As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April
26, 2019
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. 192
|
☒
|
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
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)
Jonathan de St. Paer
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 (date) pursuant to
paragraph (b)
□ 60 days after filing pursuant to
paragraph (a)(1)
□ On (date) pursuant to paragraph
(a)(1)
□ 75 days after filing pursuant to
paragraph (a)(2)
□ On (date) pursuant to paragraph
(a)(2) of Rule 485
If appropriate, check the following
box:
□ This post-effective amendment designates a
new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
Prospectus
| April
26, 2019
Schwab Funds
®
Schwab
®
Monthly Income Funds
Schwab
®
Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout
|
SWJRX
|
Schwab
®
Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout
|
SWKRX
|
Schwab
®
Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout
|
SWLRX
|
New Notice Regarding Shareholder Report
Delivery Options
Beginning on January
1, 2021, paper copies of a fund’s shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from a fund or from your financial intermediary (such as a bank or broker-dealer). Instead,
the reports will be made available on a fund’s website
www.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_prospectus
, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and the mailing will provide
a website link to access the report. You will continue to receive other fund regulatory documents (such as prospectuses or supplements) in paper unless you have elected to receive all fund documents electronically as described below.
If you would like to continue to receive a
fund’s future shareholder reports in paper free of charge after January 1, 2021, you can make that request: (1) by contacting your financial intermediary, if you invest through a financial intermediary; or (2) if you invest directly with a
fund, by calling 1-800-407-0256.
If
you already receive shareholder reports and other fund documents electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. If you do not receive shareholder reports and other fund documents electronically but would
like to do so, contact your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly with the funds, call 1-800-407-0256.
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.
Schwab Monthly Income Funds
Schwab
®
Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout
Investment Objective
The fund seeks to provide current income and, as a secondary
investment objective, 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. This table does not reflect any brokerage fees or commissions you may incur when buying or selling fund shares.
Shareholder
Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
None
|
Annual
Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
|
Management
fees
|
None
|
Distribution
(12b-1) fees
|
None
|
Other
expenses
|
0.19
|
Acquired
fund fees and expenses (AFFE)
1
|
0.50
|
Total
annual fund operating expenses
1
|
0.69
|
Less
expense reduction
|
(0.19)
|
Total
annual fund operating expenses (including AFFE) after expense reduction
1,2
|
0.50
|
1
|
AFFE are based on estimated
amounts for the current fiscal period. AFFE reflect fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the fund through its investments in the underlying funds. The total annual fund operating expenses in the fee table may differ from the expense ratios in
the fund’s “Financial Highlights” that include only the fund’s direct operating expenses and not AFFE.
|
2
|
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 fund to 0.00% 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. This agreement is limited to the fund’s direct operating expenses and does not apply to AFFE.
|
Example
This example is intended to help you compare
the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other 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 (including AFFE) after any expense reduction. The example does not
reflect any brokerage fees or commissions you may incur when buying or selling fund shares. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Expenses
on a $10,000 Investment
|
1
Year
|
3
Years
|
5
Years
|
10
Years
|
$51
|
$160
|
$280
|
$628
|
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 20% of the average value of its
portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing primarily in a combination of Schwab Funds
®
and Laudus Funds (the underlying funds) in accordance with its target asset allocation. The
investment adviser will allocate assets among the underlying funds, which will include equity funds, fixed income funds, and money market funds.
The fund intends to invest in a combination of underlying
funds; however, the fund may invest directly in equity and fixed income securities, cash and cash equivalents (including money market securities), exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and nonproprietary mutual funds.
The fund intends to allocate investments among various asset
classes such as equity, fixed income and cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds). The fund has its own distinct asset allocation strategy that is designed to accommodate the fund’s targeted annual payout percentage while
taking into account the fund’s specific risk tolerances and desired level of capital appreciation. The fund’s target asset allocation is not fixed, and the fund has the flexibility to move within the following asset allocation ranges
(under normal market conditions) at the discretion of the investment adviser: 20%-60% equity; 40%-70% fixed income; and 0%-10% cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds). Market appreciation or depreciation may cause the fund to be
temporarily outside these ranges.
The fund is designed
to offer investors a targeted annual payout of 3-4%. The targeted annual payout for the fund is based on historic yield environments over a ten year period. The fund’s actual annual payout could be higher or lower than the targeted annual
payout based on the interest rate environment and other market factors occurring during that year. The fund’s anticipated annual payout during a low interest rate environment is expected to be 1-3% and, during a high interest rate environment,
is expected to be 3-6%. The fund intends to make twelve monthly distributions to shareholders on or about the 15
th
calendar day of each month. The
amounts distributed to shareholders are not fixed and may not be
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout | Fund
Summary
1
the same each month. Although it cannot be guaranteed by the fund, the fund
does not expect to make distributions that will be treated as return of capital.
For temporary defensive purposes during unusual economic or
market conditions or for liquidity purposes, the fund may invest up to 100% of its assets directly 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:
Asset Allocation Risk.
The
fund is subject to the risk that the selection of the underlying funds and the allocation of the fund’s assets among the various asset classes and market segments may cause the fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment
objective.
Conflicts of Interest Risk.
The investment adviser’s authority to select and substitute underlying funds from a variety of affiliated and unaffiliated mutual funds and ETFs may create a conflict of interest because the fees paid to it and
its affiliates by some underlying funds are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds. The investment adviser also may have an incentive to select an affiliated underlying fund for other reasons, including to increase assets under
management or to support new investment strategies. In addition, other conflicts of interest may exist where the best interests of the affiliated underlying fund may not be aligned with those of the fund. However, the investment adviser is a
fiduciary to the fund and is legally obligated to act in the fund’s best interests when selecting underlying funds.
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.
Structural Risk.
The fund’s monthly income payments will be made from fund assets and will reduce the amount of assets available for investment by the fund. Even if the fund’s capital grows over time, such growth may be
insufficient to enable the fund to maintain the amount of its targeted annual payout and targeted monthly income payments. The fund’s investment losses may reduce the amount of future cash income payments an investor will receive from the
fund. The dollar amount of the fund’s monthly income payments could vary substantially from one year to the next and over time depending on several factors, including the performance of the financial markets in which the fund invests, the
allocation of fund assets across different asset classes and investments, the performance of the fund’s investment strategies, and the amount and timing of prior distributions by the fund. It is also possible for payments to go down
substantially from one year to the next and over time depending on the timing of an investor’s investments in
the fund. Any redemptions will proportionately reduce the amount of future
cash income payments to be received from the fund. There is no guarantee that the fund will make monthly income payments to its shareholders or, if made, that the fund’s monthly income payments to shareholders will remain at a fixed
amount.
Direct Investment Risk.
The fund may invest directly in cash, cash equivalents and equity and fixed-income securities, including money market securities, to maintain its allocations. The fund’s direct investment in these securities is
subject to the same or similar risks as an underlying fund’s investment in the same securities.
Underlying Fund Investment Risk.
Before investing in the fund, investors should assess the risks associated with the underlying funds in which the fund may invest, which include any combination of the risks described below.
•
|
Investment Risk.
The fund may experience losses with respect to its investment in an underlying fund. Further, there is no guarantee that an underlying fund will be able to achieve its objective.
|
•
|
Management Risk.
Certain underlying funds are actively managed mutual funds. An underlying fund’s adviser applies its 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 or cause the underlying fund to meet its objectives.
|
•
|
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, an underlying fund’s performance could be impacted.
|
•
|
Concentration Risk
. To the extent that an underlying fund’s or the index’s portfolio is concentrated in the securities of issuers in a particular market, industry, group of industries, sector, country or
asset class, the underlying fund may be adversely affected by the performance of those securities, may be subject to increased price volatility and may be more vulnerable to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting
that market, industry, group of industries, sector, country or asset class.
|
•
|
Fixed
Income Risk.
Interest rates rise and fall over time, which will affect an underlying fund’s yield and share price. A change in a central bank’s monetary policy or improving
economic conditions, among other things, may result in an increase in interest rates. A sharp rise in interest rates could cause an underlying fund to lose value. The credit quality of a portfolio
|
2
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout | Fund Summary
|
investment could also
cause an underlying fund’s share price to fall. An underlying fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a portfolio investment or the counterparty to a derivatives contract fails to make timely principal or interest
payments or otherwise honor its obligations. Fixed-income securities may be paid off earlier or later than expected. Either situation could cause an underlying fund to hold securities paying lower-than-market rates of interest, which could hurt
the fund’s yield or share price. Below investment-grade bonds (junk bonds) involve greater risks than investment-grade securities.
|
•
|
Foreign Investment Risk.
An underlying 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 an underlying fund’s investments, and could impair the underlying 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.
|
•
|
Derivatives
Risk.
An underlying 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. An underlying fund’s use of derivatives could reduce the underlying fund’s performance, increase volatility, and could cause the underlying 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 an underlying fund.
|
•
|
Leverage Risk.
Certain underlying fund transactions, such as derivatives transactions, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, and mortgage dollar rolls, may give rise to a form of leverage and may expose an
underlying fund to greater risk. Leverage tends to magnify the effect of any decrease or increase in the value of an underlying fund’s portfolio securities, which means even a small amount of leverage can have a disproportionately large impact
on the fund.
|
•
|
Money Market Fund Risk
. The fund may invest in underlying money market funds that either seek to maintain a stable $1 net asset value (“stable share price money market funds”) or that have a share price that
fluctuates (“variable share price money market funds”). Although an underlying stable share price money market fund seeks to maintain a stable $1 net asset value, it is possible to lose money by investing in such a money
|
|
market fund. Because the
share price of an underlying variable share price money market fund will fluctuate, when the fund sells the shares it owns they may be worth more or less than what the fund originally paid for them. In addition, neither type of money market fund is
designed to offer capital appreciation. Certain underlying money market funds may impose a fee upon the sale of shares or may temporarily suspend the ability to sell shares if such fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums.
|
•
|
Liquidity Risk.
An underlying fund may be unable to sell certain securities, such as illiquid securities, readily at a favorable time or price, or the underlying fund may have to sell them at a loss.
|
•
|
ETF Risk.
When an underlying fund invests in an ETF, it will bear a proportionate share of the ETF’s expenses. In addition, lack of liquidity in the market for an ETF’s shares can result in its
value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities.
|
•
|
Securities Lending Risk.
Certain underlying funds engage in securities lending, which 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.
|
•
|
Real Estate Investment Trusts
(REITs) Risk.
An underlying fund’s investments in REITs will be subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including fluctuations in the value of underlying
properties, defaults by borrowers or tenants, access to capital, changes in interest rates and risks related to general or local economic conditions. REITs are also subject to certain additional risks, for example, REITs may have their investments
in relatively few properties, a small geographic area or a single property type. In addition, REITs have their own expenses, and an underlying fund will bear a proportionate share of those expenses.
|
•
|
Mortgage-Backed and Mortgage
Pass-Through Securities Risk.
Certain of the mortgage-backed securities in which an underlying fund may invest are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and there can be no
assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support where it was not obligated to do so. Mortgage-backed securities tend to increase in value less than other debt securities when interest rates decline, but are subject to
similar or greater risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. Transactions in mortgage pass-through securities primarily occur through to be announced (TBA) transactions. Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty
to a TBA transaction would expose an underlying fund to possible losses.
|
•
|
Portfolio
Turnover Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds may buy and sell portfolio securities actively. If they do, their portfolio turnover rate and transaction costs will rise, which may lower the
underlying fund’s performance and may increase the likelihood of capital gains distributions.
|
For more information on the risks of investing in the fund and
the underlying funds, please see the “Fund Details” section in the prospectus.
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout | Fund Summary
3
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 the various periods compared to those of two broad based indices and a composite index based on
the fund’s target allocations. 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.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_prospectus
.
Annual Total Returns
(%) as of
12/31
Best Quarter:
8.88% Q3 2009
Worst Quarter:
(5.87%) Q4 2018
Average
Annual Total Returns
as of 12/31/18
|
|
1
Year
|
5
Years
|
10
Years
|
Before
taxes
|
(6.31%)
|
2.82%
|
6.02%
|
After
taxes on distributions
|
(7.30%)
|
1.28%
|
4.71%
|
After
taxes on distributions and sale of shares
|
(3.44%)
|
1.77%
|
4.40%
|
Comparative
Indexes
(reflect no deduction for expenses or taxes)
|
|
|
|
S&P
500 Index
|
(4.38%)
|
8.49%
|
13.12%
|
Bloomberg
Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index
|
0.01%
|
2.52%
|
3.48%
|
Moderate
Payout Composite Index
1
|
(2.93%)
|
4.16%
|
7.03%
|
1
|
The Moderate Payout Composite
Index is a custom blended index developed by CSIM based on a comparable portfolio asset allocation. Effective January 29, 2019, the Moderate Payout Composite Index is composed of 28.5% S&P 500 Index, 11.9% MSCI EAFE Index (Net), 7.1% FTSE EPRA
Nareit Global Index (Net), 50.5% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index, and 2.0% Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Bills: 1-3 Months Index. From April 1, 2013 to January 29, 2019, the Moderate Payout Composite Index is composed of 28.5% S&P
500 Index, 11.9% MSCI EAFE Index (Net), 7.1% FTSE EPRA Nareit Global Index (Net), 30.3% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index, 20.2% Bloomberg Barclays US Intermediate Aggregate Bond Index, and 2.0% Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Bills: 1-3
Months Index. Prior to April 1, 2013, the Moderate Payout Composite Index was composed of 40% S&P 500 Index and 60% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index. Percentages listed may not total to 100% due to rounding.
|
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. 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 on distributions and sale of shares may exceed the fund’s other returns due to an assumed benefit from any losses on a sale of shares at the end of the measurement period.
Investment Adviser
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
Portfolio Manager
Zifan Tang, Ph.D., CFA,
Senior Portfolio Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. She has managed the fund since 2012.
Patrick Kwok, CFA,
Portfolio
Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. He has managed the fund since April 2019.
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.
New investors may only invest in the
fund through an account at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) or another financial intermediary. When you place orders to purchase, exchange or redeem fund shares through an account at Schwab or another financial intermediary, you must follow
Schwab’s or the other financial intermediary’s transaction procedures. Investors who purchased fund shares prior to October 2, 2017 and hold such shares directly through the fund’s transfer agent may make additional purchases and
place exchange and redemption orders through the fund’s transfer agent by contacting the transfer agent by phone or in writing as noted below:
•
|
by telephone at
1-800-407-0256; or
|
•
|
by mail to DST Asset Manager
Solutions, Inc., Attn: Schwab Funds, P.O. Box 219647, Kansas City, MO 64121-9647.
|
There is no minimum initial investment for the fund.
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
4
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout | Fund Summary
intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another
investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Schwab Monthly
Income Fund – Moderate Payout | Fund Summary
5
Schwab
®
Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout
Investment Objective
The fund seeks to provide current income and, as a secondary
investment objective, 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. This table does not reflect any brokerage fees or commissions you may incur when buying or selling fund shares.
Shareholder
Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
None
|
Annual
Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
|
Management
fees
|
None
|
Distribution
(12b-1) fees
|
None
|
Other
expenses
|
0.12
|
Acquired
fund fees and expenses (AFFE)
1
|
0.35
|
Total
annual fund operating expenses
1
|
0.47
|
Less
expense reduction
|
(0.12)
|
Total
annual fund operating expenses (including AFFE) after expense reduction
1,2
|
0.35
|
1
|
AFFE are based on estimated
amounts for the current fiscal period. AFFE reflect fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the fund through its investments in the underlying funds. The total annual fund operating expenses in the fee table may differ from the expense ratios in
the fund’s “Financial Highlights” that include only the fund’s direct operating expenses and not AFFE.
|
2
|
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 fund to 0.00% 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. This agreement is limited to the fund’s direct operating expenses and does not apply to AFFE.
|
Example
This example is intended to help you compare
the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other 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 (including AFFE) after any expense reduction. The example does not
reflect any brokerage fees or commissions you may incur when buying or selling fund shares. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Expenses
on a $10,000 Investment
|
1
Year
|
3
Years
|
5
Years
|
10
Years
|
$36
|
$113
|
$197
|
$443
|
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 9% of the average value of its
portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing primarily in a combination of Schwab Funds
®
and Laudus Funds (the underlying funds) in accordance with its target asset allocation. The
investment adviser will allocate assets among the underlying funds, which will include equity funds, fixed income funds, and money market funds.
The fund intends to invest in a combination of underlying
funds; however, the fund may invest directly in equity and fixed income securities, cash and cash equivalents (including money market securities), exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and nonproprietary mutual funds.
The fund intends to allocate investments among various asset
classes such as equity, fixed income and cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds). The fund has its own distinct asset allocation strategy that is designed to accommodate the fund’s targeted annual payout percentage while
taking into account the fund’s specific risk tolerances and desired level of capital appreciation. The fund’s target asset allocation is not fixed, and the fund has the flexibility to move within the following asset allocation ranges
(under normal market conditions) at the discretion of the investment adviser: 10%-40% equity; 50%-90% fixed income; and 0%-12% cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds). Market appreciation or depreciation may cause the fund to be
temporarily outside these ranges.
The fund is designed
to offer investors a targeted annual payout of 4-5%. The targeted annual payout for the fund is based on historic yield environments over a ten year period. The fund’s actual annual payout could be higher or lower than the targeted annual
payout based on the interest rate environment and other market factors occurring during that year. The fund’s anticipated annual payout during a low interest rate environment is expected to be 1-4% and, during a high interest rate environment,
is expected to be 4-7%. The fund intends to make twelve monthly distributions to shareholders on or about the 15
th
calendar day of each month. The
amounts distributed to shareholders are not fixed and may not be
6
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout | Fund Summary
the same each month. Although it cannot be guaranteed by the fund, the fund
does not expect to make distributions that will be treated as return of capital.
For temporary defensive purposes during unusual economic or
market conditions or for liquidity purposes, the fund may invest up to 100% of its assets directly 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:
Asset Allocation Risk.
The
fund is subject to the risk that the selection of the underlying funds and the allocation of the fund’s assets among the various asset classes and market segments may cause the fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment
objective.
Conflicts of Interest Risk.
The investment adviser’s authority to select and substitute underlying funds from a variety of affiliated and unaffiliated mutual funds and ETFs may create a conflict of interest because the fees paid to it and
its affiliates by some underlying funds are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds. The investment adviser also may have an incentive to select an affiliated underlying fund for other reasons, including to increase assets under
management or to support new investment strategies. In addition, other conflicts of interest may exist where the best interests of the affiliated underlying fund may not be aligned with those of the fund. However, the investment adviser is a
fiduciary to the fund and is legally obligated to act in the fund’s best interests when selecting underlying funds.
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.
Structural Risk.
The fund’s monthly income payments will be made from fund assets and will reduce the amount of assets available for investment by the fund. Even if the fund’s capital grows over time, such growth may be
insufficient to enable the fund to maintain the amount of its targeted annual payout and targeted monthly income payments. The fund’s investment losses may reduce the amount of future cash income payments an investor will receive from the
fund. The dollar amount of the fund’s monthly income payments could vary substantially from one year to the next and over time depending on several factors, including the performance of the financial markets in which the fund invests, the
allocation of fund assets across different asset classes and investments, the performance of the fund’s investment strategies, and the amount and timing of prior distributions by the fund. It is also possible for payments to go down
substantially from one year to the next and over time depending on the timing of an investor’s investments in
the fund. Any redemptions will proportionately reduce the amount of future
cash income payments to be received from the fund. There is no guarantee that the fund will make monthly income payments to its shareholders or, if made, that the fund’s monthly income payments to shareholders will remain at a fixed
amount.
Direct Investment Risk.
The fund may invest directly in cash, cash equivalents and equity and fixed-income securities, including money market securities, to maintain its allocations. The fund’s direct investment in these securities is
subject to the same or similar risks as an underlying fund’s investment in the same securities.
Underlying Fund Investment Risk.
Before investing in the fund, investors should assess the risks associated with the underlying funds in which the fund may invest, which include any combination of the risks described below.
•
|
Investment Risk.
The fund may experience losses with respect to its investment in an underlying fund. Further, there is no guarantee that an underlying fund will be able to achieve its objective.
|
•
|
Management Risk.
Certain underlying funds are actively managed mutual funds. An underlying fund’s adviser applies its 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 or cause the underlying fund to meet its objectives.
|
•
|
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, an underlying fund’s performance could be impacted.
|
•
|
Concentration Risk
. To the extent that an underlying fund’s or the index’s portfolio is concentrated in the securities of issuers in a particular market, industry, group of industries, sector, country or
asset class, the underlying fund may be adversely affected by the performance of those securities, may be subject to increased price volatility and may be more vulnerable to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting
that market, industry, group of industries, sector, country or asset class.
|
•
|
Fixed
Income Risk.
Interest rates rise and fall over time, which will affect an underlying fund’s yield and share price. A change in a central bank’s monetary policy or improving
economic conditions, among other things, may result in an increase in interest rates. A sharp rise in interest rates could cause an underlying fund to lose value. The credit quality of a portfolio
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout | Fund Summary
7
|
investment could also
cause an underlying fund’s share price to fall. An underlying fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a portfolio investment or the counterparty to a derivatives contract fails to make timely principal or interest
payments or otherwise honor its obligations. Fixed-income securities may be paid off earlier or later than expected. Either situation could cause an underlying fund to hold securities paying lower-than-market rates of interest, which could hurt
the fund’s yield or share price. Below investment-grade bonds (junk bonds) involve greater risks than investment-grade securities.
|
•
|
Foreign Investment Risk.
An underlying 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 an underlying fund’s investments, and could impair the underlying 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.
|
•
|
Derivatives
Risk.
An underlying 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. An underlying fund’s use of derivatives could reduce the underlying fund’s performance, increase volatility, and could cause the underlying 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 an underlying fund.
|
•
|
Leverage Risk.
Certain underlying fund transactions, such as derivatives transactions, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, and mortgage dollar rolls, may give rise to a form of leverage and may expose an
underlying fund to greater risk. Leverage tends to magnify the effect of any decrease or increase in the value of an underlying fund’s portfolio securities, which means even a small amount of leverage can have a disproportionately large impact
on the fund.
|
•
|
Money Market Fund Risk
. The fund may invest in underlying money market funds that either seek to maintain a stable $1 net asset value (“stable share price money market funds”) or that have a share price that
fluctuates (“variable share price money market funds”). Although an underlying stable share price money market fund seeks to maintain a stable $1 net asset value, it is possible to lose money by investing in such a money
|
|
market fund. Because the
share price of an underlying variable share price money market fund will fluctuate, when the fund sells the shares it owns they may be worth more or less than what the fund originally paid for them. In addition, neither type of money market fund is
designed to offer capital appreciation. Certain underlying money market funds may impose a fee upon the sale of shares or may temporarily suspend the ability to sell shares if such fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums.
|
•
|
Liquidity Risk.
An underlying fund may be unable to sell certain securities, such as illiquid securities, readily at a favorable time or price, or the underlying fund may have to sell them at a loss.
|
•
|
ETF Risk.
When an underlying fund invests in an ETF, it will bear a proportionate share of the ETF’s expenses. In addition, lack of liquidity in the market for an ETF’s shares can result in its
value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities.
|
•
|
Securities Lending Risk.
Certain underlying funds engage in securities lending, which 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.
|
•
|
Real Estate Investment Trusts
(REITs) Risk.
An underlying fund’s investments in REITs will be subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including fluctuations in the value of underlying
properties, defaults by borrowers or tenants, access to capital, changes in interest rates and risks related to general or local economic conditions. REITs are also subject to certain additional risks, for example, REITs may have their investments
in relatively few properties, a small geographic area or a single property type. In addition, REITs have their own expenses, and an underlying fund will bear a proportionate share of those expenses.
|
•
|
Mortgage-Backed and Mortgage
Pass-Through Securities Risk.
Certain of the mortgage-backed securities in which an underlying fund may invest are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and there can be no
assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support where it was not obligated to do so. Mortgage-backed securities tend to increase in value less than other debt securities when interest rates decline, but are subject to
similar or greater risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. Transactions in mortgage pass-through securities primarily occur through to be announced (TBA) transactions. Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty
to a TBA transaction would expose an underlying fund to possible losses.
|
•
|
Portfolio
Turnover Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds may buy and sell portfolio securities actively. If they do, their portfolio turnover rate and transaction costs will rise, which may lower the
underlying fund’s performance and may increase the likelihood of capital gains distributions.
|
For more information on the risks of investing in the fund and
the underlying funds, please see the “Fund Details” section in the prospectus.
8
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout | Fund Summary
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 the various periods compared to those of two broad based indices and a composite index based on
the fund’s target allocations. 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.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_prospectus
.
Annual Total Returns
(%) as of
12/31
Best Quarter:
6.95% Q3 2009
Worst Quarter:
(3.47%) Q4 2018
Average
Annual Total Returns
as of 12/31/18
|
|
1
Year
|
5
Years
|
10
Years
|
Before
taxes
|
(4.20%)
|
2.60%
|
5.05%
|
After
taxes on distributions
|
(5.19%)
|
1.49%
|
3.95%
|
After
taxes on distributions and sale of shares
|
(2.30%)
|
1.62%
|
3.59%
|
Comparative
Indexes
(reflect no deduction for expenses or taxes)
|
|
|
|
S&P
500 Index
|
(4.38%)
|
8.49%
|
13.12%
|
Bloomberg
Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index
|
0.01%
|
2.52%
|
3.48%
|
Enhanced
Payout Composite Index
1
|
(1.85%)
|
3.60%
|
5.80%
|
1
|
The Enhanced Payout Composite
Index is a custom blended index developed by CSIM based on a comparable portfolio asset allocation. Effective January 29, 2019, the Enhanced Payout Composite Index is composed of 19.5% S&P 500 Index, 8.1% MSCI EAFE Index (Net), 4.9% FTSE EPRA
Nareit Global Index (Net), 65.5% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index, and 2.0% Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Bills 1-3 Month Index. From April 1, 2013 to January 29, 2019, the Enhanced Payout Composite Index is composed of 19.5% S&P 500
Index, 8.1% MSCI EAFE Index (Net), 4.9% FTSE EPRA Nareit Global Index (Net), 39.3% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index, 26.2% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Intermediate Bond Index, and 2.0% Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Bills 1-3 Month
Index. Prior to April 1, 2013, the Enhanced Payout Composite Index was composed of 25% S& P 500 Index and 75% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index. Percentages listed may not total to 100% due to rounding.
|
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. 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 on distributions and sale of shares may exceed the fund’s other returns due to an assumed benefit from any losses on a sale of shares at the end of the measurement period.
Investment Adviser
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
Portfolio Manager
Zifan Tang, Ph.D., CFA,
Senior Portfolio Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. She has managed the fund since 2012.
Patrick Kwok, CFA,
Portfolio
Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. He has managed the fund since April 2019.
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.
New investors may only invest in the
fund through an account at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) or another financial intermediary. When you place orders to purchase, exchange or redeem fund shares through an account at Schwab or another financial intermediary, you must follow
Schwab’s or the other financial intermediary’s transaction procedures. Investors who purchased fund shares prior to October 2, 2017 and hold such shares directly through the fund’s transfer agent may make additional purchases and
place exchange and redemption orders through the fund’s transfer agent by contacting the transfer agent by phone or in writing as noted below:
•
|
by telephone at
1-800-407-0256; or
|
•
|
by mail to DST Asset Manager
Solutions, Inc., Attn: Schwab Funds, P.O. Box 219647, Kansas City, MO 64121-9647.
|
There is no minimum initial investment for the fund.
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
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout | Fund Summary
9
intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another
investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
10
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout | Fund Summary
Schwab
®
Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout
Investment Objective
The fund seeks to provide current income and, as a secondary
investment objective, 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. This table does not reflect any brokerage fees or commissions you may incur when buying or selling fund shares.
Shareholder
Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
None
|
Annual
Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)
|
Management
fees
|
None
|
Distribution
(12b-1) fees
|
None
|
Other
expenses
|
0.20
|
Acquired
fund fees and expenses (AFFE)
1
|
0.21
|
Total
annual fund operating expenses
1
|
0.41
|
Less
expense reduction
|
(0.20)
|
Total
annual fund operating expenses (including AFFE) after expense reduction
1,2
|
0.21
|
1
|
AFFE are based on estimated
amounts for the current fiscal period. AFFE reflect fees and expenses incurred indirectly by the fund through its investments in the underlying funds. The total annual fund operating expenses in the fee table may differ from the expense ratios in
the fund’s “Financial Highlights” that include only the fund’s direct operating expenses and not AFFE.
|
2
|
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 fund to 0.00% 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. This agreement is limited to the fund’s direct operating expenses and does not apply to AFFE.
|
Example
This example is intended to help you compare
the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other 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 (including AFFE) after any expense reduction. The example does not
reflect any brokerage fees or commissions you may incur when buying or selling fund shares. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.
Expenses
on a $10,000 Investment
|
1
Year
|
3
Years
|
5
Years
|
10
Years
|
$22
|
$68
|
$118
|
$268
|
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 11% of the average value of its
portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing primarily in a combination of Schwab Funds
®
and Laudus Funds (the underlying funds) in accordance with its target asset allocation. The
investment adviser will allocate assets among the underlying funds, which will include equity funds, fixed income funds, and money market funds.
The fund intends to invest in a combination of underlying
funds; however, the fund may invest directly in equity and fixed income securities, cash and cash equivalents (including money market securities), exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and nonproprietary mutual funds.
The fund intends to allocate investments among various asset
classes such as equity, fixed income and cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds). The fund has its own distinct asset allocation strategy that is designed to accommodate the fund’s targeted annual payout percentage while
taking into account the fund’s specific risk tolerances and desired level of capital appreciation. The fund’s target asset allocation is not fixed, and the fund has the flexibility to move within the following asset allocation ranges
(under normal market conditions) at the discretion of the investment adviser: 0%-25% equity; 60%-100% fixed income; and 0%-15% cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds). Market appreciation or depreciation may cause the fund to be
temporarily outside these ranges.
The fund is designed
to offer investors a targeted annual payout of 5-6%. The targeted annual payout for the fund is based on historic yield environments over a ten year period. The fund’s actual annual payout could be higher or lower than the targeted annual
payout based on the interest rate environment and other market factors occurring during that year. The fund’s anticipated annual payout during a low interest rate environment is expected to be 1-5% and, during a high interest rate environment,
is expected to be 5-8%. The fund intends to make twelve monthly distributions to shareholders on or about the 15
th
calendar day of each month. The
amounts distributed to shareholders are not fixed and may not be
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout | Fund
Summary
11
the same each month. Although it cannot be guaranteed by the fund, the fund
does not expect to make distributions that will be treated as return of capital.
For temporary defensive purposes during unusual economic or
market conditions or for liquidity purposes, the fund may invest up to 100% of its assets directly 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:
Asset Allocation Risk.
The
fund is subject to the risk that the selection of the underlying funds and the allocation of the fund’s assets among the various asset classes and market segments may cause the fund to underperform other funds with a similar investment
objective.
Conflicts of Interest Risk.
The investment adviser’s authority to select and substitute underlying funds from a variety of affiliated and unaffiliated mutual funds and ETFs may create a conflict of interest because the fees paid to it and
its affiliates by some underlying funds are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds. The investment adviser also may have an incentive to select an affiliated underlying fund for other reasons, including to increase assets under
management or to support new investment strategies. In addition, other conflicts of interest may exist where the best interests of the affiliated underlying fund may not be aligned with those of the fund. However, the investment adviser is a
fiduciary to the fund and is legally obligated to act in the fund’s best interests when selecting underlying funds.
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.
Structural Risk.
The fund’s monthly income payments will be made from fund assets and will reduce the amount of assets available for investment by the fund. Even if the fund’s capital grows over time, such growth may be
insufficient to enable the fund to maintain the amount of its targeted annual payout and targeted monthly income payments. The fund’s investment losses may reduce the amount of future cash income payments an investor will receive from the
fund. The dollar amount of the fund’s monthly income payments could vary substantially from one year to the next and over time depending on several factors, including the performance of the financial markets in which the fund invests, the
allocation of fund assets across different asset classes and investments, the performance of the fund’s investment strategies, and the amount and timing of prior distributions by the fund. It is also possible for payments to go down
substantially from one year to the next and over time depending on the timing of an investor’s investments in
the fund. Any redemptions will proportionately reduce the amount of future
cash income payments to be received from the fund. There is no guarantee that the fund will make monthly income payments to its shareholders or, if made, that the fund’s monthly income payments to shareholders will remain at a fixed
amount.
Direct Investment Risk.
The fund may invest directly in cash, cash equivalents and equity and fixed-income securities, including money market securities, to maintain its allocations. The fund’s direct investment in these securities is
subject to the same or similar risks as an underlying fund’s investment in the same securities.
Underlying Fund Investment Risk.
Before investing in the fund, investors should assess the risks associated with the underlying funds in which the fund may invest, which include any combination of the risks described below.
•
|
Investment Risk.
The fund may experience losses with respect to its investment in an underlying fund. Further, there is no guarantee that an underlying fund will be able to achieve its objective.
|
•
|
Management Risk.
Certain underlying funds are actively managed mutual funds. An underlying fund’s adviser applies its 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 or cause the underlying fund to meet its objectives.
|
•
|
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, an underlying fund’s performance could be impacted.
|
•
|
Concentration Risk
. To the extent that an underlying fund’s or the index’s portfolio is concentrated in the securities of issuers in a particular market, industry, group of industries, sector, country or
asset class, the underlying fund may be adversely affected by the performance of those securities, may be subject to increased price volatility and may be more vulnerable to adverse economic, market, political or regulatory occurrences affecting
that market, industry, group of industries, sector, country or asset class.
|
•
|
Fixed
Income Risk.
Interest rates rise and fall over time, which will affect an underlying fund’s yield and share price. A change in a central bank’s monetary policy or improving
economic conditions, among other things, may result in an increase in interest rates. A sharp rise in interest rates could cause an underlying fund to lose value. The credit quality of a portfolio
|
12
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout | Fund Summary
|
investment could also
cause an underlying fund’s share price to fall. An underlying fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a portfolio investment or the counterparty to a derivatives contract fails to make timely principal or interest
payments or otherwise honor its obligations. Fixed-income securities may be paid off earlier or later than expected. Either situation could cause an underlying fund to hold securities paying lower-than-market rates of interest, which could hurt
the fund’s yield or share price. Below investment-grade bonds (junk bonds) involve greater risks than investment-grade securities.
|
•
|
Foreign Investment Risk.
An underlying 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 an underlying fund’s investments, and could impair the underlying 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.
|
•
|
Derivatives
Risk.
An underlying 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. An underlying fund’s use of derivatives could reduce the underlying fund’s performance, increase volatility, and could cause the underlying 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 an underlying fund.
|
•
|
Leverage Risk.
Certain underlying fund transactions, such as derivatives transactions, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, and mortgage dollar rolls, may give rise to a form of leverage and may expose an
underlying fund to greater risk. Leverage tends to magnify the effect of any decrease or increase in the value of an underlying fund’s portfolio securities, which means even a small amount of leverage can have a disproportionately large impact
on the fund.
|
•
|
Money Market Fund Risk
. The fund may invest in underlying money market funds that either seek to maintain a stable $1 net asset value (“stable share price money market funds”) or that have a share price that
fluctuates (“variable share price money market funds”). Although an underlying stable share price money market fund seeks to maintain a stable $1 net asset value, it is possible to lose money by investing in such a money
|
|
market fund. Because the
share price of an underlying variable share price money market fund will fluctuate, when the fund sells the shares it owns they may be worth more or less than what the fund originally paid for them. In addition, neither type of money market fund is
designed to offer capital appreciation. Certain underlying money market funds may impose a fee upon the sale of shares or may temporarily suspend the ability to sell shares if such fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums.
|
•
|
Liquidity Risk.
An underlying fund may be unable to sell certain securities, such as illiquid securities, readily at a favorable time or price, or the underlying fund may have to sell them at a loss.
|
•
|
ETF Risk.
When an underlying fund invests in an ETF, it will bear a proportionate share of the ETF’s expenses. In addition, lack of liquidity in the market for an ETF’s shares can result in its
value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities.
|
•
|
Securities Lending Risk.
Certain underlying funds engage in securities lending, which 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.
|
•
|
Real Estate Investment Trusts
(REITs) Risk.
