As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 8, 2016
033-80057
Registration Nos. 811-9140
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under the
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 | x | |
Pre-Effective Amendment No. | ¨ | |
Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 | x | |
and/or | ||
REGISTRATION STATEMENT | ||
Under the | ||
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 | x | |
Amendment No. 37 | x |
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)
Virtus Retirement Trust
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
101 Munson Street, Greenfield, MA | 01301 | |||
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(800) 243-1574
(Registrants Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Kevin J. Carr, Esq.
Counsel
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
100 Pearl Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies of All Correspondence to:
David C. Mahaffey, Esq.
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
1666 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
x | immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) |
¨ | on _______ pursuant to paragraph (b) of rule 485. |
¨ | 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 _______ 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. |
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TICKER SYMBOL BY CLASS
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FUND
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A
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I
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R6
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Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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VARTX
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VDFIX
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VDFRX
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Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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VATDX
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VDTIX
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VDRRX
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Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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VDAAX
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VITDX
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VRDFX
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Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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VDFAX
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VRITX
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VRRDX
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Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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VRTAX
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VTDIX
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VRRTX
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Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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VTARX
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VIDFX
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VRTRX
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Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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VTATX
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VTIDX
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VTDRX
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Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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VTDAX
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VTIRX
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VTRTX
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Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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VTRAX
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VTITX
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VRDTX
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Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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VTTAX
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VTTIX
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VTTRX
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Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved
or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful
or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. This prospectus
contains important information that you should know before investing in Virtus Mutual
Funds. Please read it carefully and retain it for future reference.
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Not FDIC Insured
No
Bank Guarantee
May Lose Value
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FUND SUMMARIES
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Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FUND EXPENSES
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
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MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT RISKS RELATED TO PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
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RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES AND FUND OPERATIONS
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PRICING OF FUND SHARES
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SALES CHARGES
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YOUR ACCOUNT
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HOW TO BUY SHARES
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HOW TO SELL SHARES
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THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW WHEN SELLING SHARES
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ACCOUNT POLICIES
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INVESTOR SERVICES AND OTHER INFORMATION
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TAX STATUS OF DISTRIBUTIONS
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
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Class A
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Class I
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Class R6
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
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5.75%
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None
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None
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load)
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None
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None
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None
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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Class A
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Class I
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Class R6
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Management Fees
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0.30%
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0.30%
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0.30%
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Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees
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0.25%
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None
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None
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Other Expenses
(a)
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0.61%
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0.61%
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0.41%
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
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0.15%
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0.15%
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0.15%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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1.31%
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1.06%
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0.86%
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Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(b)
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(0.31%)
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(0.31%)
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(0.31%)
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement
(b)
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1.00%
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0.75%
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0.55%
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Share Status
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1 Year
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3 Years
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Class A
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Sold or Held
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$671
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$938
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Class I
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Sold or Held
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$77
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$306
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Class R6
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Sold or Held
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$56
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$243
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Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
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Class A
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Class I
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Class R6
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Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
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5.75%
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None
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None
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load)
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None
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None
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None
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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Class A
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Class I
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Class R6
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Management Fees
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0.30%
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0.30%
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0.30%
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Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees
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0.25%
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None
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None
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Other Expenses
(a)
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0.61%
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0.61%
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0.41%
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
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0.17%
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0.17%
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0.17%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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1.33%
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1.08%
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0.88%
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Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(b)
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(0.31%)
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(0.31%)
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(0.31%)
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement
(b)
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1.02%
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0.77%
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0.57%
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Share Status
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1 Year
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3 Years
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Class A
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Sold or Held
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$673
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$943
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Class I
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Sold or Held
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$79
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$313
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Class R6
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Sold or Held
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$58
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$250
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Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
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Class A
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Class I
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Class R6
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
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5.75%
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None
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None
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load)
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None
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None
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None
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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Class A
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Class I
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Class R6
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Management Fees
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0.30%
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0.30%
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0.30%
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Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees
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0.25%
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None
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None
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Other Expenses
(a)
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0.61%
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0.61%
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0.41%
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
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0.19%
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0.19%
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0.19%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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1.35%
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1.10%
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0.90%
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Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(b)
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(0.31%)
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(0.31%)
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(0.31%)
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement
(b)
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1.04%
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0.79%
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0.59%
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Share Status
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1 Year
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3 Years
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Class A
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Sold or Held
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$675
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$949
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Class I
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Sold or Held
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$81
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$319
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Class R6
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Sold or Held
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$60
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$256
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Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
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Class A
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Class I
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Class R6
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
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5.75%
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None
