Securities USA, Inc. $198,851
SG Americas Securities, LLC $148,813
Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. $98,252
Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc. $59,167
Description Of The TRUST
Each fund is a series of Schwab Capital Trust, an open-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on May 7, 1993.
The funds may hold special shareholder meetings, which may cause the funds to incur non-routine expenses. These meetings may be called for purposes such as electing trustees, changing fundamental policies and amending management contracts. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share owned and may vote by proxy or in person. Proxy materials will be mailed to shareholders prior to any meetings, and will include a voting card and information explaining the matters to be voted upon.
The bylaws of the Trust provide that a majority of shares entitled to vote shall be a quorum for the transaction of business at a shareholders’ meeting, except that where any provision of law, or of the Declaration of Trust or of the bylaws permits or requires that (1) holders of any series shall vote as a series, then a majority of the aggregate number of shares of that series entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that series, or (2) holders of any class shall vote as a class, then a majority of the aggregate number of shares of that class entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by that class. Any lesser number shall be sufficient for adjournments. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held, within a reasonable time after the date set for the original meeting, without the necessity of further notice. The Declaration of Trust specifically authorizes the Board of Trustees to terminate the Trust (or any of its funds) by notice to the shareholders without shareholder approval.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of a Massachusetts business trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the Trust’s obligations. The Declaration of Trust, however, disclaims shareholder liability for the Trust’s acts or obligations 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. In addition, the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the property of an investment portfolio in which a shareholder owns or owned shares for all losses and expenses of such shareholder or former shareholder if he or she is held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust solely by reason of being or having been a shareholder. Moreover, the Trust will be covered by insurance, which the trustees consider adequate to cover foreseeable tort claims. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is considered remote, because it is limited to circumstances in which a disclaimer is inoperative and the Trust itself is unable to meet its obligations. There is a remote possibility that a fund could become liable for a misstatement in the prospectus or SAI about another fund.
As more fully described in the Declaration of Trust, the trustees may each year, or more frequently, distribute to the shareholders of each series accrued income less accrued expenses and any net realized capital gains less accrued expenses. Distributions of each year’s income of each series shall be distributed pro rata to shareholders in proportion to the number of shares of each series held by each of them. Distributions will be paid in cash or shares or a combination thereof as determined by the trustees. Distributions paid in shares will be paid at the net asset value as determined in accordance with the bylaws.
Any series of the Trust may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of
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reorganization authorized and approved by the trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. In addition, such reorganization or merger may be authorized by vote of a majority of the trustees then in office and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, without the approval of shareholders of any series.
PURCHASE, REDEMPTION, DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS AND PRICING OF
SHARES
Purchasing and Redeeming Shares of the Funds
The funds are open each day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open. The NYSE’s trading session is normally conducted from 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday; although some days, such as in advance of, and following, holidays, the NYSE’s trading session closes early. The NYSE typically observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Although it is expected that the same holidays will be observed in the future, the NYSE may modify its holiday schedule or hours of operation at any time. Orders that are received in good order by the funds’ transfer agent no later than the time specified by the Trust will be executed that day at the funds’ (or class’) share price calculated that day. On any day that the NYSE closes early, the funds reserve the right to advance the time by which purchase, redemption and exchange orders must be received by the funds’ transfer agent that day in order to be executed that day at that day’s share price. If the NYSE is closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the funds reserve the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate their share prices as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day.
The funds have authorized one or more brokers to accept on their behalf purchase and redemption orders. Such brokers have also been authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the funds’ behalf. The funds will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker or, if applicable, a broker’s authorized designee, receives such order. Such orders will be priced at the respective fund’s net asset value per share next determined after such orders are received by an authorized broker or the broker’s authorized designee.
As long as the funds or Schwab follow reasonable procedures to confirm that an investor’s telephone or internet order is genuine, they will not be liable for any losses the investor may experience due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. These procedures may include requiring a form of personal identification or other confirmation before acting upon any telephone or internet order, providing written confirmation of telephone or internet orders and tape recording all telephone orders.
Share certificates will not be issued in order to avoid additional administrative costs, however, share ownership records are maintained by Schwab, other authorized financial intermediaries or, for direct shareholders, by the funds’ transfer agent.
The Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides that shares may be automatically redeemed if held by a shareholder in an amount less than the minimum required by each fund or share class. Each fund’s minimum initial investments and minimum balance requirements, if any, are set forth in the fund’s prospectus. The minimums may be changed without prior notice.
Certain investment managers may aggregate the investments of their underlying customer accounts for purposes of meeting the Select Shares initial minimum investment and minimum balance requirements. In order to aggregate investments for these purposes, investment managers must purchase shares through a financial institution, such as a broker, that has been approved by the fund or its distributor and that has the capability to process purchase and redemption orders and to monitor the balances of the managers’ underlying customer accounts on an aggregated basis.
Each of the funds has made an election with the SEC to pay in cash all redemptions requested by any shareholder of record limited in amount during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of its net assets at the beginning of such period. This election is irrevocable without the SEC’s prior approval. Redemption requests in excess of these limits may be paid, in whole or in part, in investment securities or in cash, as the Board may deem advisable. Payment will be made wholly in cash unless the Board believes that economic or market conditions exist that would make such payment a detriment to the best interests of a fund. If redemption proceeds are paid in investment securities, such securities will be valued as set forth in “Pricing of Shares.” A redeeming shareholder would normally incur transaction costs if he or she were to convert the securities to cash.
Each fund is designed for long-term investing. Because short-term trading activities can disrupt the smooth management of a fund and increase its expenses, each fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to refuse any purchase or exchange order, or large purchase or exchange orders, including any purchase or exchange order which appears to be associated with short-term trading activities or “market timing.” Because market timing decisions to buy and sell securities typically are based on an individual investor’s market outlook, including such factors as the perceived strength of the economy or the anticipated direction of interest rates, it is difficult for a fund to determine in advance what purchase or exchange orders may be deemed to be associated with market timing or short-term trading activities. The funds and Schwab reserve the right to refuse any purchase or exchange order, including large orders that may negatively impact their operations. More information regarding the funds’ policies regarding “market timing” is included in the funds’ prospectuses.
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In certain circumstances, shares of a fund may be purchased “in kind” (i.e., in exchange for securities, rather than for cash). The securities tendered as part of an in-kind purchase must be liquid securities that are not restricted as to transfer and have a value that is readily ascertainable as evidenced by a listing on the American Stock Exchange, the NYSE, or NASDAQ. Securities accepted by a fund will be valued, as set forth in the fund’s prospectus, as of the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. The shares of a fund that are issued to the shareholder in exchange for the securities will be determined as of the same time. All dividend, subscription, or other rights that are reflected in the market price of accepted securities at the time of valuation become the property of a fund and must be delivered to the fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. A fund will not accept securities in exchange for its shares unless such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be held by the fund and satisfy such other conditions as may be imposed by the fund’s investment adviser.
Exchanging Shares of the Funds
Methods to purchase and redeem shares of a fund are set forth in the funds’ prospectus. An exchange order involves the redemption of all or a portion of the shares of one Schwab Fund, including Laudus MarketMasters Funds ® , and the simultaneous purchase of shares of another Schwab Fund, including another Laudus MarketMasters Fund. Exchange orders must meet the minimum investment and any other requirements of the fund or class purchased. Exchange orders may not be executed between shares of Sweep Investments ® and shares of non-Sweep Investments. Shares of Sweep Investments may be bought and sold automatically pursuant to the terms and conditions of your Schwab account agreement or by direct order as long as you meet the minimums for direct investments. In addition, different exchange policies may apply to Schwab Funds ® that are bought and sold through third-party investment providers and the exchange privilege between Schwab Funds may not be available through third-party investment providers.
The funds and Schwab reserve certain rights with regard to exchanging shares of the funds. These rights include the right to: (i) refuse any purchase or exchange order that may negatively impact a fund’s operations; (ii) refuse orders that appear to be associated with short-term trading activities; and (iii) materially modify or terminate the exchange privilege upon 60 days’ written notice to shareholders.
Delivery of Shareholder Documents
Typically once a year, an updated prospectus will be mailed to shareholders describing each fund’s investment strategies, risks and shareholder policies. Twice a year, financial reports will be mailed to shareholders describing each fund’s performance and investment holdings. To eliminate duplicate mailings of shareholder documents, each household may receive one copy of these documents, under certain conditions. This practice is commonly called “householding.” If you want to receive multiple copies, you may write or call your fund at the address or telephone number on the front of this SAI or contact the financial intermediary through which you hold fund shares. Your instructions will be effective within 30 days of receipt by a fund or other date as communicated by the financial intermediary.
Pricing of Shares
Each business day, each fund or share class of a fund calculates its share price, net asset value per share or NAV, as of the close of the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). This means that NAVs are calculated using the values of a fund’s portfolio securities as of the close of the NYSE. Such values are required to be determined in one of two ways: securities for which market quotations are readily available are required to be valued at current market value; and securities for which market quotations are not readily available or the investment adviser deems to be unreliable are required to be valued at fair value using procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. If the NYSE is closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the funds reserve the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate their share prices as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day.
Shareholders of funds that invest in foreign securities should be aware that because foreign markets are often open on weekends and other days when the funds are closed, the value of some of a fund’s securities may change on days when it is not possible to buy or sell shares of the fund. The funds use approved pricing sources to provide values for their portfolio securities. Current market values are generally determined by the approved pricing sources as follows: generally securities traded on exchanges, excluding the NASDAQ National Market System, are valued at the last-quoted sales price on the exchange on which such securities are primarily traded, or, lacking any sales, at the mean between the bid and ask prices; generally securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last reported sales price that day, or, if no sales are reported, at the mean between the bid and ask prices. Generally securities listed on the NASDAQ National Market System are valued in accordance with the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. In addition, securities that are primarily traded on foreign exchanges are generally valued at the official closing price or last sales price on the exchange where the securities are primarily traded with these values then translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. Fixed income securities normally are valued based on valuations provided by approved pricing sources. Securities may be fair valued pursuant to procedures approved by the funds’ Board of Trustees when a security is de-listed or its trading is halted or suspended; when a security’s primary pricing source is unable or unwilling to provide a price; when a security’s primary trading market is closed during regular market hours; when a security’s value is
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materially affected by events occurring after the close of the security’s primary trading market; or a furnished price appears manifestly incorrect. The Board of Trustees regularly reviews fair value determinations made by the funds pursuant to the procedures.
Taxation
Federal Tax Information for the Funds
This discussion of federal income tax consequences is based on Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.
It is each fund’s policy to qualify for taxation as a RIC by meeting the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. By qualifying as a RIC, each fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal income tax to which it is subject. If a fund does not qualify as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code, it will be subject to federal income tax on its net investment income and any net realized capital gains. In addition, the fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.
Each fund is treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes and is not combined with the Trust's other funds. Each fund intends to qualify as a RIC so that it will be relieved of federal income tax on that part of its income that is distributed to shareholders. In order to qualify for treatment as a RIC, a fund must, among other requirements, distribute annually to its shareholders an amount at least equal to the sum of 90% of its investment company taxable income (generally, net investment income plus the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital losses) and 90% of its net tax-exempt income. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of a fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock or securities or currencies and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership; (ii) at the close of each quarter of a fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the value of its total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount that does not exceed 5% of the value of a fund's assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and (iii) at the close of each quarter of a fund’s taxable year, not more than 25% of the value of its assets may be invested in securities (other than U.S. government securities or the securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses if the fund owns at least 20% of the voting power of such issuers, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships.
Certain master limited partnerships may qualify as “qualified publicly traded partnerships” for purposes of the Subchapter M diversification rules described above. To do so, the master limited partnership must satisfy two requirements during the taxable year. First, the interests of such partnership either must be traded on an established securities market or must be readily tradable on a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent thereof). Second, less than 90% of the partnership’s gross income can consist of dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans, or gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock securities or currencies.
The Internal Revenue Code imposes a non-deductible excise tax on RICs that do not distribute in a calendar year (regardless of whether they otherwise have a non-calendar taxable year) an amount equal to 98% of their “ordinary income” (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) for the calendar year plus 98.2% of their net capital gain for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such calendar year, plus any undistributed amounts from prior years. The non-deductible excise tax is equal to 4% of the deficiency. For the foregoing purposes, a fund is treated as having distributed any amount on which it is subject to income tax for any taxable year ending in such calendar year and certain amounts with respect to which estimated taxes are paid in such calendar year. A fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate fund investments to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the investment advisor or sub-adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of a fund to satisfy the requirements for qualification as a RIC.
A fund’s transactions in futures contracts, forward contracts, foreign currency exchange transactions, options and certain other investment and hedging activities may be restricted by the Internal Revenue Code and are subject to special tax rules. In a given case, these rules may accelerate income to a fund, defer its losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of a fund’s assets, convert short term capital losses into long term capital losses or otherwise affect the character of a fund’s income. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The funds will endeavor to make any available elections pertaining to these transactions in a manner believed to be in the best interest of the funds and their shareholders.
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Each fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures contracts as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from futures and options contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. A fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on futures contracts, options contracts and swaps to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the fund. It is anticipated that any net gain realized from the closing out of futures or options contracts will be considered gain from the sale of securities and therefore will be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% requirement described above. Each fund distributes to shareholders at least annually any net capital gains which have been recognized for federal income tax purposes, including unrealized gains at the end of the fund’s fiscal year on futures or options transactions. Such distributions are combined with distributions of capital gains realized on each fund’s other investments and shareholders are advised on the nature of the distributions.
Federal Income Tax Information for Shareholders
The discussion of federal income taxation presented below supplements the discussion in the funds’ prospectus and only summarizes some of the important federal tax considerations generally affecting shareholders of the funds. Accordingly, prospective investors (particularly those not residing or domiciled in the United States) should consult their own tax advisors regarding the consequences of investing in a fund.
Any dividends declared by a fund in October, November or December and paid the following January are treated, for tax purposes, as if they were received by shareholders on December 31 of the year in which they were declared. In general, distributions by a fund of investment company taxable income (including net short-term capital gains), if any, whether received in cash or additional shares, will be taxable to you as ordinary income. A portion of these distributions may be treated as qualified dividend income (eligible for the reduced rates to individuals as described below) to the extent that a fund receives qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that (i) the shareholder has not held the shares of the fund on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares of the fund become ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (and the fund must also satisfy those holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder), (ii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iii) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code. Dividends received by a fund from a REIT or another RIC may be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent the dividend distributions are attributable to qualified dividend income received by such REIT or RIC. It is expected that dividends received by a fund from a REIT and distributed to a shareholder generally will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income.
Distributions from net capital gains (if any) that are reported as capital gain dividends are taxable as long-term capital gains without regard to the length of time the shareholder has held shares of a fund. However, if you receive a capital gain dividend with respect to fund shares held for six months or less, any loss on the sale or exchange of those shares shall, to the extent of the capital gain dividend, be treated as a long-term capital loss. The maximum individual rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” and long-term capital gains is generally either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the taxpayer’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts.
Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, net capital losses incurred by a fund in the taxable years after the effective enactment date, December 22, 2010, will not expire. However, such losses must be utilized prior to the losses incurred in the year preceding enactment. As a result of this ordering rule, pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards may be more likely to expire unused. Post-enactment capital losses arise in fiscal years beginning after the enactment date exclude any elective post-October capital losses deferred during the period from November 1 to the end of a fund’s fiscal year. In addition, post-enactment capital losses that are carried forward will retain their character as either short-term or long-term losses rather than short-term as under previous law.
An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gains distributions received from a fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds a threshold amount.
A fund will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends and capital gains distributions, if any, at the time they are paid and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes, including what portion of the distributions will be qualified dividend income, shortly after the close of each calendar year. For corporate investors in a fund, dividend distributions
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the fund reports as dividends received from qualifying domestic corporations will be eligible for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction to the extent they would qualify if the fund were a regular corporation. Distributions by a fund also may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes, and their treatment under applicable tax laws may differ from the federal income tax treatment.
Each fund will be required in certain cases to withhold at the applicable withholding rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury the withheld amount of taxable dividends and redemption proceeds paid to any shareholder who (1) fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number certified under penalty of perjury; (2) is subject to withholding by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for failure to properly report all payments of interest or dividends; (3) fails to provide a certified statement that he or she is not subject to “backup withholding”; or (4) fails to provide a certified statement that he or she is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s ultimate U.S. tax liability.
Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on taxable distributions derived from net investment income and short term capital gains; provided, however, that U.S. source interest related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends generally are not subject to U.S. withholding taxes if a fund elects to make reports with respect to such dividends. Distributions to foreign shareholders of such short-term capital gain dividends and long term capital gains, and any gains from the sale or other disposition of shares of a fund, generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who either (1) meets the Internal Revenue Code’s definition of “resident alien” or (2) is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders may also be subject to U.S. estate taxes with respect to shares in a fund. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a portion of the income, if any, derived by a fund from investments in REITs that hold residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs) may be classified as “excess inclusion income.” With respect to foreign shareholders, no exemption or reduction in withholding tax will apply to such excess inclusion income.
The funds are required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of dividends and (effective January 1, 2019) redemption proceeds and certain capital gains dividends made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply with extensive reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to the funds to enable the funds to determine whether withholding is required.
Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). Under current law, a fund generally serves to block UBTI from being realized by their tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of its investment in a fund where, for example, (i) the fund invests in REITs that hold residual interests in REMICs or (ii) shares in the fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisors. There are no restrictions preventing a fund from holding investments in REITs that hold residual interests in REMICs, and the fund may do so. The Internal Revenue Service has issued recent guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult with their tax advisors regarding these issues.
Income the funds receive from sources within various foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. If the fund has more than 50% of its assets invested in foreign securities at the end of its taxable year, it may elect to “pass through” to its shareholders the ability to take either the foreign tax credit or the deduction for foreign taxes. Pursuant to this election, U.S. shareholders must include in gross income, even though not actually received, their respective pro rata share of foreign taxes, and may either deduct their pro rata share of foreign taxes (but not for alternative minimum tax purposes) or credit the tax against U.S. income taxes, subject to certain limitations described in Internal Revenue Code sections 901 and 904. A shareholder who does not itemize deductions may not claim a deduction for foreign taxes. It is expected that the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund will have more than 50% of the value of its assets invested in foreign securities at the close of its taxable years, and that it will be permitted to make this election.
The funds may invest in a non-U.S. corporation, which could be treated as a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) or become a PFIC under the Internal Revenue Code. This could result in adverse tax consequences upon the disposition of, or the receipt of “excess distributions” with respect to, such equity investments. To the extent a fund does invest in PFICs, it may be eligible to elect to treat the PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” or mark-to-market its investments in PFICs annually. In either case, the fund may be required to distribute amounts in excess of realized income and gains. To the extent the fund does invest in foreign securities which are determined to be PFIC securities and are required to pay a tax on such investments, a credit for this tax would not be allowed to be passed through to the fund’s shareholders. Therefore, the payment of this tax would reduce the
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fund’s economic return from its PFIC shares, and excess distributions received with respect to such shares are treated as ordinary income rather than capital gains.
Section 988 of the Code contains special tax rules applicable to certain foreign currency transactions and instruments that may affect the amount, timing and character of income, gain or loss recognized by a fund. Under these rules, foreign exchange gain or loss realized by a fund with respect to foreign currencies and certain futures and options thereon, foreign currency-denominated debt instruments, foreign currency forward contracts, and foreign currency-denominated payables and receivables will generally be treated as ordinary income or loss, although in some cases elections may be available that would alter this treatment. Foreign currency losses could result in distributions of ordinary income being reclassified as a return of capital for tax purposes.
Under U.S. 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 Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as a fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the state and local tax rules affecting investments in the funds.
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APPENDIX – PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Fund Name and Address Percentage of Ownership
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund - Investor
Shares
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.
FBO Customers
Attn: SchwabFunds Team N
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-1905
94.13%
     
Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund - Select
Shares
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.
FBO Customers
Attn: SchwabFunds Team N
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-1905
99.08%
     
  Schwab Balanced Fund
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
30.52% 1
     
  Schwab Target 2040 Fund
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
21.38% 1
     
  Schwab Target 2030 Fund
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
14.93% 1
     
  Schwab Target 2035 Fund
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
7.87% 1
     
  Schwab Target 2025 Fund
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
6.14% 1
     
  Schwab Target 2020 Fund
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
5.12% 1
     
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund -
Investor Shares
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.
FBO Customers
Attn: SchwabFunds Team N
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-1905
87.63%
     
  National Financial Services LLC
For Exclusive Benefit of Customers
Attn: Mutual Funds Dept 5 th Floor
200 Liberty Street
One World Financial Center
New York, NY 10281-1003
7.34%
     
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund - Select
Shares
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.
FBO Customers
Attn: SchwabFunds Team N
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-1905
64.37%
     

 

Fund Name and Address Percentage of Ownership
  Band & Co.
c/o US Bank NA
P.O. Box 1787
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1787
16.41%
     
  Schwab Target 2040 Fund
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
10.32% 1
     
  Schwab Target 2030 Fund
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
8.33% 1
  Charles Schwab Bank
Omnibus Account
FBO Same Day Exchange FS12
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
5.43% 1
     
  Schwab Target 2035 Fund
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
4.14% 1
  Schwab Target 2025 Fund
211 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
3.86% 1
1 These shares are held within the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. account listed elsewhere in the table.