An underlying fund’s investments in REITs will be subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, including fluctuations in the value of underlying
properties, defaults by borrowers or tenants, access to capital, changes in interest rates and risks related to general or local economic conditions. REITs are also subject to certain additional risks, for example, REITs may have their investments
in relatively few properties, a small geographic area or a single property type. In addition, REITs have their own expenses, and an underlying fund will bear a proportionate share of those expenses.
|
•
|
Mortgage-Backed and Mortgage
Pass-Through Securities Risk.
Certain of the mortgage-backed securities in which an underlying fund may invest are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and there can be no
assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support where it was not obligated to do so. Mortgage-backed securities tend to increase in value less than other debt securities when interest rates decline, but are subject to
similar or greater risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. Transactions in mortgage pass-through securities primarily occur through to be announced (TBA) transactions. Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty
to a TBA transaction would expose an underlying fund to possible losses.
|
•
|
Portfolio
Turnover Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds may buy and sell portfolio securities actively. If they do, their portfolio turnover rate and transaction costs will rise, which may lower the
underlying fund’s performance and may increase the likelihood of capital gains distributions.
|
For more information on the risks of investing in the fund and
the underlying funds, please see the “Fund Details” section in the prospectus.
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout | Fund Summary
13
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 the various periods compared to those of two broad based indices and a composite index based on
the fund’s target allocations. 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.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_prospectus
.
Annual Total Returns
(%) as of
12/31
Best Quarter:
5.07% Q3 2009
Worst Quarter:
(1.86%) Q4 2016
Average
Annual Total Returns
as of 12/31/18
|
|
1
Year
|
5
Years
|
10
Years
|
Before
taxes
|
(2.31%)
|
2.32%
|
3.81%
|
After
taxes on distributions
|
(3.42%)
|
1.05%
|
2.62%
|
After
taxes on distributions and sale of shares
|
(1.20%)
|
1.35%
|
2.55%
|
Comparative
Indexes
(reflect no deduction for expenses or taxes)
|
|
|
|
S&P
500 Index
|
(4.38%)
|
8.49%
|
13.12%
|
Bloomberg
Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index
|
0.01%
|
2.52%
|
3.48%
|
Maximum
Payout Composite Index
1
|
(0.79%)
|
3.02%
|
4.54%
|
1
|
The Maximum Payout Composite
Index is a custom blended index developed by CSIM based on a comparable portfolio asset allocation. Effective January 29, 2019, the Maximum Payout Composite Index is composed of 10.5% S&P 500 Index, 4.4% MSCI EAFE Index (Net), 2.6% FTSE EPRA
Nareit Global Index (Net), 80.5% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index, and 2.0% Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Bills 1-3 Month Index. From April 1, 2013 to January 29, 2019, the Maximum Payout Composite Index was composed of 10.5% S&P 500
Index, 4.4% MSCI EAFE Index (Net), 2.6% FTSE EPRA Nareit Global Index (Net), 48.3% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index, 32.2% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Intermediate Bond Index, and 2.0% Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Bills 1-3 Month
Index. Prior to April 1, 2013, the Maximum Payout Composite Index was composed of 10% S& P 500 Index and 90% Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index. Percentages listed may not total to 100% due to rounding.
|
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. 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 on distributions and sale of shares may exceed the fund’s other returns due to an assumed benefit from any losses on a sale of shares at the end of the measurement period.
Investment Adviser
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
Portfolio Manager
Zifan Tang, Ph.D., CFA,
Senior Portfolio Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. She has managed the fund since 2012.
Patrick Kwok, CFA,
Portfolio
Manager, is responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the fund. He has managed the fund since April 2019.
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.
New investors may only invest in the
fund through an account at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Schwab) or another financial intermediary. When you place orders to purchase, exchange or redeem fund shares through an account at Schwab or another financial intermediary, you must follow
Schwab’s or the other financial intermediary’s transaction procedures. Investors who purchased fund shares prior to October 2, 2017 and hold such shares directly through the fund’s transfer agent may make additional purchases and
place exchange and redemption orders through the fund’s transfer agent by contacting the transfer agent by phone or in writing as noted below:
•
|
by telephone at
1-800-407-0256; or
|
•
|
by mail to DST Asset Manager
Solutions, Inc., Attn: Schwab Funds, P.O. Box 219647, Kansas City, MO 64121-9647.
|
There is no minimum initial investment for the fund.
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
14
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout | Fund Summary
intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another
investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
Schwab Monthly
Income Fund – Maximum Payout | Fund Summary
15
About the Funds
The Schwab Monthly Income Funds (the funds) share the same
investment approach: each seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in a combination of Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds (the underlying funds) in accordance with its target asset allocation. The investment adviser will allocate
assets among the underlying funds, which will include equity funds, fixed income funds, and money market funds. The funds are designed to generate monthly income payments and appreciate capital over the long term. The funds may be appropriate for
investors who are seeking monthly income payments and who are willing to accept the risks associated with the funds’ asset allocation strategies. Because the funds invest in other mutual funds, each fund is considered a “fund of
funds.”
The funds are designed for long-term
investors. Their performance will fluctuate over time and, as with all investments, future performance may differ from past performance.
Investor Profile
The funds are designed to offer investors a professionally
managed investment plan that simplifies the investment management of an investor’s assets. In particular, the funds may be appropriate for investors seeking current income and the opportunity for future growth potential.
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Moderate Payout:
|
This
fund is designed to offer investors a targeted annual payout of 3-4% and an increase in capital over the long term that is expected to be greater than that of the Enhanced Payout Fund and the Maximum Payout Fund.
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Enhanced Payout:
|
This
fund is designed to offer investors a targeted annual payout of 4-5% and an increase in capital over the long term that is expected to be less than that of the Moderate Payout Fund and greater than that of the Maximum Payout Fund.
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Maximum Payout:
|
This
fund is designed to offer investors a targeted annual payout of 5-6% and an increase in capital over the long term that is expected to be less than that of the Moderate Payout Fund and the Enhanced Payout Fund.
|
A fund reserves the right to modify its targeted annual payout
should circumstances warrant a change.
Who may want to
invest in the funds?
The funds may be a suitable
investment for investors:
•
|
seeking funds that combine
the potential for capital appreciation and income
|
•
|
seeking
funds that allocate their assets among both equity and fixed income investments
|
Who may not want to invest in the funds?
The funds may not be suitable for investors:
•
|
seeking to invest for a
short period of time
|
•
|
uncomfortable with
fluctuations in the value of their investment
|
•
|
seeking
to use the funds for educational savings accounts
|
16
Schwab
Monthly Income Funds | About the Funds
Fund Details
Investment Objectives
Each fund seeks to provide current income and, as a secondary
investment objective, capital appreciation.
Except with
respect to the Schwab Monthly Income Fund — Enhanced Payout, each fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and therefore may be changed by the fund’s board of trustees without shareholder approval.
Investment Strategies
Each fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing primarily in a combination of Schwab Funds
®
and Laudus Funds (the underlying funds) in accordance with its target asset allocation. The
investment adviser will allocate assets among the underlying funds, which will include equity funds, fixed income funds, and money market funds.
Each fund intends to invest in a combination of underlying
funds; however, each fund may invest directly in equity and fixed income securities, cash and cash equivalents (including money market securities), exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and nonproprietary mutual funds.
For temporary defensive purposes during unusual economic or
market conditions or for liquidity purposes, each fund may invest up to 100% of its assets directly in cash, money market instruments, repurchase agreements and other short-term obligations. When a fund engages in such activities, it may not achieve
its investment objective.
Description of Asset Allocation
Strategies
Each fund intends to allocate investments
among various asset classes such as equity, fixed income, cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds). Each fund has its own distinct asset allocation strategy that is designed to accommodate the fund’s targeted annual payout
percentage while taking into account the fund’s specific risk tolerances and desired level of capital appreciation.
Each fund’s target asset allocation is not fixed, and
each fund has the flexibility to move within the asset allocation ranges set forth below at the discretion of the investment adviser:
Asset Class (Target Allocation Range — Under Normal
Market Conditions)*
Fund
|
Equity
|
Fixed
Income
|
Cash
and
Cash Equivalents
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Moderate Payout
|
20-60%
|
40-70%
|
0-10%
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Enhanced Payout
|
10-40%
|
50-90%
|
0-12%
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Maximum Payout
|
0-25%
|
60-100%
|
0-15%
|
*
|
Market appreciation or
depreciation may cause a fund to be temporarily outside the ranges identified in the table.
|
Description of Distribution Goals
Each fund’s distribution goal is to provide a targeted
annual payout of income to shareholders. The targeted annual payout for each fund is as follows:
|
Targeted
Annual Payout
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Moderate Payout
|
3-4%
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Enhanced Payout
|
4-5%
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Maximum Payout
|
5-6%
|
A fund’s actual annual payout
could be higher or lower than the targeted annual payout based on the interest rate environment and other market factors occurring during that year. During a low interest rate environment, it is generally expected that the funds will have lower
actual annual payouts. Conversely, during a high interest rate environment, it is generally expected that the funds will have higher actual
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Fund
Details
17
annual payouts. The expected impact of interest rate changes on each
fund’s actual annual payout is set forth below and may be modified annually based on the investment adviser’s forecast of interest rates.
|
Anticipated
Annual
Payout in Low Interest
Rate Environment
|
Anticipated
Annual
Payout in High Interest
Rate Environment
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Moderate Payout
|
1-3%
|
3-6%
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Enhanced Payout
|
1-4%
|
4-7%
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund — Maximum Payout
|
1-5%
|
5-8%
|
Each fund pays out income based on
the investment adviser’s annual projection of income and forecast of interest rates for the upcoming year. As mentioned above, each fund’s actual annual payout may be higher or lower than the fund’s targeted annual payout. There is
no guarantee that a fund will be able to achieve its distribution goal during any given year. In addition to the interest rate environment discussed above, a fund’s actual annual payout could also be affected by a number of other factors,
including, without limitation, the performance of the financial markets in which the fund invests, the allocation of fund assets across different asset classes and investments, the performance of the fund’s investment strategies, and the
amount and timing of prior distributions by the fund.
Each fund makes monthly income payments to shareholders on or
about the 15th calendar day of each month. Each fund seeks to tailor the amount of its monthly income payments in order to moderate fluctuations in the amounts distributed to shareholders over the course of the year. Although each fund attempts to
moderate fluctuations, the amounts distributed to shareholders are not fixed and may not be the same each month. Further, there is no guarantee that a fund will make monthly income payments to its shareholders. Each fund may make an additional
distribution at the end of the year in order to comply with applicable law. This additional distribution may include an income component that may be higher or lower than a fund’s regular monthly income payment.
Although it cannot be guaranteed by the funds, the funds do
not expect to make distributions that will be treated as return of capital. At the end of the year, the funds may be required under applicable law to recharacterize distributions for the year among ordinary income, capital gains, and return of
capital (if any) for purposes of tax reporting to shareholders.
More Information About Principal Investment
Risks
Each fund is subject to risks, any of which could
cause an investor to lose money. Principal risks of the funds include:
Conflicts of Interest Risk.
The investment adviser’s authority to select and substitute underlying funds from a variety of affiliated and unaffiliated mutual funds and ETFs may create a conflict of interest because the fees paid to it and its affiliates by some
underlying funds are higher than the fees paid by other underlying funds. The investment adviser also may have an incentive to select an affiliated underlying fund for other reasons, including to increase assets under management or to support new
investment strategies. In addition, other conflicts of interest may exist. For example, the investment adviser’s decisions to cause a fund to purchase or redeem shares of an affiliated underlying fund could be influenced by its belief that an
affiliated underlying fund may benefit from additional assets or that it is in the best interests of the affiliated underlying fund to limit purchases of shares of the underlying fund. In such cases, the best interests of the affiliated underlying
fund may not be aligned with those of the fund. However, the investment adviser is a fiduciary to each fund and is legally obligated to act in each fund’s best interests when selecting underlying funds.
ETF Risk.
ETFs generally are
investment companies whose shares are bought and sold on a securities exchange. The fund may purchase shares of ETFs to gain exposure to a particular portion of the market while awaiting an opportunity to purchase securities directly. When the fund
invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing the expenses associated with its own operations, it will bear a proportionate share of the ETF’s expenses. Therefore, it may be more costly to own an ETF than to own the underlying securities
directly. In addition, while the risks of owning shares of an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF holds, lack of liquidity in the market for an ETF’s shares can result in its value being more volatile
than the underlying portfolio securities.
Underlying Fund Investment Risk.
The value of an investment in a fund is based primarily on the prices of the underlying funds that the fund purchases. In turn, the price of each underlying fund is based on the value of its securities. The fund is
subject to the performance, expenses and risks of the underlying funds in which it invests. Before investing in a fund, investors should assess the risks associated with the underlying funds in which the fund may invest and the types of investments
made by those underlying funds. These risks include any combination of the risks described below, although the fund’s exposure to a particular risk will depend on the fund’s overall asset allocation and underlying fund
allocation.
•
|
Investment Style Risk.
Some underlying funds seek to track the performance of various segments of the stock market, as measured by their respective indices. Each underlying fund follows these stocks during upturns as
well as downturns. Because of their indexing strategy, the underlying funds do not take steps to reduce market exposure or to lessen the effects of a declining market. In addition,
|
18
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Fund Details
|
because of an underlying
fund’s expenses, the underlying fund’s performance is normally below that of the index. A significant percentage of the index may be composed of securities in a single industry or sector of the economy. If the underlying fund is focused
in an industry or sector, it may present more risks than if it were broadly diversified over numerous industries and sectors of the economy.
|
•
|
Management Risk.
Certain underlying funds are actively managed mutual funds. Any actively managed mutual fund is subject to the risk that its investment adviser (or sub-adviser) will select investments or allocate
assets that could cause a fund to underperform or otherwise not meet its objective. An underlying fund’s adviser applies its 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. In addition, with respect to certain of the underlying funds, the investment adviser makes investment decisions for the fund using a strategy based largely on historical information. There is no guarantee
that a strategy based on historical information will produce the desired results in the future. In addition, the portfolio optimization processes used by some underlying funds to assist in constructing the underlying fund’s portfolio does not
assure successful investments. As a result, the underlying fund may have a lower return than if it were managed using another process or strategy.
|
•
|
Equity Risk.
The prices of equity securities in which the underlying funds invest 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. Due to their fixed income features, preferred stocks provide higher income potential than issuers’ common stocks, but typically
are more sensitive to interest rate changes than the underlying common stock. The rights of common stockholders are generally subordinate to the rights associated with an issuer’s preferred stocks and the rights of preferred stockholders are
generally subordinate to the rights associated with an issuer’s debt securities on the distribution of an issuer’s assets in the event of a liquidation.
|
•
|
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, an underlying fund’s performance
could be impacted.
|
•
|
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 and downturns.
|
•
|
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.
|
•
|
ETF Risk.
When an underlying fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing the expenses associated with its own operations, it will bear a proportionate share of the ETF’s expenses. Therefore, it
may be more costly to own an ETF than to own the underlying securities directly. In addition, while the risks of owning shares of an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF holds, lack of liquidity in the market
for an ETF’s shares can result in its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities.
|
•
|
Convertible
Securities Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds may invest in convertible securities, which are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stock or other securities that may be converted into or
exercised for a prescribed amount of common stock at a specified time and price. Convertible securities provide an opportunity for equity participation, with the potential for a higher dividend or interest yield and lower price volatility compared
to common stock. The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest
|
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Fund
Details
19
|
rates, with investment value
declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline, and the credit standing of the issuer. The price of a convertible security will also normally vary in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying common
stock because of the conversion or exercise feature.
|
•
|
Growth Investing Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds pursue a “growth style” of investing. Growth investing focuses on a company’s prospects for growth of revenue and earnings. If a company’s
earnings or revenues fall short of expectations, its stock price may fall dramatically. Growth stocks also can perform differently from the market as a whole and other types of stocks and can be more volatile than other types of stocks. Since growth
companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their business, they may lack the dividends of value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. Growth stocks may also be more expensive relative to their earnings or assets
compared to value or other stocks.
|
•
|
Interest Rate Risk.
An underlying fund’s investments in fixed income securities are subject to the risk that interest rates may rise and fall over time. As with any investment whose yield reflects current interest
rates, an underlying fund’s yield will change over time. During periods when interest rates are low or there are negative interest rates, an underlying fund’s yield (and total return) also may be low or the underlying fund may be unable
to maintain positive returns. Changes in interest rates also may affect an underlying fund’s share price: a sharp rise in interest rates could cause the fund’s share price to fall. This risk is greater when the underlying fund holds
bonds with longer maturities. An underlying fund may also lose money if interest rates rise sharply. The longer an underlying fund’s duration, the more sensitive to interest rate movements its share price is likely to be. A
change in a central bank’s monetary policy or improving economic conditions, among other things, may result in an increase in interest rates. Certain underlying funds are currently subject to heightened levels of interest rate
risk because of the continued economic recovery, along with the fact that the Federal Reserve Board ended its quantitative easing program in 2014, and has begun, and may continue, to raise interest rates. Rising interest rates may decrease liquidity
in the fixed income securities markets, making it more difficult for an underlying fund to sell its fixed income securities holdings at a time when the investment adviser might wish to sell such securities. In addition, decreased market liquidity
also may make it more difficult to value some or all of an underlying fund’s fixed income securities holdings. In general, changing interest rates, including rates that fall below zero, could have unpredictable effects on markets and may
expose fixed income and related markets to heightened volatility. To the extent that the investment adviser (or sub-adviser(s)) of an underlying fund anticipates interest rate trends imprecisely, the underlying fund could miss yield opportunities or
its share price could fall. Inflation-protected securities may react differently to interest rate changes than other types of debt securities and, as discussed below, tend to react to changes in “real” interest rates.
|
•
|
Credit Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds are subject to the risk that a decline in the credit quality of a portfolio investment could cause the underlying fund’s share price to fall. The underlying fund
could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a portfolio investment or the counterparty to a derivatives contract fails to make timely principal or interest payments or otherwise honor its obligations. Negative perceptions of an issuer’s
ability to make such payments could also cause the price of that investment to decline. The credit quality of an underlying fund’s portfolio holdings can change rapidly in certain market environments and any default on the part of a single
portfolio investment could cause the underlying fund’s share price or yield to fall. Below investment-grade bonds (junk bonds) involve greater risks of default or downgrade and are
more
volatile than investment-grade bonds. Below investment-grade bonds also involve greater risk of price declines than investment-grade securities due to actual or perceived changes in an
issuer’s creditworthiness.
In addition,
issuers
of below
investment-grade bonds may be more susceptible than other issuers to economic downturns. Such bonds are subject to the risk that the issuer may not be able to pay interest or dividends and ultimately to repay principal upon maturity. Discontinuation
of these payments could substantially adversely affect the market value of the bonds.
|
•
|
Prepayment and Extension Risk.
An underlying fund’s investments in fixed income securities are subject to the risk that the securities may be paid off earlier or later than expected. Either situation could cause the underlying
fund to hold securities paying lower-than-market rates of interest, which could hurt the fund’s yield or share price. In addition, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of certain fixed income securities, making them more sensitive
to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, an underlying fund that holds these securities may exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off
their fixed income securities sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of an underlying fund because the fund will have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. This is known as prepayment risk.
|
•
|
U.S.
Government Securities Risk.
Some of the U.S. government securities that the underlying funds invest in are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, which means they are
neither issued nor guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. Certain securities such as those issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks are supported by limited lines of credit maintained by their issuers with the U.S. Treasury. Securities issued by
other issuers, such as the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation, are supported solely by the credit of the issuer. There can be no assurance that the U.S. government will provide financial support to securities of its agencies and
instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so under law. Also, any government guarantees on securities the underlying funds own do not extend to shares of the underlying funds themselves. On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a
federal
|
20
Schwab
Monthly Income Funds | Fund Details
|
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 this agreement, 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. This is intended to ensure that the instrumentalities 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.
|
•
|
Mortgage Dollar Rolls Risk.
Mortgage dollar rolls are transactions in which an underlying fund sells mortgage-backed securities to a dealer and simultaneously agrees to repurchase similar securities in the future at a
predetermined price. An underlying fund’s mortgage dollar rolls could lose money if the price of the mortgage-backed securities sold falls below the agreed upon repurchase price, or if the counterparty is unable to honor the agreement.
|
•
|
Money Market Fund Risk.
In addition to the risks discussed under “Investment Risk” above, an investment by a fund in an underlying money market fund has additional
risks. The fund may invest in underlying money market funds that either seek to maintain a stable $1 net asset value (“stable share price money market funds”) or that have a share price that fluctuates (“variable share price money
market funds”). Although an underlying stable share price money market fund seeks to maintain a stable $1 net asset value, it is possible to lose money by investing in such a money market fund. Because the share price of an underlying variable
share price money market fund will fluctuate, when the fund sells the shares it owns they may be worth more or less than what the fund originally paid for them. In addition, neither type of money market fund is designed to offer capital
appreciation. In exchange for their emphasis on stability and liquidity, money market investments may offer lower long-term performance than stock or bond investments. Certain underlying money market funds may impose a fee upon the sale of
shares or may temporarily suspend the ability to sell shares if such fund’s liquidity falls below required minimums.
|
•
|
Foreign Investment Risk.
An underlying 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 an underlying fund’s investments and could impair the underlying fund’s ability to meet its investment objective or invest in accordance with its
investment strategy. In addition, an underlying fund’s investments in foreign securities may be subject to economic sanctions or other government restrictions, including trade tariffs, embargoes or limitations on trade which could have a
significant impact on a country’s markets overall as well as global economies or markets. 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. An underlying fund may also experience more rapid or extreme changes in
value as compared to an underlying 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 an underlying fund’s investments in a single country or a limited number of countries represent a large percentage of the underlying fund’s assets, the underlying fund’s performance may be adversely affected by the
economic, political, regulatory and social conditions in those countries, and the underlying fund’s price may be more volatile than the price of an underlying fund that is geographically diversified.
|
•
|
Depositary Receipt Risk.
Foreign securities also include ADRs, which are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts representing shares of foreign-based corporations. ADRs are issued by U.S. banks or trust companies, and entitle the
holder to all dividends and capital gains that are paid out on the underlying foreign shares. Foreign securities also include GDRs, which are similar to ADRs, but are shares of foreign-based corporations generally issued by international banks in
one or more markets around the world. In addition, foreign securities include EDRs, similar to GDRs, are shares of foreign-based corporations generally issued by European banks that trade on exchanges outside of the bank’s home country.
Investment in ADRs, GDRs and EDRs may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market and GDRs, many of which are issued by companies in emerging markets, may be more volatile.
|
•
|
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
|
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Fund
Details
21
|
(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 an underlying 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.
|
•
|
Currency Risk.
An underlying fund’s investments in securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, will subject the underlying 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 decline in value relative to the currency hedged. In either event, the dollar value of an investment in an underlying 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 an underlying 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 underlying fund’s account. An underlying fund is subject to the risk of a counterparty’s failure, inability or
refusal to perform with respect to such contracts.
|
•
|
Real Estate Investment Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds have a policy of concentrating their investments in real estate companies and companies related to the real estate industry. As such, an underlying fund is subject
to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate securities and a fund’s investment in such an underlying fund will be closely linked to the performance of the real estate markets. An investment by a fund in an underlying fund that
invests, but does not concentrate, in real estate companies and companies related to the real estate industry will subject the fund to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate securities to a lesser extent. These risks include,
among others, declines in the value of real estate; risks related to general and local economic conditions; possible lack of availability of mortgage funds; overbuilding; extended vacancies of properties; defaults by borrowers or tenants,
particularly during an economic downturn; increasing competition; increases in property taxes and operating expenses; changes in zoning laws; losses due to costs resulting from the clean-up of environmental problems; liability to third parties for
damages resulting from environmental problems; casualty or condemnation losses; limitations on rents; changes in market and sub-market values and the appeal of properties to tenants; and changes in interest rates.
|
•
|
REITs Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds invest in REITs. In addition to the risks associated with investing in securities of real estate companies and real estate related companies, REITs are subject to
certain additional risks. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying properties owned by the trusts, and mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, REITs are dependent upon specialized
management skills and may have their investments in relatively few properties, or in a small geographic area or a single property type. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition,
REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The failure of a company to qualify as a
REIT under federal tax law may have adverse consequences to an underlying fund that invests in that REIT. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of
a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition, REITs have their own expenses, and an
underlying fund that invests in REITs will bear a proportionate share of those expenses. Additionally, dividends paid by REITs are taxed as ordinary income and generally do not qualify for the preferential rate applicable to qualified dividend
income.
|
•
|
Short Sales Risk.
Certain underlying funds may engage in short sales, which are transactions in which the underlying fund sells a security it does not own. To complete a short sale, the underlying fund must borrow the
security to deliver to the buyer. The underlying fund is then obligated to replace the borrowed security by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of replacement. This price may be more or less than the price at which the security
was sold by the underlying fund and the underlying 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 underlying fund replaces the borrowed security.
|
•
|
Derivatives
Risk.
An underlying 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
|
22
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Fund Details
|
of a specified credit event
in exchange for a fixed payment or series of fixed payments. An underlying fund’s use of derivatives, that are subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), could cause a fund to become a commodity
pool, which would require the fund to comply with certain CFTC rules.
|
|
An underlying 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, credit risk, leverage
risk, market risk and management risk, are discussed elsewhere in this prospectus. An underlying fund’s use of derivatives is also subject to 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. 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 underlying fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains. An
underlying fund’s use of derivatives could reduce the underlying fund’s performance, increase volatility, and could cause the underlying fund to lose more than the initial amount invested. However, these risks are less severe when the
underlying fund uses derivatives for hedging rather than to enhance the underlying fund’s returns or as a substitute for a position or security.
|
•
|
High-Yield Risk.
Certain underlying funds that invest in high-yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (sometimes called junk bonds) may be subject to greater levels of credit and liquidity
risk than underlying funds that do not invest in such securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments. An economic downturn or period
of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce an underlying fund’s ability to sell these securities (liquidity risk). If the issuer of a security is in default with respect to interest or principal
payments, a fund may lose its entire investment. Because of the risks involved in investing in high-yield securities, an investment in an underlying fund that invests in such securities should be considered speculative.
|
•
|
Leverage Risk.
Certain underlying fund transactions, such as derivatives transactions, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements, and mortgage dollar rolls, may give rise to a form of leverage and may expose
the underlying fund to greater risk. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the underlying fund would sell a security and enter into an agreement to repurchase the security at a specified future date and price. Leverage tends to magnify the effect of
any decrease or increase in the value of the underlying fund’s portfolio securities. The use of leverage may cause the underlying fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its
obligations.
|
•
|
Non-Diversification Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds are non-diversified and, as such, may invest a greater percentage of their assets in the securities in a single issuer than an underlying fund that is diversified. A
non-diversified underlying fund is more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified underlying fund.
|
•
|
Multi-Manager Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds utilize a multi-manager approach to investing. Although the investment adviser monitors and seeks to coordinate the overall management of these underlying funds,
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 exposure of these underlying funds to a given region,
country, stock, industry or investment style could unintentionally be smaller or larger than if the underlying funds had a single manager.
|
•
|
Securities Lending Risk.
Certain of the underlying funds may lend their portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and other financial institutions provided a number of conditions are satisfied, including that the loan is
fully collateralized. When an underlying fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned, and the underlying fund will also receive a fee or interest on the
collateral. 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. An underlying fund may pay lending fees to a party
arranging the loan. An underlying fund will also bear the risk of any decline in the value of securities acquired with cash collateral.
|
•
|
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 addition, dealer inventories of certain securities – an indication
of the ability of dealers to engage in “market making” – are at, or near, historic lows in relation to market size, which could potentially lead to decreased liquidity. In such cases, an underlying 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
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Funds | Fund Details
23
|
the risk that market
conditions or large shareholder redemptions may impact the ability of an underlying fund to meet redemption requests within the required time period. In order to meet such redemption requests, the underlying fund may be forced to sell
securities at inopportune times or prices.
|
•
|
Redemption Risk.
An underlying money market fund may experience periods of heavy redemptions that could cause the underlying fund to liquidate its assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value,
particularly during periods of declining or illiquid markets. Redemptions by a few large investors in an underlying money market fund may have a significant adverse effect on the underlying fund’s ability to maintain a stable $1.00 share
price. In the event any money market fund fails to maintain a stable net asset value, other money market funds, including an underlying money market fund, could face a market-wide risk of increased redemption pressures, potentially jeopardizing the
stability of their $1.00 share prices.
|
•
|
Tracking Error Risk.
Certain underlying funds seek to track the performance of their benchmark indices, although they may not be successful in doing so. The divergence between the performance of an underlying fund and
its benchmark index, positive or negative, is called “tracking error.” Tracking error can be caused by many factors and it may be significant. For example, an underlying fund may not invest in certain securities in its benchmark index,
or match the securities’ weighting to the benchmark, due to regulatory, operational, custodial or liquidity constraints, which may result in tracking error. An underlying fund may attempt to offset the effects of not being invested in certain
index securities by making substitute investments, but these efforts may not be successful. In addition, cash flows into and out of an underlying fund, operating expenses and trading costs all affect the ability of the fund to match the performance
of its benchmark index, because the benchmark index does not have to manage cash flows and does not incur any costs.
|
•
|
Repurchase Agreements Risk.
When an underlying fund enters into a repurchase agreement, the underlying fund is exposed to the risk that the other party (i.e., the counter-party) will not fulfill its contractual obligation. In a
repurchase agreement, there exists the risk that, when an underlying fund buys a security from a counter-party that agrees to repurchase the security at an agreed upon price (usually higher) and time, the counter-party will not repurchase the
security. These risks are magnified to the extent that a repurchase agreement is secured by collateral other than cash and government securities, such as debt securities, equity securities and high-yield securities that are rated below investment
grade (also referred to as junk bonds) (“Alternative Collateral”). High-yield securities that are used as alternative collateral are subject to greater levels of credit and liquidity risk, and are considered primarily speculative with
respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments. Alternative Collateral may be subject to greater price volatility and may be more volatile or less liquid than other types of collateral, increasing the risk
that an underlying fund will be unable to recover fully in the event of a counterparty’s default.
|
•
|
Sovereign Debt Risk.
Foreign government securities can involve a high degree of risk. The governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest
when due in accordance with the terms of the debt. A governmental entity’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its
foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the governmental entity’s policy toward the International Monetary Fund,
and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Governmental entities also may depend on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others to reduce principal and interest arrearages on
their debt.
|
•
|
Mortgage-Backed
and Mortgage Pass-Through Securities Risk.
Certain of the mortgage-backed securities in which an underlying fund may invest are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and
there can be no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support where it was not obligated to do so. Mortgage-backed securities tend to increase in value less than other debt securities when interest rates decline, but are subject
to similar risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. Because of prepayment and extension risk, mortgage-backed securities react differently to changes in interest rates than other bonds. Small movements in interest
rates – both increases and decreases – may quickly and significantly affect the value of certain mortgage-backed securities. Transactions in mortgage pass-through securities primarily occur through to be announced (TBA) transactions.
Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty to a TBA transaction would expose an underlying fund to possible losses because of an adverse market action, expenses, or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools of mortgage pass-through
securities specified in the TBA transaction.
|
Risk Spectrum
Each fund has a different level of risk and the amount of risk
is relative to the fund’s asset allocation. The Enhanced Payout Fund and the Maximum Payout Fund are expected to be less volatile than the S&P 500 Index. The Moderate Payout Fund is expected to be less volatile than the S&P 500 Index
and more volatile than the Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index. The S&P 500 Index and the Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index are generally considered as reflective of the overall equity market performance and bond market
performance, respectively.
24
Schwab
Monthly Income Funds | Fund Details
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.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_prospectus
(under “Portfolio Holdings”) as of month end.
This list is generally posted approximately 15-20 days after the end of the month remaining posted for at least six months. The funds also post in the fund summary section of the funds’ 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 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 funds’ Statement of Additional Information (SAI).
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Fund
Details
25
Financial Highlights
This section provides further details about each fund’s
financial history for the past five years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single fund share. “Total return” shows the percentage that an investor in the fund would have earned or lost during a given period, assuming
all distributions were reinvested. The funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), audited these figures. PwC’s full report is included in each fund’s annual report (see back
cover).
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Moderate
Payout
|
1/1/18–
12/31/18
|
1/1/17–
12/31/17
|
1/1/16–
12/31/16
|
1/1/15–
12/31/15
|
1/1/14–
12/31/14
|
|
Per-Share
Data
|
Net
asset value at beginning of period
|
$11.09
|
$10.31
|
$10.46
|
$11.21
|
$11.14
|
|
Income
(loss) from investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income (loss)
|
0.23
1
|
0.23
1
|
0.21
1
|
0.22
1
|
0.23
|
|
Net
realized and unrealized gains (losses)
|
(0.92)
|
0.87
|
0.26
|
(0.24)
|
0.44
|
|
Total
from investment operations
|
(0.69)
|
1.10
|
0.47
|
(0.02)
|
0.67
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions
from net investment income
|
(0.24)
|
(0.32)
|
(0.22)
|
(0.28)
|
(0.31)
|
|
Distributions
from net realized gains
|
(0.11)
|
–
|
(0.40)
|
(0.45)
|
(0.29)
|
|
Total
distributions
|
(0.35)
|
(0.32)
|
(0.62)
|
(0.73)
|
(0.60)
|
|
Net
asset value at end of period
|
$10.05
|
$11.09
|
$10.31
|
$10.46
|
$11.21
|
|
Total
return
|
(6.31%)
|
10.80%
|
4.58%
|
(0.24%)
|
6.09%
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental
Data
|
Ratios
to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
operating expenses
2
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
3
,
4
|
0.00%
|
|
Gross
operating expenses
2
|
0.19%
|
0.20%
|
0.18%
|
0.23%
|
0.25%
|
|
Net
investment income (loss)
|
2.17%
|
2.11%
|
1.99%
|
1.98%
|
2.00%
|
|
Portfolio
turnover rate
|
20%
|
41%
5
|
9%
|
14%
|
16%
|
|
Net
assets, end of period (x 1,000,000)
|
$
41
|
$
49
|
$
45
|
$
48
|
$
49
|
|
1
Calculated based on the average shares outstanding during
the period.
2
The expenses incurred by underlying funds in which the fund
invests are not included in this ratio.
3
Less than 0.005%.
4
The ratio of net operating expenses would have been 0.00%,
if certain non-routine expenses had not been incurred.
5
The portfolio turnover rate increased due to the in-kind
transactions relating to Schwab Total Bond Market Fund and Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond Index Fund. There were no transaction costs associated with these transactions. For comparison purposes, portfolio turnover rate would have been 14% without
including these transactions.
26
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Financial Highlights
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout
|
1/1/18–
12/31/18
|
1/1/17–
12/31/17
|
1/1/16–
12/31/16
|
1/1/15–
12/31/15
|
1/1/14–
12/31/14
|
|
Per-Share
Data
|
Net
asset value at beginning of period
|
$11.38
|
$10.81
|
$10.92
|
$11.18
|
$10.84
|
|
Income
(loss) from investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income (loss)
|
0.25
1
|
0.24
1
|
0.22
1
|
0.22
1
|
0.23
|
|
Net
realized and unrealized gains (losses)
|
(0.72)
|
0.64
|
0.18
|
(0.22)
|
0.39
|
|
Total
from investment operations
|
(0.47)
|
0.88
|
0.40
|
–
|
0.62
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions
from net investment income
|
(0.26)
|
(0.31)
|
(0.24)
|
(0.26)
|
(0.28)
|
|
Distributions
from net realized gains
|
(0.07)
|
–
|
(0.27)
|
–
|
–
|
|
Total
distributions
|
(0.33)
|
(0.31)
|
(0.51)
|
(0.26)
|
(0.28)
|
|
Net
asset value at end of period
|
$10.58
|
$11.38
|
$10.81
|
$10.92
|
$11.18
|
|
Total
return
|
(4.20%)
|
8.19%
|
3.69%
|
0.02%
|
5.76%
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental
Data
|
Ratios
to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
operating expenses
2
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
3
,
4
|
0.00%
|
|
Gross
operating expenses
2
|
0.12%
|
0.11%
|
0.10%
|
0.13%
|
0.15%
|
|
Net
investment income (loss)
|
2.28%
|
2.14%
|
2.01%
|
1.99%
|
2.03%
|
|
Portfolio
turnover rate
|
9%
|
50%
5
|
6%
|
11%
|
14%
|
|
Net
assets, end of period (x 1,000,000)
|
$
77
|
$
95
|
$
94
|
$
97
|
$
98
|
|
1
Calculated based on the average shares outstanding during
the period.