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None
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load)
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None
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None
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None
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
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Class A
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Class I
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Class R6
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Management Fees
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0.30%
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0.30%
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0.30%
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Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees
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0.25%
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None
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None
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Other Expenses
(a)
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0.61%
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0.61%
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0.41%
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
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0.21%
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0.21%
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0.21%
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
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1.37%
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1.12%
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0.92%
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Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(b)
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(0.31%)
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(0.31%)
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(0.31%)
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement
(b)
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1.06%
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0.81%
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0.61%
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Share Status
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1 Year
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3 Years
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Class A
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Sold or Held
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$677
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$955
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Class I
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Sold or Held
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$83
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$325
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Class R6
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Sold or Held
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$62
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$262
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Shareholder Fees(fees paid directly from your investment)
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Class A
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Class I
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Class R6
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
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5.75%
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None
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None
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Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load)
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None
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None
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None
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
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|
Class A
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Class I
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Class R6
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Management Fees
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0.30%
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0.30%
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0.30%
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Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees
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0.25%
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None
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None
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Other Expenses
(a)
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0.61%
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0.61%
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0.41%
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
|
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0.22%
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0.22%
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0.22%
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|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
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1.38%
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1.13%
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0.93%
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Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(b)
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(0.31%)
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(0.31%)
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(0.31%)
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Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement
(b)
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1.07%
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|
0.82%
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|
0.62%
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|
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|
|
|
|
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|
Share Status
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1 Year
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3 Years
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Class A
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Sold or Held
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$678
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$958
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Class I
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Sold or Held
|
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$84
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$328
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Class R6
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Sold or Held
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$63
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$265
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|
|
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|
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Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
|
Class A
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Class I
|
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|
Class R6
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
|
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5.75%
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|
None
|
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None
|
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load)
|
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|
None
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|
None
|
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|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Management Fees
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Other Expenses
(a)
|
|
|
0.61%
|
|
|
0.61%
|
|
|
0.41%
|
|
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
|
1.38%
|
|
|
1.13%
|
|
|
0.93%
|
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|
Less:
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(b)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement
(b)
|
|
|
1.07%
|
|
|
0.82%
|
|
|
0.62%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share Status
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
|
3 Years
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$678
|
|
|
$958
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$84
|
|
|
$328
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$63
|
|
|
$265
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
|
5.75%
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load)
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Management Fees
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Other Expenses
(a)
|
|
|
0.61%
|
|
|
0.61%
|
|
|
0.41%
|
|
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
|
1.38%
|
|
|
1.13%
|
|
|
0.93%
|
|
|
Less:
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(b)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement
(b)
|
|
|
1.07%
|
|
|
0.82%
|
|
|
0.62%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share Status
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
|
3 Years
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$678
|
|
|
$958
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$84
|
|
|
$328
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$63
|
|
|
$265
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees(fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
|
5.75%
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load)
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Management Fees
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Other Expenses
(a)
|
|
|
0.61%
|
|
|
0.61%
|
|
|
0.41%
|
|
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
|
1.38%
|
|
|
1.13%
|
|
|
0.93%
|
|
|
Less:
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(b)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement
(b)
|
|
|
1.07%
|
|
|
0.82%
|
|
|
0.62%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share Status
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
|
3 Years
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$678
|
|
|
$958
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$84
|
|
|
$328
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$63
|
|
|
$265
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
|
5.75%
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load)
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Management Fees
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Other Expenses
(a)
|
|
|
0.61%
|
|
|
0.61%
|
|
|
0.41%
|
|
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
|
1.38%
|
|
|
1.13%
|
|
|
0.93%
|
|
|
Less:
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(b)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement
(b)
|
|
|
1.07%
|
|
|
0.82%
|
|
|
0.62%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share Status
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
|
3 Years
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$678
|
|
|
$958
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$84
|
|
|
$328
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$63
|
|
|
$265
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
|
5.75%
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load)
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Management Fees
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
0.30%
|
|
|
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees
|
|
|
0.25%
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Other Expenses
(a)
|
|
|
0.61%
|
|
|
0.61%
|
|
|
0.41%
|
|
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
0.22%
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
|
1.38%
|
|
|
1.13%
|
|
|
0.93%
|
|
|
Less:
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(b)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
(0.31%)
|
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement
(b)
|
|
|
1.07%
|
|
|
0.82%
|
|
|
0.62%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share Status
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
|
3 Years
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$678
|
|
|
$958
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$84
|
|
|
$328
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
|
Sold or Held
|
|
|
$63
|
|
|
$265
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
A Shares
|
|
|
Class
I Shares
|
|
|
Class
R6 Shares
|
|
|
Through Date
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
0.60%
|
|
|
0.40%
|
|
|
December
31, 2017
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
0.60%
|
|
|
0.40%
|
|
|
December
31, 2017
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
0.60%
|
|
|
0.40%
|
|
|
December
31, 2017
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
0.60%
|
|
|
0.40%
|
|
|
December
31, 2017
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
0.60%
|
|
|
0.40%
|
|
|
December
31, 2017
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
0.60%
|
|
|
0.40%
|
|
|
December
31, 2017
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
0.60%
|
|
|
0.40%
|
|
|
December
31, 2017
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
0.60%
|
|
|
0.40%
|
|
|
December
31, 2017
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
0.60%
|
|
|
0.40%
|
|
|
December
31, 2017
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
0.85%
|
|
|
0.60%
|
|
|
0.40%
|
|
|
December
31, 2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years From Target date
|
|
|
Global Equity
|
|
|
Fixed Income
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Before
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
75%
- 97%
|
|
|
25%
- 3%
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
75%
- 97%
|
|
|
25%
- 3%
|
|
|||
|
20
|
|
|
60%
- 85%
|
|
|
40%
- 15%
|
|
|||
|
10
|
|
|
30%
- 55%
|
|
|
70%
- 45%
|
|
|||
|
0
(Target date)
|
|
|
15%
- 35%
|
|
|
85%
- 65%
|
|
|||
|
After
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
15%
- 35%
|
|
|
85%
- 65%
|
|
|
15*
|
|
|
15%
- 25%
|
|
|
85%
- 75%
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
|
|
|
Two-Year
Global Portfolio
|
|
|
One-Year
Portfolio
|
|
|
Inflation-Protected
Portfolio
|
|
|
DFA
LTIP Portfolio
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
U.S. Government Obligations
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
U.S. Government Agency Obligations
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
Corporate Debt Obligations
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Bank Obligations
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Commercial Paper
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Repurchase Agreements
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
Foreign
Government and Agency Obligations
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Supranational Organization Obligations
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Foreign Issuer Obligations
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
||
|
Eurodollar Obligations
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
Money Market Funds
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales Charge as a percentage of
|
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Amount of Transaction at Offering Price
|
|
|
Offering Price
|
|
|
Net
Amount
Invested
|
|
||||||||
|
Under $50,000
|
|
|
|
|
5.75
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.10
|
%
|
|
|
|
$50,000 but under $100,000
|
|
|
|
|
4.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
|
|
|
|
$100,000 but under $250,000
|
|
|
|
|
3.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.90
|
|
|
|
|
$250,000 but under $500,000
|
|
|
|
|
2.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.83
|
|
|
|
|
$500,000 but under $1,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
2.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.04
|
|
|
|
|
$1,000,000 or more
|
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount
of Transaction at Offering Price
|
|
|
Sales
Charge as a Percentage of Offering Price
|
|
|
Sales
Charge as a Percentage of Amount Invested
|
|
|
Dealer
Discount as a Percentage of Offering Price
|
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Under $50,000
|
|
|
|
|
5.75
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.10
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.00
|
%
|
|
|
|
$50,000 but under $100,000
|
|
|
|
|
4.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.25
|
|
|
|
|
$100,000 but under $250,000
|
|
|
|
|
3.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.90
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.25
|
|
|
|
|
$250,000 but under $500,000
|
|
|
|
|
2.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.83
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.25
|
|
|
|
|
$500,000 but under $1,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
2.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.04
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.75
|
|
|
|
|
$1,000,000 or more
|
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To Open An Account
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Through a financial advisor
|
|
|
Contact your advisor. Some advisors may charge a fee and may set different minimum
investments or limitations on buying shares.