 

Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
The Charles Schwab Family of Funds
Schwab Investments
Schwab Capital Trust
Schwab Annuity Portfolios
Laudus Trust
Schwab Strategic Trust

PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
AS OF MARCH, 2016

I. INTRODUCTION
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (“CSIM”), as an investment adviser, is generally responsible for voting proxies with respect to the securities held in accounts of investment companies and other clients for which it provides discretionary investment management services. CSIM’s Proxy Committee exercises and documents CSIM’s responsibility with regard to voting of client proxies (the “Proxy Committee”). The Proxy Committee is composed of representatives of CSIM’s Fund Administration, Portfolio Management, and Legal Departments, and chaired by CSIM’s Chief Investment Officer, Equities or his/her delegate. The Proxy Committee reviews and may amend periodically these policies. The policies stated in these Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures (the “Proxy Policies”) pertain to all of CSIM’s clients.
The Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, and Schwab Annuity Portfolios (“Schwab Funds”), Laudus Trust (“Laudus Funds”) and Schwab Strategic Trust (“Schwab ETFs”; collectively with the Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds, the “Funds”) have delegated the responsibility for voting proxies to CSIM through their respective investment advisory agreements. The Board has adopted these Proxy Policies with respect to proxies voted on behalf of the various series of the Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds, and Schwab ETFs. CSIM will present amendments to the Board for approval. However, there may be circumstances where the Proxy Committee deems it advisable to amend these Proxy Policies between regular Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs Board meetings. In such cases, the Board will be asked to ratify any changes at the next regular meeting of the Board.
To assist CSIM in its responsibility for voting proxies and the overall proxy voting process, CSIM has retained Glass Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) as an expert in the proxy voting and corporate governance area. The services provided by Glass Lewis include in-depth research, global issuer analysis, and voting recommendations as well as vote execution, reporting and record keeping. CSIM may also retain additional experts in the proxy voting and corporate governance area.
The Proxy Committee has the ultimate responsibility for making the determination of how to vote the shares to seek to maximize the value of that particular holding.
II. PHILOSOPHY
CSIM believes that its role as a fiduciary is of utmost importance. In voting proxy ballots, CSIM’s ultimate objective is to maximize the value of our clients’ investments by protecting the long-term best interests of shareholders. CSIM believes that directors, as shareholders’ elected representatives, are best positioned to oversee the management of companies in which CSIM’s clients invest, thereby promoting and protecting its clients’ long-term interests. Therefore, CSIM will generally support a board of directors’ recommendations unless concerns arise, such as the board’s performance, accountability or management of conflicts of interests.
CSIM invests on behalf of its clients in companies domiciled all over the world. Since corporate governance standards and best practices differ by country and jurisdiction, the market context is taken into account in the analysis of proposals. Furthermore, there are instances where CSIM may determine that voting is not in the best interests of its clients (typically due to costs or to trading restrictions) and will refrain from submitting votes.

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III. PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
The Proxy Committee receives and reviews Glass Lewis’ written proxy voting policies and procedures (“Glass Lewis’ Proxy Policies”). Positions on proposals are evaluated by the Proxy Committee in the long-term best interests of shareholders. Below is a description of CSIM’s guidelines on key proposals for votes on U.S. and Canadian companies. In other circumstances, CSIM generally will utilize the Glass Lewis’ Proxy Policies (which are posted on the Funds’ website).
A. DIRECTORS AND AUDITORS
i. Directors
As a starting point, CSIM expects the board to be composed of a majority of independent directors and to be responsive to shareholders. CSIM also expects directors that serve on a company’s nominating, compensation or audit committee to be independent.
Factors that may result in a vote against one or more directors:
•   The board is not majority independent
•   Non-independent directors serve on the nominating, compensation or audit committees
•   Director recently failed to attend at least 75% of meetings or serves on an excessive number of publically traded company boards
•   Directors approved executive compensation schemes that appear misaligned with shareholders’ interests
•   Director recently acted in a manner inconsistent with these Proxy Policies or failed to be responsive to concerns of a majority of shareholders
ii. Auditors
CSIM typically supports the ratification of auditors unless CSIM believes that the auditors’ independence may have been compromised.
Factors that may result in a vote against the ratification of auditors:
•   Audit-related fees are less than half of the total fees paid by the company to the audit firm
•  A recent material restatement of annual financial statements
B. BOARD MATTERS
i. Classified Boards
CSIM generally defers to management’s recommendation for classified board proposals unless CSIM has particular concerns regarding the board’s accountability or responsiveness to shareholders.
Factors that may result in a vote supporting a shareholder proposal to de-classify a board:
•   The company did not implement a shareholder proposal that was passed by shareholders at two previous shareholder meetings
•   The company nominated directors for election that did not receive a majority of shareholder support at the previous shareholder meeting
•   The company had material financial statement restatements
•   The company’s board adopted a shareholder rights plan (also known as a “Poison Pill”) during the past year and did not submit it to shareholders for approval
ii. Majority Voting
CSIM generally supports majority voting proposals when they call for plurality voting standards in contested elections.

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iii. Cumulative Voting
CSIM typically supports the concept of voting rights being proportional to shareholders’ economic stake in the company. Therefore, CSIM will generally not support cumulative voting proposals unless the company has a controlling shareholder or shareholder group and has plurality voting standards.
iv. Proxy Access
CSIM typically does not support proxy access proposals unless CSIM has particular concerns regarding the board’s accountability or responsiveness to shareholders.
Factors that may result in a vote supporting proxy access:
•   The company did not implement a shareholder proposal that was passed by shareholders at two previous shareholder meetings
•   The company nominated directors for election that did not receive a majority of shareholder support at the previous shareholder meeting
•   The company had material financial statement restatements
•   The company’s board adopted a Poison Pill during the past year and did not submit it to shareholders for approval
v. Independent Chair
CSIM believes that the board is typically best positioned to determine its leadership structure. Therefore, CSIM will typically not support proposals requiring an independent chair unless CSIM has concerns regarding the board’s accountability or responsiveness to shareholders.
Factors that may result in a vote supporting a shareholder proposal requiring an independent chair:
•   The company did not implement a shareholder proposal that was passed by shareholders at two previous shareholder meetings
•   The company nominated directors for election that did not receive a majority of shareholder support at the previous shareholder meeting
•   The company had material financial statement restatements
•   The company’s board adopted a Poison Pill during the past year and did not submit it to shareholders for approval
C. COMPENSATION
i. Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation and Frequency
CSIM generally supports advisory votes on executive compensation (also known as “Say-On-Pay”) when the compensation scheme appears aligned with shareholder economic interests and lacks problematic features.
Factors that may result in a vote against Say-On-Pay:
•   Executive compensation is out of line with industry peers considering the company’s performance over time
•   Executive compensation plan includes significant guaranteed bonuses or has a low amount of compensation at risk
•   Executive compensation plan offers excessive perquisites, tax-gross up provisions, or golden parachutes
CSIM typically supports annual advisory votes on executive compensation.
ii. Equity Compensation Plans
CSIM generally supports stock-based compensation plans when they do not overly dilute shareholders by providing participants with excessive awards and lack problematic features.
Factors that may result in a vote against Equity Compensation Plans:

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•   Plan’s total potential dilution appears excessive
•   Plan’s burn rate appears excessive compared to industry peers
•   Plan allows for the re-pricing of options without shareholder approval
•   Plan has an evergreen feature
iii. Employee Stock Purchase Plans
CSIM supports the concept of broad employee participation in a company’s equity. Therefore, CSIM typically supports employee stock purchase plans when the shares can be purchased at 85% or more of the shares’ market value.
iv. Re-price/Exchange Option Plans
CSIM generally only supports management’s proposals to re-price options when the plan excludes senior management and directors, does not excessively dilute shareholders, and the company has not significantly underperformed its industry peers over time.
D. ANTI-TAKEOVER
i. Shareholder Rights Plans (“Poison Pills”)
Poison Pills constrain a potential acquirer’s ability to buy shares in a company above a certain threshold without the approval of the company’s board of directors. While a Poison Pill may help a company in achieving a higher bid, it may also entrench the incumbent management and board. CSIM believes that shareholders should have the right to approve a Poison Pill within a year of its adoption. CSIM generally votes against Poison Pills that do not have safeguards to protect shareholder interests.
Factors that may result in a vote against Poison Pills:
•   Plan does not expire in a relatively short time horizon
•   Plan does not have a well-crafted permitted bid or qualified offer feature that mandates shareholder votes in certain situations
•   Plan automatically renews without shareholder approval
•   Company’s corporate governance profile
ii. Right to Call Special Meeting
CSIM generally votes against the right of shareholders to call a special meeting unless the threshold to call a special meeting is 25% or more of shares outstanding to avoid wasting corporate resources.
iii. Right to Act by Written Consent
CSIM generally votes against the right of shareholders to act by written consent if the company already offers shareholders the right the call special meetings. CSIM expects appropriate mechanisms for implementation, including that the threshold to call a special meeting is 25% or more of shares outstanding.
iv. Supermajority Voting
CSIM generally supports the concept of simple majority standards to pass proposals.
E. CAPITAL STRUCTURE, MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
i. Increase in Authorized Common Shares
CSIM typically supports proposals to increase the authorized shares unless the company does not sufficiently justify the need for the use of the proposed shares.