2
The expenses incurred by underlying funds in which the fund
invests are not included in this ratio.
3
Less than 0.005%.
4
The ratio of net operating expenses would have been 0.00%,
if certain non-routine expenses had not been incurred.
5
The portfolio turnover rate increased due to the in-kind
transactions relating to Schwab Total Bond Market Fund and Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond Index Fund. There were no transaction costs associated with these transactions. For comparison purposes, portfolio turnover rate would have been 13% without
including these transactions.
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Financial Highlights
27
Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout
|
1/1/18–
12/31/18
|
1/1/17–
12/31/17
|
1/1/16–
12/31/16
|
1/1/15–
12/31/15
|
1/1/14–
12/31/14
|
|
Per-Share
Data
|
Net
asset value at beginning of period
|
$10.15
|
$
9.85
|
$
9.95
|
$10.37
|
$10.22
|
|
Income
(loss) from investment operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
investment income (loss)
|
0.24
1
|
0.22
1
|
0.20
1
|
0.21
1
|
0.21
|
|
Net
realized and unrealized gains (losses)
|
(0.48)
|
0.33
|
0.09
|
(0.18)
|
0.33
|
|
Total
from investment operations
|
(0.24)
|
0.55
|
0.29
|
0.03
|
0.54
|
|
Less
distributions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions
from net investment income
|
(0.24)
|
(0.25)
|
(0.22)
|
(0.23)
|
(0.25)
|
|
Distributions
from net realized gains
|
(0.07)
|
–
|
(0.17)
|
(0.22)
|
(0.14)
|
|
Total
distributions
|
(0.31)
|
(0.25)
|
(0.39)
|
(0.45)
|
(0.39)
|
|
Net
asset value at end of period
|
$
9.60
|
$10.15
|
$
9.85
|
$
9.95
|
$10.37
|
|
Total
return
|
(2.31%)
|
5.64%
|
2.97%
|
0.22%
|
5.29%
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental
Data
|
Ratios
to average net assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
operating expenses
2
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
3
,
4
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
3
,
4
|
0.00%
|
|
Gross
operating expenses
2
|
0.20%
|
0.20%
|
0.18%
|
0.23%
|
0.22%
|
|
Net
investment income (loss)
|
2.42%
|
2.17%
|
2.02%
|
2.01%
|
2.05%
|
|
Portfolio
turnover rate
|
11%
|
63%
5
|
9%
|
14%
|
16%
|
|
Net
assets, end of period (x 1,000,000)
|
$
40
|
$
48
|
$
47
|
$
50
|
$
52
|
|
1
Calculated based on the average shares outstanding during
the period.
2
The expenses incurred by underlying funds in which the fund
invests are not included in this ratio.
3
Less than 0.005%.
4
The ratio of net operating expenses would have been 0.00%,
if certain non-routine expenses had not been incurred.
5
The portfolio turnover rate increased due to the in-kind
transactions relating to Schwab Total Bond Market Fund and Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond Index Fund. There were no transaction costs associated with these transactions. For comparison purposes, portfolio turnover rate would have been 16% without
including these transactions.
28
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Financial Highlights
The Funds’ Investments in Asset
Classes and Sub-Asset Classes
Through each fund’s investments in its
underlying funds, each fund aims to provide diversification across major asset classes as well as diversification across a range of sub-asset classes within the major asset classes. Each fund’s allocation to an asset or sub-asset class will
change over time. The investment adviser may add or remove asset classes and sub-asset classes at any time without prior notice. For additional details regarding how the adviser determines the funds’ underlying fund and asset class
allocations, please refer back to the “Principal Investment Strategies” section in the Fund Summary sections and the section “Fund details: Investment Objectives, Strategies and Risks” in this prospectus.
The following table shows which underlying funds may be used
within each asset class and style class and each fund’s target asset allocation to each underlying fund as of the date of this prospectus.
The allocations may not add to 100% due to rounding.
Major
Asset Class
|
Sub-Asset
Class
|
Schwab
Monthly
Income Fund —
Moderate Payout
|
Schwab
Monthly
Income Fund —
Enhanced Payout
|
Schwab
Monthly
Income Fund —
Maximum Payout
|
U.S.
Stocks
|
Large-Cap
|
28.50%
|
19.50%
|
10.50%
|
|
|
|
|
|
International
Stocks
|
Developed
|
11.87%
|
8.12%
|
4.37%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Global
Real Estate
|
Global
REITs
|
7.13%
|
4.88%
|
2.63%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed
Income
|
Intermediate-Term
Bonds
|
50.50%
|
65.50%
|
80.50%
|
|
Short-Term
Bonds
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents (including Money Market Funds)
|
|
2.00%
|
2.00%
|
2.00%
|
|
|
100%
|
100%
|
100%
|
For more detailed information,
including portfolio holdings for each of the funds, please visit the funds’ website at
www.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_prospectus
.
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | The Funds’ Investments
in Underlying Funds
29
Description of Underlying Funds
The funds invest primarily in the underlying
funds. Therefore, each fund’s investment performance is directly related to the investment performance of these underlying funds. The adviser may exclude one or more underlying funds from a fund’s asset allocation strategy at any given
time. The adviser reserves the right to substitute other underlying funds and add additional underlying funds from time to time should circumstances warrant a change. The following chart provides a brief description of the investment objective and
principal investment strategies of the funds’ current underlying funds. Additional information about the underlying funds is provided in each underlying fund’s prospectus.
Asset
Class & Underlying Fund
|
Investment
Objective and Principal Investment Strategy
|
EQUITY
FUNDS
|
Schwab
®
Core Equity Fund
|
Seeks
long-term capital growth. The fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including, for this purpose, any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. companies. The fund seeks to assemble a
portfolio with long-term performance that will exceed the S&P 500 Index.
|
Schwab
®
Dividend Equity Fund
|
Seeks
current income and capital appreciation. The fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including, for this purpose, any borrowings for investment purposes) in dividend paying common and preferred stock. The fund
invests in securities of U.S. companies that tend to be large- to mid-cap companies.
|
Laudus
®
U.S. Large Cap Growth Fund
|
Seeks
long-term capital appreciation. Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including, for this purpose, any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of U.S. large capitalization companies. The fund
defines large capitalization companies as those with a market capitalization of at least $3 billion at the time of investment. In addition, up to 20% of the fund’s net assets may be invested in foreign equity securities. Investments in equity
securities include common stock and preferred stock. The fund may, but is not required to, use derivative instruments for risk management purposes or as part of the fund’s investment strategies. When selecting securities for the fund, the
subadviser considers earnings revision trends, expected earnings growth rates, sales acceleration, price earnings multiples and positive stock price momentum.
|
EQUITY
FUNDS — GLOBAL REAL ESTATE
|
Schwab
®
Global Real Estate Fund
|
Seeks
capital growth and income consistent with prudent investment management. The fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including, for this purpose, any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities of real estate
companies and companies related to the real estate industry. The fund may invest a significant portion of its total assets in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other similar REIT-like structures. The fund does not invest directly in real
estate.
|
EQUITY
FUNDS — INTERNATIONAL
|
Laudus
International MarketMasters Fund
TM
|
Seeks
long-term capital appreciation. The fund normally invests a substantial amount of its assets in equity securities of companies outside the United States and typically focuses on developed markets, but may invest in companies from emerging markets
as well. The fund expects to invest in companies across all market capitalization ranges.
|
FIXED
INCOME FUNDS — INTERMEDIATE-TERM BOND
|
Schwab
®
U.S. Aggregate Bond Index Fund
|
The
fund’s goal is to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of an index composed of the total U.S. investment grade bond market. The fund generally invests in securities that are included in the Bloomberg
Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index. It is the fund’s policy that under normal circumstances it will invest at least 90% of its net assets (including, for this purpose, any borrowings for investment purposes) in securities included in the index,
including TBA transactions, as defined in the fund’s prospectus. Under normal circumstances, the fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities not included in the index.
|
FIXED
INCOME FUNDS — SHORT-TERM BOND
|
30
Schwab
Monthly Income Funds | The Funds’ Investments in Underlying Funds
Asset
Class & Underlying Fund
|
Investment
Objective and Principal Investment Strategy
|
Schwab
®
Short-Term Bond Index Fund
|
The
fund’s goal is to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of an index composed of U.S. investment grade government related and corporate bonds with maturities between 1-5 years. The fund generally invests in
securities that are included in the Bloomberg Barclays US Government/Credit 1-5 Years Index. It is the fund’s policy that under normal circumstances it will invest at least 90% of its net assets (including, for this purpose, any borrowings for
investment purposes) in securities included in the index. Under normal circumstances, the fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities not included in its index.
|
MONEY
MARKET FUNDS
|
Schwab
®
Government Money Fund
|
Seeks
the highest current income consistent with stability of capital and liquidity. The fund will invest at least 99.5% of its total assets in cash, U.S. government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully by cash and/or
U.S. government securities; under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the fund’s net assets (including, for this purpose, any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested solely in U.S. government securities including repurchase
agreements that are collateralized fully by U.S. government securities (excluding cash).
|
Schwab
®
Treasury Obligations Money Fund
|
Seeks
current income consistent with stability of capital and liquidity. The fund will invest at least 99.5% of its total assets in cash, government securities and/or repurchase agreements that are collateralized fully by cash and/or government
securities; under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the fund’s net assets (including, for this purpose, any borrowings for investment purposes) will be invested solely in U.S. Treasury obligations or repurchase agreements backed by such
obligations (excluding cash).
|
Schwab
®
Variable Share Price Money Fund
|
Seeks
current income consistent with stability of capital and liquidity. The fund invests in high-quality short-term money market investments issued by U.S. and foreign issuers. Unlike a traditional stable share price money market fund, the fund will not
use the amortized cost method of valuation or round the per share net asset value (NAV) to the nearest whole cent and does not seek to maintain a stable share price. As a result, the fund’s share price, which is its NAV, will vary and reflect
the effects of unrealized appreciation and depreciation and realized losses and gains.
|
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | The Funds’ Investments
in Underlying Funds
31
Fund Management
The investment adviser for the funds is
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM), 211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. CSIM was founded in 1989 and as of February 28, 2019, CSIM managed approximately $394.9 billion in assets.
As the investment adviser, CSIM oversees the asset management
and administration of the funds. CSIM does not receive a fee for the services it performs for the funds. However, CSIM is entitled to receive an annual management fee from each of the underlying funds.
A discussion regarding the basis for
the Board of Trustees’ approval of the funds’ investment advisory agreements is available in each fund’s 2018 semiannual report, which covers the period from January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018.
Zifan Tang, Ph.D., CFA,
Senior
Portfolio Manager, is responsible for the co-management of the funds. She was appointed portfolio manager of the funds in 2012. Prior to joining CSIM in 2012, Ms. Tang was a product manager at Thomson Reuters, and from 1997 to 2009, worked as a
portfolio manager at Barclays Global Investors, which was subsequently acquired by BlackRock.
Patrick Kwok, CFA,
Portfolio
Manager, is responsible for the co-management of the funds. He has served as portfolio manager of the funds since April 2019. Prior to joining CSIM in 2008, Mr. Kwok spent two years as an asset operations specialist at Charles Schwab Trust Company.
He also previously worked for one year at State Street Bank & Trust Company as a portfolio accountant and pricing specialist.
Additional information about the portfolio managers’
compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio managers and the portfolio managers’ ownership of securities in each fund is available in the SAI.
32
Schwab
Monthly Income Funds | Fund Management
Investing in the Funds
In this section, you will find information
on buying, selling and exchanging shares. New investors may only invest in a fund 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 fund (intermediary orders). No new accounts can be opened directly with the funds’ transfer agent. Eligible
Investors (as described herein) who purchased fund shares prior to October 2, 2017 and hold such shares directly through the funds’ transfer agent may continue to place additional purchase, exchange or redemption orders through the
funds’ 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.
The funds generally are not registered for sale in
jurisdictions outside the United States and are intended for purchase by persons residing in the United States. A person is considered resident in the United States if at the time of the investment (i) the account has an address of record in the
United States or a U.S. territory (including APO/FPO/DPO) and (ii) all account owners are resident in the United States or a U.S. territory and have a valid U.S. taxpayer identification number. If an existing account is updated to reflect a non-U.S.
address, the account may be restricted from making additional investments.
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 the funds, 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 may vary between intermediaries and may vary over time and would increase the cost of your investment and lower investment returns. 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 the funds. 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 may move your shares to Schwab or another intermediary that is authorized to accept fund orders.
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; however, a fund may take up to
seven days to pay sale proceeds.
|
•
|
The funds
reserve 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 a 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 the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund and must meet the minimum investment and
other requirements for the fund and share class, if applicable, into which you are exchanging.
|
•
|
You should read the
prospectus for the fund into which you are exchanging prior to placing your order.
|
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Investing in the Funds
33
Investing Directly with the Funds
Investor Eligibility Requirements for Placing Direct
Orders
New Eligible Investors (as described below)
may no longer purchase shares directly from the funds’ transfer agent, DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc. Eligible Investors who purchased fund shares prior to October 2, 2017 and hold such shares directly through the transfer agent may
continue to place additional purchase orders in the same account(s) directly with the transfer agent. Prior to October 2, 2017 Eligible Investors that could purchase shares directly from the transfer agent included, but were 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 suspend the privilege of purchasing additional shares of the funds at any
time.
Additional Direct Purchases by Wire
Subject to acceptance by a fund, only Eligible Investors who
purchased fund shares prior to October 2, 2017 and hold such shares directly through the fund’s transfer agent may make additional purchases of a fund’s shares in the same account(s) by wiring federal funds to the transfer agent. 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 New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), whichever is earlier) 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. The funds reserve the right to suspend the privilege of direct purchase of additional shares of the funds at any time.
Additional Direct Purchases by Mail
Subject to acceptance by a fund, only
Eligible Investors who purchased fund shares prior to October 2, 2017 and hold such shares directly through the fund’s transfer agent may make additional purchases of a fund’s shares in the same account(s) by mail. Additional investments
may be made at any time by mailing a check (payable to Schwab Funds) to the transfer agent at DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc., Attn: Schwab Funds, P.O. Box 219647, Kansas City, MO 64121-9647. Be sure to include your account number on your check.
The funds reserve the right to suspend the privilege of direct purchase of additional shares of the funds at any time.
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 a 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, whichever is earlier) on that day. If the payment is received by a 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
Eligible Investors who purchased fund shares prior to October
2, 2017 directly through a fund’s transfer agent may continue to exchange and redeem shares held directly with the fund’s transfer agent. 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 the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund, and must meet the minimum investment and other requirements for the fund and share class, if applicable, into which you are exchanging.
|
34
Schwab
Monthly Income Funds | Investing in the Funds
•
|
You should 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 DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc., Attn: Schwab Funds, P.O. Box 219647, Kansas City, MO 64121-9647. Your redemption request will be processed by a 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 a fund may be exchanged into shares of any other Schwab Fund (that is not a Sweep Investment) or the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund. 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. Further, you should read the prospectus for the fund into which you are exchanging prior to placing your order. A new account opened by 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 a fund containing the
information indicated below.
The funds reserve
the right to suspend the privilege of exchanging shares of the funds by mail or by telephone at any time. The funds further reserve the right to materially modify or terminate the exchange privilege upon 60 days’ written notice to
shareholders.
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 DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc., Attn: Schwab Funds, P.O. Box 8283, Boston, MA 02266-8323. The letter of instruction must include: (a) your account number; (b) the class of
Schwab Monthly Income
Funds | Investing in the Funds
35
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.
Share Price
The funds are open for business each day that the New York
Stock Exchange (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, the funds reserve the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate their share price 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 received by a
fund in good order at 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 a 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 underlying fund investments, the funds
use the NAVs reported by their underlying funds. In valuing other portfolio securities, the funds use market quotes or official closing prices if they are readily available. In cases where quotes are not readily available or the adviser deems them
unreliable, a fund may value securities based on fair values developed using methods approved by the funds’ Board of Trustees.
Shareholders of a 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
Each fund reserves certain rights, including the
following:
•
|
To materially modify or
terminate the exchange privilege upon 60 days’ written notice to shareholders.
|
•
|
To change or waive the
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.
|
Minimum Investment
None
Options for Fund Distributions
Choose an option for fund distributions.
If you are an Eligible Investor who placed direct orders with a fund prior to October 2, 2017, you had one of the three options described below for fund distributions. If you did not indicate a choice, you received 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
36
Schwab
Monthly Income Funds | Investing in the Funds
different than those provided by the funds to Eligible Investors. You should
consult with your financial intermediary to discuss available options. Please note, the funds are designed with the expectation that the monthly income payments will be paid in cash.
Option
|
Feature
|
Reinvestment
|
All
dividends and capital gains distributions are invested automatically in shares of your fund.
|
Cash/reinvestment
mix
|
You
receive payment for dividends, while any capital gain distributions are invested in shares of your fund.
|
Cash
|
You
receive payment for all dividends and capital gains distributions.
|
Payments by the Investment Adviser or its Affiliates
The investment adviser or its affiliates may make payments out
of their own resources, or provide products and services at a discount, to certain brokerage firms, banks, insurance companies, 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 payments out of their own resources, or provide products and services at a discount, to certain financial intermediaries in connection with certain intermediary activities
or services which may facilitate, directly or indirectly, investment in the funds.These payments may relate to marketing and/or fund promotion activities and presentations, educational and/or reporting systems, data analytics and support, or making
shares of the funds available for their customers. These payments, which may be significant, are paid by the investment adviser or its affiliates out of their own resources and not from the assets of the funds.
Payments to a financial intermediary may create potential
conflicts of interest between the intermediary and its clients as the payments may provide such intermediary with an incentive to favor sales of shares of the funds over other investment options they make available to their customers. Please see the
SAI for additional information.
Shareholder Servicing
Plan
The Board of Trustees has adopted a Shareholder
Servicing Plan (the Plan) on behalf of the funds. The Plan enables the funds 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. The funds are not subject to any fee under the Plan.
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
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Investing in the Funds
37
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 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 the
funds’ 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, the funds seek 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 the 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.
The funds make fair value determinations in good faith in
accordance with the funds’ 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. The
respective prospectuses for the underlying funds in which the funds invest explain the circumstances in which those funds will use fair value pricing and the effect of fair value pricing.
Methods to Meet Redemptions
Under normal market conditions, each fund expects 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 fund’s bank lines of credit or
through the fund’s interfund lending facility to meet redemption requests. Each fund may also utilize its custodian overdraft facility to meet redemptions, if necessary. 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 the fund’s liquidity and NAV. These redemptions may also
force a fund to sell securities, which may negatively impact the fund’s brokerage costs.
Customer Identification and Verification and Anti-Money
Laundering Program
Customer identification and
verification is part of a fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under U.S. federal law. Each fund has adopted an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program designed to prevent the fund 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
38
Schwab
Monthly Income Funds | Investing in the Funds
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 a fund or in cases when the fund is requested or compelled to do so by a 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 a fund is required to withhold such proceeds.
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.
Your financial intermediary is required by law to reject your
new account application if the required identifying information is not provided. 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, your financial intermediary is required to collect documents which will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.
Each fund reserves the right to close and/or 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.
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 your fund earns. Every year, each fund distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains, if any, to all shareholders of record. Each fund pays its dividends on or about the 15th calendar day of
each month. Although it cannot be guaranteed by the funds, the funds do not expect to make distributions that will be treated as return of capital. Each fund may make an additional distribution at the end of the year in order to comply with
applicable law. This additional distribution may include an income component that may be higher or lower than a fund’s regular monthly income payment. The funds expect to distribute their net capital gains, if any, in December to all
shareholders of record. During the fourth quarter of the year, typically in early November, an estimate of each fund’s year-end capital gains distribution, if any, may be made available on the fund’s website at
www.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_prospectus
. At the end of the year, the funds may be required under applicable law to recharacterize distributions for the year among ordinary income, capital gains, and return of
capital (if any) for purposes of tax reporting to shareholders.
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. Qualified dividend income is currently taxed at the reduced maximum rates applicable to long-term capital gains. 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 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 rate 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
Schwab Monthly Income
Funds | Investing in the Funds
39
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.
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 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 can 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.
If you are investing through a taxable account and purchase
shares of a fund just before it declares a distribution, you may receive a portion of your investment back as a taxable distribution. This is because when a fund makes a distribution, the share price is reduced by the amount of the
distribution.
You can avoid “buying a
dividend,” as it is often called, by finding out if a distribution is imminent and waiting until afterwards to invest. Of course, you may decide that the opportunity to gain a few days of investment performance outweighs the tax consequences
of buying a dividend.
A fund may be required to withhold
U.S. federal income tax on all taxable distributions and redemption proceeds payable to shareholders if the shareholders fail to provide the fund 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 fund, as discussed in more detail in the SAI. Furthermore, the funds are
required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable 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.
40
Schwab Monthly Income Funds | Investing in the Funds
Prospectus
| April
26, 2019
Schwab
®
Monthly Income 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 sent to current investors, contain more 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 Funds at 1-877-824-5615. In addition, you may visit the Schwab Funds’ website at
www.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_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.
SEC File Number
Schwab
Capital Trust
|
811-07704
|
Schwab Funds
®
Schwab
®
Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout
|
SWJRX
|
Schwab
®
Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout
|
SWKRX
|
Schwab
®
Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout
|
SWLRX
|
Statement Of Additional Information
April 26, 2019
The Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is not a
prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the funds’ prospectus dated April 26, 2019 (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 December 31, 2018, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.
For a free copy of any 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 Schwab Funds’ website at
www.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_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).
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
Each fund seeks to provide current income and, as a secondary
investment objective, capital appreciation. There is no guarantee the funds will achieve their investment objectives.
Change of Investment Objective
Except with respect to the Schwab Monthly
Income Fund–Enhanced Payout, each fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and therefore may be changed by the fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board) without shareholder approval. There is no guarantee that a fund will achieve
its investment objective.
Investment
Strategies
The following investment strategies, risks
and limitations supplement those set forth in the 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.
Each fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by
investing primarily in a combination of Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds (the underlying funds) in accordance with its target asset allocation. The investment adviser will allocate assets among the underlying funds, which will include equity funds,
fixed income funds, and money market funds.
Each fund
intends to invest in a combination of underlying funds; however, each fund may invest directly in equity and fixed income securities, cash and cash equivalents (including money market securities), exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and nonproprietary
mutual funds.
For temporary defensive purposes during
unusual economic or market conditions or for liquidity purposes, each fund may invest up to 100% of its assets directly in cash, money market instruments, repurchase agreements and other short-term obligations. When a fund engages in such
activities, it may not achieve its investment objective.
The underlying funds will include equity funds, fixed income
funds, and money market funds. In general, the Schwab Monthly Income Fund–
Moderate Payout’s allocation will be approximately 20-60% equities,
40-70% fixed income and 0-10% cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds); Schwab Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout’s allocation will be approximately 10-40% equities, 50-90% fixed income and 0-12% cash and cash
equivalents (including money market funds); Schwab Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout’s allocation will be approximately 0-25% equities, 60-100% fixed income and 0-15% cash and cash equivalents (including money market funds).
These investments and the risks normally associated with these
investments are discussed below.
Mutual Funds
(open-end mutual funds) are registered investment companies, which issue and redeem their shares on a continuous basis.
Closed-End Funds
are registered investment companies that
offer a fixed number of shares and are usually listed on an exchange. These funds generally offer investors the advantages of diversification and professional investment management, by combining shareholders’ money and investing it in various
types of securities, such as stocks, bonds and money market securities. These funds also make various investments and use certain techniques in order to enhance their performance. These may include entering into delayed-delivery and when-issued
securities transactions or swap agreements; buying and selling futures contracts, illiquid and restricted securities and repurchase agreements and borrowing or lending money and/or portfolio securities. The risks of investing in these funds
generally reflect the risks of the securities in which these funds invest and the investment techniques they may employ. Also, these funds charge fees and incur operating expenses.
Equity Funds
typically seek
growth of capital and invest primarily in equity securities. Other investments generally include debt securities, such as U.S. government securities, and some illiquid and restricted securities. Equity funds typically may enter into delayed-delivery
or when-issued securities transactions, repurchase agreements, swap agreements and futures and options contracts. Some equity funds invest exclusively in equity securities and may focus on a specialized segment of the stock market, like stocks of
small companies or foreign issuers, or may focus on a specific industry or group of industries. The greater a fund’s investment in stock, the greater exposure it will have to stock risk and stock market risk. Stock risk is the risk that a
stock may decline in price over the short or long term. When a stock’s price declines, its market value is lowered even though the intrinsic value of the company may not have changed. Some stocks, like small company and international stocks,
are more sensitive to stock risk than others. Diversifying investments across companies can help to lower the stock risk of a portfolio. Market risk is typically the result of a negative economic condition that affects the value of an entire class
of securities, such as stocks or bonds. Diversification among various asset classes, such as stocks, bonds and cash, can help to lower the market risk of a portfolio. For descriptions of the underlying equity funds that the funds may currently
invest, please see the funds’ prospectus. An equity fund’s other investments and use of investment techniques also will affect its performance and portfolio value.
International Equity Funds
typically seek capital growth and invest primarily in equity securities of foreign issuers. Global equity funds invest primarily in equity securities of both domestic and foreign issuers. International and global equity funds generally make similar
types of investments and employ similar types of investment techniques as other equity funds, except they focus on securities of foreign issuers. Some international equity and global equity funds invest exclusively in foreign securities. Some of
these funds invest in securities of issuers located in
emerging or developing securities markets. These funds have greater exposure
to the risks associated with international investing. International and global equity funds also may invest in foreign currencies and depositary receipts and enter into futures and options contracts on foreign currencies and forward foreign currency
exchange contracts. For a description of the underlying international and global equity funds that the funds may currently invest, please see the funds’ prospectus. For a more detailed discussion of the risks of international equities, please
refer to “Foreign Securities” later in the document.
Fixed Income Funds
typically
seek high current income by investing primarily in debt securities, including U.S. government securities, corporate bonds, stripped securities and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Other investments may include some illiquid and restricted
securities. Fixed income funds typically may enter into delayed-delivery or when-issued securities transactions, repurchase agreements, swap agreements and futures contracts. Fixed income funds are subject to interest rate and income risks as well
as credit and prepayment risks. When interest rates fall, the prices of debt securities generally rise, which may affect the values of fixed income funds and their yields. For example, when interest rates fall, issuers tend to pre-pay their
outstanding debts and issue new ones paying lower interest rates. A fixed income fund holding these securities would be forced to invest the principal received from the issuer in lower yielding debt securities. Conversely, in a rising interest rate
environment, prepayment on outstanding debt securities generally will not occur. This risk is known as extension risk and may affect the value of a fixed income fund if the value of its securities are depreciated as a result of the higher market
interest rates. In addition, when interest rates rise, bond prices fall as a general rule. This means that the value of an investor’s shares in a fixed income fund could decline in response to a rise in interest rates. Fixed income funds also
are subject to the risk that the issuers of the securities in their portfolios will not make timely interest and/or principal payments or fail to make them at all. For a description of the underlying fixed income funds that the funds may currently
invest, please see the funds’ prospectus. For a more detailed discussion of the risks of bonds, please refer to “Debt Securities” later in the document.
Money Market Funds
typically
seek current income by investing in money market securities. Certain money market funds seek a stable share price of $1.00, while others have a share price that fluctuates. Money market securities include commercial paper and short-term U.S.
government securities, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and repurchase agreements. Some money market securities may be illiquid or restricted securities or purchased on a delayed-delivery or when issued basis. The underlying money
market fund(s) that the funds may currently invest in is listed in the prospectus. Certain underlying money market funds may impose a fee upon the sale of shares or may temporarily suspend the ability to sell shares if such fund’s liquidity
falls below required minimums. For a more detailed discussion of the risks of money market securities, please refer to “Money Market Securities” later in this document.
Investments, Securities And Risks
The different types of investments that the underlying funds
typically may invest in, the investment techniques they may use and the risks normally associated with these investments are discussed below. Each fund also may invest in securities other than shares of underlying funds, such as stocks, bonds and
cash and cash equivalents (including money market securities), and engage in certain investment techniques, which are outlined below. A fund’s direct investment in securities is subject to the same or similar risks as those described for an
underlying fund’s investment in the same security.
Not all securities or techniques discussed below are eligible
investments for each underlying fund. A fund will make investments in the underlying funds that are intended to help achieve its investment objective. In this section, any reference to the term “fund” may mean a Monthly Income Fund, or
an underlying fund, unless the context otherwise requires.
From time to time a fund may hold certain securities not
otherwise discussed in this SAI as a permissible investment for the 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, the fund will not actively add to its
position and generally will dispose the securities as soon as reasonably practicable.
Asset-Backed Securities
are
securities that are backed by the loans or accounts receivable of an entity, such as a bank or credit card company. These securities are obligations that the issuer intends to repay using the assets backing them (once collected). Therefore,
repayment may depend largely on the cash flows generated by the assets backing the securities. The rate of principal payments on asset-backed securities generally depends on the rate of principal payments received on the underlying assets, which in
turn may be affected by a variety of economic and other factors. As a result, the yield on any asset-backed security is difficult to predict with precision, and actual yield to maturity may be more or less than the anticipated yield to maturity.
Sometimes the credit quality of these securities is limited to the support provided by the underlying assets, but, in other cases, additional credit support also may be provided by a third party via a letter of credit or insurance guarantee. Such
credit support falls into two classes: liquidity protection and protection against ultimate default on the underlying assets. Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, to
ensure that scheduled payments on the underlying pool are made in a timely fashion. Protection against ultimate default ensures payment on at least a portion of the assets in the pool. Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance
policies or letters of credit obtained from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of such approaches.
For purposes of a fund’s concentration policy, the fund
will determine the industry classification of asset-backed securities based upon the investment adviser’s evaluation of the risks associated with an investment in the underlying assets. For example, asset-backed securities whose
underlying assets share similar economic characteristics because, for
example, they are funded (or supported) primarily from a single or similar source or revenue stream will be classified in the same industry sector. In contrast, asset-backed securities whose underlying assets represent a diverse mix of industries,
business sectors and/or revenue streams will be classified into distinct industries based on their underlying credit and liquidity structures. A fund will limit its investments in each identified industry to less than 25% of its total assets.
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 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.
A 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 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 a fund’s remaining shareholders. Each fund will pay fees to the banks for using its lines.
Build America Bonds
are
taxable municipal bonds with federal subsidies for a portion of the issuer’s borrowing costs. Build America Bonds were issued through the Build America Bond program, which was created as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (the Act). The objective of the program was to reduce the borrowing costs of state and local governments. Because the Act was not extended beyond its expiration date on December 31, 2010, tax subsidies will not apply to Build America Bonds
issued following such date (if any). However, Build America Bonds outstanding and issued before such date remain eligible for the federal interest rate subsidy, which continues for the life of the Build America Bonds.
If a fund holds Build America Bonds, the fund may be eligible
to receive a federal income tax credit; however, the issuer of a Build America Bond may instead elect to receive a cash payment directly from the federal government in lieu of holders such as the fund receiving a tax credit. The interest on Build
America Bonds is taxable for federal income tax purposes and will be distributed to shareholders as taxable ordinary income. For any tax credit Build America Bond held by a fund, the fund may elect to pass through to its shareholders any tax credits
from those bonds that otherwise would be allowed to the fund. These tax credits can generally be used to offset U.S. federal income taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax, but such credits are generally not refundable. Any unused credits may
be carried forward to succeeding taxable years.
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. Certain underlying funds may concentrate their investments in a particular industry or group of
industries.
Conflicts of Interest
may arise because the fees the investment adviser receives from various affiliated and unaffiliated funds are higher than those paid by other underlying funds. The investment adviser also may have an incentive to select
an affiliated underlying fund for other reasons, including to increase assets under management or to support new investment strategies. In addition, other conflicts of interest may exist where the best interests of the affiliated underlying fund may
not be aligned with those of a fund. However, the investment adviser is a fiduciary to the funds and is legally obligated to act in the funds’ best interests when selecting underling funds.
Credit and Liquidity Supports or Enhancements
may be employed by issuers to reduce the credit risk of their securities. Credit supports include letters of credit, insurance and guarantees provided by foreign and domestic financial institutions. Liquidity supports
include puts, demand features and lines of credit. Most of these arrangements move the credit risk of an investment from the issuer of the security to the support provider. The investment adviser may rely on its evaluation of the credit of the
liquidity or credit support provider in determining whether to purchase or hold a security enhanced by such a support. Changes in the credit quality of a support provider could cause losses to a fund.
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 (the 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 especially true for bonds with sinking fund provisions, which commit
the issuer to set aside a certain amount of money to cover timely repayment of principal and typically allow the issuer to annually repurchase certain of its outstanding bonds from the open market or at a pre-set call price. If an issuer redeems the
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. This is known as prepayment risk and 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.
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 increases in interest rates, which could significantly impact the value of debt securities in which a fund invests. There is currently a heightened risk
of increased interest rates because of the continued economic recovery, along with the fact that the Federal Reserve Board ended its quantitative easing program in 2014, and has begun, and may continue, to raise interest rates. 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, a 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.
Delayed-Delivery Transactions
include purchasing and selling securities on a delayed-delivery or when-issued basis. These transactions involve a commitment to buy or sell specific securities at a predetermined price or yield, with payment and delivery taking place after the
customary settlement period for that type of security. When purchasing securities on a delayed-delivery basis, a fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations. Typically, no interest will accrue
to a fund until the security is delivered. A fund will earmark or segregate appropriate liquid assets to cover its delayed-delivery purchase obligations. When a fund sells a security on a delayed-delivery basis, a fund does not participate in
further gains or losses with respect to that security. If the other party to a delayed-delivery transaction fails to deliver or pay for the securities, a fund could suffer losses.
Delayed Funding Loans and Revolving Credit
Facilities.
A fund may enter into, or acquire participations in, delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are borrowing arrangements in which the
lender agrees to make loans up to a maximum amount upon demand by the borrower during a specified term. A revolving credit facility differs from a delayed funding loan in that as the borrower repays the loan, an amount equal to the repayment may be
borrowed again during the term of the revolving credit facility. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities usually provide for floating or variable rates of interest. These commitments may have the effect of requiring a fund to increase
its investment in a company at a time when it might not otherwise decide to do so (including at a time when the company’s financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid). To the extent that a fund is committed to
advance additional funds, it will at all times segregate or “earmark” assets, determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures established by the Board, in an amount sufficient to meet such commitments.
A fund may invest in delayed funding loans and revolving
credit facilities with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities may be subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to resell
such instruments. As a result, a fund may be unable to sell such investments at an opportune time or may have to resell them at less than fair market value. A fund currently intends to treat delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities for
which there is no readily available market as illiquid for purposes of a fund’s limitation on illiquid investments. For a further discussion of the risks involved in investing in Loan Participations and other forms of direct indebtedness see
“Loan Participations and Assignments.” Participation interests in revolving credit facilities will be subject to the limitations discussed in “Loan Participations and Assignments.” Delayed funding loans and revolving credit
facilities are considered to be debt obligations for purposes of the Trust’s investment restriction relating to the lending of funds or assets by a fund.
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 a fund 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.
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 instruments 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.”
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 expects to discover additional derivative instruments and other investment, hedging or risk management techniques. The investment 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 registration or 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.
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.
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.
A fund must maintain a small portion of its
assets in cash to process shareholder transactions and to pay its expenses. To reduce the effect this otherwise uninvested cash would have on its performance, a fund may purchase futures contracts. Such transactions allow a 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 assets, 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 a 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, a 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 its current portfolio securities. When interest 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 has acquired or expects
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, a 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.
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, or another instrument in accordance with positions of the SEC staff, so long as the option is outstanding or a 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 underlying security, and wish to offset those
losses when selling the security at a later date. All put options a fund writes will be covered, which means that a 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 (the 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 a fund. However, in
return for the option premium, a fund accepts the risk that it 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, a fund may purchase and sell foreign currency options and foreign currency futures contracts and related
options. A fund 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 a fund 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, a fund 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 a 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.