|
|
|
Through the mail
|
|
|
Complete a new account application and send it with a check payable to the fund. Mail them to:
Virtus Mutual Funds, P.O. Box 9874, Providence, RI 02940-8074.
|
|
|
Through express delivery
|
|
|
Complete a new account application and send it with a check payable to the fund. Send them
to: Virtus Mutual Funds, 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA 01581-1722.
|
|
|
By Federal Funds wire
|
|
|
Call us at 800-243-1574 (press 1, then 0).
|
|
|
By Systematic Purchase
|
|
|
Complete the appropriate section on the application and send it with your initial investment
payable to the fund. Mail them to: Virtus Mutual Funds, P.O. Box 9874, Providence, RI
02940-8074.
|
|
|
By telephone exchange
|
|
|
Call us at 800-243-1574 (press 1, then 0).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To Sell Shares
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Through a financial advisor
|
|
|
Contact your advisor. Some advisors may charge a fee and may set different minimums on
redemptions of accounts.
|
|
|
Through the mail
|
|
|
Send a letter of instruction to: Virtus Mutual Funds, P.O. Box 9874, Providence, RI 02940-8074.
Be sure to include the registered owner’s name, fund and account number, and number of
shares or dollar value you wish to sell.
|
|
|
Through express delivery
|
|
|
Send a letter of instruction to: Virtus Mutual Funds, 4400 Computer Drive, Westborough, MA
01581-1722. Be sure to include the registered owner’s name, fund and account number, and
number of shares or dollar value you wish to sell.
|
|
|
By telephone
|
|
|
For sales up to $50,000, requests can be made by calling 800-243-1574.
|
|
|
By telephone exchange
|
|
|
Call us at 800-243-1574 (press 1, then 0).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Dividend Paid
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Quarterly
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Quarterly
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Quarterly
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Quarterly
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Quarterly
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Quarterly
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Quarterly
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Quarterly
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Quarterly
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Quarterly
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TICKER SYMBOL BY CLASS
|
|
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
FUND
|
|
|
A
|
|
|
I
|
|
|
R6
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
VARTX
|
|
|
VDFIX
|
|
|
VDFRX
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
VATDX
|
|
|
VDTIX
|
|
|
VDRRX
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
VDAAX
|
|
|
VITDX
|
|
|
VRDFX
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
VDFAX
|
|
|
VRITX
|
|
|
VRRDX
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
VRTAX
|
|
|
VTDIX
|
|
|
VRRTX
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
VTARX
|
|
|
VIDFX
|
|
|
VRTRX
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
VTATX
|
|
|
VTIDX
|
|
|
VTDRX
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
VTDAX
|
|
|
VTIRX
|
|
|
VTRTX
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
VTRAX
|
|
|
VTITX
|
|
|
VRDTX
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
VTTAX
|
|
|
VTTIX
|
|
|
VTTRX
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PAGE
|
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Glossary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General Information and History
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More Information About Fund Investment Strategies & Related Risks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Limitations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management of the Trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Advisory and Other Services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution Plan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Managers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investor Account Services and Policies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performance Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Statements
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appendix A — Description of Ratings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1933 Act
|
|
|
The Securities Act of 1933, as amended
|
|
|
1940 Act
|
|
|
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
|
|
|
ACH
|
|
|
Automated Clearing House, a nationwide electronic money transfer system that provides for the inter-bank clearing of credit and debit transactions and for the exchange of information among participating financial institutions
|
|
|
Administrator
|
|
|
The Trust’s administrative agent, Virtus Fund Services, LLC
|
|
|
ADRs
|
|
|
American Depositary Receipts
|
|
|
ADSs
|
|
|
American Depositary Shares
|
|
|
Adviser
|
|
|
The investment adviser to the Funds, Virtus Retirement Investment Advisers, Inc.