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ii. Preferred Shares
CSIM generally supports proposals to create a class of preferred shares with specific voting, dividend, conversion and other rights.
iii. Mergers and Acquisitions
CSIM generally supports transactions that appear to maximize shareholder value. In assessing the proposals, CSIM considers the proposed transaction’s strategic rationale, the offer premium, the board’s oversight of the sales process, and other pertinent factors.
F. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL PROPOSALS
Environmental and Social shareholder proposals typically request companies to change their business practices or to enhance their disclosures. CSIM believes that in most instances, the board is best positioned to evaluate the impact of these proposals on the company’s business. Therefore, CSIM generally defers to the board’s recommendation unless the proposal has successfully articulated a demonstrable tangible economic impact on shareholder value.
i. Political Contribution Proposals
CSIM expects the board of directors to have an oversight process for political contributions and lobbying proposals. CSIM generally votes against political contribution shareholder proposals unless there is no evidence of board oversight.
IV. ADMINISTRATION
A. CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS
With respect to proxies of an underlying affiliated Fund, the Proxy Committee will vote such proxies in the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders of such Fund (i.e., “echo vote”), unless otherwise required by law. When required by law or applicable exemptive order, the Proxy Committee will also “echo vote” proxies of an unaffiliated mutual fund or exchange traded fund (“ETF”). For example, certain exemptive orders issued to the Funds by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, require the Funds, under certain circumstances, to “echo vote” proxies of registered investment companies that serve as underlying investments of the Funds.
In addition, with respect to holdings of The Charles Schwab Corporation (“CSC”) (ticker symbol: SCHW), the Proxy Committee will vote such proxies in the same proportion as the vote of all other shareholders of CSC (i.e., “echo vote”), unless otherwise required by law.
Other than proxies that will be “echo voted”, proxy issues that present material conflicts of interest between CSIM, and/or any of its affiliates, and CSIM’s clients will be delegated to Glass Lewis to be voted in accordance with CSIM’s Proxy Voting Guidelines.
B. FOREIGN SECURITIES/SHAREBLOCKING
CSIM has arrangements with Glass Lewis for the execution of proxy votes. However, voting proxies with respect to shares of foreign securities may involve significantly greater effort and corresponding cost than voting proxies with respect to domestic securities, due to the variety of regulatory schemes and corporate practices in foreign countries with respect to proxy voting. Problems voting foreign proxies may include the following:
•   proxy statements and ballots written in a foreign language;
•   untimely and/or inadequate notice of shareholder meetings;
•   restrictions of foreigner’s ability to exercise votes;
•   requirements to vote proxies in person;
•   requirements to provide local agents with power of attorney to facilitate CSIM’s voting instructions.

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In consideration of the foregoing issues, Glass Lewis uses its best efforts to vote foreign proxies. As part of its ongoing oversight, the Proxy Committee will monitor the voting of foreign proxies to determine whether all reasonable steps are taken to vote foreign proxies. If the Proxy Committee determines that the cost associated with the attempt to vote outweighs the potential benefits clients may derive from voting, the Proxy Committee may decide not to attempt to vote. In addition, certain foreign countries impose restrictions on the sale of securities for a period of time before and/or after the shareholder meeting. To avoid these trading restrictions, the Proxy Committee instructs Glass Lewis not to vote such foreign proxies.
C. SECURITIES LENDING
Certain of the Funds enter into securities lending arrangements with lending agents to generate additional revenue for their portfolios. In securities lending arrangements, any voting rights that accompany the loaned securities generally pass to the borrower of the securities, but the lender retains the right to recall a security and may then exercise the security’s voting rights. In order to vote the proxies of securities out on loan, the securities must be recalled prior to the established record date. CSIM will use its best efforts to recall a Fund’s securities on loan and vote such securities’ proxies if (a) the proxy relates to a special meeting of shareholders of the issuer (as opposed to the issuer's annual meeting of shareholders), or (b) the Fund owns more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the issuer. Further, it is CSIM's policy to use its best efforts to recall securities on loan and vote such securities’ proxies if CSIM determines that the proxies involve a material event affecting the loaned securities. CSIM may utilize third-party service providers to assist it in identifying and evaluating whether an event is material. CSIM may also recall securities on loan and vote such securities’ proxies in its discretion.
D. SUB-ADVISORY RELATIONSHIPS
Where CSIM has delegated day-to-day investment management responsibilities to an investment sub-adviser, CSIM may (but generally does not) delegate proxy voting responsibility to such investment sub-adviser. Each sub-adviser to whom proxy voting responsibility has been delegated will be required to review all proxy solicitation material and to exercise the voting rights associated with the securities it has been allocated in the best interest of each investment company and its shareholders, or other client. Prior to delegating the proxy voting responsibility, CSIM will review each sub-adviser’s proxy voting policy to determine whether it believes that each sub-adviser’s proxy voting policy is generally consistent with the maximization of the value of CSIM’s clients’ investments by protecting the long-term best interest of shareholders.
E. REPORTING AND RECORD RETENTION
CSIM will maintain, or cause Glass Lewis to maintain, records that identify the manner in which proxies have been voted (or not voted) on behalf of CSIM clients. CSIM will comply with all applicable rules and regulations regarding disclosure of its or its clients’ proxy voting records and procedures.
CSIM will retain all proxy voting materials and supporting documentation as required under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations thereunder.

6


Table of Contents
Schwab Capital Trust
PEA No. 175
Part C: Other Information
ITEM 28. EXHIBITS.
(a) Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated November 29, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 81 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on April 28, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 81).
(b) Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, adopted as of November 16, 2004, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 70 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on February 11, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 70).
(c)(i) Article III, Section 5, Article V, Article VI, Article VIII, Section 4 and Article IX, Sections 1, 5 and 7 of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated November 29, 2005, referenced in Exhibit (a) above, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a) of PEA No. 81.
(c)(ii) Articles 9 and 11 of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, adopted as of November 16, 2004, referenced in Exhibit (b) above, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b) of PEA No. 70.
(d)(i) Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement between Registrant and Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (the Investment Adviser or CSIM), dated June 15, 1994, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 5(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 21 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on December 17, 1997.
(d)(i)(a) Amended Schedules A and B to the Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated June 1, 2017, is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(i)(a).
(d)(i)(b) Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated June 6, 2017, is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(i)(b).
(d)(ii) Administration Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated August 18, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xxi) of PEA No. 160.
(d)(iii) Amended and Restated Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated March 1, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xxiv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 166 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on April 20, 2017.
(d)(iv) Schedules A and B to the Amended and Restated Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated June 1, 2017, is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(iv).
(d)(iv)(a) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Harris Associates LP (Harris Associates), dated January 11, 2002, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(x) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on May 30, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 48).
(d)(iv)(b) Amendment, dated March 26, 2003, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Harris Associates is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xxii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 60 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on February 26, 2004 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 60).
(d)(v) Amendment, dated December 2, 2004, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Harris Associates is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xvii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 106 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on February 25, 2011 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 106).
(d)(v)(a) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. (William Blair), dated January 31, 2002, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xvii) of PEA No. 48.
(d)(v)(b) Amendment, dated March 26, 2003, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and William Blair is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xxix) of PEA No. 60.
(d)(vi) Amendments, dated December 2, 2004 and April 18, 2005, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and William Blair are incorporated herein by reference, respectively, to Exhibit (d)(xx) and Exhibit (d)(xxi) of PEA No. 106.
(d)(vi)(a) Amendment, dated June 5, 2012, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and William Blair is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xxi) Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on January 13, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 123).
(d)(vi)(b) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Mondrian Investment Partners Limited, dated May 24, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xiv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 83, filed February 28, 2007.
(d)(vi)(c) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and American Century Investment Management, Inc. (American Century), dated June 3, 2010, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(x) of PEA No. 106.

 

ITEM 28. EXHIBITS.
(d)(vii) Amendment, dated July 16, 2010, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and American Century is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xvi) of PEA No. 106.
(d)(viii) Amendment, dated June 5, 2012, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Registrant, the Investment Adviser and American Century, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xix) of PEA No. 123.
(d)(viii)(a) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Mellon Capital Management Corporation (Mellon), dated January 20, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(x) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 112 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on February 28, 2012.
(d)(viii)(b) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Wellington Management Company, LLP (Wellington), dated October 2, 2012, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on October 17, 2012.
(d)(ix) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and The Boston Company Asset Management, LLC (The Boston Company), dated June 2, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(x) of PEA No. 160.
(d)(x) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Voya Investment Management Co. LLC (Voya), dated December 14, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xxiii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 162 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on December 22, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 162).
(d)(xi) Expense Limitation Agreement by and between Registrant, the Investment Adviser and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab), dated July 1, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xxi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on December 10, 2009 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 100).
(d)(xii) Schedule A, dated June 1, 2017, to the Expense Limitation Agreement by and between Registrant, the Investment Adviser and Schwab, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xiii)(a) of PEA 173.
(d)(xiii) Expense Limitation Agreement among Registrant, the Investment Adviser and Schwab, dated August 18, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(xxii) of PEA No. 160.
(e)(i) Second Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Schwab, dated December 11, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 151 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on February 24, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 151).
(e)(i)(a) Amended Schedule A, dated August 18, 2016, to the Second Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Schwab, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(ii) of PEA No. 160.
(f) Inapplicable.
(g)(i) Custodian Agreement between Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (Brown Brothers), dated April 1, 2007, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(i) of PEA No. 123.
(g)(i)(a) Amended Schedule 1, dated August 18, 2016, to the Custodian Services Agreement between Registrant and Brown Brothers is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(ii) of PEA No. 160.
(g)(ii) Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (State Street), dated October 17, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(ix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on February 27, 2006 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 79).
(h)(i) License Agreement between Registrant and Standard & Poor’s is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on February 26, 1999.
(h)(ii) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (BFDS), dated July 1, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(ii) of PEA No. 100.
(h)(ii)(a) Amendment to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and BFDS, dated October 3, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(iii) of PEA No. 162.
(h)(iii) Amended and Restated Shareholder Servicing Plan, dated December 11, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(iv) of PEA No. 151.
(h)(iii)(a) Schedule A, dated June 1, 2017, to the Amended and Restated Shareholder Servicing Plan, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(iii)(a) of PEA No. 173.
(h)(iv) Master Fund Accounting and Services Agreement between Registrant and State Street, dated October 1, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(i) of PEA No. 79.
(h)(iv)(a) Amended Appendix A, dated August 18, 2016, to Master Fund Accounting and Services Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(vii) of PEA No. 160.
(i) Opinion and Consent of Counsel is filed herein as Exhibit (i).