Spread Transactions
may be used for hedging or managing risk. A fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. Such covered spread options are not
presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread option gives the fund the right to put, or sell, a security that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread in relation to another security that the fund does not
own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to the fund in purchasing covered spread options is the cost of the premium paid for the spread option and any transaction costs. In addition, there is no assurance that closing transactions will be
available. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect the fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. Such protection is only provided
during the life of the spread option.
Structured Notes
are derivative debt securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator. Indexed securities include structured notes
as well as securities other than debt securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator. Indexed securities may include a multiplier that multiplies the indexed element by a specified factor and, therefore,
the value of such securities may be very volatile. The terms of the structured and indexed securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity and therefore, may result in a loss of invested capital. Structured and
indexed securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the reference may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or the value of the structured or indexed security
at maturity may be calculated as a specified multiple of the change in the
value of the reference; therefore, the value of such security may be very volatile. Structured and indexed securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the investor bears the risk of the
reference. Structured or indexed securities may also be more volatile, less liquid, and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities or more traditional debt securities.
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.
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 exchange trading 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. Depending on the size of the funds and other factors, the
margin required under the rules of a clearinghouse and by a clearing member may be in excess of the collateral required to be posted by the funds to support its obligations under a similar bilateral swap. However, the CTFC and other applicable
regulators have adopted rules imposing certain margin requirements, including minimums, on uncleared swaps which, once effective, may result in a fund and its counterparties posting higher margin amounts for uncleared swaps. Any type of swap
agreement poses a risk for the funds and may cause them to lose money.
For purposes of applying a fund’s investment policies
and restrictions (as stated in the prospectuses 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.
Duration
was developed as a
more precise alternative to the concept of “maturity”. Traditionally, a debt obligation’s maturity has been used as a proxy for the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates (which is the
“interest rate risk” or “volatility” of the security). However, maturity measures only the time until a debt obligation provides its final payment, taking no account of the pattern of the security’s payments prior to
maturity. In contrast, duration incorporates a bond’s yield, coupon interest payments, final maturity, call and put features and prepayment exposure into one measure. Duration is the magnitude of the change in the price of a bond relative to a
given change in market interest rates. Duration management is one of the fundamental tools used by the investment adviser.
Duration is a measure of the expected life of a debt
obligation on a present value basis. Duration takes the length of the time intervals between the present time and the time that the interest and principal payments are scheduled or, in the case of a callable bond, the time the principal payments are
expected to be received, and weights them by the present values of the cash to be received at each future point in time. For debt obligations with interest payments occurring prior to the payment of principal, duration will usually be less than
maturity. In general, all else being equal, the lower the stated or coupon rate of the interest of a fixed income security, the higher the duration of the security; conversely, the higher the stated or coupon rate of a fixed income security, the
lower the duration of the security.
Holding long futures
or call option positions will increase the duration of a fund’s portfolio. Holding short futures or put options will lower the duration of a fund’s portfolio.
A swap agreement on an asset or group of assets may affect the
duration of the portfolio depending on the attributes of the swap. For example, if the swap agreement provides a fund with a floating rate of return in exchange for a fixed rate of return, the duration of the fund would be modified to reflect the
duration attributes of a similar security that the fund is permitted to buy.
There are some situations where even the standard duration
calculation does not properly reflect the interest rate exposure of a security. For example, floating- and variable-rate securities often have final maturities of ten or more years; however, their interest rate exposure corresponds to the frequency
of the coupon reset. Another example where the interest rate exposure is not properly captured by maturity is mortgage pass-through securities. The stated final maturity of such securities is generally 30 years, but current prepayment rates are more
critical in determining the securities’ interest rate exposure. Finally, the duration of the debt obligation may vary over time in response to changes in interest rates and other market factors.
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.
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.
Investing in China
involves certain additional risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in other more established economies or securities markets.
China based companies that incorporate in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) can issue different classes of shares depending on where they are listed and which investors are allowed to own them. These are referred to as Class A Shares, Class
B shares, and Class H shares, which are all renminbi-denominated shares that trade in different currencies depending on what stock exchange they are listed on. Class H Shares trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, are quoted and traded in Hong Kong
dollars, and have no restrictions on who can trade them. Class B Shares trade on either the Shanghai or Shenzhen stock exchanges and can only be traded by non-residents of the PRC or residents with appropriate foreign currency dealing accounts. They
trade in U.S. dollars on the Shanghai exchange and in Hong Kong dollars on the Shenzhen exchange. Class A Shares trade on either the Shanghai or Shenzhen exchanges and are quoted in renminbi. Class A Shares may only be traded by residents of the
PRC, or under the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) rules, or through the Stock Connect programs (Shanghai-Hong Kong or Shenzhen-Hong Kong). Finally, China based companies that are controlled by PRC residents or PRC state entities and
have a majority of their revenue or assets in the PRC may incorporate outside the PRC and trade on an exchange outside the PRC in the currency of the exchange. These are referred to as “Red Chip” (Hong Kong), “P Chip” (Hong
Kong), “S Chip” (Singapore), or “N Shares” (United States). The multiplicity of share classes and various restrictions on ownership, in addition to the ability of Chinese regulatory authorities and Chinese issuers to suspend
trading and their willingness to exercise this option in response to market volatility and other events, can significantly impact liquidity and volatility of the Chinese market and the markets for Chinese securities. In addition, to the extent that
a fund invests in China A Shares, there may be legal restrictions imposed by the PRC on the repatriation of assets or proceeds from the sale of China A Shares. Further, there are quotas on the amount China A Shares available either to QFIIs or
through the Stock Connect programs. These quotas are applicable to the entire market, not to a specific fund, but they impact the ability of a fund to implement its investment strategy.
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 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, interests in real estate investment trusts and interest in business development companies. (For more information on real estate investment trusts (REITs), see the
section titled “Real Estate Investment Trusts” 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.
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.
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 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.
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 (the 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 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
.
A fund 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 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
an 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 an 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.
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 (for more information on BDCs, see the section titled “Securities
of Other Investment Companies”).
Exchange-Traded
Funds
(ETFs) such as Standard and Poor’s Depositary Receipts (SPDRs) Trust, 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 by 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 and procedures approved by the Board, 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 exchange-traded fund 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.
Exchange-Traded Notes
(ETNs) generally are senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities issued by a sponsor. They are designed to provide investors a different way to gain exposure to the returns of market benchmarks, particularly those
in the natural resource and commodity markets. An ETN’s returns are based on the performance of a market index minus fees and expenses. ETNs are not equity investments or investment companies, but they do share some characteristics of those
investment vehicles. As with equities, ETNs can be shorted, and as with ETFs and index funds, they are designed to track the total return performance of a benchmark index. Like ETFs, ETNs are traded on an exchange and can be bought and sold on the
listed exchange. However, unlike an ETF, an ETN can be held until the ETN’s maturity, at which time the issuer will pay a return linked to the performance of the market index to which the ETN is linked minus certain fees. Unlike regular bonds,
ETNs do not make periodic interest payments and principal is not protected.
The market value of an ETN is determined by supply and demand,
the current performance of the market index to which the ETN is linked, and the credit rating of the ETN issuer. The market value of ETN shares may differ from their net asset value (NAV). This difference in price may be due to the fact that the
supply and demand in the market for ETN shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the securities/commodities/instruments underlying the index that the ETN seeks to track. The value of an ETN may
also change due to a change in the issuer’s credit rating. As a result, there may be times when an ETN share trades at a premium or discount to its NAV.
Event-Linked Bonds.
A fund may
invest up to 5% of its net assets in ‘‘event-linked bonds,’’ which are fixed income securities for which the return of principal and payment of interest is contingent on the non-occurrence of a specific
‘‘trigger’’ event, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or other physical or weather-related phenomenon. Some event-linked bonds are commonly referred to as ‘‘catastrophe bonds.’’ If a trigger event
occurs, a fund may lose a portion or all of its principal invested in the bond. Event-linked bonds often provide for an extension of maturity to process and audit loss claims where a trigger event has, or possibly has, occurred. An extension of
maturity may increase volatility. Event-linked bonds may also expose a fund to certain unanticipated risks including credit risk, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations, and adverse tax consequences. Event-linked bonds may also be
subject to liquidity risk.
Foreign Currency
Transactions.
A fund may invest in foreign currency-denominated securities, 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. A fund 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.
A fund may also use foreign currency options and foreign
currency forward contracts to increase exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another. A 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 a 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, a fund could sustain a loss.
A fund may, but is not required to, 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 a 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 a fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. Moreover, there may be imperfect correlation between a fund’s holdings of securities denominated in a particular currency and forward contracts into which a
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.
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 a fund with a view to protecting the outlook, and a fund might be expected to enter into such contracts under the following circumstances:
Lock In
.
When the investment 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 a fund’s portfolio holdings denominated in the currency sold.
Direct Hedge
. If the investment adviser wants to eliminate substantially all of the risk of owning a particular currency, and/or if the investment 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 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 a 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, a fund may be required to limit its gains from hedging in foreign currency forwards, futures, and options. Although a fund is 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 a fund and could affect whether dividends paid by a fund are classified as capital gains or ordinary income.
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 a fund
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, 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 a fund 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 the 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.
International trade tensions may arise from
time to time which could result in trade tariffs, embargos or other restrictions or limitations on trade. The imposition of any actions on trade could trigger a significant reduction in international trade, an oversupply of certain manufactured
goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies or industries which could have a negative impact on a fund’s performance. Events such as these are difficult to predict and may or may not occur in the
future.
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, a fund 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 2008-2009 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. Due to the 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 triggered negotiations on the terms of Brexit. There is significant uncertainty regarding the final terms and consequences of 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 a
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 a fund’s performance.
Foreign Institutions
involve
additional risks. The funds may invest in U.S. dollar-denominated securities issued by foreign institutions or securities that are subject to credit or liquidity enhancements provided by foreign institutions. Foreign institutions may not be subject
to
uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and
requirements that are 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 could have effects on the value of
securities issued or supported by foreign institutions. For example, conditions within and around foreign countries, such as the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, diplomatic developments, change
of government or war could affect the value of these securities. In addition, there may be difficulties in obtaining or enforcing judgments against foreign institutions that issue or support securities in which a fund may invest. 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.
High-Yield Securities
, also
called lower quality bonds (junk bonds), are frequently issued by companies without long track records of sales and earnings, or by those of questionable credit strength, and are more speculative and volatile (though typically higher yielding) than
investment grade bonds. Adverse economic developments could disrupt the market for high-yield securities, and severely affect the ability of issuers, especially highly-leveraged issuers, to service their debt obligations or to repay their
obligations upon maturity.
Also, the secondary
market for high-yield securities at times may not be as liquid as the secondary market for higher-quality debt securities. As a result, the investment adviser could find it difficult to sell these securities or experience difficulty in valuing
certain high-yield securities at certain times. Prices realized upon the sale of such lower rated securities, under these circumstances, may be less than the prices at which a fund purchased them.
Thus, high-yield securities are more likely to react to
developments affecting interest rates and market and credit risk than are more highly rated securities, which primarily react to movements in the general level of interest rates. When economic conditions appear to be deteriorating, medium- to
lower-quality debt securities may decline in value more than higher-quality debt securities due to heightened concern over credit quality, regardless of prevailing interest rates. Prices for high-yield securities also could be affected by
legislative and regulatory developments. These laws could adversely affect a fund’s net asset value and investment practices, the secondary market value for high-yield securities, the financial condition of issuers of these securities and the
value of outstanding high-yield securities.
Hybrid
Instruments
are a type of potentially high-risk derivative that combines a traditional stock, bond, or commodity with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon
maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a hybrid is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a benchmark). The interest rate or
(unlike most fixed income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid security may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark. An example of a hybrid could be a bond issued by an oil company
that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be a combination of a bond and a call option on
oil.
Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of
pursuing a variety of investment goals, including currency hedging, duration management, and increased total return. Hybrids may not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as
a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as commodity shortages and currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen
by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. Thus, an investment in a hybrid may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional, U.S.
dollar-denominated bond that has a fixed principal amount and pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest. The purchase of hybrids also exposes a fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the hybrids. These risks may cause significant fluctuations
in the net asset value of a fund. A fund will not invest more than 5% of its total assets in hybrid instruments.
Certain hybrid instruments may provide exposure to the
commodities markets. These are derivative securities with one or more commodity-linked components that have payment features similar to commodity futures contracts, commodity options, or similar instruments. Commodity-linked hybrid instruments may
be either equity or debt securities, and are considered hybrid instruments because they have both security and commodity-like characteristics. A portion of the value of these instruments may be derived from the value of a commodity, futures
contract, index or other economic variable. A fund will only invest in commodity-linked hybrid instruments that qualify under applicable rules of the CFTC for an exemption from the provisions of the CEA.
Certain issuers of structured products such as hybrid
instruments may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, a fund’s investments in these products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies and may be subject to restrictions
contained in the 1940 Act.
Illiquid Securities or Investments
means any investment that a fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the
investment. The liquidity of a fund’s investments is monitored under the supervision and direction of the Board. Investments currently not considered liquid include, among others, repurchase agreements not maturing within seven days that are
not subject to a demand feature of seven days or less and certain restricted securities. Any investment may become illiquid at times of market dislocation.
Index Participations
and index
participation contracts provide the equivalent of a position in the securities comprising an index, with each security’s representation equaling its index weighting. Moreover, their holders are entitled to payments equal to the dividends paid
by the
underlying index securities. Generally, the value of an index participation
or index participation contract will rise and fall along with the value of the related index. The funds will invest in index participation contracts only if a liquid market for them appears to exist.
Inflation-Protected Securities
are fixed-income securities whose value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers utilize a structure that accrues inflation into
the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the Consumer Price Index (CPI) accruals as part of a semiannual coupon. Inflation-protected securities issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of approximately five, ten or thirty
years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semiannual basis equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation adjusted principal amount.
If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the
principal value of inflation-protected bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon
maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-protected bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate.
A fund may also invest in other inflation related bonds, which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond to be repaid at maturity may be less than the original
principal amount and, therefore, is subject to credit risk.
The value of inflation-protected bonds is expected to change
in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the expected rate of inflation. Therefore, if the rate of inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal
interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-protected bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease
in value of inflation-protected bonds.
While
these securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency
exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.
The periodic adjustment of U.S.
inflation-protected bonds is tied to the non-seasonally adjusted U.S. City Average All Items Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in the
cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-protected bonds issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government. There can
be no assurance that the CPI-U or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be
correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States.
Any increase in principal for an inflation-protected security
resulting from inflation adjustments is considered by the IRS to be taxable income in the year it occurs. A fund’s distributions to shareholders may include interest income and the income attributable to principal adjustments, both of which
will be taxable to shareholders. The tax treatment of the income attributable to principal adjustments may result in the situation where a fund needs to make its required annual distributions to shareholders in amounts that exceed the cash received.
As a result, the fund may need to liquidate certain investments when it is not advantageous to do so. Also, if the principal value of an inflation-protected security is adjusted downward due to deflation, amounts previously distributed in the
taxable year may be characterized in some circumstances as a return of capital.
Interfund Borrowing and Lending.
The SEC has granted an exemption to the Schwab 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.
International Bonds
are
certain obligations or securities of foreign issuers, including Eurodollar Bonds, which are U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued by foreign issuers payable in Eurodollars (U.S. dollars held in banks located outside the United States, primarily
Europe), Yankee Bonds, which are U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued in the U.S. by foreign banks and corporations, and EuroBonds, which are bonds denominated in U.S. dollars and usually issued by large underwriting groups composed of banks and
issuing houses from many countries. Investments in securities issued by foreign issuers, including American Depositary Receipts and securities purchased on foreign securities exchanges, may subject a fund to additional investment risks, such as
adverse political and economic developments, possible seizure, nationalization or expropriation of foreign investments, less stringent disclosure requirements, non-U.S. withholding taxes and the adoption of other foreign governmental
restrictions.
Additional risks include less
publicly available information, the risk that companies may not be subject to the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and requirements of U.S. companies, the risk that foreign securities markets may have less volume and therefore
may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than U.S. securities, and the risk that custodian and transaction costs may be higher. Foreign issuers of securities or obligations are often subject to accounting requirements and engage in business
practices different from those respecting domestic issuers of similar securities or obligations. Foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of
U.S. banks.
Loan Interests,
and
other direct debt instruments or interests therein, may be acquired by a fund. A loan interest is typically originated, negotiated, and structured by a U.S. or foreign commercial bank, insurance company, finance company, or other financial
institution (Agent) for a lending syndicate of financial institutions. The Agent typically administers and enforces the loan on behalf of the other lenders in the syndicate. In addition, an institution, typically but not always the Agent (Collateral
Bank), holds collateral (if any) on behalf of the lenders. When a Collateral Bank holds collateral, such collateral typically consists of one or more of the following asset types: inventory, accounts receivable, property, plant and equipment,
intangibles, common stock of subsidiaries or other investments. These loan interests may take the form of participation interests in, assignments of or novations of a loan during its second distribution, or direct interests during a primary
distribution. Such loan interests may be acquired from U.S. or foreign banks, insurance companies, finance companies, or other financial institutions that have made loans or are members of a lending syndicate or from other holders of loan interests.
A fund may also acquire loan interests under which a fund derives its rights directly from the borrower. Such loan interests are separately enforceable by a fund against the borrower and all payments of interest and principal are typically made
directly to a fund from the borrower. In the event that a fund and other lenders become entitled to take possession of shared collateral, it is anticipated that such collateral would be held in the custody of the Collateral Bank for their mutual
benefit. A fund may not act as an Agent, a Collateral Bank, a guarantor or sole negotiator or structurer with respect to a loan.
The investment adviser will analyze and evaluate the financial
condition of the borrower in connection with the acquisition of any loan interest. Credit ratings are typically assigned to loan interests in the same manner as with other fixed income debt securities, and the investment adviser analyzes and
evaluates these ratings, if any, in deciding whether to purchase a loan interest. The investment adviser also analyzes and evaluates the financial condition of the Agent and, in the case of loan interests in which a fund does not have privity with
the borrower, those institutions from or through whom a fund derives its rights in a loan (“Intermediate Participants”).
In a typical loan, the Agent administers the terms of the loan
agreement. In such cases, the Agent is normally responsible for the collection of principal and interest payments from the borrower and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all the institutions that are parties to the loan agreement.
A fund will generally rely upon the Agent or Intermediate Participant to receive and forward to a fund its portion of the principal and interest payments on the loan. Furthermore, unless under the terms of a participation agreement a fund has direct
recourse against the borrower, a fund will rely on the Agent and the other members of the lending syndicate to use appropriate credit remedies against the borrower. The Agent is typically responsible for monitoring compliance with covenants
contained in the loan agreement based upon reports prepared by the borrower. The seller of the loan interest usually does, but is often not obligated to, notify holders of loan interests of any failures of compliance. The Agent may monitor the value
of the collateral and, if the value of the collateral declines, may accelerate the loan, may give the borrower an opportunity to provide additional collateral or may seek other protection for the benefit of the participants in the loan. The Agent is
compensated by the borrower for providing these services under a loan agreement, and such compensation may include special fees paid upon structuring and funding the loan and other fees paid on a continuing basis. With respect to loan interests for
which the Agent does not perform such administrative and enforcement functions, a fund will perform such tasks on its own behalf, although a Collateral Bank will typically hold any collateral on behalf of a fund and the other holders pursuant to the
applicable loan agreement.
A financial
institution’s appointment as Agent may usually be terminated in the event that it fails to observe the requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent, enters Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) receivership, or, if not FDIC insured,
enters into bankruptcy proceedings. A successor agent generally would be appointed to replace the terminated Agent, and assets held by the Agent under the loan agreement should remain available to holders of Loan Interests. However, if assets held
by the Agent for the benefit of a fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the Agent’s general creditors, a fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a Loan Interest, or suffer a loss of principal and/or
interest. In situations involving Intermediate Participants, similar risks may arise.
Purchasers of Loan Interests depend primarily upon the
creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of principal and interest. If a fund does not receive a scheduled interest or principal payment on such indebtedness, a fund’s share price and yield could be adversely affected. Loans that are fully
secured offer a fund more protections than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the borrower’s
obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off
their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Direct indebtedness of developing countries also will involve a risk that the governmental entities responsible for the repayment of the debt may be unable, or unwilling, to
pay interest and repay principal when due.
The Loan Interests market is in a developing
phase with increased participation among several investor types. The dealer community has become increasingly involved in this secondary market. If, however, a particular Loan Interest is deemed to be illiquid, it would be valued using procedures
adopted by the Board. In such a situation, there is no guarantee that a fund will be able to sell such Loan Interests, which could lead to a decline in the value of the Loan Interests and the value of a fund’s shares.
Loan Participations and Assignments.
A fund may purchase participations in commercial loans. Such indebtedness may be secured or unsecured. Loan participations typically represent direct participation in a loan to a corporate borrower, and generally are
offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. A fund may participate in such syndications, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part lender. When purchasing loan participations, a fund assumes the credit risk associated
with the corporate borrower and may assume the credit risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary. The participation interests in which a fund intends to invest may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating
service.
A loan is often administered by an agent bank acting as agent
for all holders. The agent bank administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. In addition, the agent bank is normally responsible for the collection of principal and interest payments from the corporate borrower and the
apportionment of these payments to the credit of all institutions which are parties to the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, a fund has direct recourse against the corporate borrower, a fund may have to rely
on the agent bank or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a corporate borrower.
A financial institution’s employment as agent bank might
be terminated in the event that it fails to observe a requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent. A successor agent bank would generally be appointed to replace the terminated agent bank, and assets held by the agent bank under the loan
agreement should remain available to holders of such indebtedness. However, if assets held by the agent bank for the benefit of a fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the agent bank’s general creditors, a fund might incur
certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. In situations involving other interposed financial institutions (e.g., an insurance company or governmental agency)
similar risks may arise.
Purchasers of loans and other
forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the corporate borrower for payment of principal and interest. If a fund does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, a fund’s share
price and yield could be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured offer a fund more protection than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of
collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the corporate borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated.
A fund may invest in loan participations with credit quality
comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Indebtedness of companies whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. Some companies may never pay off their indebtedness, or may
pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Consequently, when investing in indebtedness of companies with poor credit, a fund bears a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested.
A fund limits the amount of its total assets that it will
invest in any one issuer or in issuers within the same industry. For purposes of these limits, a fund generally will treat the corporate borrower as the “issuer” of indebtedness held by a fund. In the case of loan participations where a
bank or other lending institution serves as a financial intermediary between a fund and the corporate borrower, if the participation does not shift to a fund the direct debtor-creditor relationship with the corporate borrower, SEC interpretations
require a fund to treat both the lending bank or other lending institution and the corporate borrower as “issuers” for the purposes of determining whether a fund has invested more than 5% of its assets in a single issuer. Treating a
financial intermediary as an issuer of indebtedness may restrict a fund’s ability to invest in indebtedness related to a single financial intermediary, or a group of intermediaries engaged in the same industry, even if the underlying borrowers
represent many different companies and industries.
Loans
and other types of direct indebtedness may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. In some cases, negotiations involved in disposing of indebtedness may require weeks to complete. Consequently, some indebtedness may
be difficult or impossible to dispose of readily at what the investment adviser believes to be a fair price. In addition, valuation of illiquid indebtedness involves a greater degree of judgment in determining a fund’s net asset value than if
that value were based on available market quotations, and could result in significant variations in a fund’s daily share price. At the same time, some loan interests are traded among certain financial institutions and accordingly may be deemed
liquid. As the market for different types of indebtedness develops, the liquidity of these instruments is expected to improve. In addition, a fund currently intends to treat indebtedness for which there is no readily available market as illiquid for
purposes of a fund’s limitation on illiquid investments. Investments in loan participations are considered to be debt obligations for purposes of the Trust’s investment restriction relating to the lending of funds or assets by a
fund.
Investments in loans through a direct assignment
of the financial institution’s interests with respect to the loan may involve additional risks to a fund. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, a fund could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities
associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, a fund could be held liable as co-lender. It is unclear whether loans and other forms of direct
indebtedness offer securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation. In the absence of definitive regulatory guidance, a fund relies on the investment adviser’s research in an attempt to avoid situations where fraud or
misrepresentation could adversely affect a fund.
Maturity
of Investments
for underlying Schwab bond funds will generally be determined using a portfolio security’s final maturity date (date on which the final principal payment of a bond is scheduled to be paid);
however, for securitized products, such as mortgage backed securities and certain other asset-backed securities, maturity will be determined on an average life basis (weighted average time to receipt of all principal payments) by the investment
adviser. Because pre-payment rates of individual mortgage pools vary widely, the average life of a particular pool cannot be predicted precisely. For securities with embedded demand features, such as puts or calls, either the demand date or the
final maturity date will be used depending on interest rates, yields and other market conditions. The average portfolio maturity of a fund is dollar-weighted based upon the market value of a fund’s securities at the time of the
calculation.
Maturity of Investments for
underlying Schwab money market funds generally will be determined using the portfolio securities’ final maturity dates or a shorter period as permitted by Rule 2a-7. For a government security that is a variable rate security where the variable
rate of interest is readjusted at least every 397 calendar days, the maturity is deemed to be equal to the period remaining until the next readjustment of the interest rate. A government security that is a floating rate security is deemed to have a
maturity of one day. A short-term variable rate security is
deemed to have a maturity equal to the earlier of the period remaining until
the next readjustment of the interest rate or the period remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand. A long-term variable rate security that is subject to a demand feature is deemed to have a maturity equal to the longer of
the period remaining until the next readjustment of the interest rate or the period remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand. A short-term floating rate security is deemed to have a maturity of one day. A long-term
floating rate security that is subject to a demand feature is deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand. A repurchase agreement is deemed to have a maturity equal to the period
remaining until the date on the repurchase of the underlying securities is scheduled to occur, or, where the agreement is subject to a demand, the notice period applicable to the demand for repurchase of the securities. A securities lending
agreement will be treated as having a maturity equal to the period remaining until the date on which the loaned securities are scheduled to be returned, or where the agreement is subject to demand, the notice period applicable to a demand for the
return of the loaned securities.
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.
A fund may keep a portion of its assets in cash for business
operations. In order to reduce the effect this otherwise uninvested cash would have on its performance, a fund may invest in money market securities. A fund may also invest in money market securities to the extent it is consistent with its
investment objective.
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 aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits in the aggregate in excess of $100 million.
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, that (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.
Mortgage-Backed Securities
(MBS) and other
Asset-Backed Securities
(ABS) may be purchased by the fund. MBS represent participations in mortgage loans, and include pass-through securities, adjustable rate
mortgages, collateralized mortgage obligations and stripped MBS. MBS may be issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities, such as Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
MBS may also
be issued by private issuers, generally originators and investors in mortgage loans, including savings associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, and special purpose entities (collectively, “private lenders”). MBS are based on
different types of mortgages including those on commercial real estate and residential property. MBS issued by private lenders may be supported by pools of mortgage loans or other MBS that are guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the U.S.
government or one of its agencies or instrumentalities, or they may be issued without any governmental guarantee of the underlying mortgage assets but with some form of credit enhancement. To the extent that a fund invests in MBS issued by private
lenders, such securities may be issued in the form of several tranches. Depending on their respective seniority, individual tranches are subject to increased (and sometimes different) credit, prepayment and liquidity and valuation risks as compared
to other tranches.
These securities are often subject to
greater credit, prepayment and liquidity and valuation risks than an MBS issued by a U.S. government agency or instrumentality. The investment adviser will consider the creditworthiness of the guarantee providers and/or credit enhancement providers
in determining whether a MBS issued by a private lender meets the fund’s investment quality standards. There can be no guarantee that the enhancement provider or guarantor of a MBS can meet their obligations under the enhancement or guarantee
arrangements.
The average life of a MBS is likely to be
substantially shorter than the original maturity of the mortgages underlying the securities. Scheduled payments and prepayments of principal by mortgagors and mortgage foreclosures will usually result in the return of the greater part of principal
investment long before the maturity of the mortgages in the pool.
The National Housing Act authorized Ginnie Mae to guarantee
the timely payment of principal and interest on securities backed by a pool of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Ginnie Mae guarantee is backed by the full
faith and credit of the U.S. government. Ginnie Mae is also empowered to borrow without limitation from the U.S. Treasury if necessary to make any payments required under its guarantee.
Freddie Mac was created in 1970 to promote development of a
nationwide secondary market in conventional residential mortgages. Fannie Mae was established in 1938 to create a secondary market in mortgages that the FHA insures. Securities issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are not backed by the full faith
and credit of the U.S. government.
For more information
on securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, see “U.S. Government Securities.” On June 3, 2019, under the “Single Security Initiative” undertaken by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seeking to maximize the
liquidity of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac MBS in the “to-be-announced” (TBA) market, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are expected to start issuing uniform mortgage-backed securities (UMBS) in place of their current offerings of
TBA-eligible MBS. The effects of the issuance of UMBS on the market for MBS and on a fund’s ability to invest in UMBS are uncertain.
Asset-backed
Securities
(ABS) have structural characteristics similar to MBS. ABS represent direct or indirect participation in assets such as automobile loans, credit card receivables, trade receivables, home equity loans
(which sometimes are categorized as MBS) or other financial assets. Therefore, repayment depends largely on the cash flows generated by the assets backing the securities. The credit quality of most ABS depends primarily on the credit quality of the
assets underlying such securities, how well the entity issuing the security is insulated from the credit risk of the originator or any other affiliated entities, and the amount and quality of any credit enhancement of the securities. Payments or
distributions of principal and interest on ABS may be supported by credit enhancements including letters of credit, an insurance guarantee, reserve funds and overcollateralization. Asset-backed securities also may be debt instruments, which are also
known as collateralized obligations and are generally issued as the debt of a special purpose entity, such as a trust, organized solely for the purpose of owning such assets and issuing debt obligations.
Commercial
Mortgage-Backed Securities
include securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on commercial real property. The market for commercial mortgage-backed securities developed more
recently and in terms of total outstanding principal amount of issues is relatively small compared to the market for residential single-family MBS. Many of the risks of investing in commercial MBS reflect the risks of investing in the real estate
securing the underlying mortgage loans. These risks reflect the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants.
Commercial MBS may be less liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities.
Collateralized
Debt Obligations.
A fund may invest in collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), which include collateralized bond obligations (CBOs), collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and other similarly structured
securities. CBOs and CLOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust that is backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which
may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans.
For both CBOs and CLOs, the cash flows from the trust are
split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the bonds or loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior
tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CBO trust or CLO trust typically has higher ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and can be
rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO or CLO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting
tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CBO or CLO securities as a class.
The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the type
of the collateral securities and the class of the CDO in which a fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CDOs may be
characterized by a fund as illiquid securities, however an active dealer market may exist for CDOs allowing a CDO to qualify for Rule 144A transactions. In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed income securities discussed elsewhere in
this SAI and a fund’s prospectus (e.g., interest rate risk and default risk), CDOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or
other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) a fund may invest in CDOs that are subordinate to other classes; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be
fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the
issuer or unexpected investment results;and (v) credit ratings by major credit rating agencies may be no indication of the creditworthiness of the security.
Collateralized
Mortgage Obligations
(CMOs) are a hybrid between mortgage-backed bonds and mortgage pass-through securities. Similar to a bond, interest and prepaid principal is paid, in most cases, on a monthly basis. CMOs
may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans, but are more typically collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and their income streams, as well as private
issuers.
CMOs are structured into multiple
classes, each bearing a different stated maturity. Actual maturity and average life will depend upon the prepayment experience of the collateral. CMOs provide for a modified form of call protection through a de facto breakdown of the underlying pool
of mortgages according to how quickly the loans are repaid. Monthly payment of principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including prepayments, is first returned to investors holding the shortest maturity class. Investors holding the
longer maturity classes receive principal only after the first class has been retired. An investor is partially guarded against a sooner than desired return of principal because of the sequential payments.
In a typical CMO transaction, a corporation (issuer) issues
multiple series (e.g., A, B, C, Z) of CMO bonds (Bonds). Proceeds of the Bond offering are used to purchase mortgages or mortgage pass-through certificates (Collateral). The Collateral is pledged to a third party trustee as security for the Bonds.
Principal and interest payments from the Collateral are used to pay principal on the Bonds in the order A, B, C, Z. The Series A, B, and C Bonds all bear current interest. Interest on the Series Z Bond is accrued and added to principal and a like
amount is paid as principal on the Series A, B, or C Bond currently being paid off. When the Series A, B, and C Bonds are paid in full, interest and principal on the Series Z Bond begins to be paid currently. With some CMOs, the issuer serves as a
conduit to allow loan originators (primarily builders or savings and loan associations) to borrow against their loan portfolios.
The rate of principal payment on MBS and ABS generally depends
on the rate of principal payments received on the underlying assets which in turn may be affected by a variety of economic and other factors. As a result, the price and yield on any MBS or ABS is difficult to predict with precision and price and
yield to maturity may be more or less than the anticipated yield to maturity. If a fund purchases these securities at a premium, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected will reduce yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate that is slower
than expected will have the opposite effect of increasing the yield to maturity. Conversely, if a fund purchases these securities at a discount, a prepayment rate that is faster than expected will increase yield to maturity, while a prepayment rate
that is slower than expected will reduce yield to maturity. Amounts available for reinvestment by a fund are likely to be greater during a period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates than
during a period of rising interest rates.
While many MBS
and ABS are issued with only one class of security, many are issued in more than one class, each with different payment terms. Multiple class MBS and ABS are issued as a method of providing credit support, typically through creation of one or more
classes whose right to payments on the security is made subordinate to the right to such payments of the remaining class or classes. In addition, multiple classes may permit the issuance of securities with payment terms, interest rates, or other
characteristics differing both from those of each other and from those of the underlying assets. Examples include stripped securities, which are MBS and ABS entitling the holder to disproportionate interest or principal compared with the assets
backing the security, and securities with classes having characteristics different from the assets backing the securities, such as a security with floating interest rates with assets backing the securities having fixed interest rates. The market
value of such securities and CMO’s generally is more or less sensitive to changes in prepayment and interest rates than is the case with traditional MBS and ABS, and in some cases such market value may be extremely volatile.
CMO Residuals
. CMO residuals
are mortgage securities issued by agencies or
instrumentalities of the U.S. government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the
foregoing.
The cash flow generated by
the mortgage assets underlying a series of CMOs is applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the CMOs and second to pay the related administrative expenses of the issuer. The residual in a CMO structure generally
represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining after making the foregoing payments. Each payment of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual represents income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash
flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characteristics of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the prepayment experience on the
mortgage assets. In particular, the yield to maturity on CMO residuals is extremely sensitive to prepayments on the related underlying mortgage assets, in the same manner as an interest-only (IO) class of stripped mortgage-backed securities. See
“Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities.” In addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the
level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are based. As described below with respect to stripped mortgage-backed securities, in certain circumstances a fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual.
CMO residuals are generally purchased and sold by
institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers. The CMO residual market has only very recently developed and CMO residuals currently may not have the liquidity of other more established securities
trading in other markets. Transactions in CMO residuals are generally completed only after careful review of the characteristics of the securities in question. In addition, CMO residuals may, or pursuant to an exemption therefrom, may not have
been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act). CMO
residuals, whether or not registered under the 1933 Act, may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability, and may be deemed “illiquid” and subject to a fund’s limitations on investment in illiquid securities.
Stripped
Mortgage-Backed Securities
(SMBS). SMBS
are derivative multi-class mortgage securities. SMBS may be issued by
agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the
foregoing.
SMBS are usually structured with two
classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of SMBS will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while
the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest (the IO class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or
PO class). The yield to maturity on an IO class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on
a fund’s yield to maturity from these securities. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, a fund may fail to recoup some or all of its initial investment in these securities even if the
security is in one of the highest rating categories.
Under certain circumstances these securities may be deemed
“illiquid” and subject to a fund’s limitations on investment in illiquid securities.
Mortgage Pass-Through Securities.
The term “U.S. agency mortgage pass-through security” refers to a category of pass-through securities backed by pools of mortgages and issued by one of several U.S. government-sponsored entities, such as
Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac. In the basic mortgage pass-through structure, mortgages with similar issuer, term and coupon characteristics are collected and aggregated into a “pool” consisting of multiple mortgage loans. The
pool is assigned a CUSIP number and undivided interests in the pool are traded and sold as pass-through securities. The holder of the security is entitles to a pro rata share of principal and interest payments (including unscheduled prepayments)
from the pool of mortgage loans.