|
|
|
BNY Mellon
|
|
|
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., the sub-administrative and accounting agent for the Funds
|
|
|
Board
|
|
|
The Board of Trustees of Virtus Retirement Trust
|
|
|
CCO
|
|
|
Chief Compliance Officer
|
|
|
CDRs
|
|
|
Continental Depositary Receipts (another name for EDRs)
|
|
|
CDSC
|
|
|
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
|
|
|
CEA
|
|
|
Commodity Exchange Act, which is the U.S. law governing trading in commodity futures
|
|
|
CFTC
|
|
|
Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which is the U.S. regulator governing trading in commodity futures
|
|
|
Code
|
|
|
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which is the law governing U.S. federal taxes
|
|
|
Custodian
|
|
|
The custodian of the Funds’ assets, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
|
|
|
Dimensional
|
|
|
Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP, subadviser to the Funds
|
|
|
Distributor
|
|
|
The principal underwriter of shares of the Funds, VP Distributors, LLC
|
|
|
EDRs
|
|
|
European Depositary Receipts (another name for CDRs)
|
|
|
ETFs
|
|
|
Exchange-traded Funds
|
|
|
ETNs
|
|
|
Exchange-traded Notes
|
|
|
FHFA
|
|
|
Federal Housing Finance Agency, an independent Federal agency that regulates FNMA, FHLMC and the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks
|
|
|
FHLMC
|
|
|
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, also known as “Freddie Mac”, which is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders
|
|
|
FINRA
|
|
|
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a self-regulatory organization with authority over registered broker-dealers operating in the United States, including VP Distributors
|
|
|
Fitch
|
|
|
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
|
|
|
FNMA
|
|
|
Federal National Mortgage Association, also known as “Fannie Mae”, which is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders and subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
|
|
|
Funds
|
|
|
The series of the Trust discussed in this SAI
|
|
|
GDRs
|
|
|
Global Depositary Receipts
|
|
|
GICs
|
|
|
Guaranteed Investment Contracts
|
|
|
GNMA
|
|
|
Government National Mortgage Association, also known as “Ginnie Mae”, is a wholly-owned United States Government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development
|
|
|
IMF
|
|
|
International Monetary Fund, an international organization seeking to promote international economic cooperation, international trade, employment and exchange rate stability, among other things
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent Trustees
|
|
|
Those members of the Board who are not “interested persons” as defined by the 1940 Act
|
|
|
IRA
|
|
|
Individual Retirement Account
|
|
|
IRS
|
|
|
The United States Internal Revenue Service, which is the arm of the U.S. government that administers and enforces the Code
|
|
|
JPMorgan
|
|
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
|
|
|
LIBOR
|
|
|
London Interbank Offering Rate, an interest rate at which banks can borrow funds, in marketable size, from other banks in the London interbank market
|
|
|
Moody’s
|
|
|
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
|
|
|
NAV
|
|
|
Net Asset Value, which is the per-share price of a Fund
|
|
|
NYSE
|
|
|
New York Stock Exchange
|
|
|
OCC
|
|
|
Options Clearing Corporation, a large equity derivatives clearing corporation
|
|
|
PERLS
|
|
|
Principal Exchange Rate Linked Securities
|
|
|
PNX
|
|
|
Phoenix Life Insurance Company, which is the former parent company of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., and certain of its corporate affiliates
|
|
|
Prospectuses
|
|
|
The prospectuses for the Funds, as amended from time to time
|
|
|
PwC
|
|
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP,
the independent registered public accounting
firm for the Trust
|
|
|
Regulations
|
|
|
The Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code
|
|
|
RIC
|
|
|
Regulated Investment Company, a designation under the Code indicating a U.S.-registered investment company meeting the specifications under the Code allowing the investment company to be exempt from paying U.S. federal income taxes
|
|
|
S&P
|
|
|
Standard & Poor’s Corporation
|
|
|
S&P 500
®
Index
|
|
|
The Standard & Poor’s 500
®
Index, which is a free-float market
capitalization-weighted index of 500 of the largest U.S. companies, calculated on a total return basis with dividends reinvested
|
|
|
SAI
|
|
|
This Statement of Additional Information
|
|
|
SEC
|
|
|
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
|
|
|
SIFMA
|
|
|
Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (formerly, the Bond Market Association), a financial industry trade group consisting of broker-dealers and asset managers across the United States
|
|
|
SMBS
|
|
|
Stripped Mortgage-backed Securities
|
|
|
Target Date Funds
|
|
|
Collectively, Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund, Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund, Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund, Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund, Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund, Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund, Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund, Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund, Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund, and Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
Transfer Agent
|
|
|
The transfer agent to the Funds, Virtus Fund Services
|
|
|
Trust
|
|
|
Virtus Retirement Trust
|
|
|
Underlying Funds
|
|
|
Those mutual funds in which the Target Date Funds invest
|
|
|
Virtus
|
|
|
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., which is the parent company of the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator/Transfer Agent
|
|
|
Virtus Fund Services
|
|
|
Virtus Fund Services, LLC, the Administrator/Transfer Agent to the Funds
|
|
|
Virtus Mutual Funds
|
|
|
The family of funds consisting of the Funds, the series of Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust, the series of Virtus Equity Trust, the series of Virtus Insight Trust and the series of Virtus Opportunities Trust
|
|
|
VP Distributors
|
|
|
VP Distributors, LLC, the principal underwriter of shares of the Funds
|
|
|
VRIA
|
|
|
Virtus Retirement Investment Advisers,
LLC,
the Adviser to the Funds
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VVIT
|
|
|
Virtus Variable Insurance Trust, a separate trust consisting of several series advised by Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. and distributed by VP Distributors
|
|
|
World Bank
|
|
|
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Investment Objective(s)
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Each Target Date Fund
|
|
|
The fund has an investment objective of providing total return, consistent with the fund’s current asset allocation. Total return is composed of income and capital appreciation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Type of Service Provider
|
|
|
Name of Service Provider
|
|
|
Timing of Release of Portfolio Holdings Information
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Adviser
|
|
|
VRIA
|
|
|
Daily, with no delay
|
|
|
Subadviser
|
|
|
Dimensional
|
|
|
Daily, with no delay
|
|
|
Subadviser’s Administrator
|
|
|
Citibank, N.A.
|
|
|
Daily, with no delay
|
|
|
Administrator
|
|
|
Virtus Fund Services
|
|
|
Daily, with no delay
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Type of Service Provider
|
|
|
Name of Service Provider
|
|
|
Timing of Release of Portfolio Holdings Information
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Distributor
|
|
|
VP Distributors
|
|
|
Daily, with no delay
|
|
|
Custodian
|
|
|
JPMorgan
|
|
|
Daily, with no delay
|
|
|
Sub-Financial Agent
|
|
|
BNY Mellon
|
|
|
Daily, with no delay
|
|
|
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
|
PwC
|
|
|
Annual Reporting Period, within 5 business days of end of reporting period
|
|
|
Typesetting and Printing Firm for Financial Reports
|
|
|
RR Donnelley & Sons Co.