 

ITEM 28. EXHIBITS.
(j)(i) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is filed herein as Exhibit (j)(i).
(j)(ii) Power of Attorney executed by Walter W. Bettinger, II, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(ii) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(iii) Power of Attorney executed by Marie A. Chandoha, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(iii) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(iv) Power of Attorney executed by Joseph R. Martinetto, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(iv) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(v) Power of Attorney executed by Robert W. Burns, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(v) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(vi) Power of Attorney executed by John F. Cogan, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(vi) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(vii) Power of Attorney executed by Stephen T. Kochis, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(vii) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(viii) Power of Attorney executed by David L. Mahoney, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(viii) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(ix) Power of Attorney executed by Kiran M. Patel, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(ix) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(x) Power of Attorney executed by Kimberly S. Patmore, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(x) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(xi) Power of Attorney executed by Charles A. Ruffel, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(xi) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(xii) Power of Attorney executed by Gerald B. Smith, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(xii) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(xiii) Power of Attorney executed by Joseph H. Wender, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(xiii) of PEA No. 151.
(j)(xiv) Power of Attorney executed by Mark D. Fischer, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(xiv) of PEA No. 151.
(k) Inapplicable.
(l) Inapplicable.
(m) Inapplicable.
(n) Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan, adopted on February 28, 1996, amended and restated as of February 28, 2007, December 10, 2009, December 8, 2011 and August 18, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (n) of PEA No. 160.
(o) Inapplicable.
(p)(i) Registrant, the Investment Adviser and Schwab Code of Ethics, dated September 21, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(i) Post-Effective Amendment No. 163 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on February 28, 2017.
(p)(ii) American Century Code of Ethics, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(ii) of PEA No. 151.
(p)(iii) Harris Associates Code of Ethics, dated March 9, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(iii) of PEA No. 160.
(p)(iv) William Blair Code of Ethics, dated July 1, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 150 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on December 15, 2015 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 150).
(p)(v) Mondrian Code of Ethics, dated February 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(v) of PEA No. 160.
(p)(vi) Mellon Code of Ethics, dated November 17, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(vi) of PEA No. 150.
(p)(vii) Wellington Code of Ethics, dated April 30, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(vii) of PEA No. 173.
(p)(viii) The Boston Company Code of Ethics, dated November 17, 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(viii) of PEA No. 160.
(p)(ix) Voya Code of Ethics, dated January 1, 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(ix) of PEA No. 162.

 

Item 29. Persons Controlled By Or Under Common Control With Registrant.
The Board of Trustees of the Registrant is identical to the boards of trustees of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Strategic Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, and Laudus Trust. Each such trust has Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. as its investment adviser. In addition, the officers of the Registrant are also identical to those of each such other trust, with the exception of the Chief Legal Officer and Secretary/Clerk. As a result, the above-named trusts may be deemed to be under common control with the Registrant. Nonetheless, the Registrant takes the position that it is not under common control with such other trusts because the power residing in the respective trusts’ boards and officers arises as a result of an official position with each such trust.
Item 30. Indemnification.
Article VIII of Registrant’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (Exhibit (a) hereto, which is incorporated by reference) provides in effect that Registrant will indemnify its officers and trustees against all liabilities and expenses, including but not limited to amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by any such officer or trustee in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit, or other proceeding. However, in accordance with Sections 17(h) and 17(i) of the 1940 Act and its own terms, said Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust does not protect any person against any liability to Registrant or its shareholders to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office. In any event, Registrant will comply with 1940 Act Releases Nos. 7221 and 11330 respecting the permissible boundaries of indemnification by an investment company of its officers and trustees.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31. Business And Other Connections Of Investment Adviser.
Registrant’s investment adviser, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation, organized in October 1989 to serve as investment manager to Registrant, also serves as the investment manager to The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust, and Laudus Trust, each an open-end management investment company. The principal place of business of the Investment Adviser is 211 Main Street, San Francisco, California 94105. The only business in which the Investment Adviser engages is that of investment adviser and administrator to Registrant, The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Schwab Strategic Trust, investment adviser of Laudus Trust and any other investment companies that Schwab may sponsor in the future, and an investment adviser to certain non-investment company clients.
The business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each director and/or senior or executive officer of the Investment Adviser is or has been engaged during the past two fiscal years is listed below. The name of any company for which any director and/or senior or executive officer of the Investment Adviser serves as director, officer, employee, partner or trustee is also listed below.
Name and Position with Adviser Name of Other Company Capacity
Walter W. Bettinger, II, Director The Charles Schwab Corporation Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Schwab Holdings, Inc. Director
Charles Schwab Bank Director
Schwab Funds Chairman and Trustee
Laudus Funds Chairman and Trustee
Schwab ETFs Chairman and Trustee
Peter B. Crawford, Director The Charles Schwab Corporation Executive Vice President – Finance
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Executive Vice President – Finance, and Chief Financial Officer
Schwab Holdings, Inc. Director

 

Name and Position with Adviser Name of Other Company Capacity
Marie Chandoha, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer Schwab Funds Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
Laudus Funds Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
Schwab ETFs Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds, plc Director
Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited Director
Omar Aguilar, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Equities and Multi-Asset Strategies Schwab Funds Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Equities and Multi-Asset Strategies
Laudus Funds Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Equities and Multi-Asset Strategies
Schwab ETFs Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Equities and Multi-Asset Strategies
Brett Wander, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income Schwab Funds Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income
Laudus Funds Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income
Schwab ETFs Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income
David Lekich, Chief Counsel and Senior Vice President Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Senior Vice President
Schwab Funds Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
Laudus Funds Vice President and Assistant Clerk
Schwab ETFs Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
Michael Hogan, Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President Schwab Funds Chief Compliance Officer
Schwab ETFs Chief Compliance Officer
Laudus Funds Chief Compliance Officer
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer – IIMS Compliance
George Pereira, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Schwab Funds Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Laudus Funds Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Schwab ETFs Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds, plc Director
Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited Director
Item 32. Principal Underwriters.
(a) Schwab acts as principal underwriter and distributor of Registrant’s shares. Schwab also acts as principal underwriter for The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, and Schwab Annuity Portfolios and may act as such for any other investment company which Schwab may sponsor in the future.
(b) Information with respect to Schwab’s directors and officers is as follows:
Name Position and Offices with the Underwriter Position and Offices with the Registrant
Charles R. Schwab Chairman and Director None
Walter W. Bettinger II President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Chairman and Trustee
Steven H. Anderson Executive Vice President, Schwab Retirement Plan Services None
Katie Casey Executive Vice President, Human Resources None

 

Name Position and Offices with the Underwriter Position and Offices with the Registrant
Jason C. Clague Executive Vice President, Operational Services None
Bernard J. Clark Executive Vice President, Advisor Services None
Jonathan M. Craig Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer None
Peter B. Crawford Executive Vice President, Finance, and Chief Financial Officer None
David R. Garfield Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary None
G. Andrew Gill Executive Vice President, Client Solutions None
Dennis W. Howard Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer None
Lisa Kidd Hunt Executive Vice President, International and Business Development None
Terri R. Kallsen Executive Vice President, Investor Services None
Mitch Mantua Executive Vice President, Internal Audit None
Joseph R. Martinetto Senior Executive Vice President and Director Trustee
James D. McCool Executive Vice President, Corporate Initiatives None
Nigel J. Murtagh Executive Vice President, Corporate Risk None
The principal business address of all directors and officers of Schwab is 211 Main Street, San Francisco, California 94105.
(c) None.
Item 33. Location Of Accounts And Records.
All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained pursuant to Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act and the Rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of: Registrant and Registrant’s investment adviser and administrator, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., 211 Main Street, San Francisco, California 94105; Registrant’s former sub-investment adviser, Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc., 1299 Ocean Avenue, Suite 1100, Santa Monica, California 90401; Registrant’s principal underwriter, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., 211 Main Street, San Francisco, California 94105; Registrant’s custodian for the Schwab International Index Fund and the Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 50 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Registrant’s custodian for the balance of the funds and fund accountant, State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111; and Registrant’s transfer agent, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc., 2000 Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169.
Item 34. Management Services.
None.
Item 35. Undertakings.
Not applicable.


Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for the effectiveness of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the 1933 Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Washington in the District of Columbia, on the 16th day of June, 2017.
SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST
Registrant
 
Marie A. Chandoha*
Marie A. Chandoha, President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated this 16th day of June, 2017.
Signature   Title
Walter W. Bettinger II*

Walter W. Bettinger II
  Chairman and Trustee
Marie A. Chandoha*

Marie A. Chandoha
  Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
Joseph R. Martinetto*

Joseph R. Martinetto
  Trustee
Robert W. Burns*

Robert W. Burns
  Trustee
John F. Cogan*

John F. Cogan
  Trustee
Stephen Timothy Kochis*

Stephen Timothy Kochis
  Trustee
David L. Mahoney*

David L. Mahoney
  Trustee
Kiran M. Patel*

Kiran M. Patel
  Trustee
Kimberly S. Patmore*

Kimberly S. Patmore
  Trustee
Charles A. Ruffel*

Charles A. Ruffel
  Trustee
Gerald B. Smith*

Gerald B. Smith
  Trustee
Joseph H. Wender*

Joseph H. Wender
  Trustee
Mark D. Fischer*

Mark D. Fischer
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
*By: /s/ Douglas P. Dick

Douglas P. Dick, Attorney-in-Fact
Pursuant to Power of Attorney


Table of Contents
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit (d)(i)(a) Amended Schedules A and B to the Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated June 1, 2017
Exhibit (d)(i)(b) Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated June 6, 2017
Exhibit (d)(iv) Schedules A and B to the Amended and Restated Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated June 1, 2017
Exhibit (i) Opinion and Consent of Counsel
Exhibit (j)(i) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

AMENDED SCHEDULE A

TO THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST AND CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

Fund

  

Effective Date

Schwab MarketTrack Growth Portfolio

   September 25, 1995

Schwab MarketTrack Balanced Portfolio

   September 25, 1995

Schwab MarketTrack Conservative Portfolio

   September 25, 1995

Schwab Core Equity Fund

   May 21, 1996

Laudus International MarketMasters Fund

   September 2, 1996

Schwab Balanced Fund ( formerly known as Schwab Viewpoints Fund )

   October 13, 1996

Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund

   August 3, 1997

Schwab Market Track All Equity Portfolio

   April 16, 1998

Schwab Health Care Fund

   May 15, 2000

Schwab Hedged Equity Fund

   August 6, 2002

Schwab Small-Cap Equity Fund

   May 19, 2003

Schwab Dividend Equity Fund

   September 23, 2003

Schwab Target 2010 Fund

   May 24, 2005

Schwab Target 2015 Fund

   November 12, 2007

Schwab Target 2020 Fund

   May 24, 2005

Schwab Target 2025 Fund

   November 12, 2007

Schwab Target 2030 Fund

   May 24, 2005

Schwab Target 2035 Fund

   November 12, 2007

Schwab Target 2040 Fund

   May 24, 2005

Schwab Large Cap Growth Fund

   May 24, 2005

Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout

   February 25, 2008

Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout

   February 25, 2008

Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout

   February 25, 2008

Schwab International Core Equity Fund

   February 25, 2008

Schwab Target 2045 Fund

   January 14, 2013

Schwab Target 2050 Fund

   January 14, 2013

Schwab Target 2055 Fund

   January 14, 2013

Schwab Target 2060 Fund

   August 18, 2016

 

Schwab Capital Trust

     Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.

/s/ George Pereira

                         

/s/ Marie Chandoha

George Pereira

SVP & COO

    

Marie Chandoha

President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated as June 1, 2017


AMENDED SCHEDULE B

TO THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

BETWEEN SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST AND

CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

ADVISORY FEE SCHEDULE

The fees listed below are for services provided under this Agreement

and are to be accrued daily and paid monthly in arrears:

 

Fund

  

Fee

Schwab MarketTrack Growth Portfolio

   Thirteen one-hundredths of one percent (0.13%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab MarketTrack Balanced Portfolio

   Thirteen one-hundredths of one percent (0.13%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab MarketTrack Conservative Portfolio

   Thirteen one-hundredths of one percent (0.13%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Core Equity Fund

   Forty-seven-one-hundreths of one percent (0.47%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Laudus International MarketMasters Fund

   One percent and twenty-nine one-hundredths of one percent (1.29%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets not in excess of $500 million; one percent and two hundred seventy-five one-thousandths of one percent (1.275%) of such net assets over $500 million but not in excess of $1 billion; and one percent and twenty-five one-hundredths of one percent (1.25%) of such net assets over $1 billion).

Schwab Balanced Fund (formerly known as Schwab Viewpoints Fund)

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund

   One percent and seventeen one-hundredths of one percent (1.17%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets not in excess of $500 million; one percent and thirteen one-hundredths of one percent (1.13%) of such net assets over $500 million but not in excess of $1 billion; and one percent and seven one-hundredths of one percent (1.07%) of such net assets over $1 billion).

Schwab Market Track All Equity Portfolio

   Thirteen one-hundredths of one percent (0.13%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Health Care Fund

   Fifty-four one-hundredths of one percent (0.54%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets not in excess of $500 million; five hundred fifteen one-thousandths of one percent (0.515%) of such net assets over $500 million but not in excess of $1 billion; and forty-nine one-hundredths of one percent (0.49%) of such net assets over $1 billion).

Schwab Hedged Equity Fund

   One percent and five one-hundredths of one percent (1.05%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.


Fund

  

Fee

Schwab Small-Cap Equity Fund

   Eighty-one one-hundredths of one percent (0.81%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Dividend Equity Fund

   Sixty-two one-hundredths of one percent (0.62%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Target 2010 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets

Schwab Target 2015 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Target 2020 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Target 2025 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Target 2030 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Target 2035 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Target 2040 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Large-Cap Growth Fund

   Seventy-Two one-hundredths of one percent (0.72%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab International Core Equity Fund

   Fifty-eighty one-hundredths of one percent (0.58%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Target 2045 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Target 2050 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Target 2055 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

Schwab Target 2060 Fund

   Zero percent (0%) of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

Schwab Capital Trust       Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.

/s/ George Pereira

     

/s/ Marie Chandoha

George Pereira

SVP & COO

     

Marie Chandoha

President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated as of June 1, 2017

AMENDED AND RESTATED ADVISORY AGREEMENT

ADVISORY AGREEMENT made as of August 18, 2016, as amended and restated June 6, 2017, between Schwab Capital Trust (the “Trust”), a Massachusetts business trust registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Adviser”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Trustees”) of the Trust has selected the Adviser to act as investment adviser to the Trust on behalf of the series set forth on Schedule A hereto, which may be amended by the parties pursuant to section 11 of this Agreement to add other series of the Trust (each such series appearing on Schedule A at any time being a “Fund” and all such series at that time being the “Funds” subject to this Agreement at that time), and to provide certain related services, as more fully set forth below, and to perform such services under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

WHEREAS, each Fund has been subject to an Advisory Agreement dated August 18, 2016 since each Fund’s inception date; and

WHEREAS, the Trust desires to amend and restate the Advisory Agreement dated August 18, 2016 with respect to each Fund now or in the future listed on Schedule A hereto effective on such date as noted on Schedule A in order to reflect the assumption by the Adviser of certain additional expenses,

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and benefits set forth herein, the Trust and the Adviser do hereby agree as follows:

 

  1. The Adviser’s Services .

(a) Discretionary Investment Management Services . The Adviser shall act as investment adviser with respect to the Funds. In such capacity, the Adviser shall, subject to the supervision of the Board, regularly provide the Funds with investment research, advice and supervision and shall furnish continuously an investment program for the Funds, consistent with the respective investment objectives and policies of each Fund. The Adviser shall determine, from time to time, what securities shall be purchased for the Funds, what securities shall be held or sold by the Funds and what portion of the Funds’ assets shall be held uninvested in cash, subject always to the provisions of the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws and its registration statement on Form N-1A (the “Registration Statement”) under the 1940 Act, and under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), covering Fund shares, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), and to the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Funds, as each of the same shall be from time to time in effect. To carry out such obligations, the Adviser shall exercise full discretion and act for

 

1


the Funds in the same manner and with the same force and effect as the Funds themselves might or could do with respect to purchases, sales or other transactions, as well as with respect to all other such things necessary or incidental to the furtherance or conduct of such purchases, sales or other transactions. No reference in this Agreement to the Adviser having full discretionary authority over each Fund’s investments shall in any way limit the right of the Board, in its sole discretion, to establish or revise policies in connection with the management of a Fund’s assets or to otherwise exercise its right to control the overall management of a Fund.

(b) Selection of Sub-Adviser(s) . The Adviser shall have the authority hereunder to select and retain sub-advisers, including an affiliated person (as defined under the 1940 Act) of the Adviser, for each of the Funds referenced in Schedule A to perform some or all of the services for which the Adviser is responsible pursuant to this Agreement. The Adviser shall supervise the activities of the sub-adviser(s), and the retention of a sub-adviser by the Adviser shall not relieve the Adviser of its responsibilities under this Agreement. Any such sub-adviser shall be, at all relevant times, registered as an investment adviser with the Commission, not subject to any statutory disqualification, and capable of performing its sub-advisory duties pursuant to a sub-advisory agreement approved by the Trust’s Board and, except as otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act or by rule or regulation, a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the applicable Fund. The Adviser will compensate the sub-adviser for its services to the Funds.

(c) Compliance . The Adviser agrees to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and the respective rules and regulations thereunder, as applicable, as well as with all other applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and case law that relate to the services and relationships described hereunder and to the conduct of its business as a registered investment adviser. The Adviser also agrees to comply with the objectives, policies and restrictions set forth in the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented from time to time, of the Funds, and with any policies, guidelines, instructions and procedures approved by the Board and provided to the Adviser. In selecting each Fund’s portfolio securities and performing the Adviser’s obligations hereunder, the Adviser shall cause the Fund to comply with the diversification and source of income requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for qualification as a regulated investment company. The Adviser shall maintain compliance procedures that it reasonably believes are adequate to ensure its compliance with the foregoing. No supervisory activity undertaken by the Board shall limit the Adviser’s full responsibility for any of the foregoing.

 

2


(d) Proxy Voting . The Board has the authority to determine how proxies with respect to securities that are held by the Funds shall be voted, and the Board has initially determined to delegate the authority and responsibility to vote proxies for each Fund’s securities to the Adviser. So long as proxy voting authority for a Fund has been delegated to the Adviser, the Adviser shall exercise its proxy voting responsibilities. The Adviser shall carry out such responsibility in accordance with any instructions that the Board shall provide from time to time, and at all times in a manner consistent with Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act and its fiduciary responsibilities to the Trust. The Adviser shall provide periodic reports and keep records relating to proxy voting as the Board may reasonably request or as may be necessary for the Funds to comply with the 1940 Act and other applicable law. Any such delegation of proxy voting responsibility to the Adviser may be revoked or modified by the Board at any time.

(e) Recordkeeping . The Adviser shall not be responsible for the provision of administrative, bookkeeping or accounting services to the Funds, except as may be otherwise provided or as may be necessary for the Adviser to supply to the Trust or its Board the information required to be supplied under this Agreement.

The Adviser shall maintain separate books and detailed records of all matters pertaining to Fund assets advised by the Adviser required by Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act (other than those records being maintained by any administrator, custodian or transfer agent appointed by the Funds) relating to its responsibilities provided hereunder with respect to the Funds, and shall preserve such records for the periods and in a manner prescribed therefore by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act (the “Funds’ Books and Records”). The Funds’ Books and Records shall be available to the Board at any time upon request, shall be delivered to the Trust upon the termination of this Agreement and shall be available without delay during any day the Trust is open for business.