An investment in
a specific pool of pass-through securities requires an analysis of the specific prepayment risk of mortgages within the covered pool (since mortgagors typically have the option to prepay their loans). The level of prepayments on a pool of mortgage
securities is difficult to predict and can impact the subsequent cash flows, value and yield of the mortgage pool. In addition, when trading specific mortgage pools, precise execution, delivery and settlement arrangements must be negotiated for each
transaction. These factors combine to make trading in mortgage pools somewhat cumbersome relative to other underlying fund investments.
For these reasons, an underlying fund may seek to obtain
exposure to U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities, in part or in full, through the use of “to-be-announced” or “TBA” transactions. “TBA” refers to a commonly used mechanism for the forward settlement of
U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities, and not to a separate type of mortgage-backed security. Most transactions in the fixed-rate mortgage pass-through securities occur through the use of TBA transactions. TBA transactions are generally
conducted in accordance with widely-accepted guidelines that establish commonly observed terms and conditions for execution, settlement and delivery. In a TBA transaction, the buyer and seller decided on general trade parameters, such as agency,
settlement date, paramount and price. The actual pools delivered generally are determined two days prior to settlement date. An underlying fund may use TBA transactions in several ways. For example, an underlying fund anticipates that it will
regularly enter into TBA agreements and “roll over” such agreements prior to the settlement date stipulated in such agreements. This type of TBA transaction is sometimes knows as a “TBA roll.” In a TBA roll, an underlying
fund generally will sell the obligation to purchase the pools stipulated in the TBA agreement prior to the stipulated settlement date and will enter into a new TBA agreement for future delivery of pools of mortgage pass-through securities. In
addition, an underlying fund may enter into TBA agreements and settle such transactions on the stipulated settlement date by accepting actual receipt or delivery of the pools of mortgage pass-through securities stipulated in the TBA agreement.
Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty to a TBA
transaction would expose an underlying fund to possible loss because of adverse market action, expenses or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools of mortgage pass-through securities specified in the TBA transaction. To help
minimize this risk, an underlying fund will enter into TBA transactions only with established counterparties (such as major broker-dealers) and an underlying fund’s investment adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of such counterparties.
An underlying fund may also acquire interests in mortgage pools through means other than TBA transactions.
An underlying fund’s use of “TBA rolls” may
cause the underlying fund to experience higher portfolio turnover, higher transaction costs and to pay higher capital gains distributions to shareholders, which may be taxable, than if it acquired exposure to mortgage pools through means other than
TBA transactions.
Generally, the underlying funds intend
to invest cash pending settlement of any TBA transactions in U.S. Treasury securities, money market instruments, repurchase agreements, or other high-quality, liquid short-term instruments, including money market funds.
Municipal Leases
are
obligations issued to finance the construction or acquisition of equipment or facilities. These obligations may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase contract, a conditional sales contract or a participation interest in any of these
obligations. Municipal leases may be considered illiquid investments. Additionally, municipal leases are subject to “nonappropriation risk,” which is the risk that the
municipality may terminate the lease because funds have not been allocated to
make the necessary lease payments. The lessor would then be entitled to repossess the property, but the value of the property may be less to private sector entities than it would be to the municipality.
Municipal Securities
are debt
securities issued by municipal issuers. Municipal issuers include states, counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions, and their agencies, authorities, instrumentalities and public corporations. These securities may be issued to obtain
money for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities such as airports, bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation, public utilities, schools, streets, and water and sewer works. Other
public purposes include refunding outstanding obligations, obtaining funds for general operating expenses and obtaining funds to loan to other public institutions and facilities.
Municipal securities also may be issued to finance various
private activities, including certain types of private activity bonds (“industrial development bonds” under prior law). These securities may be issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide certain privately
owned or operated facilities.
Municipal securities may
be owned directly or through participation interests, and include general obligation or revenue securities, tax-exempt commercial paper, notes and leases. General obligation securities typically are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full
faith and credit and most often its taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue securities typically are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the
proceeds of a special tax or other specific revenue source. Private activity bonds and industrial development bonds are, in most cases, revenue bonds and generally do not constitute the pledge of the credit of the issuer of such bonds. The credit
quality of private activity bonds is frequently related to the credit standing of private corporations or other entities.
In addition to bonds, municipalities issue short-term
securities such as tax anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, construction loan notes and tax-free commercial paper. Tax anticipation notes typically are sold to finance working capital needs of municipalities in
anticipation of the receipt of property taxes on a future date. Bond anticipation notes are sold on an interim basis in anticipation of a municipality’s issuance of a longer-term bond in the future. Revenue anticipation notes are issued in
expectation of the receipt of other types of revenue, such as that available under the Federal Revenue Sharing Program. Construction loan notes are instruments insured by the Federal Housing Administration with permanent financing by Fannie Mae or
Ginnie Mae at the end of the project construction period. Tax-free commercial paper is an unsecured promissory obligation issued or guaranteed by a municipal issuer. A fund may purchase other municipal securities similar to the foregoing that are or
may become available, including securities issued to pre-refund other outstanding obligations of municipal issuers.
A fund also may invest in moral obligation securities, which
are normally issued by special purpose public authorities. If the issuer of a moral obligation security is unable to meet its obligation from current revenues, it may draw on a reserve fund. The state or municipality that created the entity has only
a moral commitment, not a legal obligation, to restore the reserve fund.
The value of municipal securities may be affected by
uncertainties with respect to the rights of holders of municipal securities in the event of bankruptcy or the taxation of municipal securities as a result of legislation or litigation. For example, under federal law, certain issuers of municipal
securities may be authorized in certain circumstances to initiate bankruptcy proceedings without prior notice to or the consent of creditors. Such action could result in material adverse changes in the rights of holders of the securities. In
addition, litigation challenging the validity under the state constitutions of present systems of financing public education has been initiated or adjudicated in a number of states, and legislation has been introduced to effect changes in public
school finances in some states. In other instances, there has been litigation challenging the issuance of pollution control revenue bonds or the validity of their issuance under state or federal law, which ultimately could affect the validity of
those municipal securities or the tax-free nature of the interest thereon.
Municipal securities pay fixed, variable or floating rates of
interest, which may be exempt from federal income tax and, typically, personal income tax of a state or locality.
The investment adviser relies on the opinion of the
issuer’s counsel, which is rendered at the time the security is issued, to determine whether the security is fit, with respect to its validity and tax status, to be purchased by a fund. Neither the investment adviser nor the funds guarantee
this opinion is correct, and there is no assurance that the IRS will agree with such counsel’s opinion.
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 a 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 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.
Quality of Fixed Income Investments
will be principally investment-grade for a fund’s assets. Investment-grade quality securities are rated by at least one NRSRO in one of the four highest rating categories (within which there may be sub-categories
or gradations indicating relative standing) or have been determined to be of equivalent quality by the investment adviser. Sometimes an investment-grade quality security may be downgraded to a below investment-grade quality rating. If a security no
longer has at least one investment-quality rating from an NRSRO, the
investment adviser would reanalyze the security in light of the downgrade and
determine whether a fund should continue to hold the security. However, such downgrade would not require the investment adviser to sell the security on behalf of a fund. Sometimes lower-quality securities may be downgraded to an even lower quality.
The investment adviser may also elect to purchase high-yield securities that are rated (at the time of purchase) B or higher or the equivalent by Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P) or Fitch,
Inc. or are determined to be of similar investment quality by the investment manager.
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 a fund enters into will involve a 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 a fund to experience a loss or delay in the liquidation of the collateral securing the repurchase
agreement. A 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, a 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. Certain repurchase agreements a fund may enter into may or may not be subject to an automatic stay in bankruptcy proceedings. A 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.
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 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 4(a)(2) commercial paper and Rule 144A securities 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.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Mortgage Dollar Rolls
may be used by a fund. A fund may engage in reverse repurchase agreements to facilitate portfolio liquidity, a practice common in the mutual fund industry, or for arbitrage transactions as discussed below. In a reverse
repurchase agreement, a fund would sell a security and enter into an agreement to repurchase the security at a specified future date and price. A fund generally retains the right to interest and principal payments on the security. If a fund uses the
cash it obtains to invest in other securities, this may be considered a form of leverage and may expose a fund to greater risk. Leverage tends to magnify the effect of any decrease or increase in the value of a fund’s portfolio securities.
Because a fund receives cash upon entering into a reverse repurchase agreement, it may be considered a borrowing. When required by guidelines of the SEC, a fund will set aside permissible liquid assets earmarked or in a segregated account to secure
its obligations to repurchase the security.
A
fund also may enter into mortgage dollar rolls, in which a fund would sell MBS for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contract to purchase substantially similar securities on a specified future date. While a fund would forego principal
and interest paid on the MBS during the roll period, a fund would be compensated by the difference between the current sales price and the lower price for the future purchase as well as by any interest earned on the proceeds of the initial sale. A
fund also could be compensated through the receipt of fee income equivalent to a lower forward price. At the time a fund would enter into a mortgage dollar roll, it would set aside permissible liquid assets earmarked or in a segregated account to
secure its obligation for the forward commitment to buy MBS. This transaction allows a porfolio to have the same price and duration exposure in the mortgage security while having the cash for the bonds for the given time period. The net effect is
that the fund is able to maintain mortgage exposure while having the cash available to facilitate redemptions. Mortgage dollar roll transactions may be considered a borrowing by a fund.
The mortgage dollar rolls and reverse repurchase agreements
entered into by a fund may be used as arbitrage transactions in which a fund will maintain an offsetting position in short duration investment-grade debt obligations. Since a fund will receive interest on the securities or repurchase agreements in
which it invests the transaction proceeds, such transactions may involve leverage. However, since such securities or repurchase agreements will be high quality and short duration, the investment adviser believes that such arbitrage transactions
present lower risks to a fund than those associated with other types of leverage. There can be no assurance that a fund’s use of the cash it receives from a mortgage dollar roll will provide a positive return.
A fund also may effect simultaneous purchase and sale
transactions that are known as “sale-buybacks.” A sale-buyback is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement, except that in a sale-buyback, the counterparty who purchases the security is entitled to receive any principal or interest
payments made on the underlying security pending settlement of the fund’s repurchase of the underlying security. A fund’s obligations under a sale-buyback typically would be offset by liquid assets equal in value to the amount of the
fund’s forward commitment to repurchase the subject security.
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 its portfolio securities, a fund may receive cash collateral and may
invest it in short-term, interest-bearing obligations, including cash collateral funds, but will do so only to the extent that it will not lose the tax treatment available to regulated investment
companies. Lending portfolio securities involves risks that the borrower may
fail to return the securities or provide additional collateral. Also, voting rights with respect to loaned securities may pass with the lending of the securities and efforts to 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) a fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of the securities loaned; (3) a
fund will receive payments in lieu of any 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 a 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 a 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
unaffiliated lending agents start at 10% of gross lending revenue, with subsequent breakpoints to a low of 7.5%. Any expenses charged by the cash collateral fund are in addition to these fees. All remaining revenue is retained by a fund, as
applicable. No portion of the lending revenue is paid to or retained by Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (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) business development companies 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 sections titled “Money Market
Funds” and “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.” Unlike securities of other investments companies, BDCs
may be included in various indices by index providers. As a result, particularly to the extent a fund seeks to track the total return of its index by replicating the index (rather than employing sampling techniques), a fund may hold securities of
BDCs and may be required to disclose 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 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.
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.
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. With respect to investments in other mutual funds, the SEC has granted the funds an exemption from the limitations of the
1940 Act that restrict the amount of securities of underlying mutual funds a fund may hold, provided that certain conditions are met. The conditions requested by the SEC were designed to address certain abuses perceived to be associated with funds
of
funds, including unnecessary costs (such as sales loads, advisory fees and
administrative costs), and undue influence by a fund of funds over the underlying fund. The conditions apply only when a fund and its affiliates in the aggregate own more than 3% of the outstanding shares of any one underlying fund.
Under the terms of the exemptive order, each fund and its
affiliates may not control a non-affiliated underlying fund. Under the 1940 Act, any person who owns beneficially, either directly or through one or more controlled companies, more than 25% of the voting securities of a company is assumed to control
that company. This limitation is measured at the time the investment is made.
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, a 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.
Sinking Funds
may
be established by bond issuers to set aside a certain amount of money to cover timely repayment of bondholders’ principal raised through a bond issuance. By creating a sinking fund, the issuer is able to spread repayment of principal to
numerous bondholders while reducing reliance on its then current cash flows. A sinking fund also may allow the issuer to annually repurchase certain of its outstanding bonds from the open market or repurchase certain of its bonds at a call price
named in a bond’s sinking fund provision. This call provision will allow bonds to be prepaid or called prior to a bond’s maturity.
Stripped Securities
are
securities whose income and principal components are detached and sold separately. While risks associated with stripped securities are similar to other fixed-income securities, stripped securities are typically subject to greater changes in value.
U.S. Treasury securities that have been stripped by the Federal Reserve Bank are obligations of the U.S. Treasury.
Temporary Defensive Strategies
are strategies the funds may take for temporary or defensive purposes. The investment strategies for the funds are those that the funds use during normal circumstances. During unusual economic or market conditions
or for temporary defensive or liquidity purposes, the funds may invest up to 100% of their assets in cash, money market instruments, repurchase agreements and other short-term obligations that would not ordinarily be consistent with the funds’
objectives. The funds will do so only if the investment adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for capital gains or higher income. When the funds engage in such activities, they may not achieve their investment
objectives.
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 Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB), 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 the 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.
The risk of default may be heightened when there is
uncertainty relating to negotiations in the U.S. Congress over increasing the statutory debt ceiling. If the U.S. Congress is unable to negotiate an increase to the statutory debt ceiling, the U.S. government may default on certain U.S. government
securities including those held by a fund, which could have an adverse impact on the fund. In recent years, the long-term credit rating of the U.S. government was downgraded by a major rating agency as a result of concern about the U.S.
government’s budget deficit and rising debt burden. Similar downgrades in the future could increase volatility in domestic and foreign financial markets, result in higher interest rates, lower prices of U.S. Treasury securities and increase
the costs of different kinds of debt. Although remote, it is at least theoretically possible that under certain scenarios the U.S. government could default on its debt, including U.S. Treasury securities.
Variable- and Floating-Rate Debt Securities
pay an interest rate, which is adjusted either periodically or at specific intervals or which floats continuously according to a formula or benchmark. Although these structures generally are intended to minimize the
fluctuations in value that occur when interest rates rise and fall, some structures may be linked to a benchmark in such a way as to cause greater volatility to the security’s value.
Some variable-rate securities may be
combined with a put or demand feature (variable-rate demand securities) that entitles the holder to the right to demand repayment in full or to resell at a specific price and/or time. While the demand feature is intended to reduce credit risks, it
is not always unconditional and may be subject to termination if the issuer’s credit rating falls below investment grade or if the issuer fails to make payments on other debt. While most variable-rate demand securities allow a fund to exercise
its demand rights at any time, some such securities may only allow a fund to exercise its demand rights at certain times, which reduces the liquidity usually associated with this type of security. There may also be a period of time between when the
fund exercises its demand rights and when the demand feature provider is obligated to pay. A fund could suffer losses in the event that the demand feature provider, usually a bank, fails to meet its obligation to pay the demand.
Certain variable- and floating-rate debt securities are
subject to rates that are tied to an interest rate, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). On July 27, 2017, the head of the United Kingdom’s (UK) Financial Conduct Authority announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the
end of 2021. There remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate. Accordingly, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on a fund or the debt securities or other instruments based on
LIBOR in which a fund invests cannot yet be determined.
In June 2017, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a
group of large U.S. banks working with the Federal Reserve, announced a replacement for LIBOR, the Secured Overnight Funding Rate (SOFR). The Federal Reserve Bank of New York began publishing the SOFR in April 2018, which is a broad measure of the
cost of overnight borrowing of cash collateralized by Treasury securities. SOFR is intended to serve as a reference rate for U.S. dollar-based debt and derivatives and ultimately reduce the markets’ dependence on LIBOR. Bank working groups and
regulators in other countries have suggested other alternatives for their markets, including the Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate in the UK.
Variable- and floating-rate debt securities generally are less
sensitive to interest rate changes but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general. Conversely, floating-rate debt securities will not generally increase in value if interest rates
decline. When a fund holds variable- or floating-rate debt securities, a decrease in market interest rates will adversely affect the income received from such securities, which may also impact the net asset value of the fund’s shares.
Wrap Agreements
may be entered
into by a fund with insurance companies, banks or other financial institutions (wrapper providers). A wrap agreement typically obligates the wrapper provider to maintain the value of the assets covered under the agreement (covered assets) up to a
specified maximum dollar amount upon the occurrence of certain specified events. The value is pre-determined using the purchase price of the securities plus interest at a specified rate minus an adjustment for any defaulted securities. The specified
interest rate may be adjusted
periodically under the terms of the
agreement. While the rate typically will reflect movements in the market rates of interest, it may at times be less or more than the actual rate of income earned on the covered assets. The rate also can be impacted by defaulted securities and by
purchase and redemption levels in a fund. A fund also pays a fee under the agreement, which reduces the rate as well.
Wrap agreements may be used as a risk management technique
intended to help minimize fluctuations in a fund’s NAV. However, a fund’s NAV will typically fluctuate at least minimally, and may fluctuate more at times when interest rates are fluctuating. Additionally, wrap agreements do not protect
against losses a fund may incur if the issuers of portfolio securities do not make timely payments of interest and/or principal. A wrap agreement provider also could default on its obligations under the agreement. Therefore, a fund will only invest
in a wrap provider with an investment-grade credit rating. There is no active trading market for wrap agreements and none is expected to develop. Therefore, wrap agreements are considered illiquid investments. There is no guarantee that a fund will
be able to purchase any wrap agreements or replace ones that defaulted. Wrap agreements are valued using procedures adopted by the Board. There are risks that the value of a wrap agreement may not be sufficient to minimize the fluctuations in a
fund’s NAV. All of these factors might result in a decline in the value of a fund’s shares.
Zero-Coupon, Step-Coupon, and Pay-in-Kind Securities
are debt securities that do not make cash interest payments throughout the period prior to maturity. Zero-coupon and step-coupon securities are sold at a deep discount to their face value. A zero-coupon security pays no
interest to its holders during its life. Step-coupon securities are debt securities that, instead of having a fixed coupon for the life of the security, have coupon or interest payments that may increase or decrease to predetermined rates at future
dates. Some step-coupon securities are issued with no coupon payments at all during an initial period, and only become interest-bearing at a future date; these securities are sold at a deep discount to their face value. Pay-in-kind securities pay
interest through the issuance of additional securities. Because such securities do not pay current cash income, the price of these securities can be volatile when interest rates fluctuate. High yield securities structured as zero-coupon bonds or
pay-in-kind securities tend to be especially volatile as they are especially sensitive to downward pricing pressures from rising interest rates and may require a fund to pay out imputed income without receiving the actual cash delivery. Thus, these
types of high yield investments increase the chance that a fund may lose money. While these securities do not pay current cash income, federal income tax law requires the holders of zero-coupon, step-coupon, and pay-in-kind securities to include in
income each year the portion of the original issue discount (or deemed discount) and other non-cash income on such securities accruing that year. In order to continue to qualify as a “regulated investment company” or “RIC”
under the Internal Revenue Code and avoid a certain excise tax, a fund may be required to distribute a portion of such discount and income and may be required to dispose of other portfolio securities, which may occur in periods of adverse market
prices, in order to generate cash to meet these distribution requirements.
investment Limitations and restrictions
The following investment limitations may be changed only by vote
of a majority of each fund’s outstanding voting shares:
Each fund may not:
(1)
|
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.
|
(2)
|
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.
|
(3)
|
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.
|
(4)
|
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.
|
(5)
|
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.
|
(6)
|
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.
|
(7)
|
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.
|
The following investment policies and restrictions are
non-fundamental 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)
|
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).
|
(3)
|
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.
|
(4)
|
Purchase or sell
commodities, commodity contracts or real estate, including interests in real estate limited partnerships, provided that the fund may (1) purchase securities of companies that deal in real estate or interests therein (including REITs); (2) purchase
or sell futures contracts, options contracts, equity index participations and index participation contracts; and (3) purchase securities of companies that deal in precious metals or interests therein.
|
(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).
|
(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.
|
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 a 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. The funds have adopted a
fundamental policy that would permit direct investment in real estate. However, the funds have a non-fundamental investment limitation that prohibits them from investing directly in real estate. This non-fundamental policy may be changed only by
vote of the funds’ 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 a 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 foregoing restriction does not apply to non-diversified funds.
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 five times during
the most recent fiscal year.
Certain trustees are
“interested persons.” A trustee is considered an interested person (Interested Trustee) 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 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 April 26, 2019, included 98 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 Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust. The tables below provide information about the trustees and
officers for the Trust, which includes the 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) (investment management firm) and President, PIMCO Funds.
|
98
|
None
|
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 (Oct. 1979-present), The Hoover Institution at Stanford University (public policy think tank); Senior Fellow (2000-present), Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research; Professor of Public Policy (1994-2015), Stanford University.
|
98
|
Director
(2005-present), Gilead Sciences, Inc.
|
Nancy
F. Heller
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 2018)
|
President
and Chairman (2014-2016), TIAA Charitable (financial services); Senior Managing Director (2003-2016), TIAA (financial services).
|
98
|
None
|
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 (May 2012-present), Kochis Global (wealth management consulting).
|
98
|
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.
|
98
|
Director
(2003-present), Symantec Corporation
Director (2004-present), Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated
Director (2009-present), Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
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
|
Jane
P. Moncreiff
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 2019)
|
Chief
Investment Officer (2009-2017), CareGroup Healthcare System, Inc. (healthcare).
|
98
|
None
|
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 (Dec. 2008-Sept. 2013), Intuit, Inc. (financial software and services firm for consumers and small businesses).
|
98
|
Director
(2008-present), KLA-Tencor Corporation
|
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
(2008-present), Patmore Management Consulting (management consulting).
|
98
|
None
|
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 (Mar. 1990-present), Smith Graham & Co. (investment advisors).
|
98
|
Director
(2012-present), Eaton
|
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 (Oct. 2008-present), The Charles Schwab Corporation; President and Chief Executive Officer (Oct. 2008-present) and Director (May 2008-present), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Director (Apr. 2006-present),
Charles Schwab Bank; Director (Nov. 2017-present), Charles Schwab Premier Bank; Director (May 2008-present) and President and Chief Executive Officer (Aug. 2017-present), Schwab Holdings, Inc.; Director (July 2016-present), Charles Schwab Investment
Management, Inc.
|
98
|
Director
(2008-present), The Charles Schwab Corporation
|
Jonathan
de St. Paer
2
1973
Trustee
(Trustee of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity
Portfolios, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust since 2019)
|
Director
and Chief Executive Officer (Apr. 2019-present), President (Oct. 2018-present) Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Trustee and Chief Executive Officer (Apr. 2019-present), President (Nov. 2018-present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab
ETFs; Director (Apr. 2019-present), Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds plc and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited; Senior Vice President (Apr. 2019-present), Senior Vice President – Strategy and Product Development (CSIM) (Jan.
2014-Mar. 2019), Vice President (Jan. 2009-Dec. 2013), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
|
98
|
None
|
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
|
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)
|
Chief
Operating Officer (Feb. 2018-present) and Senior Executive Vice President (July 2015-Feb. 2018), The Charles Schwab Corporation; Senior Executive Vice President (July 2015-present), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Chief Financial Officer (July
2015-Aug. 2017) and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (May 2007-July 2015), The Charles Schwab Corporation and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Director (May 2007-present), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Director (Apr.
2010-present) and Chief Executive Officer (July 2013-Apr. 2015), Charles Schwab Bank; Director (Nov. 2017-present), Charles Schwab Premier Bank; Director (May 2007-present), Chief Financial Officer (May 2007-Aug. 2017), Senior Executive Vice
President (Feb. 2016-present), and Executive Vice President (May 2007-Feb. 2016), Schwab Holdings, Inc.
|
98
|
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
|
Jonathan
de St. Paer
1973
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 2018)
|
Director
and Chief Executive Officer (Apr. 2019-present), President (Oct. 2018-present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Trustee and Chief Executive Officer (Apr. 2019-present), President (Nov. 2018-present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and
Schwab ETFs; Director (Apr. 2019-present), Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds plc and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited; Senior Vice President (Apr. 2019-present), Senior Vice President – Strategy and Product Development (CSIM)
(Jan. 2014-Mar. 2019), Vice President (Jan. 2009-Dec. 2013), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
|
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 (Jan. 2016-present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs; Assistant Treasurer (Dec. 2013-Dec. 2015), Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds; Assistant Treasurer (Nov. 2013-Dec. 2015), Schwab ETFs; Vice President (Oct.
2013-present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Executive Director (Apr. 2011-Sept. 2013), J.P. Morgan Investor Services; Assistant Treasurer (May 2005-Mar. 2011), Massachusetts Financial Service Investment Management.
|
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) and Chief Operating Officer (Jan. 2011-present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (Jan. 2016-present), Schwab Funds, Laudus
Funds and Schwab ETFs; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (June 2006-Dec. 2015), Laudus Funds; Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (Nov. 2004-Dec. 2015), Schwab Funds; Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer (Oct. 2009-Dec. 2015), Schwab
ETFs; Director (Apr. 2005-present), Charles Schwab Worldwide Funds plc and Charles Schwab Asset Management (Ireland) Limited.
|
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 (Apr. 2011-present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Equities and Multi-Asset Strategies
(June 2011-present), Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs; Head of the Portfolio Management Group and Vice President of Portfolio Management (May 2009-Apr. 2011), Financial Engines, Inc. (investment management firm); Head of Quantitative
Equity (July 2004-Jan. 2009), ING Investment Management.
|
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 (Apr. 2011-present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer – Fixed Income (June 2011-present), Schwab Funds, Laudus
Funds and Schwab ETFs; Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Active Fixed-Income Strategies (Jan. 2008-Oct. 2010), State Street Global Advisors; Director of Alpha Strategies (Apr. 2006-Jan. 2008), Loomis, Sayles & Company (investment
management firm).
|
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
|
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) and Vice President (Mar. 2004-Sept. 2011), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel (Sept. 2011-present) and 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 (Apr. 2011-present), Laudus Funds; 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 (July 2005-present), Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Vice President (Sept. 2005-present), Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.; Vice President (Dec. 2005-present) and 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 (Oct. 2009-present), Schwab ETFs.
|
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 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, Mr. de St.
Paer and Mr. Martinetto are Interested Trustees. Mr. Bettinger is an Interested Trustee because he owns stock of CSC, the parent company of CSIM, the investment adviser for the trusts in the Fund Complex, is an employee and director of Schwab, the
principal underwriter for The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Annuity Portfolios and Laudus Trust, and is a director of CSIM. Mr. de St. Paer is an Interested Trustee because he owns stock of CSC and
is an employee and director of CSIM. Mr. Martinetto is an Interested Trustee because he owns stock of CSC and is an employee and director of Schwab.
|
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 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 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. de St. Paer should serve as
trustee of the Trust because of the experience he gained as president of CSIM, the Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs, and as senior vice president of strategy and product development at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., as well as his
knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry and investment management services.
The Board has concluded that Ms. Heller should serve as
trustee of the Trust because of the experience she gained as president of TIAA Charitable and as senior managing director at TIAA, the experience she has gained serving on other non-public company boards and her knowledge of and experience in the
financial services industry.
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 Ms. Moncreiff should serve as
trustee of the Trust because of the experience she gained as chief investment officer of CareGroup Healthcare System, the experience she has gained serving on other non-public company boards and her knowledge of and experience in the financial
services industry.
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. 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.
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 (Chair), John F. Cogan, Nancy F. Heller and Kimberly S. Patmore. The Committee met four 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
(Chair), Stephen Timothy Kochis, David L. Mahoney and Kimberly S. Patmore. The Committee met five 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 adviser. This Committee is comprised of at least three trustees (at least two-thirds of whom shall be independent
trustees) and currently has the following members: Gerald B. Smith (Chair), Robert W. Burns, Stephen Timothy Kochis, David L. Mahoney and Jane P. Moncreiff. The Committee met five times during the most recent fiscal year.
|
Trustee Compensation
The following table provides trustee
compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, 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
|
Jonathan
de St. Paer
2
|
None
|
N/A
|
None
|
Joseph
R. Martinetto
|
None
|
N/A
|
None
|
Independent
Trustees
|
Robert
W. Burns
|
$2,540
|
N/A
|
$302,000
|
John
F. Cogan
|
$2,709
|
N/A
|
$322,000
|
Nancy
F. Heller
3
|
$1,506
|
N/A
|
$176,167
|
Stephen
Timothy Kochis
|
$2,540
|
N/A
|
$302,000
|
David
L. Mahoney
|
$2,540
|
N/A
|
$302,000
|
Jane
P. Moncreiff
4
|
None
|
N/A
|
None
|
Kiran
M. Patel
|
$2,709
|
N/A
|
$322,000
|
Kimberly
S. Patmore
|
$2,540
|
N/A
|
$302,000
|
Charles
A. Ruffel
5
|
$1,247
|
N/A
|
$151,000
|
Gerald
B. Smith
|
$2,709
|
N/A
|
$322,000
|
Joseph
H. Wender
6
|
$2,540
|
N/A
|
$302,000
|
1
|
Ms. Chandoha retired from the
Board effective March 31, 2019.
|
2
|
Mr. de St. Paer joined the
Board effective April 1, 2019.
|
3
|
Ms. Heller joined the Board
effective June 1, 2018.
|
4
|
Ms. Moncreiff joined the
Board effective January 1, 2019.
|
5
|
Mr. Ruffel
resigned from the Board effective May 15, 2018.
|
6
Mr. Wender retired from the Board effective December 31,
2018.
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, 2018.
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
|
|
|
Over
$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
Jonathan
de St. Paer
1
|
|
|
Over
$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
Joseph
R. Martinetto
|
|
|
Over
$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
Independent
Trustees
|
Robert
W. Burns
|
|
|
Over
$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
John
F. Cogan
|
|
|
Over
$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
Nancy
F. Heller
2
|
|
|
$50,001-$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
Stephen
Timothy Kochis
|
|
|
Over
$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
David
L. Mahoney
|
|
|
Over
$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
Jane
P. Moncreiff
3
|
|
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
Kiran
M. Patel
|
|
|
Over
$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
Kimberly
S. Patmore
|
|
|
Over
$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
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
|
Gerald
B. Smith
|
|
|
Over
$100,000
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund–Maximum Payout
|
None
|
1
|
Mr. de St. Paer joined the
Board effective April 1, 2019.
|
2
|
Ms. Heller joined the Board
effective June 1, 2018.
|
3
|
Ms.
Moncreiff joined the Board effective January 1, 2019.
|
As of December 31, 2018, 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, their investment adviser
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 the investment adviser
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.
Control Persons And Principal Holders Of
Securities
As of March 29, 2019, the officers and
trustees of the Trust, as a group, did not own of record or beneficially, any of the outstanding voting securities of each of the funds.
As of March 29, 2019, for its customers, Schwab owned, of
record, 94.64% of the outstanding voting securities of the Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout Fund, 96.92% of the outstanding voting securities of the Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout and 97.10% of the outstanding
voting securities of the Schwab Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout.
Persons who beneficially own more than 25% of a fund may be
deemed to control the fund. As a result, it may not be possible for matters subject to a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such fund to be approved without the affirmative vote of such shareholder, and it may be possible for
such matters to be approved by such shareholder without the affirmative vote of any other shareholder.
Investment Advisory and Other Services
Investment Adviser
CSIM, a wholly owned subsidiary of
CSC, 211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, serves as each fund’s 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.
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 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.
CSIM does not receive a fee for the services it performs for
the funds. However, CSIM is entitled to receive an annual management fee from each of the underlying funds.
The net operating expenses of each of the funds, which
currently are limited to 0.00%, will continue to be limited to 0.00% for so long as CSIM serves as the adviser of the funds. This agreement may only be amended or terminated with approval of the funds’ Board of Trustees.
The expense limitation is not intended to cover all fund
expenses, and a fund’s expenses may exceed the expense limitation. For example, the expense limitation 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 (such as the underlying funds), that are held by a fund, nor does it cover extraordinary or non-routine expenses, such as shareholder meeting costs.
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; however, as described below in “Payments to Financial Intermediaries,” CSIM compensates Schwab, in its capacity as
a financial intermediary and not in its capacity as distributor and principal underwriter for the funds, for providing certain additional services that may be deemed to be distribution-related.
Payments to Financial Intermediaries
CSIM and its affiliates may make payments to
broker-dealers, banks, trust companies, insurance companies, retirement plan service providers, consultants and other financial intermediaries (Intermediaries) for services and expenses incurred in connection with certain activities or services
which may educate financial advisors or facilitate, directly or indirectly, investment in the funds and other investment companies advised by CSIM, including the Schwab ETFs. These payments are made by CSIM or its affiliates at their own expense,
and not from the assets of the funds. Although a portion of CSIM’s and its affiliates’ revenue comes directly or indirectly in part from fees paid by the funds, these payments do not increase the expenses paid by investors for the
purchase of fund shares, or the cost of owning a fund.
These payments may relate to educational efforts regarding the
funds, or for other activities, such as marketing and/or fund promotion activities and presentations, educational training programs, conferences, data analytics and support, or the development and support of technology platforms and/or reporting
systems. In addition, CSIM may make payments to Intermediaries that make shares of the funds available to their customers or otherwise promote the funds, which may include Intermediaries that allow customers to buy and sell fund shares without
paying a commission or other transaction charge. Payments of this type are sometimes referred to as revenue-sharing or marketing support.
Payments made to Intermediaries may be significant and may
cause an Intermediary to make decisions about which investment options it will recommend or make available to its clients or what services to provide for various products based on payments it receives or is eligible to receive. As a result, these
payments could create conflicts of interest between an Intermediary and its clients and these financial incentives may cause the Intermediary to recommend the funds over other investments.
As of April 26, 2019, CSIM anticipates that
Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, Ladenburg Thalmann Advisor Network LLC, LPL Financial LLC, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC and Raymond James
Financial Services, Inc. will receive these payments. CSIM may enter into similar agreements with other FINRA member firms (or their affiliates) in the future. In addition to member firms of FINRA, CSIM and its affiliates may also make these
payments to certain other financial intermediaries, such as banks, trust companies, insurance companies, and plan administrators and consultants that sell fund shares or provide services to the funds and their shareholders. These firms may not be
included in this list. You should ask your financial intermediary if it receives such payments.
CSIM also makes payments to Schwab for certain administrative,
professional and support services provided by Schwab, in its capacity as an affiliated financial intermediary and not as distributor and principal underwriter of the funds. These payments reimburse Schwab for its charges, costs and expenses of
providing Schwab personnel to perform marketing and sales activities under the direction of CSIM, such as sales lead generation and sales support, assistance with public relations, marketing and/or advertising activities and presentations,
educational training programs, conferences, and data analytics and support. Payments also are made by CSIM to Schwab for CSIM’s allocated costs of general corporate services provided by Schwab, such as human resources, facilities, project
management support and technology.
Shareholder
Servicing Plan
The Trust’s Board of Trustees has
adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan (the Plan) on behalf of certain funds of the Trust. 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. Pursuant to the Plan, the funds (or Schwab as paying agent) may pay Schwab or service providers that, pursuant to written agreements with Schwab, provide certain account maintenance,
customer liaison and shareholder services to fund shareholders. Schwab and the other 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 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 Trustees 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 Trustees of the Trust for review. All material amendments to the Plan must be approved by votes of the majority of both (i) the
Board of Trustees and (ii) the Qualified Trustees.
The
shareholder servicing fee paid to a particular service provider is calculated at an annual rate and is based on the average 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 regardless of Schwab’s or the service provider’s actual cost of providing the services. If the cost of providing the services under the Plan is less than the payments received, the unexpended portion
of the fees may be retained as profit by Schwab or the service provider.
Currently, the funds are not subject to any fee under the
Plan.
Transfer Agent
DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc., 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 and Trust Company (State Street), One
Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, serves as custodian and fund accountant for the funds. The custodian is responsible for the daily safekeeping of securities and cash held or sold by the funds. The funds’ accountant maintains all
books and records related to the funds’ transactions.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The funds’ independent registered public accounting
firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), Three Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, California 94111, 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.