|
|
|
Quarterly, within 15 days of end of reporting period
|
|
|
Portfolio Redistribution Firms
|
|
|
Thomson Financial LLC
|
|
|
Quarterly, with
20-day
delay
|
|
|
Performance Analytics Firm
|
|
|
FactSet Research Systems, Inc
|
|
|
Daily, with no delay
|
|
|
Class Action Service Provider
|
|
|
Battea-Class
Action Services, LLC
|
|
|
Daily, with no delay
|
|
|
Back-end Compliance Monitoring System
|
|
|
Financial Tracking Technologies, LLC
|
|
|
Daily, with no delay
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Redistribution Firms
|
|
|
Bloomberg, Standard & Poor’s and Thomson Reuters
|
|
|
Monthly, with 30-day delay for certain Funds; quarterly, with
60-day
delay for all others
|
|
|
Rating Agencies
|
|
|
Lipper Inc. and Morningstar
|
|
|
Monthly, with 30-day delay for certain Funds; quarterly, with
60-day
delay for all others
|
|
|
Virtus Public Web site
|
|
|
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
|
|
|
Monthly, within 30 days
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trust
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Class/Shares
|
|
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A
|
|
|
B
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
I
|
|
|
T
|
|
|
R6
|
|
||||||
|
Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust
|
|
|
Alternative Income Solution Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Alternative Inflation Solution Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Alternative Total Solution Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|||||
|
Credit Opportunities Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Multi-Strategy Target Return Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|||||
|
Select MLP and Energy Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Strategic Income Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trust
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Class/Shares
|
|
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A
|
|
|
B
|
|
|
C
|
|
|
I
|
|
|
T
|
|
|
R6
|
|
||||||
|
Virtus Equity Trust
|
|
|
Balanced Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Contrarian Value Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Growth & Income Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Mid-Cap Core Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Mid-Cap Growth Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Quality Large-Cap Value Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Quality Small-Cap Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Small-Cap Core Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Strategic Growth Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Tactical Allocation Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Virtus Insight Trust
|
|
|
Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
||
|
Low Duration Income Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Virtus Opportunities Trust
|
|
|
Alternatives Diversifier Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Bond Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Dynamic Trend Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|||||
|
Emerging Markets Debt Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Equity Trend Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|||||
|
Essential Resources Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Foreign Opportunities Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|||||
|
Global Infrastructure Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Global Equity Trend Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Global Opportunities Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Global Real Estate Securities Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Greater European Opportunities Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Herzfeld Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
High Yield Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
International Equity Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
International Real Estate Securities Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
International Small-Cap Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|||||
|
International Wealth Masters Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Low Volatility Equity Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Multi-Asset Trend Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Multi-Sector Intermediate Bond Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|||||
|
Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Real Estate Securities Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
||||
|
Sector Trend Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Senior Floating Rate Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Wealth Masters Fund
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Technique
|
|
|
Description and Risks
|
|
|
Fund-Specific Limitations
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Debt Investing
|
|
|
Each Fund may invest in debt, or fixed income, securities. Debt, or fixed income, securities (which include corporate bonds, commercial paper, debentures, notes, government securities, municipal obligations, state- or state agency-issued obligations, obligations of foreign issuers, asset- or mortgage-backed securities, and other obligations) are used by issuers to borrow money and thus are debt obligations of the issuer. Holders of debt securities are creditors of the issuer, normally ranking ahead of holders of both common and preferred stock as to dividends or upon liquidation. The issuer usually pays a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest and must repay the amount borrowed at the security’s maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero-coupon securities (discussed below), do not pay interest but may be sold at a deep discount from their face value.
Yields on debt securities depend on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money, bond, and note markets, the size of a particular offering, the maturity date of the obligation, and the rating of the issue. Debt securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields and are generally subject to greater price fluctuations in response to changes in market conditions than obligations with shorter maturities. An increase in interest rates generally will reduce the market value of portfolio debt securities, while a decline in interest rates generally will increase the value of the same securities. The achievement of a Fund’s investment objective depends in part on the continuing ability of the issuers of the debt securities in which the Fund invests to meet their obligations for the payment of principal and interest when due. Obligations of issuers of debt securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, sovereign immunity, and other laws that affect the rights and remedies of creditors. There is also the possibility that, as a result of litigation or other conditions, the ability of an issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its debt securities may be materially affected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible Securities
|
|
|
A convertible security is a bond, debenture, note, or other security that entitles the holder to acquire common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer within a particular period of time at a specific price or formula. It generally entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued until the security matures or is redeemed, converted, or exchanged. Convertible securities may have several unique investment characteristics such as (1) higher yields than
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Technique
|
|
|
Description and Risks
|
|
|
Fund-Specific Limitations
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
common stocks, but lower yields than comparable nonconvertible securities, (2) a lesser degree of fluctuation in value then the underlying stock since they have fixed income characteristics and (3) the potential for capital appreciation if the market price of the underlying common stock increases.
Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to nonconvertible debt securities. Convertible securities often rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure and, therefore, are often viewed as entailing less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which this is true depends in large measure on the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security. However, because convertible securities are often viewed by the issuer as future common stock, they are often subordinated to other senior securities and therefore are rated one category lower than the issuer’s nonconvertible debt obligations or preferred stock.
A convertible security may be subject to redemption or conversion at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption, the Fund could be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security and convert it to the underlying common stock. The Fund generally would invest in convertible securities for their favorable price characteristics and total return potential, and would normally not exercise an option to convert. The Fund might be more willing to convert such securities to common stock.
A Fund’s subadviser will select only those convertible securities for which it believes (a) the underlying common stock is a suitable investment for the Fund and (b) a greater potential for total return exists by purchasing the convertible security because of its higher yield and/or favorable market valuation. However, the Fund may invest in convertible debt securities rated less than investment grade. Debt securities rated less than investment grade are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” (For information about debt securities rated less than investment grade, see “High Yield-High Risk (Junk Bonds) Securities” under “Debt Investing” in this section of the SAI; for additional information about ratings on debt obligations, see Appendix A to this SAI.)
|
|
|
|
||
|
Corporate Debt Securities
|
|
|
Each Fund may invest in debt securities issued by corporations, limited partnerships and other similar entities. A Fund’s investments in debt securities of domestic or foreign corporate issuers include bonds, debentures, notes and other similar corporate debt instruments, including convertible securities that meet the Fund’s minimum ratings criteria or if unrated are, in the Fund’s subadviser’s opinion, comparable in quality to corporate debt securities that meet those criteria. The rate of return or return of principal on some debt obligations may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies or to the value of commodities, such as gold.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dollar-denominated Foreign Debt Securities (“Yankee Bonds”)
|
|
|
Each Fund may invest in “Yankee bonds”, which are dollar-denominated instruments issued in the U.S. market by foreign branches of U.S. banks and U.S. branches of foreign banks. Since these instruments are dollar-denominated, they are not affected by variations in currency exchange rates. They are influenced primarily by interest rate levels in the United States and by the financial condition of the issuer, or of the issuer’s foreign parent. However,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Technique
|
|
|
Description and Risks
|
|
|
Fund-Specific Limitations
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
investing in these instruments may present a greater degree of risk than investing in domestic securities, due to less publicly available information, less securities regulation, war or expropriation. Special considerations may include higher brokerage costs and thinner trading markets. Investments in foreign countries could be affected by other factors including extended settlement periods. (See “Foreign Investing” in this section of the SAI for additional information about investing in foreign countries.)