(f) Holdings Information and Pricing . The Adviser shall provide regular reports regarding Fund holdings, and may, on its own initiative, furnish the Trust and its Board from time to time with whatever information the Adviser believes is appropriate for this purpose. The Adviser agrees upon request to provide any pricing information of which the Adviser is aware to the Trust, its Board and/or any Fund pricing agent to assist in the determination of the fair value of any Fund holdings for which market quotations are not readily available or as otherwise required in accordance with the 1940 Act or the Trust’s valuation procedures for the purpose of calculating the Fund net asset value in accordance with procedures and methods established by the Board.

(g) Cooperation with Agents of the Trust . The Adviser agrees to cooperate with and provide reasonable assistance to the Trust, any Trust custodian or foreign sub-custodians, any Trust pricing agents and all other agents and representatives of the Trust, provide such information with respect to the Funds as they may reasonably request from time to time in the performance of their obligations, provide prompt responses to reasonable requests made by such persons and establish appropriate interfaces with each so as to promote the efficient exchange of information and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

 

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2. Code of Ethics . The Adviser has adopted a written code of ethics that it reasonably believes complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act, which it will provide to the Trust. The Adviser shall ensure that its Access Persons (as defined in the Adviser’s Code of Ethics) comply in all material respects with the Adviser’s Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time. Upon request made from time to time, the Adviser shall provide the Trust with (i) a copy of the Adviser’s current Code of Ethics, as then in effect, and (ii) certification that it has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons from engaging in any conduct prohibited by the Adviser’s Code of Ethics as then in effect. Annually, the Adviser shall furnish a written report, which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1, concerning the Adviser’s Code of Ethics to the Trust. The Adviser shall respond to requests for information from the Trust as to violations of the Code of Ethics by Access Persons and the sanctions imposed by the Adviser.

3. Information and Reporting . The Adviser shall provide the Trust and its respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Adviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Trust may from time to time reasonably request.

(a) Compliance Reports . The Adviser may provide a quarterly report regarding each Fund’s compliance with its investment objectives and policies, applicable law, including, but not limited to the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code, and the Fund’s policies, guidelines or procedures as applicable to the Adviser’s obligations under this Agreement. Upon request, the Adviser shall also provide the officers of the Trust with supporting certifications in connection with such certifications of Fund financial statements and disclosure controls pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended. The Adviser will promptly notify the Trust in the event that (i) the Adviser is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board, or body, involving the affairs of the Trust (excluding class action suits in which a Fund is a member of the plaintiff class by reason of the Fund’s ownership of shares in the defendant) or the compliance by the Adviser with the federal or state securities laws or (ii) a change in control of the Adviser resulting in an “assignment” (as defined in of the 1940 Act) has occurred or is otherwise proposed to occur.

(b) Board and Filings Information . The Adviser will also provide the Trust with any information reasonably requested regarding its management of the Funds required for any meeting of the Board, or for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, proxy statement, prospectus supplement or other report required to be filed by the Trust with the Commission. The Adviser will make its officers and employees available to meet with the Board from time to time on due notice to review its investment management services to the Funds in light of current and prospective economic and market conditions and shall furnish to the Board such information as may reasonably be necessary in order for the Board to evaluate this Agreement or any proposed amendments thereto.

 

4


(c) Transaction Information . The Adviser shall furnish to the Trust such information concerning portfolio transactions as may be necessary to enable the Trust or its designated agent to perform such compliance testing on the Funds and the Adviser’s services as the Trust may, in its sole discretion, determine to be appropriate. The provision of such information by the Adviser to the Trust or its designated agent in no way relieves the Adviser of its own responsibilities under this Agreement.

 

  4. Brokerage .

(a) Principal Transactions . In connection with purchases or sales of securities for the account of a Fund, neither the Adviser nor any of its directors, officers or employees will act as a principal or agent or receive any commission except as permitted by the 1940 Act.

(b) Placement of Orders . The Adviser shall arrange for the placing of all orders for the purchase and sale of securities for a Fund’s account with brokers or dealers selected by the Adviser. In the selection of such brokers or dealers and the placing of such orders, the Adviser is directed at all times to seek for the Fund the best execution and net price available under the circumstances. It is also understood that it is desirable for the Fund that the Adviser have access to brokerage and research services provided by brokers who may execute brokerage transactions at a higher cost to the Fund than may result when allocating brokerage to other brokers, consistent with section 28(e) of the 1934 Act and any Commission staff interpretations thereof. Therefore, the Adviser is authorized to place orders for the purchase and sale of securities for a Fund with such brokers, subject to review by the Board from time to time with respect to the extent and continuation of this practice. It is understood that the services provided by such brokers may be useful to the Adviser in connection with its or its affiliates’ services to other clients.

(c) Aggregated Transactions . On occasions when the Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security or futures contract to be in the best interest of a Fund as well as other clients of the Adviser, the Adviser may, to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, aggregate the orders for securities or futures contracts to be sold or purchased. In such event, the Adviser will allocate securities or futures contracts so purchased or sold, as well as the expenses incurred in the transaction, in the manner the Adviser reasonably considers to be equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund and to such other clients under the circumstances.

(d) Affiliated Brokers . The Adviser or any of its affiliates may act as broker in connection with the purchase or sale of securities or other investments for a Fund, subject to: (i) the requirement that the Adviser seek to obtain best execution and price within the policy guidelines determined by the Board and set forth in the Fund’s current prospectus and Statement of Additional Information; (ii) the provisions of the 1940 Act; (iii) the provisions of the Advisers Act; (iv) the provisions of the 1934 Act; and (v) other provisions of applicable law. These brokerage services are not within the scope of the

 

5


duties of the Adviser under this Agreement. Subject to the requirements of applicable law and any procedures adopted by the Board, the Adviser or its affiliates may receive brokerage commissions, fees or other remuneration from a Fund for these services in addition to the Adviser’s fees for services under this Agreement.

5. Allocation of Charges and Expenses . The Adviser will bear its own costs of providing services hereunder. The Adviser agrees to pay all expenses incurred by the Trust except for shareholder servicing fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, brokerage and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, extraordinary or non-routine expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Trust under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.

6. Representations, Warranties and Covenants . Each party represents and warrants to the other party that this Agreement has been duly authorized and executed by such party and, assuming due authorization and execution by the other party, constitutes such party’s legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms. The Adviser further represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Trust as follows:

(a) Properly Registered . The Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act, is subject to no statutory disqualification from such registration, and will remain so registered and will avoid such disqualification for the duration of this Agreement. The Adviser is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement, and to the best knowledge of the Adviser, there is no proceeding or investigation that is reasonably likely to result in the Adviser being prohibited from performing the services contemplated by this Agreement. The Adviser agrees to promptly notify the Trust of the occurrence of any event that would disqualify the Adviser from serving as an investment adviser to an investment company. The Adviser is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state law in connection with its investment management operations.

(b) ADV Disclosure . The Adviser has provided the Trust with a copy of its Part I of Form ADV as most recently filed with the Commission and its current Part II of Form ADV. The Adviser will provide the Trust with a current Form ADV at least once per year. The information contained in the Adviser’s Form ADV as amended from time to time is and will remain accurate and complete in all material respects and does not and will not omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c) Fund Disclosure Documents . The Adviser has reviewed and will in the future review, the Registration Statement, and any amendments or supplements thereto, the annual or semi-annual reports to shareholders, and other reports filed with the Commission (collectively the “Disclosure Documents”) and represents and warrants that, with respect to disclosure about the Adviser, the manner in which the Adviser manages

 

6


the Fund or information relating directly or indirectly to the Adviser, such Disclosure Documents contain or will contain, as of the date thereof, no untrue statement of any material fact and does not or will not omit, as of the date thereof, any statement of material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.

(d) Use Of The Name “Schwab”. The Adviser has and shall have the right to use the name “Schwab” in connection with its services to the Trust and, subject to the terms set forth in section 7 of this Agreement, the Trust has and shall have the right to use the name “Schwab” in connection with the management and operation of the Funds. The Adviser is not aware of any threatened or existing actions, claims, litigation or proceedings that would adversely effect or prejudice the rights of the Adviser or the Trust to use the name “Schwab”.

(e) Insurance . The Adviser maintains errors and omissions insurance coverage in an appropriate amount and shall provide prior written notice to the Trust (i) of any material changes in its insurance policies or insurance coverage or (ii) if any material claims will be made on its insurance policies. Furthermore, the Adviser shall upon reasonable request provide the Trust with any information it may reasonably require concerning the amount of or scope of such insurance.

(f) No Detrimental Agreement . The Adviser represents and warrants that it has no arrangement or understanding with any person, other than the Trust, that would influence the decision of the Adviser with respect to its selection of securities for a Fund, and that all selections shall be done in accordance with what is in the best interest of the Fund.

(g) Conflicts . The Adviser shall act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Trust including requiring any of its personnel with knowledge of Fund activities to place the interest of the Fund first, ahead of their own interests, in all personal trading scenarios that may involve a conflict of interest with the Funds, consistent with fiduciary duties under applicable law.

(h) Bring-Down . The representations and warranties in this section 6 shall be deemed to be made not only on the date that this Agreement is executed, but also at the time of delivery of the quarterly compliance report required by section 3(a), whether or not specifically referenced in such report.

7. The Name “Schwab”. The Adviser grants to the Trust a sublicense to use the name “Schwab” (the “Name”) as part of the name of any Fund. The foregoing authorization by the Adviser to the Trust to use the Name as part of the name of any Fund is not exclusive of the right of the Adviser itself to use, or to authorize others to use, the Name; the Trust acknowledges and agrees that, as between the Trust and the Adviser, the Adviser has the right to use, or authorize others to use, the Name. The Trust shall (1) only use the Name in a manner consistent with uses approved by the Adviser, (2) use its best efforts to maintain the quality of the services

 

7


offered using the Name and (3) adhere to such other specific quality control standards as the Adviser may from time to time promulgate. At the request of the Adviser, the Trust will: (a) submit to Adviser representative samples of any promotional materials using the Name; and (b) change the name of any Fund within three months of its receipt of the Adviser’s request, or such other shorter time period as may be required under the terms of a settlement agreement or court order, so as to eliminate all reference to the Name and will not thereafter transact any business using the Name in the name of any Fund.