Securities Lending Activities
As of the most recent fiscal year-end, the funds had not
entered into a contract with a securities lending agent and were not engaged in securities lending.
Portfolio Managers
Other Accounts.
In addition to
the funds, 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. The accounts listed below are not subject to a performance-based
advisory fee. The information below is provided as of December 31, 2018.
|
Registered
Investment Companies
(this amount does not include the funds in this SAI)
|
Other
Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
Other
Accounts
|
Name
|
Number
of Accounts
|
Total
Assets
|
Number
of Accounts
|
Total
Assets
|
Number
of Accounts
|
Total
Assets
|
Zifan
Tang
|
30
|
$7,411,683,293
|
0
|
$0
|
0
|
$0
|
Patrick
Kwok
1
|
27
|
$7,778,814,471
|
0
|
$0
|
0
|
$0
|
1
Patrick Kwok became responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the funds as of the date of this SAI. The
information for Mr. Kwok is provided as of February 28, 2019.
Conflicts of Interest.
A
Portfolio Manager’s management of other accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their 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 a 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 Managers’ day-to-day management of the funds. Because of their position with the funds, the
Portfolio Managers know the size, timing, and possible market impact of
fund trades. It is theoretically possible
that the Portfolio Managers could use this information to the advantage of the Other Managed Accounts they manage 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 Managers 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 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 each Portfolio Manager’s management of the funds and Other Managed Accounts which, in theory, may allow them to allocate
investment opportunities in a way that favors the Other Managed Accounts over the funds, which conflict of interest may be exacerbated to the extent that CSIM or the Portfolio Manager receives, or expect to receive, greater compensation from their
management of the Other Managed Accounts than the funds. 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 Managers 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 they are 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 objectives and related restrictions.
Fund of Funds
Information Barrier
.
The Portfolio Managers for any Schwab fund or fund that invests in other Schwab or Laudus Funds (Underlying Affiliated Funds) must make investment decisions without taking into
consideration, or being in possession of, material non-public information about the Underlying Affiliated Funds. Despite a Portfolio Manager’s intention to not receive material, non-public information, CSIM has established procedures to
prevent Portfolio Managers from having access to and trading on material, non-public information regarding Underlying Affiliated Funds. Under these procedures, the adviser monitors Schwab fund of funds’ trading activity in Underlying
Affiliated Funds, escalates breaches of information barriers and develops enhancements to information barriers as necessary. In the event that a Portfolio Manager comes into possession of material, non-public information about an Underlying
Affiliated Fund, a Portfolio Manager’s ability to initiate transactions in that Underlying Affiliated Fund could potentially be restricted as a result of a Portfolio Manager’s possession of such information. The trading restriction could
have an adverse effect on the ability of the fund managed by a Portfolio Manager to participate in any potential gains or avoid any potential losses in the restricted Underlying Affiliated Fund. In some instances, these trading restrictions could
continue in effect for a substantial period of time.
Compensation.
During the most
recent fiscal year, each 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 an 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 Semiannual 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)
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 Managers’ compensation is not based on the
value of the assets held in a fund’s portfolio.
Ownership of Fund Shares.
The
following table shows the dollar amount range of the Portfolio Managers’ “beneficial ownership” of shares of the funds in this SAI that they managed as of December 31, 2018. 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 Fund Shares Owned
|
Zifan
Tang
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout
|
None
|
Patrick
Kwok
1
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout
|
None
|
1
Patrick Kwok became responsible for the day-to-day co-management of the funds as of the date of this SAI.
This information for Mr. Kwok is provided as of February 28, 2019.
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 a 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.
The portfolio turnover rate for each of the funds for the past
two fiscal years is as follows:
Fund
|
2018
|
2017
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Moderate Payout
|
20%
|
41%
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Enhanced Payout
|
9%
|
50%
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund – Maximum Payout
|
11%
|
63%
|
Portfolio
Transactions
The investment adviser makes decisions with
respect to the purchase and sale of portfolio securities on behalf of the funds. The investment adviser is responsible for implementing these decisions, including the negotiation of commissions and the allocation of principal business and portfolio
brokerage. A fund generally does not incur any commissions or sales charges when it invests in underlying Schwab Funds or Laudus Funds, but it may incur such costs if it invests directly in other types of securities or in unaffiliated funds.
Purchases and sales of securities on a stock exchange, including ETF shares, or certain riskless principal transactions placed on NASDAQ are typically effected through brokers who charge a commission for their services. Exchange fees may also apply
to transactions effected on an exchange. 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 the funds may
invest are traded primarily in the over-the-counter 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 seeks to obtain the
best execution for the the funds’ portfolio transactions. The investment adviser 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 believes that VWAP execution is in a fund’s best interest.
In addition, the investment adviser may 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 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 believes that such commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided. In addition to
agency transactions, the investment 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 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 may use research services furnished by brokers or dealers in servicing all fund 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
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 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 fund commissions or spreads, while the investment adviser will use its own funds or other resources to pay for the percentage
of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the investment adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the investment adviser believes that the costs of such services may be appropriately
allocated to their anticipated research and non-research uses.
The investment adviser 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 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 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 may aggregate securities sales or
purchases among two or more funds. The investment adviser 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, 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 as its broker for executing orders for the funds on securities exchanges, the investment adviser follows procedures, adopted by the funds’ Board, 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.
Brokerage Commissions
During the last three fiscal years, the funds paid no
brokerage commissions.
Regular Broker-Dealers
During the fiscal year, the funds held
securities issued by their respective “regular broker-dealers” (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act), indicated below as of December 31, 2018.
Fund
|
Regular
Broker-Dealer
|
Value
of Holdings
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund- Moderate Payout
|
None
|
N/A
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund- Enhanced Payout
|
None
|
N/A
|
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund- Maximum Payout
|
None
|
N/A
|
Proxy Voting
The Board of the trust has delegated the responsibility for
voting proxies to CSIM. The Board has 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. A fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30th is available by visiting the Schwab website at
www.schwabfunds.com/schwabfunds_prospectus
. A fund’s Form N-PX will also be available on the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov
.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure
For this section only, the following disclosure relates to The
Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Capital Trust, Schwab Strategic Trust and Laudus Trust (collectively, the Trusts) and each series thereunder (each a fund and collectively, the funds).
The Trusts’ 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,
subadviser (if applicable), principal underwriter or any affiliated person of a fund, its investment adviser, subadviser or principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized one of the President, Chief
Operating Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Trusts (in consultation with a fund’s subadviser, if applicable) to authorize the release of the funds’ portfolio holdings prior to regular public disclosure (as outlined in the
prospectus and below) 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 Trusts have entered into to selectively disclose portfolio holdings.
Portfolio holdings may be made available on a selective basis
to ratings agencies, certain industry organizations, consultants and other qualified financial professionals when the appropriate officer of the Trusts 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, subadvisers (if applicable), 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, cloud database 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. CSIM, any subadviser to a fund as disclosed in the most current prospectus, Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC, State Street and/or Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., as service providers to the funds, are currently
receiving this information on a daily basis. Donnelley Financial Solutions, as a service provider to the funds, is currently receiving this information on a quarterly basis. PwC, the Transfer Agent, and the Distributor, 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 Trusts or by the nature of its relationship with the Trusts. 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 Trusts will,
when required by the 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 ETF’s outstanding shares, notify the
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.
Generally, a complete list of a fund’s
portfolio holdings is published on the fund’s website www.schwabfunds.com on the “Prospectus & Reports” tab under “Portfolio Holdings” generally 60-80 days after a fund’s fiscal quarter-end in-line with
regulatory filings unless a different timing is outlined in the fund’s prospectus.
Specifically for the Schwab ETFs, each Schwab ETF discloses
its portfolio holdings and the percentages the holdings represent of the fund’s net assets at least monthly on the website and as often as each day the fund is open for business. Portfolio holdings information made available in connection with
the process of purchasing or redeeming Creation Units for the Schwab ETFs may be provided to other entities that provided services to the funds in the ordinary course of business after it has been disseminated to the NSCC.
The Schwab Money Funds have an ongoing arrangement to make
available information about the funds’ portfolio holdings and information derived from the funds’ portfolio holdings to iMoneyNet, a rating and ranking organization, which is subject to a confidentiality agreement.
Under its arrangement with the funds, iMoneyNet, among other things, receives
information concerning the funds’ net assets, yields, maturities and portfolio compositions on a weekly basis, subject to a one business day lag.
On the website, the funds also may 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.
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, countries or other relevant
category, the characteristics of the stock components and other investments of a fund, the attribution of fund returns by asset class, sector, industry, country or other relevant category, and the volatility characteristics of a fund.
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.
Each fund may hold special shareholder meetings, which may
cause a fund 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 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
Methods to purchase and redeem shares of the funds are set
forth in the funds’ prospectus.
The funds are open
each day that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open (business days). The NYSE’s trading session is normally conducted from 9:30 a.m. Eastern time 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 applicable funds’ 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 in order to be executed 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, redemption and exchange 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 financial
intermediaries, including Schwab, to accept on their behalf purchase, exchange and redemption orders. Such financial intermediaries have also been authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase, exchange and redemption orders on the
funds’ behalf. The funds will be deemed to have received a purchase, exchange or redemption order when an authorized intermediary or, if applicable, an intermediary’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 intermediary or the intermediary’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 the funds’ transfer agent.
The 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. Each fund’s minimum initial investments and minimum balance requirements, if any, are set forth in the prospectus. The minimums may be
changed without prior notice.
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, 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. More information regarding the funds’ policies regarding “market timing” is included in the funds’ prospectus.
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 the
funds 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 or Laudus MarketMasters Fund and the simultaneous purchase of shares of another Schwab Fund or 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. In addition, different exchange policies may apply to Schwab Funds or the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund that are bought and sold through third-party intermediaries and the exchange privilege between Schwab Funds
and the Laudus International MarketMasters Fund may not be available through third-party intermediaries.
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. In order 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. 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
calculates its share price, net asset value per share or NAV, as of the close of the NYSE (generally 4 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 that the
investment adviser deems to be unreliable are required to be valued at fair value using procedures approved by the Board. 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.
To
the extent a fund invests in foreign securities, shareholders 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: 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 (closing value), or, lacking any sales, at the mean between the bid and ask prices;
securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at an evaluated price using a mid-price supplied by an approved, independent pricing service. The mid-price is the mean of the bid and ask prices as calculated by the pricing service.
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 approved pricing sources do not provide a value
for a security, a furnished price appears manifestly incorrect or events occur prior to the close of the NYSE that materially affect the furnished price. The Board of Trustees regularly reviews fair value determinations made by the funds pursuant to
the procedures.
The underlying funds in which
the funds invest are valued at their respective net asset values as determined by those funds. The underlying fund that is a money market fund values its portfolio securities based on the value or amortized cost method. The other underlying funds
value their portfolio securities based on market quotes if they are readily available.
Taxation
This discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is
based on 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.
Federal Tax Information for the Funds
It is the funds’ 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, the funds expect 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 funds 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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. In order 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,
each 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. Each 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 adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the fund to satisfy the requirements
for qualification as a RIC.
The funds’
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 the fund’s assets, convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses or otherwise affect the character of the
fund’s income. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. Each fund will endeavor to make any available elections pertaining to these transactions in a manner believed to be in the
best interest of the fund and its shareholders.
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. The funds distribute 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 funds’ fiscal year on futures or options transactions. Such distributions are combined with
distributions of capital gains realized on the funds’ other investments and shareholders are advised on the nature of the distributions.
With respect to investments in zero coupon or other securities
which are sold at original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, each fund will be required to include as part of its current income the imputed interest on such obligations even though the fund has not received any
corresponding interest payments on such obligations during that period. Because each fund distributes all of its net
investment income to its shareholders, the fund may have to sell fund
securities to distribute such imputed income which may occur at a time when the adviser would not have chosen to sell such securities and which may result in taxable gain or loss.
The funds can have income, gains or losses from any
distributions or redemptions in the underlying funds. The funds cannot use gains distributed by one underlying fund to offset losses in another underlying fund. Redemptions of shares in an underlying fund, including those resulting from allocation
changes, could also cause additional distributable gains to shareholders, a portion of which may be short-term capital gains distributable as ordinary income. Further, a portion of any losses on underlying fund share redemptions may be deferred
under the “wash sale” rules. As a result of these factors, the funds’ “fund of funds” structure could affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders.
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 the funds.
Any dividends declared by the funds 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 the funds 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 the 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 gain (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 individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts.
Gain or loss on the sale or redemption of shares in a fund is
measured by the difference between the amount received and the adjusted tax basis of the shares. Shareholders should keep records of investments made (including shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends and distribution) so they can compute
the tax basis of their shares.
A loss realized on a sale
or exchange of shares of a fund may be disallowed if other substantially identical shares are acquired (whether through the automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a sixty-one (61) day period beginning thirty (30) days before and
ending thirty (30) days after the date that the shares are disposed of. In such a case, the basis of the shares acquired must be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Any loss upon the sale or exchange of shares held for six (6) months or less is
treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received by the shareholders.
Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of
2010, net capital losses incurred by the 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 that 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 the 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.
The funds 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 the
funds, dividend distributions a fund reports as dividends received from qualifying domestic corporations will be eligible for the 50% 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.
The funds 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 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, 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 will be required to withhold U.S.
tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of 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,
the funds generally serve 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 their investments 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 the funds from holding investments in REITs that hold residual interests in REMICs, and the funds 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.
For taxable years beginning after 2017 and
before 2026, non-corporate taxpayers generally may deduct 20% of “qualified business income” derived either directly or through partnerships or S corporations. For this purpose, “qualified business income” generally includes
ordinary REIT dividends and income derived from MLP investments. Proposed regulations which may be relied upon pending the issuance of final regulations permit the funds and the underlying funds to pass through to non-corporate shareholders the
character of ordinary REIT dividends so as to allow such shareholders to claim this deduction. There currently is no mechanism for a fund or an underlying mutual fund that invests in MLPs to similarly pass through to non-corporate shareholders
(whether investing directly or indirectly through a fund) the character of income derived from MLP investments. It is uncertain whether future legislation or other guidance will enable the funds and any underlying mutual funds to pass through to
non-corporate shareholders the ability to claim this deduction with respect to income derived from MLP investments.
Income that a fund receives from sources within various
foreign countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. If a 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. For tax years beginning after December 22, 2010, a fund of funds is eligible to “pass-through” to its shareholders the ability to claim a deduction or credit
with respect to foreign income and similar taxes paid by an underlying fund, provided that the fund of funds has at least 50% of its total interests invested in other regulated investment companies at the end of each quarter of the tax year. For tax
years beginning on or before December 22, 2010, a fund of funds could not pass-through to its shareholders the ability to claim a deduction or credit with respect to such foreign taxes paid by an underlying fund.
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 a PFIC, 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, a fund may be required
to distribute amounts in excess of realized income and gains. To the extent that a fund does invest in foreign securities which are determined to be PFIC securities and is 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 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 Internal Revenue 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 a fund.
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, 2019
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 CSIM personnel, including
representatives from the Fund Administration, Portfolio Management, and Investment Risk and Oversight departments, with input from other relevant departments. The Proxy Committee reviews these policies periodically. 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 its next regular meeting.
To assist CSIM in its responsibility for
voting proxies and the overall proxy voting process, CSIM has retained Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC (“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 has also retained Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. to conduct research on certain topics and may retain additional
experts in the proxy voting and corporate governance area in the future.
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.
As a leading asset
manager, it is CSIM’s responsibility to use its proxy votes to encourage transparency and corporate governance structures that it believes protect or promote shareholder value.
Just as the investors in CSIM’s equity
funds generally have a long-term investment horizon, CSIM takes a long-term, measured approach to investment stewardship. CSIM’s client-first philosophy drives all of its efforts, including its approach to decision making. In the investment
stewardship context, that unfolds through CSIM’s efforts to appropriately manage risk by encouraging transparency and focusing on those corporate governance structures that will help protect or promote shareholder value.
In general, CSIM believes corporate
directors, as the elected representatives of all shareholders, are best positioned to oversee the management of their companies. Accordingly, CSIM typically supports a board of directors’ and management’s recommendations on proxy
matters. However, CSIM does not follow these recommendations when it believes doing so would not be in the best interests of shareholders.
III.
|
PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES
|
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.
The Proxy Committee receives and reviews
Glass Lewis’ proxy voting policies and procedures (“Glass Lewis’ Proxy Policies”) and evaluates them in light of the long-term best interests of shareholders. CSIM generally utilizes Glass Lewis’ Proxy Policies (which
are posted on the Funds’ website) except in instances where Glass Lewis’ Proxy Policies do not align with CSIM’s proxy voting philosophy, in which case CSIM creates a custom voting policy to reflect its views on a given
topic.
The following is a
summary of key guidelines which are grouped according to types of proposals usually presented to shareholders in proxy statements.
A.
|
DIRECTORS AND AUDITORS
|
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
|
•
|
The board
does not have any female directors and has not provided a reasonable explanation for its lack of gender diversity
|
•
|
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
|
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
|
•
|
A pattern of inaccurate
audits or other behavior that may call into question an auditor’s effectiveness
|
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 (a defensive tactic used by a company’s board to fight a hostile takeover, commonly referred to as a Poison Pill) during the past year and did not submit it to shareholders for approval
|
CSIM generally supports majority voting
proposals when they call for plurality voting standards in contested elections.
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.
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 Shareholder Rights Plan during the past year and did not submit it to shareholders for approval
|
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 Shareholder Rights Plan during the past year and did not submit it to shareholders for approval
|
i.
|
Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation and Frequency
|
CSIM generally supports advisory votes on
executive compensation (which are proposed by management and are 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 a company’s Say-On-Pay proposal:
•
|
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:
•
|
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.
i.
|
Shareholder Rights Plans
|
Shareholder Rights Plans 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 such a plan 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 Shareholder Rights Plan within a year of its adoption. CSIM generally votes against such plans if they do not have safeguards to protect shareholder
interests.
Factors that may result
in a vote against a Shareholder Rights Plan proposal:
•
|
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 shareholder proposals asking for shareholders to be given the right 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 shareholder proposals asking for shareholders to be given the right to act by written consent if the company already offers shareholders the right to call special meetings. CSIM expects appropriate mechanisms for implementation.
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.
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 either change their business practices or enhance their disclosures. CSIM believes that, in most instances, the board is best positioned to determine a company’s strategy and manage its
operations, and generally does not support shareholder proposals seeking a change in business practices. CSIM generally evaluates shareholder proposals seeking additional disclosures on relevant environmental and social issues based on a
company’s current level of reporting, peer disclosures and the existence of controversies or litigation related to the issue.
|
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.
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.
|
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
(shareblocking).
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 in certain circumstances including 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.
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, as amended.
|
Schwab Capital Trust
PEA No. 192
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 incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(i)(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 175 to Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on June 16, 2017 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 175).
|
(d)(i)(b)
|
Amended
and Restated Advisory Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated June 6, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(i)(b) of PEA No. 175.
|
(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)
|
Schedule A
to the Amended and Restated Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated December 1, 2017, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 180 to Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on December 1, 2017 (PEA 180).
|
(d)(iv)(a)
|
Schedule B
to the Amended and Restated Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement between Registrant and CSIM, dated December 20, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(iv)(a) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 190 to Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on February 28, 2019 (hereinafter referred to as PEA No. 190).
|
(d)(v)
|
Investment
Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Harris Associates LP (Harris Associates), dated January 11, 2002, is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(v).
|
(d)(v)(a)
|
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)(b)
|
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)(c)
|
Amendment
to Schedule A, dated February 1, 2006, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Harris Associates is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(v)(a) of PEA No. 190.
|
(d)(v)(d)
|
Amendment
to Schedule B, dated February 27, 2019, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Harris Associates is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(v)(d).
|
(d)(vi)
|
Investment
Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. (William Blair), dated January 31, 2002, is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(vi).
|
(d)(vi)(a)
|
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.
|
ITEM
28.
|
EXHIBITS.
|
(d)(vi)(b)
|
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)(c)
|
Amendment
to Schedule B, dated September 27, 2018, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and William Blair is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(vi)(a) of PEA No. 190.
|
(d)(vii)
|
Investment
Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Mondrian Investment Partners Limited (Mondrian), dated July 12, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(vi)(b) of PEA No. 190.
|
(d)(vii)(a)
|
Amendment
to Schedule B, dated February 27, 2019, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Mondrian is filed herein as Exhibit (d)(vii)(a).
|
(d)(viii)
|
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.
|
(d)(viii)(a)
|
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)(b)
|
Amendment
to Schedule B, dated September 27, 2018, to Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between Registrant, the Investment Adviser and American Century is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(viii) of PEA No. 190.
|
(d)(ix)
|
Investment
Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Investment Adviser and Mellon Capital Management Corporation (n/k/a Mellon Investments Corporation), 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)(x)
|
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)(x)(a)
|
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 Post-Effective Amendment No. 173 to the Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on June 1, 2017.
|
(d)(x)(b)
|
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 to the Second Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Schwab, dated December 1, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(i)(a) of PEA 180.
|
(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 Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to Registrant’s Registration Statement Form
N-1A (File No. 811-07704), electronically filed with the SEC on January 13, 2013.
|
(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).
|
(g)(ii)(a)
|
Amended
Schedule A to the Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement between Registrant and State Street, dated December 1, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(ii)(a) of PEA 180.
|
(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) (n/k/a DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.), dated July 1, 2009, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(ii) of PEA No. 100.
|
(h)(ii)(a)
|
Amended
Schedule A to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant and BFDS (n/k/a DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.), dated December 1, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(ii)(a) of PEA 180.
|
(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 February 28, 2019, to the Amended and Restated Shareholder Servicing Plan, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(iii)(a) of PEA No. 190.
|
ITEM
28.
|
EXHIBITS.
|
(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 to the Master Fund Accounting and Services Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank, modified March 11, 2019, is filed herein as Exhibit (h)(iv)(a).
|
(i)
|
Opinion
and Consent of Counsel is filed herein as Exhibit (i).
|
(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 Jonanthan de St. Paer, dated April 1, 2019, is filed herein as Exhibit (j)(iii).
|
(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 Nancy F. Heller, dated June 1, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(xi) of PEA No. 186.
|
(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 Jane P. Moncreiff, dated January 28, 2019, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (j)(xiii) of PEA No. 190.
|
(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)
|
Inapplicable.
|
(o)
|
Inapplicable.
|
(p)(i)
|
Registrant, the
Investment Adviser and Schwab Joint Code of Ethics, dated February 26, 2019, is filed herein as Exhibit (p)(i).
|
(p)(ii)
|
American
Century Code of Ethics, dated December 13, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(ii) of PEA No. 190.
|
(p)(iii)
|
Harris
Associates Code of Ethics, dated March 31, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(iii) of PEA No. 182.
|
(p)(iv)
|
William
Blair Code of Ethics, dated July 31, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(iv) of PEA No. 190.
|
(p)(v)
|
Mondrian
Code of Ethics, dated January 1, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(v) of PEA No. 182.
|
(p)(vi)
|
Mellon
Investments Corporation Code of Ethics, dated June 8, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(vi) of PEA No. 190.
|
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,
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Schwab
International Holdings, Inc.
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
Charles
Schwab Bank
|
Director
|
Charles
Schwab Premier Bank
|
Director
|
Schwab
(SIS) Holdings, Inc. I
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
Schwab
Funds
|
Chairman and
Trustee
|
Laudus
Funds
|
Chairman and
Trustee
|
Schwab
ETFs
|
Chairman
and Trustee
|
Name
and Position with Adviser
|
Name
of Other Company
|
Capacity
|
Peter
B. Crawford, Director
|
The
Charles Schwab Corporation
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc.
|
Director,
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Schwab
Holdings, Inc.
|
Director,
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Charles
Schwab Global Holdings, Inc.
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Schwab
International Holdings, Inc.
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Performance
Technologies, Inc.
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Schwab
(SIS) Holdings, Inc. I
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Schwab
Technology Holdings, Inc.
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Jonathan
de St. Paer, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Charles
Schwab & Co., Inc.
|
Senior
Vice President
|
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, Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel
|
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, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
|
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
|
Name
and Position with Adviser
|
Name
of Other Company
|
Capacity
|
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
|
Walter
W. Bettinger II
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
Chairman
and Trustee
|
Steven
H. Anderson
|
Executive
Vice President, Retirement Plan Services
|
None
|
Catherine
M. Casey
|
Executive
Vice President, Human Resources
|
None
|
Jason
C. Clague
|
Executive
Vice President, Operational Services
|
None
|
Bernard
J. Clark
|
Executive
Vice President, Advisor Services
|
None
|
Jonathan
M. Craig
|
Senior
Executive Vice President
|
None
|
Peter
B. Crawford
|
Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director
|
None
|
David
R. Garfield
|
Executive
Vice President and Corporate Secretary
|
None
|
G.
Andrew Gill
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Client Solutions
|
None
|
Neesha
K. Hathi
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Digital Officer
|
None
|
Timothy
C. Heier
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
|
None
|
Dennis
W. Howard
|
Executive
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
|
None
|
Lisa
Kidd Hunt
|
Executive
Vice President, International Services and Business Initiatives
|
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, Chief Operating Officer and Director
|
Trustee
|
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 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; Registrant’s transfer agent, Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. (n/k/a DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.), 2000 Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169; and
Registrant’s sub-advisors: American Century Investment Management, Inc., 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111; Mellon Investments Corporation, BNY Mellon Center, One Boston Place, Boston, MA 02108; Harris Associates L.P., 111 S. Wacker
Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606; Mondrian Investment Partners Limited, Fifth Floor, 10 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7JD; William Blair Investment Management, LLC, 222 West Adams St., Chicago, IL 60606.
Item 34.
|
Management Services.
|
None.
Not applicable.
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. 192 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. 192 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of
Washington in the District of Columbia, on the 26th day of April, 2019.
SCHWAB CAPITAL
TRUST
|
Registrant
|
|
Jonathan
de St. Paer*
|
Jonathan
de St. Paer, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933
Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 192 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated this 26th day of April, 2019.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
Walter
W. Bettinger II*
Walter W. Bettinger II
|
|
Chairman
and Trustee
|
Jonathan
de St. Paer*
Jonathan de St. Paer
|
|
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
|
Nancy
F. Heller*
Nancy F. Heller
|
|
Trustee
|
Stephen
Timothy Kochis*
Stephen Timothy Kochis
|
|
Trustee
|
David
L. Mahoney*
David L. Mahoney
|
|
Trustee
|
Jane
P. Moncreiff*
Jane P. Moncreiff
|
|
Trustee
|
Kiran
M. Patel*
Kiran M. Patel
|
|
Trustee
|
Kimberly
S. Patmore*
Kimberly S. Patmore
|
|
Trustee
|
Gerald
B. Smith*
Gerald B. Smith
|
|
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
|
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
(d)(v)
|
Sub-Advisory
Agreement with Harris Associates dated January 11, 2002
|
Exhibit
(d)(v)(d)
|
Harris
Amendment to Schedule B dated February 27, 2019
|
Exhibit
(d)(vi)
|
Sub-Advisory
Agreement with William Blair dated January 31, 2002
|
Exhibit
(d)(vii)(a)
|
Mondrian
Amendment to Schedule B dated February 27, 2019
|
Exhibit
(h)(iv)(a)
|
Amended
Appendix A to the Master Fund Accounting and Services Agreement dated March 11, 2019
|
Exhibit
(i)
|
Opinion
and Consent of Counsel
|
Exhibit
(j)(i)
|
Consent
of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
|
Exhibit
(j)(iii)
|
Power of
Attorney Jonathan de St. Paer dated April 1, 2019
|
Exhibit
(p)(i)
|
Schwab
Joint Code of Ethics dated February 26, 2019
|
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 11th day of January, 2002, by and between, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM), and Harris
Associates LP
(Sub-Adviser).
WHEREAS, Schwab Capital Trust, a Massachusetts business
trust (Company), is an
open-end,
management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act), consisting of several series, each having its own
investment objective and policies; and
WHEREAS, Company has entered into an Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement with CSIM
pursuant to which CSIM acts as investment manager to Company (Management Agreement); and
WHEREAS, CSIM, acting with the
approval of Company, wishes to retain
Sub-Adviser
to provide discretionary investment advisory services (Services) with respect to a portion of each series identified on Schedule A hereto, as may
be amended from time to time, (each a Fund) that may be allocated by CSIM for management by the
Sub-Adviser
from time to time, together with all income earned on those assets and all realized and
unrealized capital appreciation related to those assets (for each Fund, the Managed Assets), and
Sub-Adviser
is willing to render the Services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT. CSIM appoints
Sub-Adviser
to
provide the Services for the period and term set forth in this Investment
Sub-Advisory
Agreement (Agreement).
Sub-Adviser
accepts such appointment and agrees
to render the Services as provided herein.
2. DUTIES OF
SUB-ADVISER.
(a) Subject to supervision by
the Company, its Board of Trustees (Trustees) and CSIM (collectively Fund Parties),
Sub-Adviser
will manage the investment and reinvestment of the Managed Assets and determine in its
discretion, the securities and other property to be purchased or sold and the portion of the Managed Assets to be retained in cash.
Sub-Adviser
will use the same skill and care in providing the Services to
each Fund as it utilizes in providing investment advisory services to other fiduciary accounts for which it has investment responsibilities.
Sub-Adviser
will provide Fund Parties with records concerning
Sub-Advisers
activities that Fund Parties are required to maintain, and regular reports concerning
Sub-Advisers
performance of the Services.
(b) Unless CSIM provides written instructions to the contrary,
Sub-Adviser
will review all proxy solicitation materials and will exercise any voting rights associated with securities comprising the Managed Assets in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders.
(c) Sub-Adviser
and its affiliate division
CDC IXIS will provide assistance to Company, Charles Schwab & Co, Inc. (Distributor) and CSIM (collectively Schwab Parties), as may be reasonably requested by such parties, in connection with the offering, sale and
marketing of Fund shares. Such assistance will include, without limitation: (i) review of offering, marketing and sales materials; (ii) attendance and participation at internal and external conferences (including
in-person,
telephonic and video), conventions, road shows and other sales or educational meetings; and (iii) provision of discussion, analysis and commentary and market and performance data for filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and web and other medium based marketing and advertising. Schwab parties may use the names, trade names, trademarks, service marks, artwork, designs, or other copyrighted materials of
Sub-Adviser
in
connection with the offering, sale and marketing of Fund shares, subject to the written approval of
Sub-Adviser,
which will not be unreasonably withheld.
(d) Unless CSIM provides written instructions to the contrary,
Sub-Adviser
will be responsible for determining, in good faith, the fair value of any securities of the Managed Assets for which market quotations are not readily available in accordance with guidelines and
procedures adopted by the Trustees. In addition,
Sub-Adviser
will arrange for the provision of market values from at least two parties independent of
Sub-Adviser
with
respect to any securities of the Managed Assets for which the Companys pricing agent does not obtain prices in the ordinary course of business from an automated pricing service.
(e) Sub-Adviser
will discharge the
foregoing responsibilities subject to the supervision of Fund Parties, and in compliance with the following: (i) such policies as Fund Parties may from time to time establish; (ii) Companys Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information (Prospectus and SAI); (iii) Companys Declaration of Trust and
By-Laws;
(iv) 1940 Act; (v) the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act); (vi) any exemptive
or other relief granted by the SEC; (vii) the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code); (viii) the Commodities and Exchange Act (CEA); and (ix) any other applicable laws. If a conflict in policies referenced herein
occurs, the Prospectus and SAI will control.
(f) Sub-Adviser
agrees to perform such
duties at its own expense and to provide the office space, furnishings and equipment and the personnel required by it to perform the Services on the terms and for the compensation provided herein.
Sub-Adviser
will not, however, pay for the cost of securities, commodities, and other investments (including brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased or sold for a Fund.
3. DUTIES OF CSIM. CSIM will continue to have responsibility for all services to be
provided to a Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement and will oversee and review
Sub-Advisers
performance of the Services. CSIM will furnish to
Sub-Adviser
current and complete copies of the Declaration of Trust and
By-laws
of Company, and the current Prospectus and SAI as those documents may be amended from time to time.
4. CUSTODY. Company will designate one or more custodians to hold the Managed Assets
(Custodian) in the name of each Fund. Each custodian will be responsible for the custody, receipt and delivery of securities and other assets of a Fund including the Managed Assets, and
Sub-Adviser
will have no authority, responsibility or obligation with respect to the custody, receipt or delivery of securities or other assets of a Fund. In the event that any cash or securities of a Fund are delivered to
Sub-Adviser,
Sub-Adviser
will promptly deliver the same to the Custodian for the benefit of and in the name of Fund.
Sub-Adviser
will provide to the Custodian and Fund Accountant on each business day, information relating to all transactions in the Managed Assets and will provide such information to Fund Parties upon request.
Sub-Adviser
will make all reasonable efforts to notify Custodian and Fund Accountant of all orders to brokers for the Managed Assets by 9:00 am EST on the day following the trade date and will affirm the trade
to the Custodian and Fund Accountant before the close of business one business day after the trade date.
5. PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS.
(a) Sub-Adviser
is authorized to select
brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and sales of portfolio securities and other property for a Fund in a manner that implements the policy with respect to brokerage set forth in the Prospectus and SAI, or as Fund Parties may direct
from time to time, and in conformity with the federal securities laws.
2
(b) In effecting transactions for a
Fund and selecting brokers or dealers,
Sub-Adviser
will use its best efforts to seek on behalf of the Fund the best overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms for any transaction,
Sub-Adviser
will consider any factors that it deems relevant, including price paid for the security, commission paid for the transaction, clearance, settlement, reputation, financial strength and stability,
efficiency of execution and error resolution, block trading and block positioning capabilities, willingness to execute related or unrelated difficult transactions and order of call.
(c) Consistent with any policies established by Fund Parties and in compliance with
the Prospectus and SAI and 1940 Act,
Sub-Adviser
is authorized, in its discretion, to utilize the services of a broker or dealer that provides brokerage or research services (as those terms are defined in
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
(d) In no instance
will
Sub-Adviser
cause Managed Assets to be purchased from or sold to Distributor, CSIM,
Sub-Adviser
or any affiliated person of either Company, Distributor, CSIM, or
Sub-Adviser
(collectively Related Parties), except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or any exemptive or other relief granted by the SEC.
Sub-adviser
will
not execute any transactions with brokers or dealers that are Related Parties without the prior written approval of CSIM.
(e) Consistent with any policies established by Fund Parties,
Sub-Adviser
may aggregate orders for purchase or sale of Managed Assets with similar orders being made concurrently for other accounts managed by
Sub-Adviser,
if, in
Sub-Advisers
reasonable judgment, such aggregation will result in an overall economic benefit to Fund, taking into consideration the transaction price, brokerage commission and other expenses. In any single
transaction in which purchases or sales of securities of any issuer for the account of a Fund are aggregated with other accounts managed by
Sub-Adviser,
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.
6. COMPENSATION OF
SUB-ADVISER.
For the
Services provided and expenses assumed by
Sub-Adviser
under this Agreement, CSIM will pay to
Sub-Adviser
compensation at the rate specified in Schedule B, as may be
amended from time to time. Such compensation will be paid at the times and on the terms set forth in Schedule B. All rights of compensation under this Agreement for Services performed as of the termination date will survive the termination of this
Agreement. Except as otherwise prohibited by law or regulation,
Sub-Adviser
may, in its discretion, from time to time, waive a portion of its compensation.
7. REPORTS.
(a) Sub-Adviser
will provide written
quarterly reports to Fund Parties regarding the Managed Assets. CSIM will specify the information to be included in such quarterly reports.
Sub-Adviser
will make available to Fund Parties any economic,
statistical and investment services that
Sub-Adviser
makes available to its other institutional clients.
(b) Sub-Adviser
will promptly communicate
to Fund Parties any information relating to transactions in the Managed Assets, as Fund Parties may reasonably request.
(c) Sub-Adviser
will promptly notify Fund Parties of any financial or regulatory condition that is likely to impair the ability of
Sub-Adviser
to perform the Services. In addition, Sub-Adviser will promptly notify Fund Parties of any intended change in control of
Sub-Adviser
and of any intended change in
portfolio or senior management, as far in advance of such change as possible.
3
(d) Sub-Adviser
or CDC IXIS will make its
officers and employees available to meet with Fund Parties at such times and places, as Fund Parties may reasonably request, including at quarterly and special meetings of the Trustees in San Francisco, California.