|
|
|
|
||
|
Duration
|
|
|
Duration is a time measure of a bond’s interest-rate sensitivity, based on the weighted average of the time periods over which a bond’s cash flows accrue to the bondholder. Time periods are weighted by multiplying by the present value of its cash flow divided by the bond’s price. (A bond’s cash flows consist of coupon payments and repayment of capital.) A bond’s duration will almost always be shorter than its maturity, with the exception of zero-coupon bonds, for which maturity and duration are equal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs)
|
|
|
Generally, ETNs are senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities whose returns are linked to the performance of a particular market benchmark or strategy minus applicable fees. ETNs are traded on an exchange during normal trading hours. However, investors can also hold the ETN until maturity. At maturity, the issuer pays to the investor a cash amount equal to the principal amount, subject to the day’s market benchmark or strategy factor.
ETNs do not make periodic coupon payments or provide principal protection. ETNs are subject to credit risk, and the value of the ETN may drop due to a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, despite the underlying market benchmark or strategy remaining unchanged. The value of an ETN may also be influenced by time to maturity, level of supply and demand for the ETN, volatility and lack of liquidity in underlying assets, changes in the applicable interest rates, changes in the issuer’s credit rating, and economic, legal, political, or geographic events that affect the referenced underlying asset. When a Fund invests in ETNs it will bear its proportionate share of any fees and expenses borne by the ETN. The Fund’s decision to sell its ETN holdings may be limited by the availability of a secondary market. In addition, although an ETN may be listed on an exchange, the issuer may not be required to maintain the listing, and there can be no assurance that a secondary market will exist for an ETN.
ETNs are also subject to tax risk. No assurance can be given that the IRS will accept, or a court will uphold, how a Fund characterizes and treats ETNs for tax purposes. Further, the IRS and Congress are considering proposals that would change the timing and character of income and gains from ETNs.
An ETN that is tied to a specific market benchmark or strategy may not be able to replicate and maintain exactly the composition and relative weighting of securities, commodities or other components in the applicable market benchmark or strategy. Some ETNs that use leverage can, at times, be relatively illiquid and, thus, they may be difficult to purchase or sell at a fair price. Leveraged ETNs are subject to the same risks as other instruments that use leverage in any form.
The market value of ETN shares may differ from that of their market benchmark or strategy. 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Technique
|
|
|
Description and Risks
|
|
|
Fund-Specific Limitations
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
for the securities, commodities or other components underlying the market benchmark or strategy that the ETN seeks to track. As a result, there may be times when an ETN share trades at a premium or discount to its market benchmark or strategy.
|
|
|
|
||
|
High-Yield, High-Risk Fixed Income Securities (“Junk Bonds”)
|
|
|
Investments in securities rated “BB” or below by S&P or Fitch, or “Ba” or below by Moody’s generally provide greater income (leading to the name “high-yield” securities) and opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility, liquidity, and principal and income risk. These securities are regarded as predominantly speculative as to the issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payment obligations. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of lower-quality debt securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher-quality debt securities.
Interest-bearing securities typically experience appreciation when interest rates decline and depreciation when interest rates rise. The market values of low-rated securities tend to reflect individual corporate developments to a greater extent than do higher-rated securities, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Low-rated securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than higher-rated securities. As a result, they generally involve more credit risks than securities in the higher-rated categories. During an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of low-rated securities may experience financial stress and may not have sufficient revenues to meet their payment obligations. The issuer’s ability to service its debt obligations may also be adversely affected by specific corporate developments, the issuer’s inability to meet specific projected business forecasts or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss due to default by an issuer of low-rated securities is generally considered to be significantly greater than issuers of higher-rated securities because such securities are usually unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors. Further, if the issuer of a low-rated security defaulted, the applicable Fund might incur additional expenses in seeking recovery. Periods of economic uncertainty and changes would also generally result in increased volatility in the market prices of low-rated securities and thus in the applicable Fund’s NAV.
Low-rated securities often contain redemption, call or prepayment provisions which permit the issuer of the securities containing such provisions to, at its discretion, redeem the securities. During periods of falling interest rates, issuers of low-rated securities are likely to redeem or prepay the securities and refinance them with debt securities with a lower interest rate. To the extent an issuer is able to refinance the securities or otherwise redeem them, the applicable Fund may have to replace the securities with a lower yielding security which would result in lower returns for the Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest Rate Environment Risk
|
|
|
In the wake of the financial crisis that began in 2007, the Federal Reserve System attempted to stabilize the U.S. economy and support the U.S. economic recovery by keeping the federal funds rate at or near zero percent. In addition, the Federal Reserve has purchased large quantities of securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities on the open market (the “quantitative easing program”). As a result, the United States is experiencing historically low interest rate levels. A low interest rate
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Technique
|
|
|
Description and Risks
|
|
|
Fund-Specific Limitations
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
environment may have an adverse impact on each Fund’s ability to provide a positive yield to its shareholders and pay expenses out of Fund assets because of the low yields from the Fund’s portfolio investments.