8. Adviser’s Compensation . The Funds shall pay to the Adviser, as compensation for the Adviser’s services hereunder, a fee, determined as described in Schedule A that is attached hereto and made a part hereof. Such fee shall be computed daily and paid not less than monthly in arrears by the Funds. The method for determining net assets of a Fund for purposes hereof shall be the same as the method for determining net assets for purposes of establishing the offering and redemption prices of Fund shares as described in the Fund’s prospectus. In the event of termination of this Agreement, the fee provided in this section shall be computed on the basis of the period ending on the last business day on which this Agreement is in effect subject to a pro rata adjustment based on the number of calendar days elapsed in the current month as a percentage of the total number of calendar days in such month.

9. Independent Contractor . In the performance of its duties hereunder, the Adviser is and shall be an independent contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise authorized in writing, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Trust or any Fund in any way or otherwise be deemed to be an agent of the Trust or any Fund. If any occasion should arise in which the Adviser gives any advice to its clients concerning the shares of a Fund, the Adviser will act solely as investment counsel for such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Fund.

10. No Assignment . This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without payment of penalty in the event of its assignment (as defined in section 2(a)(4) of the 1940 Act); provided that termination shall not relieve the Adviser of any liability incurred hereunder.

 

  11. Entire Agreement and Amendments.

(a) This Agreement represents the entire agreement among the parties with regard to the investment management matters described herein and may not be added to or changed orally and may not be modified or rescinded except by a writing signed by the parties hereto except as otherwise noted herein and in accordance with the 1940 Act, as applicable.

(b) Any amendment to this Agreement shall become effective with respect to a Fund upon the approval of the Adviser, the Board of the Trust, including a majority of Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested person” of the Trust or the Adviser (as defined in the 1940 Act), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting such approval and, if required under the 1940 Act, a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund.

 

8


(c) Any approval, amendment, or termination of this Agreement with respect to a Fund will not require the approval of any other Fund or the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, unless such approval is required by applicable law.

 

  12. Duration and Termination .

(a) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this section shall be without payment of any penalty. In the event of termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Adviser shall, immediately upon notice of termination or on such later date as may be specified in such notice, cease all activity on behalf of the Fund and with respect to any of its assets, except as otherwise required by any fiduciary duties of the Adviser under applicable law. In addition, the Adviser shall deliver the Fund Books and Records to the Trust by such means and in accordance with such schedule as the Trust shall direct and shall otherwise cooperate, as reasonably directed by the Trust, in the transition of portfolio asset management to any successor of the Adviser.

(b) This Agreement shall become effective as of the date executed and shall remain in full force and effect continually thereafter, subject to renewal as provided in subparagraph (e), unless terminated automatically as set forth in Section 10 hereof or until terminated as provided in subparagraph (c) (d) or (e).

(c) The Trust may cause this Agreement to terminate either by vote of its Board or, with respect to any Fund, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.

(d) The Adviser may at any time terminate this Agreement by not more than sixty (60) days’ nor less than thirty (30) days’ written notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the Trust.

(e) This Agreement shall automatically terminate two years from August 18, 2016 unless its renewal is specifically approved at least annually thereafter by (i) a majority vote of the Trustees, including a majority vote of such Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or the Adviser, at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval; or (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund; provided, however, that if the continuance of this Agreement is submitted to the shareholders of the Funds for their approval and such shareholders fail to approve such continuance of this Agreement as provided herein, then the Adviser may continue to serve hereunder as to the Funds in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

  13. Certain Definitions . For the purposes of this Agreement:

(a) The expression “affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Commission under the 1940 Act or any interpretations of the Commission staff.

 

9


(b) The terms “interested persons” and “assignment” shall have their respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act, subject, however, to such exemptions as may be granted by the Commission under the 1940 Act or any interpretations of the Commission staff.

14. Liability of the Adviser . The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Funds and all affiliated persons thereof (within the meaning of section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) and all controlling persons thereof (as described in section 15 of the 1933 Act) against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including reasonable legal and other expenses) incurred in any action, suit, proceeding or investigation as and when incurred by any of them by reason of or arising out of willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence, or by reason of or arising out of any violation of law, by the Adviser in the performance of its duties hereunder. The Adviser will not be liable to the Trust or to any Fund, or to any affiliated person or controlling person of any of them, for any loss, claim, damage or liability incurred by any of them in any action, suit, proceeding or investigation, or otherwise, by reason of or arising out of any investment decision, recommendation or other action taken or omitted by the Adviser under this Agreement lawfully, in good faith and in the absence of gross negligence.

15. Enforceability . Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms or provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

16. Limitation of Liability . The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that all litigation arising hereunder, whether direct or indirect, and of any and every nature whatsoever, shall be satisfied solely out of the assets of the affected Fund and that no Trustee, officer or employee or holder of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund or the Trust shall be personally liable for any of the foregoing liabilities. The Trust’s Certificate of Trust, as amended from time to time, is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Such Certificate of Trust and the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust describe in detail the respective responsibilities and limitations on liability of such Trustees, officers, employees and holders of shares of beneficial interest.

17. Jurisdiction . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of California and the Adviser consents to the jurisdiction of courts, both state or federal, in California, with respect to any dispute under this Agreement.

18. Paragraph Headings . The headings of paragraphs contained in this Agreement are provided for convenience only, form no part of this Agreement and shall not affect its construction.

 

10


19. Services Not Exclusive. The services of the Adviser to the Trust hereunder are not to be deemed exclusive, and the Adviser shall be free to render similar services to others so long as its services hereunder are not impaired thereby.

20. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON NEXT PAGE]

 

11


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be signed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.

SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST,

on behalf of each Fund listed on Schedule A

 

By:  

/s/ George M. Pereira

  Name: George M. Pereira
  Title: SVP & COO

CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Marie Chandoha

  Name: Marie Chandoha
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

12


SCHEDULE A

to the

AMENDED AND RESTATED ADVISORY AGREEMENT

dated as of June 6, 2017 between

SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST

and

CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

The Trust will pay to the Adviser as compensation for the Adviser’s services rendered, a fee, computed daily, at an annual rate, based on the average daily net assets of the respective Fund, in accordance the following fee schedule:

 

Fund

   Rate  

Schwab Target 2010 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

Schwab Target 2015 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

Schwab Target 2020 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

Schwab Target 2025 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

Schwab Target 2030 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

Schwab Target 2035 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

Schwab Target 2040 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

Schwab Target 2045 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

Schwab Target 2050 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

Schwab Target 2055 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

Schwab Target 2060 Index Fund

     0.08 %* 

 

* The Adviser will pay the operating expenses of the Fund, excluding shareholder servicing fees, acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, any brokerage expenses, and extraordinary or non-routine expenses.

 

A-1

SCHEDULE A

TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND

ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST AND CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

Fund

  

Original Contract Date

  

Effective Date

Schwab International Index Fund

   July 21, 1993    March 1, 2017

Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund

   October 14, 1993    March 1, 2017

Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund

   February 28, 1996    March 1, 2017

Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund

   April 15, 1999    March 1, 2017

Schwab Fundamental US Large Company Index Fund

   February 28, 2007    May 1, 2017

Schwab Fundamental US Small Company Index Fund

   February 28, 2007    May 1, 2017

Schwab Fundamental International Large Company Index Fund

   February 28, 2007    May 1, 2017

Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index Fund

   November 12, 2007    May 1, 2017

Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index Fund

   November 12, 2007    May 1, 2017

Schwab Fundamental Global Real Estate Index Fund

   September 3, 2014    June 1, 2017

 

Schwab Capital Trust       Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.

/s/ George Pereira

     

/s/ Marie Chandoha

George Pereira

Chief Operating Officer

     

Marie Chandoha

Chief Executive Officer

Dated as June 1, 2017


SCHEDULE B

TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND

ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

BETWEEN SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST AND

CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

ADVISORY FEE SCHEDULE

The fees listed below are for services provided under this Agreement

and are to be accrued daily and paid monthly in arrears:

 

Fund

   Rate  

Schwab International Index Fund

     0.06 %* 

Schwab Small-Cap Index Fund

     0.05 %* 

Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund

     0.03 %* 

Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund

     0.03 %* 

Schwab Fundamental US Large Company Index Fund

     0.25 %* 

Schwab Fundamental US Small Company Index Fund

     0.25 %* 

Schwab Fundamental International Large Company Index Fund

     0.25 %* 

Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index Fund

     0.39 %* 

Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index Fund

     0.39 %* 

Schwab Fundamental Global Real Estate Index Fund

     0.39 %* 

 

* The Investment Adviser will pay the operating expenses of the Fund, excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, any brokerage expenses and extraordinary or non-routine expenses, shareholder servicing fees, if applicable, and expenses paid by the Schwab Funds under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1.

 

Schwab Capital Trust       Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.

/s/ George Pereira

     

/s/ Marie Chandoha

George Pereira

Chief Operating Officer

     

Marie Chandoha

Chief Executive Officer

Dated as of June 1, 2017

LOGO

 

  

1900 K Street, NW

Washington, DC 20006

+1 202 261 3300 Main

+1 202 261 3333 Fax

www.dechert.com

 

June 16, 2017

Schwab Capital Trust

211 Main Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Schwab Capital Trust (the “Trust”), a trust duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in connection with Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, together with all Exhibits thereto (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), and Amendment No. 176 to the Registration Statement under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. We have examined such governmental and corporate certificates and records as we deemed necessary to render this opinion and we are familiar with the Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust and its Amended and Restated Bylaws, each as amended to date.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the shares proposed to be sold pursuant to the Registration Statement, when paid for as contemplated in the Registration Statement, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and to the use of our name in the Trust’s Registration Statement to be dated on or about June 19, 2017 and in any revised or amended versions thereof. In giving such consent, however, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Dechert LLP

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Schwab Capital Trust of our report dated December 16, 2016, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights, which appears in Laudus Small-Cap MarketMasters Fund’s and Laudus International MarketMasters Fund’s Annual Report on Form N-CSR for the year ended October 31, 2016. We also consent to the references to us under the headings “Financial Highlights,” “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” and “Portfolio Holdings Disclosure” in such Registration Statement.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Francisco, CA
June 16, 2017