8. STATUS OF
SUB-ADVISER.
Sub-Adviser
is and will continue to be registered under the Advisers Act. The Services of
Sub-Adviser
to Company for each Fund are not to be deemed exclusive, and
Sub-Adviser
is free to render similar services to others so long as its Services to the Fund are not impaired thereby.
Sub-Adviser
is and will continue to be an independent
contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, has no authority to act for or represent Company in any way or otherwise act as agent of Company.
9. CODE OF ETHICS.
Sub-Adviser
will furnish to
Fund Parties a current copy of its code of ethics that complies with the requirements of Rule
17j-1
under the 1940 Act. Upon written request of CSIM,
Sub-Adviser
will
permit Fund Parties to examine the reports made by
Sub-Adviser
pursuant to Rule
17j-1
and other records relevant to
Sub-Advisers
code of ethics.
Sub-Adviser
will provide an annual certification to Fund Parties certifying that there have been no material violations of
Sub-Advisers
code of ethics or, if such violations have occurred, that appropriate actions have been taken in response to such violations.
10. CERTAIN RECORDS.
(a) Sub-Adviser
will maintain all books and
records with respect to transactions involving the Managed Assets required by subparagraphs (b)(5), (6), (7), (9), (10) and (11) and paragraph (f) of Rule
31a-1
under the 1940 Act.
Sub-Adviser
will provide to Fund Parties periodic and special reports, balance sheets, profitability analyses (only for the Managed Assets), financial information, and such other information with regard to
Sub-Advisers,
as Fund Parties may reasonably request, including any information requested by Fund Parties to assist the Trustees in evaluating the terms of this Agreement and any renewal thereof under
Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act.
(b) Sub-Adviser
will keep the books and
records relating to the Managed Assets required to be maintained by
Sub-Adviser
under this Agreement and will timely furnish to Fund Parties all information relating to
Sub-Advisers
Services under this Agreement needed by Fund Parties to keep the other books and records of the Company required by Rule
31a-1
under the 1940 Act.
Sub-Adviser
will also furnish to Fund Parties any other information relating to the Managed Assets that must be filed by Company with the SEC or sent to shareholders under the 1940 Act, and any exemptive or other
relief granted by the SEC.
Sub-Adviser
agrees that all records that it maintains on behalf of Company are property of Company and
Sub-Adviser
will surrender promptly to
Company any of such records upon Fund Parties request; provided, however,
Sub-Adviser
may retain a copy of such records. In addition,
Sub-Adviser
will preserve for
the periods prescribed by Rule
31a-2
under 1940 Act any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to this Agreement, and will transfer said records to any successor
sub-adviser
upon the termination of this Agreement (or, if there is no successor
sub-adviser,
to CSIM).
11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
SUB-ADVISER.
Sub-Adviser
will not be liable for any claims, liabilities, damages, costs or losses (collectively claims) arising out of this Agreement, except to the extent such claims arise out of:
(a) Sub-Advisers
negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance; or
(b) Sub-Advisers
breach of this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 11 will be
deemed a waiver or limitation of any obligation or duty that may not by law be waived or limited.
12. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Sub-Adviser
will indemnify and hold
harmless Fund Parties, their affiliates and their respective employees, officers and directors from and against all claims arising out of this Agreement to the
4
extent such claims arise out of:
(i) Sub-Advisers
negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance; or
(ii) Sub-Advisers
breach of this Agreement.
(b) CSIM will indemnify and hold harmless
Sub-Adviser,
its affiliates, and their respective employees, officers and directors from and against all claims arising out of this Agreement, except to the extent such claims arise out of:
(i) Sub-Advisers
negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance; or
(ii) Sub-Advisers
breach of this Agreement.
13. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Mutual Confidentiality and
Non-Disclosure
Agreement (Confidentiality Agreement) previously entered into between the parties is attached hereto as Schedule C and incorporated herein by reference. The
Confidentiality Agreement will remain in effect throughout the term of this Agreement, and each party will abide by all of the provisions set forth therein. Upon termination of this Agreement, each party will continue to hold any Confidential
Information (as that term is defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) in strict confidence for ten years from the date of termination, except with regard to: (a) trade secrets of either party which will be held in confidence for as long as
such information remains a trade secret; and (b) Schwab Customer Information (as that term is defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) which will be held by
Sub-Adviser
in strict confidence in perpetuity
and which will be used by
Sub-Adviser
only to perform the Services and for no other purpose. In the event any of the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement conflict with any of the provisions of this
Agreement, the latter will control.
14. PUBLICITY. During and after the term of
this Agreement,
Sub-Adviser
will not make any media release or other public announcement relating to this Agreement without Schwab Parties prior written consent.
Sub-Adviser
will acquire no right to use, and will not use, without Schwab Parties prior written consent, with respect to each use, the terms or existence of this Agreement, the names, trade names,
trademarks, service marks, artwork, designs, or copyrighted materials of Schwab Parties or their affiliates in any sales or advertising materials, press releases, client lists, presentations, promotions or other publicity related materials or media.
15. DURATION AND TERMINATION.
(a) This Agreement will become effective for each Fund upon its approval by the
Trustees and by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund; provided, however, if CSIM obtains exemptive relief from the SEC permitting it to engage a
Sub-Adviser
without first
obtaining approval of the Agreement from a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund involved, the Agreement will become effective upon its approval by the Trustees, without approval by the shareholders. This Agreement will remain in
effect until two years from date of each effectiveness, and thereafter, for periods of one year so long as such continuance thereafter is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) by the Trustees, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund; provided, however, that if the shareholders of a Fund fail to approve the Agreement as provided herein,
Sub-Adviser
may continue to serve hereunder in the manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940
Act. The foregoing requirement that continuance of this Agreement be specifically approved at least annually will be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without cause and without payment
of any penalty by Fund Parties, by vote of a majority of the Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund on not more than 60 days written notice to the
Sub-Adviser,
or by CSIM upon 90 days written notice to
Sub-Adviser.
In addition, this Agreement may be terminated, with cause, by CSIM at any time, without payment of any penalty by Fund Parties, upon written notice
to
Sub-Adviser.
As used herein, with cause means: (i) any material breach of the Agreement by
Sub-Adviser;
(ii)
5
any federal or state regulatory violation by
Sub-Adviser;
and (iii) any material financial or other impairment that in the reasonable judgment of CSIM
impairs
Sub-Advisers
ability to perform the Services.
(c) Without cause, this Agreement may not be terminated by the
Sub-Adviser
prior to January 1, 2003. Thereafter, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Sub-Adviser
at any time, without cause and without payment of any penalty, upon
90 days written notice to CSIM. In addition, this Agreement may be terminated, with cause, by
Sub-Adviser,
at any time, without payment of any penalty by
Sub-Adviser,
upon written notice to CSIM. As used herein, with cause means: (i) any material breach of the Agreement by CSIM; (ii) any federal or state regulatory violation by CSIM; and
(iii) any material financial or other impairment that in the reasonable judgment of
Sub-Adviser
impairs CSIMs ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(d) This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its
assignment or in the event of the termination of the Management Agreement.
(e) Any termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof will not
affect the obligations or liabilities accrued prior to termination. As used in this Section 15, the terms assignment, interested persons, and a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities will
have the respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act; subject to such exceptions and other relief as may be granted by the SEC.
16. NOTICE. All notices required or permitted hereunder will be deemed sufficient upon
receipt if sent by: (a) hand; (b) registered or certified mail, postage prepaid; (c) overnight courier; or (d) facsimile transmission to the last address furnished by the other party to the party giving notice. At the outset, such
notices will be delivered to the following addresses:
|
|
|
|
|
CSIM:
|
|
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
101 Montgomery Street
|
|
|
|
|
San Francisco, CA 94104
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: Treasurer
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone: (415)
667-3901
|
|
|
|
|
Facsimile: (415)
667-3800
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sub-Adviser:
|
|
Harris Associates LP
|
|
|
|
|
Two North LaSalle Street, Suite 500
|
|
|
|
|
Chicago, IL 60602-3790
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: General Counsel
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone: (312)
621-0676
|
|
|
|
|
Facsimile: (312)
621-0636
|
|
|
17. NONCOMPETE PROVISIONS. Except as set forth in
Schedule D,
Sub-Adviser
is not and will not become a party to any noncompete agreement or other agreement or arrangement that would restrict, limit or otherwise interfere with the ability of Schwab Parties and
their affiliates to employ or engage any person or entity, now or in the future, to provide investment advisory or other services.
18. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement will be held or made invalid by a
court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby.
19. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of California and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of California, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940
6
Act, the latter will control. Any legal action or proceeding arising out of this Agreement will be brought only in the courts of the State of California located in the City and County of San
Francisco or in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Each party will submit to the jurisdiction of such courts and venue in such courts and will waive any claims that such courts lack jurisdiction or are
inconvenient forums.
20. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the
parties relating to the Services. Any prior agreements, promises or representations not expressly set forth in this Agreement are of no force and effect. No waiver or modification of this Agreement will be effective unless reduced to writing and
signed by the party to be charged. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising on the part of any party hereto of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof.
(b) This Agreement is entered into on behalf of each Fund severally, and not
jointly, with the express intention that the provisions contained herein will apply separately with respect to each Fund, as if contained in separate agreements.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 15, this Agreement binds and inures to the
benefit of parties, their successors and assigns. This Agreement may be executed in more than one counterpart each of which will be deemed an original and both of which, taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
(d) Company refers to Schwab Capital Trust and its Trustees, as Trustees but not
individually or personally, acting under a Declaration of Trust dated May 7, 1993. A copy of the Certificate of Trust of Company is on file with the Secretary of State of the State of Massachusetts. Notice is hereby given that the obligations
of Company entered into in the name of or on behalf of Company by any of its Trustees,
//
//
//
7
representatives or agents are made not individually, but in such Company capacities. Such obligations are not
binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders or representatives of Company personally, but bind only the assets of Company belonging to such Fund for the enforcement of any claims against Company.
(e) As used in this Agreement, any references to any laws (including, without
limitation, the 1940 Act, Advisers Act, Code and CEA) incorporate the effects of: (i) any amendments to such laws; (ii) any rules or regulations promulgated under such laws; and (iii) any interpretations of such laws, rules or
regulations by the applicable regulatory authorities.
NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year
first written above.
CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Stephen B. Ward
|
|
|
Name: Stephen B. Ward
|
|
|
Title: Senior Vice President
|
HARRIS ASSOCIATES LP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Robert M. Levy
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/Anita M.
Nagler
|
|
|
Name: Robert M. Levy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
Anita M. Nagler
|
|
|
Title: Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
Managing Director,
Alternative and
International
Investing Group
|
8
SCHEDULE A
TO THE
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
HARRIS ASSOCIATES LP
FUND(S)
1. Schwab U.S. Equity Multi-Manager
Fund
2. Schwab International Multi-Manager Agreement
Effective Date of this Schedule A: January 11, 2002
9
SCHEDULE B
TO THE
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
HARRIS ASSOCIATES LP
FEES
The Managed Assets of all Funds will be aggregated for
purposes of calculating the fees. Fees will be aggregated for all Funds managed by
Sub-Adviser
and will be accrued each day by applying to the Net Asset Value of the Managed Assets for all Funds at the end of
that day, the daily rate, using a
365-day
year, equivalent to the applicable fee percentage set forth below (Company Percentage). Fees will be paid within 30 days following the end of each calendar
quarter.
COMPANY PERCENTAGE
60 Basis
points on the first $125 million
57.5 Basis points on the next $125 million
55 Basis points on amounts over $250 million
Effective Date of this Schedule B: January 11, 2002
10
SCHEDULE C
TO THE
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
HARRIS ASSOCIATES LP
MUTUAL CONFIDENTIALITY AND
NON-DISCLOSURE
AGREEMENT
A true and correct copy of the MUTUAL CONFIDENTIALITY AND
NON-DISCLOSURE
AGREEMENT is attached hereto.
Effective Date of this Schedule C: January 11, 2002
11
Harris Associates LP
Attn:
Vineeta Raketich
Managing Director, Global Operations & Client Relations
111 W Wacker Drive, Suite 4600
Chicago, IL 60606
Re:
Amendment to Schedule B
Dear Sir or Madam:
This letter agreement
serves to amend Schedule B (Schedule B) to our investment
sub-advisory
agreement, dated January 11, 2002, as amended on March 26, 2003, May 29, 2003, December 2, 2004,
February 1, 2006 and November 16, 2006 (the Agreement).
The amended Schedule B reflects changes with respect to the
sub-advisory
fees. Amended Schedule B shall replace the existing Schedule B effective March 1, 2019.
The Agreement otherwise remains unchanged and shall continue in full force and effect.
In the space provided below, please acknowledge your agreement to the foregoing.
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Jonathan de St.
Paer
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
Jonathan de St. Paer
|
Title:
|
|
President
|
|
|
|
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO:
|
|
Harris Associates LP
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Kristi L.
Rowsell
|
Name:
|
|
Kristi L. Rowsell
|
Title:
|
|
President
|
SCHEDULE B
TO THE
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
HARRIS ASSOCIATES LP
FEES
Fees will be accrued each day by applying to the Net Asset
Value of the Managed Assets at the end of that day, the daily rate, using a
365-day
year, equivalent to the applicable fee percentage set forth below (Company
Percentage). Sub-Adviser
represents and warrants that the Company Percentage now is and in the future will be equal to or less than the average of all applicable fee percentages
payable to
Sub-Adviser
by a client under any other advisory or
sub-advisory
agreements for comparable investment advisory services provided pursuant to a substantially
similar investment strategy (each a Third Party Percentage) excluding clients that (i) are affiliates of the
Sub-Adviser,
(ii) have multiple relationships with the
Sub-Adviser
and have assets managed by
Sub-Adviser
that, on an aggregate basis, are greater than the Managed Assets, or (iii) have assets managed by
Sub-Adviser
that are greater than the Managed Assets. If at any time, the Company Percentage is greater than the average of all Third Party Percentages (excluding the Company Percentage), the
Company Percentage will be reduced to be equal or less than the average of all Third Party Percentages (excluding the Company Percentage), including with respect to any advisory or
sub-advisory
agreement
amended or entered into by
Sub-Adviser
after the effective date of this Schedule. Fees will be paid within 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter.
COMPANY PERCENTAGE
60 Basis
points on the first $125 million
57.5 Basis points on the next $125 million
55 Basis points on amounts over $250 million
50 Basis points on amounts over $500 million
Effective Date of this Schedule B: March 1, 2019
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 31 day of January 2002, by and between, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM), and William
Blair & Company, L.L.C.
(Sub-Adviser).
WHEREAS, Schwab Capital Trust, a
Massachusetts business trust (Company), is an
open-end,
management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act), consisting of several series, each
having its own investment objective and policies; and
WHEREAS, Company has entered into an Investment Advisory and Administration
Agreement with CSIM pursuant to which CSIM acts as investment manager to Company (Management Agreement); and
WHEREAS, CSIM,
acting with the approval of Company, wishes to retain
Sub-Adviser
to provide discretionary investment advisory services (Services) with respect to a portion of each series identified on Schedule A
hereto, as may be amended from time to time, (each a Fund) that may be allocated by CSIM for management by the
Sub-Adviser
from time to time, together with all income earned on those assets and all
realized and unrealized capital appreciation related to those assets (for each Fund, the Managed Assets), and
Sub-Adviser
is willing to render the Services.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT. CSIM appoints
Sub-Adviser
to
provide the Services for the period and term set forth in this Investment
Sub-Advisory
Agreement (Agreement).
Sub-Adviser
accepts such appointment and agrees
to render the Services as provided herein.
2. DUTIES OF
SUB-ADVISER.
(a) Subject to supervision by
the Company, its Board of Trustees (Trustees) and CSIM (collectively Fund Parties),
Sub-Adviser
will manage the investment and reinvestment of the Managed Assets and determine in its
discretion, the securities and other property to be purchased or sold and the portion of the Managed Assets to be retained in cash.
Sub-Adviser
will use the same skill and care in providing the Services to
each Fund as it utilizes in providing investment advisory services to other accounts for which it has investment responsibilities.
Sub-Adviser
will provide Fund Parties with records concerning
Sub-Advisers
activities that Fund Parties are required to maintain, and regular reports concerning
Sub-Advisers
performance of the Services.
(b) Unless CSIM provides written instructions to the contrary,
Sub-Adviser
will review all proxy solicitation materials and will exercise any voting rights associated with securities comprising the Managed Assets in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders.
(c) Sub-Adviser
will provide assistance to
Company, Charles Schwab & Co, Inc. (Distributor) and CSIM (collectively Schwab Parties), as may be reasonably requested by such parties, in connection with the offering, sale and marketing of Fund shares. Such
assistance will include, without limitation: (i) review of offering, marketing and sales materials; (ii) attendance and participation at internal and external conferences (including
in-person,
telephonic and video), conventions, road shows and other sales or educational meetings; and (iii) provision of discussion, analysis and commentary and market and performance data for filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) and web and other medium based marketing and advertising. Schwab parties may use the names, trade names, trademarks, service marks, artwork, designs, or other copyrighted materials of
Sub-Adviser
in connection with the
offering, sale and marketing of Fund shares, subject to the written approval of
Sub-Adviser,
which will not be unreasonably withheld.
(d) Unless CSIM provides written instructions to the contrary,
Sub-Adviser
will be responsible for determining, in good faith, the fair value of any securities of the Managed Assets for which market quotations are not readily available in accordance with guidelines and
procedures adopted by the Trustees. In addition,
Sub-Adviser
will arrange for the provision of market values from at least two parties independent of
Sub-Adviser
with
respect to any securities of the Managed Assets for which the Companys pricing agent does not obtain prices in the ordinary course of business from an automated pricing service.
(e) Sub-Adviser
will discharge the
foregoing responsibilities subject to the supervision of Fund Parties, and in compliance with the following: (i) such policies as Fund Parties may from time to time establish; (ii) Companys Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information (Prospectus and SAI); (iii) Companys Declaration of Trust and
By-Laws;
(iv) 1940 Act; (v) the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act); (vi) any exemptive
or other relief granted by the SEC; (vii) the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code); (viii) the Commodities and Exchange Act (CEA); and (ix) any other applicable laws. If a conflict in policies referenced herein
occurs, the Prospectus and SAI will control.
(f) Sub-Adviser
agrees to perform such
duties at its own expense and to provide the office space, furnishings and equipment and the personnel required by it to perform the Services on the terms and for the compensation provided herein.
Sub-Adviser
will not, however, pay for the cost of securities, commodities, and other investments (including brokerage commissions and other transaction charges, if any) purchased or sold for a Fund.
3. DUTIES OF CSIM. CSIM will continue to have responsibility for all services to be
provided to a Fund pursuant to the Management Agreement and will oversee and review
Sub-Advisers
performance of the Services. CSIM will furnish to
Sub-Adviser
current and complete copies of the Declaration of Trust and
By-laws
of Company, and the current Prospectus and SAI as those documents may be amended from time to time.
4. CUSTODY. Company will designate one or more custodians to hold the Managed Assets
(Custodian) in the name of each Fund. Each custodian will be responsible for the custody, receipt and delivery of securities and other assets of a Fund including the Managed Assets, and
Sub-Adviser
will have no authority, responsibility or obligation with respect to the custody, receipt or delivery of securities or other assets of a Fund. In the event that any cash or securities of a Fund are delivered to
Sub-Adviser,
Sub-Adviser
will promptly deliver the same to the Custodian for the benefit of and in the name of Fund.
Sub-Adviser
will provide to the Custodian and Fund Accountant on each business day, information relating to all transactions in the Managed Assets and will provide such information to Fund Parties upon request.
Sub-Adviser
will make all reasonable efforts to notify Custodian and Fund Accountant of all orders to brokers for the Managed Assets by 9:00 am EST on the day following the trade date and will affirm the trade
to the Custodian and Fund Accountant before the close of business one business day after the trade date.
5. PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS.
(a) Sub-Adviser
is authorized to select
brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and sales of portfolio securities and other property for a Fund in a manner that implements the policy with respect to brokerage set forth in the Prospectus and SAI, or as Fund Parties may direct
from time to time, and in conformity with the federal securities laws.
2
(b) In effecting transactions for a
Fund and selecting brokers or dealers,
Sub-Adviser
will use its best efforts to seek on behalf of the Fund the best overall terms available. In assessing the best overall terms for any transaction,
Sub-Adviser
will consider any factors that it deems relevant, including price paid for the security, commission paid for the transaction, clearance, settlement, reputation, financial strength and stability,
efficiency of execution and error resolution, block trading and block positioning capabilities, willingness to execute related or unrelated difficult transactions and order of call.
(c) Consistent with any policies established by Fund Parties and in compliance with
the Prospectus and SAI and 1940 Act,
Sub-Adviser
is authorized, in its discretion, to utilize the services of a broker or dealer that provides brokerage or research services (as those terms are defined in
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
(d) In no instance
will
Sub-Adviser
cause Managed Assets to be purchased from or sold to Distributor, CSIM,
Sub-Adviser
or any affiliated person of either Company, Distributor, CSIM, or
Sub-Adviser
(collectively Related Parties), except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or any exemptive or other relief granted by the SEC.
Sub-adviser
will
not execute any transactions with brokers or dealers that are Related Parties without the prior written approval of CSIM.
(e) Consistent with any policies established by Fund Parties,
Sub-Adviser
may aggregate orders for purchase or sale of Managed Assets with similar orders being made concurrently for other accounts managed by
Sub-Adviser,
if, in
Sub-Advisers
reasonable judgment, such aggregation will result in an overall economic benefit to Fund, taking into consideration the transaction price, brokerage commission and other expenses. In any single
transaction in which purchases or sales of securities of any issuer for the account of a Fund are aggregated with other accounts managed by
Sub-Adviser,
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.
6. COMPENSATION OF
SUB-ADVISER.
For the
Services provided and expenses assumed by
Sub-Adviser
under this Agreement, CSIM will pay to
Sub-Adviser
compensation at the rate specified in Schedule B, as may be
amended from time to time. Such compensation will be paid at the times and on the terms set forth in Schedule B. All rights of compensation under this Agreement for Services performed as of the termination date will survive the termination of this
Agreement. Except as otherwise prohibited by law or regulation,
Sub-Adviser
may, in its discretion, from time to time, waive a portion of its compensation.
7. REPORTS.
(a) Sub-Adviser
will provide written
quarterly reports to Fund Parties regarding the Managed Assets. CSIM will specify the information to be included in such quarterly reports.
Sub-Adviser
will make available to Fund Parties any economic,
statistical and investment services that
Sub-Adviser
makes available to its other institutional clients.
(b) Sub-Adviser
will promptly communicate
to Fund Parties any information relating to transactions in the Managed Assets, as Fund Parties may reasonably request.
(c) Sub-Adviser
will promptly notify Fund Parties of any financial or regulatory condition that is likely to impair the ability of
Sub-Adviser
to perform the Services. In addition, Sub-Adviser will promptly notify Fund Parties of any intended change in control of
Sub-Adviser
and of any intended change in
portfolio or senior management, as far in advance of such change as possible.
3
(d) Sub-Adviser
will make its officers and
employees available to meet with Fund Parties at such times and places, as Fund Parties may reasonably request, including at quarterly and special meetings of the Trustees in San Francisco, California.
8. STATUS OF
SUB-ADVISER.
Sub-Adviser
is and will continue to be registered under the Advisers Act. The Services of
Sub-Adviser
to Company for each Fund are not to be deemed exclusive, and
Sub-Adviser
is free to render similar services to others so long as its Services to the Fund are not impaired thereby.
Sub-Adviser
is and will continue to be an independent
contractor and, unless otherwise expressly provided or authorized, has no authority to act for or represent Company in any way or otherwise act as agent of Company.
9. CODE OF ETHICS.
Sub-Adviser
will furnish to
Fund Parties a current copy of its code of ethics that complies with the requirements of Rule
17j-1
under the 1940 Act. Upon written request of CSIM,
Sub-Adviser
will
permit Fund Parties to examine the reports made by
Sub-Adviser
pursuant to Rule
17j-1
and other records relevant to
Sub-Advisers
code of ethics as related to the Managed Assets.
Sub-Adviser
will provide an annual certification to Fund Parties certifying that there have been no
material violations of
Sub-Advisers
code of ethics related to the Managed Assets or, if such violations have occurred, that appropriate actions have been taken in response to such violations.
10. CERTAIN RECORDS.
(a) Sub-Adviser
will maintain all books and
records with respect to transactions involving the Managed Assets required by subparagraphs (b)(5), (6), (7), (9), (10) and (11) and paragraph (f) of Rule
31a-1
under the 1940 Act.
Sub-Adviser
will provide to Fund Parties periodic and special reports, balance sheets, profitability analyses, financial information, and such other information with regard to
Sub-Advisers
affairs, as Fund Parties may reasonably request, including any information requested by Fund Parties to assist the Trustees in evaluating the terms of this Agreement and any renewal thereof
under Section 15(c) of the 1940 Act.
(b) Sub-Adviser
will keep the books and
records relating to the Managed Assets required to be maintained by
Sub-Adviser
under this Agreement and will timely furnish to Fund Parties all information relating to
Sub-Advisers
Services under this Agreement needed by Fund Parties to keep the other books and records of the Company required by Rule
31a-1
under the 1940 Act.
Sub-Adviser
will also furnish to Fund Parties any other information relating to the Managed Assets that must be filed by Company with the SEC or sent to shareholders under the 1940 Act, and any exemptive or other
relief granted by the SEC.
Sub-Adviser
agrees that all records that it maintains on behalf of Company are property of Company and
Sub-Adviser
will surrender promptly to
Company any of such records upon Fund Parties request; provided, however,
Sub-Adviser
may retain a copy of such records. In addition,
Sub-Adviser
will preserve for
the periods prescribed by Rule
31a-2
under 1940 Act any such records as are required to be maintained by it pursuant to this Agreement, and will transfer said records to any successor
sub-adviser
upon the termination of this Agreement (or, if there is no successor
sub-adviser,
to CSIM).
11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
SUB-ADVISER.
Sub-Adviser
will not be liable for any claims, liabilities, damages, costs or losses (collectively claims) arising out of this Agreement, except to the extent such claims arise out of:
(a) Sub-Advisers
negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance; or
(b) Sub-Advisers
breach of this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 11 will be
deemed a waiver or limitation of any obligation or duty that may not by law be waived or limited.
12. INDEMNIFICATION.
4
(a) Sub-Adviser
will indemnify and hold
harmless Fund Parties, their affiliates and their respective employees, officers and directors from and against all claims arising out of this Agreement to the extent such claims arise out of:
(i) Sub-Advisers
negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance; or
(ii) Sub-Advisers
breach of this Agreement.
(b) CSIM will indemnify and hold harmless
Sub-Adviser,
its affiliates, and their respective employees, officers and directors from and against all claims arising out of this Agreement, except to the extent such claims arise out of:
(i) Sub-Advisers
negligence, bad faith or willful misfeasance; or
(ii) Sub-Advisers
breach of this Agreement.
13. CONFIDENTIALITY. The Mutual Confidentiality and
Non-Disclosure
Agreement (Confidentiality Agreement) previously entered into between the parties is attached hereto as Schedule C and incorporated herein by reference. The Confidentiality Agreement
will remain in effect throughout the term of this Agreement, and each party will abide by all of the provisions set forth therein. Upon termination of this Agreement, each party will continue to hold any Confidential Information (as that term is
defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) in strict confidence for ten years from the date of termination, except with regard to: (a) trade secrets of either party which will be held in confidence for as long as such information remains a trade
secret; and (b) Schwab Customer Information (as that term is defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) which will be held by
Sub-Adviser
in strict confidence in perpetuity and which will be used by
Sub-Adviser
only to perform the Services and for no other purpose. In the event any of the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement conflict with any of the provisions of this Agreement, the latter will control.
14. PUBLICITY. During and after the term of this Agreement,
Sub-Adviser
will not make any media release or other public announcement relating to this Agreement without Schwab Parties prior written consent.
Sub-Adviser
will
acquire no right to use, and will not use, without Schwab Parties prior written consent, with respect to each use, the terms or existence of this Agreement, the names, trade names, trademarks, service marks, artwork, designs, or copyrighted
materials of Schwab Parties or their affiliates in any sales or advertising materials, press releases, client lists, presentations, promotions or other publicity related materials or media.
15. DURATION AND TERMINATION.
(a) This Agreement will become effective for each Fund upon its approval by the
Trustees and by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund; provided, however, if CSIM obtains exemptive relief from the SEC permitting it to engage a
Sub-Adviser
without first
obtaining approval of the Agreement from a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund involved, the Agreement will become effective upon its approval by the Trustees, without approval by the shareholders. This Agreement will remain in
effect until two years from date of each effectiveness, and thereafter, for periods of one year so long as such continuance thereafter is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of those Trustees who are not
parties to this Agreement or interested persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (ii) by the Trustees, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Fund; provided, however, that if the shareholders of a Fund fail to approve the Agreement as provided herein,
Sub-Adviser
may continue to serve hereunder in the manner and to the extent permitted by the 1940
Act. The foregoing requirement that continuance of this Agreement be specifically approved at least annually will be construed in a manner consistent with the 1940 Act.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without cause and without payment
of any penalty by Fund Parties, by vote of a majority of the Trustees or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund on not more than 60 days written notice to the
Sub-Adviser,
or by CSIM upon 90 days written notice to
Sub-Adviser.
In addition, this Agreement may be terminated, with
5
cause, by CSIM at any time, without payment of any penalty by Fund Parties, upon written notice to
Sub-Adviser.
As used herein, with cause
means: (i) any material breach of the Agreement by
Sub-Adviser;
(ii) any federal or state regulatory violation by
Sub-Adviser;
and (iii) any material
financial or other impairment that in the reasonable judgment of CSIM impairs
Sub-Advisers
ability to perform the Services.
(c) This Agreement may not be terminated by the
Sub-Adviser
prior to January 1, 2003. Thereafter, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Sub-Adviser
at any time, without cause and without payment of any penalty,
(i) upon 90 days written notice to CSIM; or (ii) if the assets allocated to
Sub-Adviser
fall below $30 million; provided such drop is not caused by market move.
(d) This Agreement will automatically and immediately terminate in the event of its
assignment or in the event of the termination of the Management Agreement.
(e) Any termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof will not
affect the obligations or liabilities accrued prior to termination. As used in this Section 15, the terms assignment, interested persons, and a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities will
have the respective meanings set forth in the 1940 Act; subject to such exceptions and other relief as may be granted by the SEC.
16. NOTICE. All notices required or permitted hereunder will be deemed sufficient upon
receipt if sent by: (a) hand; (b) registered or certified mail, postage prepaid; (c) overnight courier; or (d) facsimile transmission to the last address furnished by the other party to the party giving notice. At the outset, such
notices will be delivered to the following addresses:
|
|
|
|
|
CSIM:
|
|
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
101 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA
94104
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: Treasurer
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone: (415)
667-3901
|
|
|
|
|
Facsimile: (415)
667-3800
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sub-Adviser:
|
|
William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
|
|
|
|
|
222 West Adams Street
|
|
|
|
|
Chicago, IL 60606
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: Compliance
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone: (312)
236-1600
|
|
|
|
|
Facsimile: (312)
551-4646
|
|
|
17. NONCOMPETE PROVISIONS. Except as set forth in
Schedule D,
Sub-Adviser
is not and will not become a party to any noncompete agreement or other agreement or arrangement that would restrict, limit or otherwise interfere with the ability of Schwab Parties and
their affiliates to employ or engage any person or entity, now or in the future, to provide investment advisory or other services.
18. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement will be held or made invalid by a
court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby.
19. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of California and the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. To the extent that the applicable laws of the State of California, or any of the provisions herein, conflict with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the latter will control.
Any legal action or proceeding arising out of this Agreement will be brought only in the courts of the State of California located in the City and County of San Francisco or in the United
6
States District Court for the Northern District of California. Each party will submit to the jurisdiction of such courts and venue in such courts and will waive any claims that such courts lack
jurisdiction or are inconvenient forums.
20. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the
parties relating to the Services. Any prior agreements, promises or representations not expressly set forth in this Agreement are of no force and effect. No waiver or modification of this Agreement will be effective unless reduced to writing and
signed by the party to be charged. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising on the part of any party hereto of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof.
(b) This Agreement is entered into on behalf of each Fund severally, and not
jointly, with the express intention that the provisions contained herein will apply separately with respect to each Fund, as if contained in separate agreements.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 15, this Agreement binds and inures to the
benefit of parties, their successors and assigns. This Agreement may be executed in more than one counterpart each of which will be deemed an original and both of which, taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
(d) Company refers to Schwab Capital Trust and its Trustees, as Trustees but not
individually or personally, acting under a Declaration of Trust dated May 7, 1993. A copy of the Certificate of Trust of Company is on file with the Secretary of State of the State of Massachusetts. Notice is hereby given that the obligations
of Company entered into in the name of or on behalf of Company by any of its Trustees,
//
//
//
7
representatives or agents are made not individually, but in such Company capacities. Such obligations are not
binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders or representatives of Company personally, but bind only the assets of Company belonging to such Fund for the enforcement of any claims against Company.
(e) As used in this Agreement, any references to any laws (including, without
limitation, the 1940 Act, Advisers Act, Code and CEA) incorporate the effects of: (i) any amendments to such laws; (ii) any rules or regulations promulgated under such laws; and (iii) any interpretations of such laws, rules or
regulations by the applicable regulatory authorities.
NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the day and year
first written above.
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Stephen B. Ward
|
|
|
|
|
Name: Stephen B. Ward
|
|
|
|
|
Title: Senior Vice President
|
|
|
|
|
William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Michelle Seitz
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title: Principal
|
|
|
8
SCHEDULE A
TO THE
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
WILLIAM BLAIR &
COMPANY, L.L.C.
FUND(S)
Schwab Multi-Manager
International Fund
Effective Date of this Schedule A: January 31, 2002.
9
SCHEDULE B
TO THE
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
WILLIAM BLAIR &
COMPANY, L.L.C.
FEES
Fees will be accrued each day by
applying to the Net Asset Value of the Managed Assets at the end of that day, the daily rate, using a
365-day
year, equivalent to the applicable fee percentage set forth below (Company
Percentage). Sub-Adviser
represents and warrants that the Company Percentage now is and in the future will be equal to or less than the applicable fee percentage payable to
Sub-Adviser
under any other advisory or
sub-advisory
agreement for comparable investment advisory services that have substantially the same investment policies and objectives
(each a Third Party Percentage). If at any times, the Company Percentage is greater than any Third Party Percentage, the Company Percentage will be reduced to the lowest Third Party Percentage, including with
respect to any advisory or
sub-advisory
agreement amended or entered into by
Sub-Adviser
after the effective date of this Schedule. Fees will be
paid within 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter.
COMPANY PERCENTAGE
60 Basis points on all Managed Assets
Effective Date of this
Schedule B: January 31, 2002
10
SCHEDULE C
TO THE
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
William Blair &
Company, L.L.C.
MUTUAL CONFIDENTIALITY AND
NON-DISCLOSURE
AGREEMENT
A true and correct copy of the MUTUAL CONFIDENTIALITY AND
NON-DISCLOSURE
AGREEMENT is attached hereto.
Effective Date of this Schedule C: January 31, 2002
11
SCHEDULE D
TO THE
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
WILLIAM BLAIR &
COMPANY, L.L.C.
NONCOMPETE PROVISIONS:
None.
Effective Date of this Schedule D: January 31, 2002
12
February 27, 2019
Mondrian Investment Partners Limited
Attention: Managing
Director
10 Gresham St, 5th Floor
London, EC2V 7JD United
Kingdom
Re:
Amendment to Schedule B
Dear Sir or Madam:
This letter agreement
serves to amend Schedule B (Schedule B) to our Investment
Sub-Advisory
Agreement dated July 12, 2011(the Agreement).
The amended Schedule B reflects the new breakpoints with respect to the
sub-advisory
fees. Amended
Schedule B shall replace the existing Schedule B effective March 1, 2019.
The Agreement otherwise remains unchanged and shall
continue in full force and effect.