However, continued economic recovery and the cessation of the quantitative easing program increase the risk that interest rates will rise in the near future and that the Funds will face a heightened level of interest rate risk. Federal Reserve policy changes may expose fixed-income and related markets to heightened volatility and may reduce liquidity for certain Fund investments, which could cause the value of a Fund’s investments and a Fund’s share price to decline or create difficulties for the Fund in disposing of investments. A Fund that invests in derivatives tied to fixed-income markets may be more substantially exposed to these risks than a Fund that does not invest in derivatives. A Fund could also be forced to liquidate its investments at disadvantageous times or prices, thereby adversely affecting the Fund. To the extent a Fund experiences high redemptions because of these policy changes, the Fund may experience increased portfolio turnover, which will increase the costs that the Fund incurs and lower the Fund’s performance.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Inverse Floating Rate Obligations
|
|
|
A Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain low-rated securities because there may be a thin trading market for such securities. Because not all dealers maintain markets in all low-rated securities, there is no established retail secondary market for many of these securities. The Funds anticipate that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of dealers or institutional investors. To the extent a secondary trading market does exist, it is generally not as liquid as the secondary market for higher-rated securities. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the market price of the security, and accordingly, the NAV of a particular Fund and its ability to dispose of particular securities when necessary to meet its liquidity needs, or in response to a specific economic event, or an event such as a deterioration in the creditworthiness of the issuer. The lack of a liquid secondary market for certain securities may also make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing its respective portfolio. Market quotations are generally available on many low-rated issues only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers or prices for actual sales. During periods of thin trading, the spread between bid and asked prices is likely to increase significantly. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of low-rated securities, especially in a thinly-traded market. If a Fund experiences unexpected net redemptions, it may be forced to liquidate a portion of its portfolio securities without regard to their investment merits. Due to the limited liquidity of low-rated securities, the Fund may be forced to liquidate these securities at a substantial discount. Any such liquidation would reduce the Fund’s asset base over which expenses could be allocated and could result in a reduced rate of return for the Fund.
Certain variable rate securities pay interest at a rate that varies inversely to prevailing short-term interest rates (sometimes referred to as inverse floaters). For example, upon reset the interest rate payable on a security may go down when the underlying index has risen. During periods when short-term interest rates are relatively low as compared to long-term interest rates, the Fund may attempt to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Technique
|
|
|
Description and Risks
|
|
|
Fund-Specific Limitations
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
enhance its yield by purchasing inverse floaters. Certain inverse floaters may have an interest rate reset mechanism that multiplies the effects of changes in the underlying index. While this form of leverage may increase the security’s yield, it may also increase the volatility of the security’s market value.
Similar to other variable and floating rate obligations, effective use of inverse floaters requires skills different from those needed to select most portfolio securities. If movements in interest rates are incorrectly anticipated, a Fund holding these instruments could lose money and its NAV could decline.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Letters of Credit
|
|
|
Debt obligations, including municipal obligations, certificates of participation, commercial paper and other short-term obligations, may be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit of a bank that assumes the obligation for payment of principal and interest in the event of default by the issuer. Only banks that, in the opinion of the relevant Fund’s subadviser, are of investment quality comparable to other permitted investments of the Fund may be used for Letter of Credit-backed investments.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loan and Debt Participations and Assignments
|
|
|
A loan participation agreement involves the purchase of a share of a loan made by a bank to a company in return for a corresponding share of the borrower’s principal and interest payments. Loan participations of the type in which the Fund may invest include interests in both secured and unsecured corporate loans. When a Fund purchases loan assignments from lenders, it will acquire direct rights against the borrower, but these rights and the Fund’s obligations may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assignment lender. The principal credit risk associated with acquiring loan participation and assignment interests is the credit risk associated with the underlying corporate borrower. There is also a risk that there may not be a readily available market for participation loan interests and, in some cases, this could result in the Fund disposing of such securities at a substantial discount from face value or holding such securities until maturity.
In the event that a corporate borrower failed to pay its scheduled interest or principal payments on participations held by the Fund, the market value of the affected participation would decline, resulting in a loss of value of such investment to the Fund. Accordingly, such participations are speculative and may result in the income level and net assets of the Fund being reduced. Moreover, loan participation agreements generally limit the right of a participant to resell its interest in the loan to a third party and, as a result, loan participations may be deemed by the Fund to be illiquid investments. A Fund will invest only in participations with respect to borrowers whose creditworthiness is, or is determined by the Fund’s subadviser to be, substantially equivalent to that of issuers whose senior unsubordinated debt securities are rated B or higher by Moody’s or S&P. For the purposes of diversification and/or concentration calculations, both the borrower and issuer will be considered an “issuer.”
The Funds may purchase from banks participation interests in all or part of specific holdings of debt obligations. Each participation interest is backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of the selling bank that the relevant Fund’s subadviser has determined meets the prescribed quality standards of the Fund. Thus, even if the credit of the issuer of the debt obligation does not meet the quality standards of the Fund, the credit of the selling bank will.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Technique
|
|
|
Description and Risks
|
|
|
Fund-Specific Limitations
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Loan participations and assignments may be illiquid and therefore subject to the Funds’ limitations on investments in illiquid securities. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” in this section of the SAI.)
|
|
|
|
||
|
Municipal Securities and Related Investments
|
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Tax-exempt municipal securities are debt obligations issued by the various states and their subdivisions (e.g., cities, counties, towns, and school districts) to raise funds, generally for various public improvements requiring long-term capital investment. Purposes for which tax-exempt bonds are issued include flood control, airports, bridges and highways, housing, medical facilities, schools, mass transportation and power, water or sewage plants, as well as others. Tax-exempt bonds also are occasionally issued to retire outstanding obligations, to obtain funds for operating expenses or to loan to other public or, in some cases, private sector organizations or to individuals.
Yields on municipal securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money market and the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligations and the rating of the issue. Municipal securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields and are generally subject to potentially greater capital appreciation and depreciation than obligations with shorter maturities and lower yields. The market prices of municipal securities usually vary, depending upon available yields. An increase in interest rates will generally reduce the value of portfolio investments, and a decline in interest rates will generally increase the value of portfolio investments. The ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective is also dependent on the continuing ability of the issuers of municipal securities in which the Fund invests to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal when due. The ratings of Moody’s and S&P’s represent their opinions as to the quality of municipal securities which they undertake to rate. Ratings are not absolute standards of quality; consequently, municipal securities with the same maturity, coupon, and rating may have different yields. There are variations in municipal securities, both within a particular classification and between classifications, depending on numerous factors. It should also be pointed out that, unlike other types of investments, municipal securities have traditionally not been subject to regulation by, or registration with, the SEC, although there have been proposals which would provide for such regulation in the future.