In the space provided below, please acknowledge your agreement to the foregoing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Jonathan de St. Paer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
Jonathan de St. Paer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
President
|
|
|
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mondrian Investment Partners Limited
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Clive Gillmore
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
Clive Gillmore
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
Chief Investment Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCHEDULE B
TO THE
INVESTMENT
SUB-ADVISORY
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
AND
MONDRIAN INVESTMENT PARTNERS
LIMITED
FEES
Fees will be accrued each day by applying to
the Net Asset Value of the Managed Assets at the end of that day, the daily rate, using a
365-day
year, equivalent to the applicable fee percentage set forth below (Company Percentage).
Sub-Adviser
represents and warrants that the Company Percentage now is and in the future will be equal to or less than the applicable fee percentage payable to
Sub-Adviser
under any other advisory or
sub-advisory
agreement for comparable investment advisory services (each a Third Party Percentage). If at any time, the Company Percentage is greater than any Third
Party Percentage, the Company Percentage will be reduced to the lowest Third Party Percentage, including with respect to any advisory or
sub-advisory
agreement amended or entered into by
Sub-Adviser
after the effective date of this Schedule. Fees will be paid within 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter.
COMPANY PERCENTAGE
|
|
|
First $350 million:
|
|
57.5 Basis Points annually
|
Thereafter:
|
|
55.0 Basis Points annually
|
The above fee scale is subject to a minimum funding of $100 million, or fees equivalent thereto.
The maximum amount of Managed Assets that may be held in the account is $750 million of Net Deposits (the Capacity).
Sub-Adviser
agrees to review its capacity positions should the Managed Assets reach $650 million to determine if the Capacity may be adjusted. The
Sub-Adviser
agrees to
hold the Capacity until March 1, 2021. For purposes of this paragraph Net Deposits means subscriptions into
Sub-Advisers
Managed Assets less redemptions out of
Sub-Advisers
Managed Assets.
Effective Date of this Schedule B: March 1, 2019
March 11, 2019
State Street Bank and Trust Company
1 Heritage Drive
North Quincy, MA 02171
Attention: Stephen V. Russo, Vice
President
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the
Master Fund Accounting and Services Agreement between us dated as of October 1, 2005, as amended and supplemented (the
Agreement
). Pursuant to the Agreement, this letter is to provide notice of clarification to Appendix A to
the Agreement. Appendix A has been modified to identify funds that are classified as fund of funds. A revised Appendix A to the Agreement is attached hereto.
Please indicate your acceptance of the modified Appendix A by executing two copies of this letter, returning one to us and retaining one copy
for your records.
Very truly yours,
EACH OF THE
ENTITIES SET FORTH ON APPENDIX A HERETO
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Mark Fischer
|
Name:
|
|
Mark Fischer
|
Title:
|
|
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
|
Accepted:
STATE STREET BANK
AND TRUST COMPANY
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/Andrew Erickson
|
Name:
|
|
Andrew Erickson
|
Title:
|
|
Executive Vice President
|
APPENDIX A
(Effective December 1, 2017,
Modified March 11, 2019)
TO
MASTER FUND
ACCOUNTING AND SERVICES AGREEMENT
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND PORTFOLIOS THEREOF, IF ANY
THE CHARLES SCHWAB FAMILY OF FUNDS
Schwab Money Market
Fund
Schwab Value Advantage Money Fund
Schwab Retirement
Advantage Money Fund
Schwab Investor Money Fund
Schwab
Government Money Fund
Schwab U.S. Treasury Money Fund
Schwab Municipal Money Fund
Schwab California Municipal Money
Fund
Schwab New York Municipal Money Fund
Schwab AMT
Tax-Free
Money Fund
Schwab Cash Reserves
Schwab Advisor Cash Reserves
Schwab Treasury Obligations Money
Fund
Schwab Variable Share Price Money Fund
Schwab
Retirement Government Money Fund
SCHWAB INVESTMENTS
Schwab 1000 Index Fund
Schwab GNMA Fund
Schwab
Tax-Free
Bond Fund
Schwab California
Tax-Free
Bond Fund
Schwab Treasury Inflation Protected Securities Index Fund
Schwab
Intermediate-Term Bond Fund
Schwab Global Real Estate Fund
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond Index Fund
Schwab Short-Term Bond
Index Fund
SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST
Schwab
International Index Fund
Schwab
Small-Cap
Index Fund
Schwab MarketTrack Growth Portfolio*
Schwab MarketTrack Balanced
Portfolio*
Schwab MarketTrack Conservative Portfolio*
Schwab MarketTrack All Equity Portfolio*
Schwab S&P 500
Index Fund
Schwab Dividend Equity Fund
Schwab
Small-Cap
Equity Fund
Schwab
Large-Cap
Growth Fund
Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund
Schwab Health Care Fund
Schwab Target 2010 Fund*
Schwab Target 2015 Fund*
Schwab Target 2020 Fund*
Schwab Target 2025 Fund*
Schwab Target 2030 Fund*
Schwab Target 2035 Fund*
Schwab Target 2040 Fund*
Schwab Target 2045 Fund*
Schwab Target 2050 Fund*
Schwab Target 2055 Fund*
Schwab Target 2060 Fund*
Schwab Target 2010 Index Fund*
Schwab Target 2015 Index Fund*
Schwab Target 2020 Index Fund*
Schwab Target 2025 Index
Fund*
Schwab Target 2030 Index Fund*
Schwab Target 2035
Index Fund*
Schwab Target 2040 Index Fund*
Schwab Target
2045 Index Fund*
Schwab Target 2050 Index Fund*
Schwab
Target 2055 Index Fund*
Schwab Target 2060 Index Fund*
Schwab Core Equity Fund
Schwab Hedged Equity Fund
Laudus International MarketMasters Fund
Laudus
Small-Cap
MarketMasters Fund
Schwab Balanced Fund *
Schwab Fundamental US Small Company Index Fund
Schwab
Fundamental US Large Company Index Fund
Schwab Fundamental International Large Company Index Fund
Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index Fund
Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index Fund
Schwab
Monthly Income Fund - Moderate Payout *
Schwab Monthly Income Fund - Enhanced Payout *
Schwab Monthly Income Fund - Maximum Payout *
Schwab
International Core Equity Fund
Schwab Fundamental Global Real Estate Index Fund
Schwab U.S.
Large-Cap
Growth Index Fund
Schwab U.S.
Large-Cap
Value Index Fund
Schwab U.S.
Mid-Cap
Index Fund
SCHWAB ANNUITY PORTFOLIOS
Schwab Government Money Market
Portfolio
Schwab S&P 500 Index Portfolio
Schwab
MarketTrack Growth Portfolio II*
Schwab VIT Balanced Portfolio*
Schwab VIT Balanced with Growth Portfolio*
Schwab VIT Growth
Portfolio*
SCHWAB STRATEGIC TRUST
Schwab U.S. Broad
Market ETF
Schwab U.S.
Large-Cap
ETF
Schwab U.S.
Large-Cap
Growth ETF
Schwab U.S.
Large-Cap
Value ETF
Schwab U.S.
Small-Cap
ETF
Schwab International Equity ETF
Schwab International
Small-Cap
Equity ETF
Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF
Schwab U.S. TIPS ETF
Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF
Schwab Intermediate-Term U.S. Treasury ETF
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF
Schwab U.S.
Mid-Cap
ETF
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Broad
Market Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF
Schwab
Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental International Small Company Index ETF
Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Large Company Index ETF
Schwab 1000 Index ETF
|
*
|
Indicates Fund of Funds
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1900 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
+1 202 261 3300 Main
+1 202 261 3333 Fax
www.dechert.com
|
April 26, 2019
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. 192 to the Trusts 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. 193 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 Trusts 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 Trusts Registration Statement to be dated on or about April 26, 2019 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 reports dated February 19, 2019, relating to the financial statements and financial highlights, which appear in Schwab Monthly Income Fund - Moderate Payout, Schwab Monthly Income Fund - Enhanced Payout and Schwab Monthly Income
Fund - Maximum Payouts Annual Reports on Form
N-CSR
for the year ended December 31, 2018. We also consent to the references to us under the headings Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm, Portfolio Holdings Disclosure and Financial Highlights in such Registration Statement.
|
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
|
San Francisco, California
|
April 22, 2019
|
THE CHARLES SCHWAB FAMILY OF FUNDS
SCHWAB ANNUITY PORTFOLIOS
SCHWAB
INVESTMENTS
SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST
LAUDUS TRUST
SCHWAB STRATEGIC
TRUST
POWER OF ATTORNEY
I,
the undersigned trustee and/or officer of The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Annuity Portfolios, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust and Laudus Trust, each a Massachusetts business trust, and Schwab Strategic Trust, a Delaware statutory
trust (each a Trust), do hereby constitute and appoint David Lekich, Catherine MacGregor, Robin Nesbitt, Douglas P. Dick, Jeremy I. Senderowicz and Stephen T. Cohen, and each of them singly, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power
to them and each of them, to sign for me and in my name and the capacity listed below, any and all amendments to the Registration Statement on Form
N-1A
of each Trust, and to file the same with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection thereunder, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto my said attorneys, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or
necessary to be done in the premises, as fully as to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
WITNESS my hand on the date set forth below.
|
|
|
/s/ Jonathan de St.
Paer
|
|
Date: April 1, 2019
|
Jonathan de St. Paer
|
|
|
Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
J.II.1.B.
THE CHARLES SCHWAB FAMILY OF FUNDS
SCHWAB INVESTMENTS
SCHWAB CAPITAL TRUST
SCHWAB ANNUITY PORTFOLIOS
SCHWAB STRATEGIC TRUST
LAUDUS TRUST
CHARLES
SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC.
JOINT CODE OF ETHICS
PERSONAL TRADING POLICY
Effective February 26, 2019
Capitalized terms used in the Code are defined, when practicable, within the related text. Otherwise such terms are defined in the attached Appendix A.
1
J.II.1.B.
INTRODUCTION
Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc. (CSIM) and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (CS&Co.), in its
capacity as principal underwriter for certain funds, have a fiduciary duty to the Funds and advisory clients (Clients). The Charles Schwab Family of Funds, Schwab Investments, Schwab Capital Trust and Schwab Annuity Portfolios (the
Schwab Funds), Laudus Trust (the Laudus Funds) and Schwab Strategic Trust (the Schwab ETFs, and together with Schwab Funds and Laudus Funds, the Funds) have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders. To
assist in meeting these fiduciary duties, CSIM, CS&Co. and the Funds expect every person subject to this Joint Code of Ethics to demonstrate the highest standards of ethical conduct in such a manner as to (i) avoid serving their own
personal interest ahead of clients, (ii) avoid taking inappropriate advantage of their position with CS&Co., CSIM or the Funds, and (iii) avoid and, where appropriate, mitigate any actual or potential conflicts of interests or any
abuse of their position of trust and responsibility.
To this end, CSIM, CS&Co. and the Funds have adopted this Joint Code of Ethics
(the Code) which sets the minimum standards of conduct applicable to all of CSIMs directors, officers and employees, officers and trustees of the Funds, and certain CS&Co. persons and other individuals as designated by the
Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) or designee (Access Persons).
The Code is designed to help Access Persons avoid
potential conflicts that may arise from their actions and their personal investments and preclude activities which may lead to or give the appearance of conflicts of interest, insider trading and other forms of prohibited or unethical business
conduct.
In addition, all CSIM and CS&Co. employees are also responsible for knowing and complying with The Charles Schwab
Corporations Compliance Manual, The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and applicable policies and procedures related to individual roles and responsibilities. Access Persons who are also CS&Co. employees are required to comply with the
Broker-Dealer Compliance Manual as well.
The Code does not and cannot identify all possible conflicts of interest that you might
encounter. Rather, you have an
on-going
responsibility to identify any areas where personal activities may conflict with Clients interests and to operate in a manner that mitigates both actual and
perceived conflicts. You must at all times act in accordance with both the letter and the spirit of applicable laws, rules and regulations.
If you violate this Code or associated policies and procedures, CSIM, the Funds and/or CS&Co. may impose disciplinary action against you
which may include
2
J.II.1.B.
notification to your supervisor, disgorgement of profits and possibly suspension and/or termination.
If you have any questions concerning a proposed course of action that may present a conflict of interest, you should contact your supervisor
for guidance. Supervisors who have questions about how to proceed should contact the CCO or his or her designee for guidance.
MATERIAL
NON-PUBLIC
INFORMATION
You have an obligation to safeguard material
non-public
information (MNPI) regarding CSIM and its Clients, including the Funds. The Charles Schwab Corporations Compliance Manual has policies and procedures that establish minimum
requirements that all employees are required to follow when in possession of MNPI about any issuer. In addition, when you are in possession of confidential information about CSIM and/or its Clients, you are prohibited from sharing such information
with anyone, other than those who have a business need to know, and from using such information for personal gain.
Specifically, you are
prohibited from:
|
◾
|
Disclosing current portfolio transactions that portfolio managers and traders have made or potential portfolio
transactions that are being contemplated on behalf of Clients or any other
non-public
information to anyone outside of CSIM, except as required to effect securities transactions on behalf of a Client.
|
|
◾
|
Trading on the basis of the Funds MNPI: the following types of information have, under certain
circumstances, been determined to be MNPI in the mutual fund context (if not yet publicly disclosed):
|
|
i.
|
Holdings and transaction information.
|
|
ii.
|
The portfolio managers investment decisions.
|
|
iii.
|
Performance analysis.
|
|
iv.
|
Subscription and redemption activity.
|
|
vi.
|
Decisions to hire or fire an
adviser/sub-adviser
or invest or divest in
a proprietary or third-party mutual fund or ETF.
|
3
J.II.1.B.
|
vii.
|
Material
sub-adviser
due diligence information.
|
|
viii.
|
Change of portfolio manager.
|
|
◾
|
Using knowledge of portfolio transactions that portfolio managers and traders have made or potential portfolio
transactions that are being contemplated on behalf of Clients to personally profit, or cause others to profit, by the market effect of such transactions. Anytime you are in possession of MNPI, you are prohibited from transacting in such
transactions, regardless of having received
pre-clearance
approval (as discussed below).
|
|
◾
|
Engaging in deceptive conduct in connection with the purchase or sale of portfolio transactions for Client
accounts, including without limitation:
|
|
i.
|
Employing any device, scheme or artifice to defraud any Client.
|
|
ii.
|
Making any untrue statement of a material fact to any Client or misleading any Client by omitting to state a
material fact.
|
|
iii.
|
Engaging in any act, practice or course of business that would defraud or deceive any Client.
|
|
iv.
|
Engaging in any manipulative practice with respect to any Client.
|
|
v.
|
Investing in derivatives or similar instruments to evade the restrictions of this Code.
|
|
◾
|
In addition to the above, employees may receive MNPI concerning certain issuers, underwriters or from
representatives of issuers or underwriters during their normal course of employment. Such information may include information that has not been publically disseminated such as potential transactions, financing and capital requests, future rating
actions and certain information about the issuer or its securities. Any employee who suspects they are in receipt of MNPI should limit their communications with others regarding such MNPI and immediately contact the Compliance department.
|
These requirements may be supplemented from time to time by additional policies and procedures. It is your
responsibility to be familiar with and to comply with all such policies and procedures.
4
J.II.1.B.
PERSONAL TRADING
This section of the Code contains rules applicable to Access Persons and certain of their household members (Covered Persons)
regarding owning and trading Covered Securities in certain Personal Accounts.
An
Access Person
is
|
◾
|
Any officer, director or trustee of CSIM or the Funds
|
|
◾
|
Certain CSIM contractors as determined and notified by CSIM Compliance
|
|
◾
|
Certain CS&Co. employees, as determined and notified by CSIM Compliance, who support CSIM and/or the Funds
|
|
◾
|
Other persons who are determined and notified by the CCO or his designee to have access to nonpublic
information regarding any Client or Fund, including portfolio holdings and/or any transactions in a portfolio
|
If you
are an Access Person, your
Covered Persons
include
|
◾
|
Individuals living in your home who are supported, directly or indirectly, to a material extent by you
|
Questions concerning Covered Persons should be directed to CSIM Compliance.
Personal Accounts
are securities accounts over which you or any of your Covered Persons exercise direct or indirect control or
discretion or in which you or any of your Covered Persons have a direct or indirect beneficial ownership or financial interest.
Covered Securities
include:
|
◾
|
All publicly and privately traded securities
|
|
◾
|
Debt securities including convertible, municipal and
non-U.S.
government bonds
|
|
◾
|
Any option, future, forward contract or other obligation involving securities or indices thereof, including an
instrument whose value is derived or based on any of the above
|
|
◾
|
Any separate security which is convertible into or exchangeable for, or which confers a right to purchase, a
Covered Security
|
5
J.II.1.B.
|
◾
|
Shares of a
closed-end
investment company
|
|
◾
|
Exchange traded products (
e.g.
, ETFs/ETNs, including Schwab ETFs)
|
|
◾
|
Shares of the Schwab and Laudus Funds (except money market funds)
|
The following securities are
excluded
from the definition of Covered Securities:
|
◾
|
Shares of registered
non-affiliated
open-end
investment companies (e.g., mutual funds), except for shares of ETFs
|
|
◾
|
Shares of
non-affiliated
unit investment trusts that invest exclusively
in
non-affiliated
registered
open-end
investment companies, except those that trade as exchanged traded products
|
|
◾
|
Direct obligations of the U.S. government (e.g., Treasury securities)
|
|
◾
|
High-Quality Short-Term Debt Instruments, as defined in Appendix A, such as bank certificates of deposit,
bankers acceptances, repurchase agreements, and commercial paper
|
|
◾
|
Affiliated money market funds
1
|
|
II.
|
Reporting Requirements
|
The following reporting requirements apply to all Access Persons and their Covered Persons (excluding Independent Trustees unless otherwise
noted in Section II.E. below).
|
A.
|
Initial Accounts and Holdings Reports and Certifications
|
Within 10 days of hire or of being notified by CSIM Compliance that you have been deemed an Access Person, you must:
|
◾
|
Report all of your Personal Accounts that are capable of holding Covered Securities (including those of your
Covered Persons).
|
|
◾
|
Complete your Initial Holdings Report in Covered Securities (including those of your Covered Persons).
|
|
◾
|
Complete your acknowledgement of the Code and Compliance Manual.
|
Your Initial Holdings Report must include the name of security, type of security, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number, number of
shares and principal amount of each security held, as well as the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the account is maintained, the name on the account and the account number. You must submit an Accounts and Holdings Report even if you do
not have any securities accounts or applicable holdings. Initial reports are submitted through the
on-line
1
Receipt of MNPI concerning an affiliated money market fund may subject an Access Person to trade restrictions in such fund.
6
J.II.1.B.
personal trading monitoring system utilized by CSIM (Personal Trading Monitoring System) and the information contained in the report must be current as of a date no more than 45 days
prior to the date of your hire or of being notified by CSIM Compliance that you have been deemed an Access Person.
|
B.
|
Quarterly Transaction Reports
|
Within 30 calendar days of the end of each calendar quarter, you must report all transactions in Covered Securities in all Personal Accounts.
You are required to submit a quarterly report even if there were no reportable transactions during the quarter. The report must indicate the date you submit the report, as well as the following:
|
1.
|
The transaction date, name and identifier of the security (such as exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number),
interest rate and maturity date, number of shares, and cost of each reportable security involved;
|
|
2.
|
The name of the broker, dealer or bank with or through which the transaction was effected;
|
|
3.
|
The type of transaction, such as purchase, sale or any other type of acquisition or disposition; and
|
|
4.
|
The price of the security at which the transaction was effected.
|
Transaction information is automatically updated in the Personal Trading Monitoring System throughout the quarter to reflect transactions
made in CS&Co. and certain third party broker accounts you have disclosed.
This may not include all of the transactions you must report, and it is your responsibility to review the information and update it to ensure it is accurate and
complete.
This includes providing information on any new Personal Account established during the quarter including the name of the broker, dealer or bank and the date the account was established.
|
C.
|
Annual Holdings Reports
|
In addition to the quarterly transaction reporting requirements, within 45 calendar days of the end of each calendar year, you must report
all holdings (as of December 31) in Covered Securities in Personal Accounts.
Similar to quarterly transaction reporting, holdings
information is displayed on the Access Persons reporting screen in the Personal Trading Monitoring System. The position may not reflect all activities in a security (e.g. corporate actions) and you must review and correct the holdings
7
J.II.1.B.
report, as needed, to ensure its accuracy. Your report must indicate the date you submit the report and must include the title, type of security, the exchange ticker symbol or CUSIP number,
number of shares and principal amount of each security held, as well as the name of any broker, dealer or bank with whom the account is maintained.
|
D.
|
Other Compliance Certifications
|
On a quarterly basis, you are required to confirm your compliance with the provisions of this Code. In addition, you must acknowledge, in
writing, which may be made electronically, receipt of any revisions to this Code whenever amendments to the Code are made and delivered.
|
E.
|
Independent Trustee Reporting Requirements
|
Independent Trustees are required to submit a Quarterly Transactions Report containing the information as described below to the Funds
CCO. Such report must include:
|
◾
|
all transactions in any Funds, excluding money market funds, on whose board the Independent Trustee serves
|
|
◾
|
all transactions made in a Covered Security if, at the time of that transaction, they knew or, in the ordinary
course of fulfilling their official duties as Independent Trustees of the Funds, should have known that, during the
15-day
period immediately before or after the date of their transaction, the same Covered
Security was purchased or sold by the Fund or was being considered by the Fund or its investment adviser(s) for purchase or sale by the Fund
|
III. Preclearance Requirements
All Access Persons, except (i) Independent Trustees and (ii) Interested Trustees and/or directors of CSIM not responsible for the
day to day management of CSIM, must receive clearance prior to the execution of any transaction in Covered Securities in their Personal Accounts (including the accounts of their Covered Persons).
Notwithstanding the above, Access Persons who are (i) Independent Trustees and (ii) Interested Trustees and/or directors of CSIM
not responsible for the day to day management of CSIM, must receive clearance prior to the execution of transactions in the Funds, excluding money market funds.
8
J.II.1.B.
|
B.
|
How to Request Preclearance
|
Generally, you must submit requests for
pre-clearance
of personal transactions through the Personal
Trading Monitoring System unless otherwise noted in this Code.
Pre-clearance
requests will be reviewed by CSIM Compliance in relation to information available from the trading system(s) or other relevant
information sources (consulting with CSIM Portfolio Management as needed) to determine whether your request should be approved. CSIM Compliance may, at its discretion, require supervisor approval of a
pre-clearance
request before considering such request. You will be notified via email of approval or denial.
Pre-clearance
requests made by the CCO will be forwarded to
The Charles Schwab Corporation CCO or his or her designee for approval.
You should only submit a
pre-clearance
request when you intend to execute a trade, not to secure your right to execute a transaction on the basis of favorable intraday price movements. Excessive
pre-clearance
requests and/or trading in personal accounts are strongly discouraged. CSIM Compliance monitors trading activity, reports this activity periodically to CSIM management and may impose additional
trading restrictions or prohibitions as appropriate.
Access Persons who are (i) Independent Trustees and (ii) Interested
Trustees and/or directors of CSIM not responsible for day to day management of CSIM, should direct any preclearance request to the CCO or his or her designee by telephone or email.
|
C.
|
Two Day Effective Period
|
Pre-clearance
of personal securities transactions for publicly traded securities will be effective
for two (2) days beginning on the calendar day on which
pre-clearance
approval is granted, as well as trading day immediately following.
Limit Orders, including stop loss orders, will generally not be allowed unless you expect the order to be completed within the two day
effective period. If your order is not executed within the two day effective period, your initial
pre-clearance
will no longer be valid and you will need to cancel the open order(s) and obtain
pre-clearance
again.
You are prohibited from trading in a security if, after you have received
pre-clearance
approval, you come into possession of MNPI.
9
J.II.1.B.
|
D.
|
Additional Responsibilities
|
|
◾
|
Access Persons, excluding Independent Trustees, may not trade in securities included on The Charles Schwab
Corporations Restricted List for their own benefit or the benefit of CS&Co. when the restriction indicates that it applies to all employees. This restriction also applies to Covered Persons and Personal Accounts over which the
Access Person has control. Before trading, you must check to see if the security is on the Restricted Securities List (Schweb jumpword: restricted list.)
|
|
◾
|
Certain Access Persons may be subject to trading restrictions of The Charles Schwab Corporation common stock
(SCHW) and its derivatives. Before trading in SCHW or a derivative security, you are responsible for checking the SCHW Trading Window (Schweb jumpword: trading window.)
|
|
◾
|
Requests for approval to become a Power of Attorney (POA) on an account must be submitted via the
Schwab online reporting system (the Online Reporting System). Written approval must be obtained prior to becoming a POA on any account. Generally, approval will be considered only for immediate family member accounts where the employee
can demonstrate an appropriate purpose for the POA.
|
IV. Blackout Periods
All Access Persons are prohibited from engaging in any transaction in a Covered Security when they know or should have known at the time that
there is a pending buy or sell order in that same security for any Client Account. Exceptions to this prohibition may be granted by CSIM Compliance if, upon receipt of a request for preclearance of a
transaction in a mutual fund or ETF, it determines that the client trading activity in that mutual fund or ETF occurred for cash flow purposes or that other potential conflicts do not exist or are adequately mitigated.
Certain additional trading restrictions apply to Investment Personnel, as defined from time to time by CSIM Compliance and as outlined within
Appendix A, as follows:
|
◾
|
Investment Personnel are prohibited from trading in a Covered Security if the same security has been traded in
a Fund or Client Account during the past seven (7) calendar days, or is expected to be traded within the next seven (7) calendar days.
|
|
◾
|
Investment Personnel transactions will be reviewed further by the CCO or his or her designee and may be
required to reverse the transaction in the following situation:
|
10
J.II.1.B.
|
(i)
|
Have received
pre-clearance
for a transaction in a Covered Security,
and
|
|
(ii)
|
A transaction in the same security takes place for a Fund or Client Account subject to the Blackout Period as
discussed above within seven (7) calendar days following the execution of your transaction.
|
V. Prohibition on
Short Term Profits
(60-DAY
RULE)
Access Persons, except (i) Independent Trustees and
(ii) Interested Trustees and/or directors of CSIM not responsible for day to day management of CSIM, are prohibited from realizing a profit from the purchase and sale, or the sale and purchase, of the same (or related) Covered Securities within
60 calendar days. If an Access Person is found to have violated this prohibition, any profit realized will be required to be disgorged. This restriction applies without regard to tax lot considerations. Generally speaking, profit determinations will
be made on the basis of a
Last-In-First-Out
(LIFO) accounting methodology, unless the fundamentals of the trade
warrant a different consideration as determined by the CCO or his or her designee.
VI. IPOs and Private Placements
The
Employee Securities Accounts
& Investments and Inside Information
&
Information Barriers
chapters of The Charles Schwab Corporations Compliance Manual address certain prohibited practices. Among them is the participation in an IPO. This applies to all Access Persons, except Independent
Trustees.
Access Persons, excluding Independent Trustees, must receive
pre-clearance
from the
Schwab Disclosure Group (Compliance Disclosure Group) prior to participating in a private securities transaction. A request for approval should first be submitted to the Compliance Disclosure Group through the Online Reporting System.
VII. Exceptions
|
A.
|
Personal Account Exemptions
|
An account that is managed on a fully-discretionary basis by an affiliated or unaffiliated money manager will be exempt from personal trading
requirements and restrictions after it is approved by the CCO (or designee).
In such cases, Access Persons are
required to submit a letter from any unaffiliated money manager to CSIM Compliance before the account is deemed exempt. Such letter will confirm that: (i) the account is managed on a full-discretionary basis as established in a written contract
between the firm and an Access Person (or related Covered Person), and (ii) the Access Person (or related Covered Person) will not: (a) suggest or direct that the money
11
J.II.1.B.
manager make any particular purchases or sales of securities for the account during the reporting period; or, (b) consult with the money manager as to the particular allocation of
investments to be made during the reporting period.
If CSIM Compliance grants an exception, you will not be required to further certify
during the quarterly and annual certification periods to the holdings or transactions in such Personal Account once the exception is granted. You will, however, be asked to confirm on an annual basis that there has been no change in the status of
such discretionary or managed account and are required to provide timely notification of any change in the status of the account at the time of the change .
|
B.
|
Transactional Exemptions
|
The following transactional exemptions apply:
|
◾
|
All transactions in The Charles Schwab Corporations securities (equities, fixed income, options) are
exempt from
preclearance, blackout periods and the short-term profit prohibition
, provided that you comply with the requirements outlined in
The Charles Schwab Corporations Compliance Manual
.
|
|
◾
|
Non-Volitional
Transactions are exempt from
preclearance,
blackout periods and the short-term profit prohibition
. Please refer to Appendix A for more information on what qualifies as a
Non-Volitional
Transaction.
|
|
◾
|
When establishing an automatic investment plan, direct stock purchase plan or other similar plans involving a
Covered Security, enrollment in the plan must be approved by CSIM Compliance and the initial purchase of any Covered Securities in the plan must be
pre-cleared.
Subsequent investments
of the
applicable Covered Security pursuant to the plan are exempt from
pre-clearance
and blackout periods
provided no changes to the plan have been made (i.e. changes to Covered Securities in the plan
or investments made after the cancellation of the plan) since originally approved by CSIM Compliance. Changes to existing
pre-cleared
percentage allocations of Covered Securities pursuant to a plan are exempt
from
pre-clearance
(e.g., changing the monthly allocation to a
pre-cleared
Covered Security from 5% to 8%). Please refer to Appendix A for more information
on what qualifies as an Automatic Investment Plan.
|
|
◾
|
Profits received from a sale of securities which were acquired as a result of exercising options received
through a Stock Option Program are exempt from the
short-term profits prohibition
.
|
12
J.II.1.B.
Exceptions to Reporting Requirements
You do not need to include in your quarterly transaction reports any transactions made in any account over which you have no direct or
indirect influence or control regarding specific security selection (i.e. investment discretion) or any
Non-Volitional
Transactions, provided CSIM Compliance is systematically receiving the transaction
information or, if not, you provide quarterly account statements by upload to the Personal Trading Monitoring System
If you have any
questions concerning whether or not an account or transaction is exempt from personal trading requirement or restrictions, you should contact your Supervisor or the CCO or his or her designee.
The CCO may approve other exemptions to certain restrictions and prohibitions of the Code after consideration of relevant facts and
circumstances. Such exemptions are not automatic but rather granted on an exception basis and require either preclearance through the channels discussed above or other advance written approval from the CCO.
OTHER POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
GIFTS AND BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT
The following applies to Access Persons with the exception of (i) Independent Trustees and (ii) Interested Trustees and/or
directors of CSIM not responsible for day to day management of CSIM:
The giving and acceptance of gifts and/or business entertainment
that influences or appears to influence the behavior of the recipient may compromise the reputation and integrity of CSIM, CS&Co., or the Funds. You should never accept or provide any gift or business entertainment that would violate the law,
embarrass, or reflect poorly on CSIM, CS&Co. or the Funds. CSIM follows The Charles Schwab Corporations Compliance Manuals chapter on
Gifts, Business Entertainment, Loans
& Charitable Contributions
Policy
and, with respect to its directors and employees, has adopted more restrictive limits for the acceptance of gifts and business entertainment, which are detailed in the
CSIM Gifts and Business Entertainment Policy and Procedures
.
You are responsible for understanding these policies and procedures and ensuring that your conduct with respect to the acceptance and provision of gifts and business entertainment is consistent with these procedures, including obtaining the
appropriate approvals and reporting your gifts and business entertainment activity.
13
J.II.1.B.
SERVICE AS DIRECTOR OR PUBLIC OFFICIAL
All employees are prohibited from serving on the board of directors of any publicly traded company or in an official capacity for any federal,
state, or local government (or governmental agency or instrumentality) without prior approval from the Compliance Disclosure Group through the Online Reporting System.
OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES
Employees may not engage in outside employment or other outside activity that conflicts or otherwise interferes with their duties and
responsibilities. It is each employee responsibility to disclose and request approval for any such outside employment or business activity through the Online Reporting System.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE
Adherence to the Code is a basic condition of employment or service with CS&Co. and CSIM. CSIM Compliance monitors compliance with the
Code, including reviewing Access Persons personal securities transactions and holdings reports, and reviews violations of the Code to determine what action or sanctions are appropriate. You are required to report any violations of the Code promptly
to your supervisor or the CCO. Reports of all violations must be provided to the CCO. Violations may be reported to CSIM management as well as to the Funds boards of trustees.
Violations of the Code are taken seriously and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Violations of the Code may
also adversely affect your career with respect to such matters as compensation and advancement. Since many provisions of the Code also reflect provisions of the US securities laws, you should be aware that violations could also lead to enforcement
action resulting in suspension or expulsion from the securities business, fines and penalties, and imprisonment. Questions regarding interpretation of the Code or questions related to specific situations should be directed to your supervisor or CSIM
Compliance.
ADMINISTRATION, RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING
CSIM Compliance is responsible for the administration of this Code. This includes identifying all Access Persons and notifying them of this
classification and their obligations under this Code. CSIM Compliance will also maintain procedures for periodic reviews of Access Persons personal securities
14
J.II.1.B.
transactions. Such reviews are undertaken with regard to both the prohibitions and reporting requirements contained in the Code.
All records associated with this Code that are required to be retained by Federal Securities Laws will be maintained by CSIM Compliance for
seven years and in an easily accessible place for at least five years. In addition, any record of any decision, and the reasons supporting the decision, to approve a hardship exemption or the acquisition by Access Persons of securities acquired in a
Private Placement, will be maintained by CSIM Compliance for at least seven years after the end of the fiscal year in which the approval is granted.
At least annually, the president of each Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs trust, the president of CSIM and an executive of
CS&Co., as principal underwriter to the Schwab Funds, (or their designees) will provide each Schwab Funds, Laudus Funds and Schwab ETFs trusts board of trustees:
|
|
|
a written report of any issues arising under this Code, including any material violations and any sanctions
imposed in response to these violations and
|
|
|
|
a certification that each has adopted procedures reasonably necessary to prevent its Access Persons from
violating the provisions of this Code.
|
15
J.II.1.B.
A
PPENDIX
A: D
EFINITIONS
An
Automatic Investment Plan
is a program in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts
in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. An Automatic Investment Plan includes among others, a 401K or similar retirement plan and dividend reinvestment plans commonly referred to as DRIPS.
Beneficial Ownership
is interpreted in the same manner when determining whether a person has beneficial ownership of a security for purposes of
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (1934 Act), and includes ownership by any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares or direct or
indirect pecuniary interest in a security.
Control
has the same meaning as in Section (2)(a)(9) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
1940 Act). Section 2(a)(9) provides that control means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such
company.
Ownership of more than 25% of a companys outstanding voting securities is presumed to give the holder of such securities control over the
company. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may determine, however, that the facts and circumstances of a given situation that may counter this presumption.
Federal Securities Laws
refers to the Securities Act of 1933, the 1934 Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the 1940 Act, the Investment Advisers Act
of 1940, Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, any rules adopted by the SEC under any of these statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act as it applies to investment companies and investment advisers, and any rules adopted thereunder by the SEC or the
Department of the Treasury.
A
High Quality Short-Term Debt Instrument
is any instrument having a maturity at issuance of less than 366 days and
which is rated in one of the highest two rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, or which is unrated but is of comparable quality.
An
Initial Public Offering
is an offering of securities registered under the 1933 Act, the issuer of which, immediately before the registration, was
not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.
An
Independent Trustee
is any Trustee of a Trust who is not an
interested person of such Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
An
Interested Trustee
is any Trustee of a Trust who is an
interested person of such Trust as defined in Section (a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
16
J.II.1.B.
Investment Personnel
includes:
A
Non-Volitional
Transaction
is one in which the Access Persons does not determine price or time of the
transaction. Such transactions include:
|
◾
|
acquisition of securities through stock dividends, automatic dividend reinvestment plans, stock splits, reverse
stock splits, mergers, consolidations, spin-offs or other similar corporate reorganizations or distributions generally applicable to all holders of the same class of such securities; and
|
|
◾
|
acquisition of securities through the exercise of rights issued by an issuer pro rata to all holders of a class
of securities, to the extent the rights were acquired in the issue.
|
Transactions in a managed account or those made by an independent
third party or adviser will not be considered
non-volitional
unless an Access Person requests and is granted an account level exemption.
A
Private Placement
is an offering that is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act pursuant to Section 4(2) or Section 4(6) or pursuant
to Rule 504, Rule 505 or Rule 506 adopted thereunder.
A
Stock Option Program
allows an employee to buy a set number of shares of a companys
stock at a future date at a set price.
17