The federal bankruptcy statutes relating to the debts of political subdivisions and authorities of states of the United States provide that, in certain circumstances, such subdivisions or authorities may be authorized to initiate bankruptcy proceedings without prior notice to or consent of creditors, which proceedings could result in material and adverse changes in the rights of holders of their obligations.
Lawsuits challenging the validity under state constitutions of present systems of financing public education have been initiated or adjusted in a number of states, and legislation has been introduced to effect changes in public school financing in some states. In other instances there have been lawsuits challenging the issuance of pollution control revenue bonds or the validity of their issuance under state or federal law which could ultimately affect the validity of those municipal securities or the tax-free nature of the interest thereon.
Descriptions of some of the municipal securities and related investment types most commonly acquired by the Funds are provided below. In addition to those shown, other types of municipal
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investments are, or may become, available for investment by the Funds. For the purpose of each Fund’s investment restrictions set forth in this SAI, the identification of the “issuer” of a municipal security which is not a general obligation bond is made by the applicable Fund’s subadviser on the basis of the characteristics of the obligation, the most significant of which is the source of funds for the payment of principal and interest on such security.
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Municipal Bonds
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Municipal bonds, which meet longer-term capital needs and generally have maturities of more than one year when issued, have two principal classifications: general obligation bonds and revenue bonds. Another type of municipal bond is referred to as an industrial development bond.
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General Obligation
Bonds
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Issuers of general obligation bonds include states, counties, cities, towns, and regional districts. The proceeds of these obligations are used to fund a wide range of public projects, including construction or improvement of schools, highways and roads, and water and sewer systems. The basic security behind general obligation bonds is the issuer’s pledge of its full faith and credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. The taxes that can be levied for the payment of debt service may be limited or unlimited as to the rate or amount of special assessments.
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Industrial
Development Bonds
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Industrial development bonds, which are considered municipal bonds if the interest paid is exempt from Federal income tax, are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to raise money to finance various privately operated facilities for business and manufacturing, housing, sports arenas and pollution control. These bonds are also used to finance public facilities such as airports, mass transit systems, ports and parking. The payment of the principal and interest on such bonds is dependent solely on the ability of the facility’s user to meet its financial obligations and the pledge, if any, of real and personal property so financed as security for such payment.
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Revenue Bonds
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The principal security for a revenue bond is generally the net revenues derived from a particular facility, group of facilities, or, in some cases, the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Revenue bonds are issued to finance a wide variety of capital projects including: electric, gas, water and sewer systems; highways, bridges, and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and universities; and hospitals. Although the principal security behind these bonds may vary, many provide additional security in the form of a debt service reserve fund whose money may be used to make principal and interest payments on the issuer’s obligations. Housing finance authorities have a wide range of security; including partially or fully insured mortgages, rent subsidized and/or collateralized mortgages, and/or the net revenues from housing or other public projects. Some authorities provide further security in the form of a state’s ability (without obligation) to make up deficiencies in the debt service reserve fund.
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Municipal Leases
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Each Fund may acquire participations in lease obligations or installment purchase contract obligations (hereinafter collectively called “lease obligations”) of municipal authorities or entities. Although lease obligations do not constitute general obligations of the municipality for which the municipality’s taxing power is pledged, a lease obligation may be backed by the municipality’s covenant to budget for, appropriate, and make the payments due under the lease
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obligation. However, certain lease obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses which provide that the municipality has no obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly basis. In addition to the “non-appropriation” risk, these securities represent a relatively new type of financing that has not yet developed the depth of marketability associated with more conventional bonds. In the case of a “non-appropriation” lease, the Fund’s ability to recover under the lease in the event of non-appropriation or default will be limited solely to the repossession of the leased property in the event foreclosure might prove difficult. The Fund’s subadviser will evaluate the credit quality of a municipal lease and whether it will be considered liquid. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Investments” in this section of the SAI for information regarding the implications of these investments being considered illiquid.)
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Municipal Notes
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Municipal notes generally are used to provide for short-term working capital needs and generally have maturities of one year or less. Municipal notes include bond anticipation notes, construction loan notes, revenue anticipation notes and tax anticipation notes.
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Bond Anticipation
Notes
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Bond anticipation notes are issued to provide interim financing until long-term financing can be arranged. In most cases, the long-term bonds then provide the money for the repayment of the notes.
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Construction Loan
Notes
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Construction loan notes are sold to provide construction financing. After successful completion and acceptance, many projects receive permanent financing through FNMA or GNMA.
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Revenue Anticipation
Notes
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Revenue anticipation notes are issued in expectation of receipt of other types of revenue, such as Federal revenues available under Federal revenue sharing programs.
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Tax Anticipation Notes
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Tax anticipation notes are issued to finance working capital needs of municipalities. Generally, they are issued in anticipation of various seasonal tax revenue, such as income, sales, use and business taxes, and are payable from these specific future taxes.
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Tax-Exempt Commercial Paper
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Tax-exempt commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a stated maturity of 365 days or less. It is issued by state and local governments or their agencies to finance seasonal working capital needs or as short-term financing in anticipation of longer-term financing.
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Participation on Creditors’ Committees
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While the Funds do not invest in securities to exercise control over the securities’ issuers, each Fund may from time to time participate on committees formed by creditors to negotiate with the management of financially troubled issuers of securities held by the Fund. Such participation may subject the relevant Fund to expenses such as legal fees and may make the Fund an “insider” of the issuer for purposes of the Federal securities laws, and therefore may restrict the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell a particular security when it might otherwise desire to do so. Participation by a Fund on such committees also may expose the Fund to potential liabilities under the federal bankruptcy laws or other laws governing the rights of creditors and debtors. A Fund will participate on such committees only when the Fund’s subadviser believes that such participation is necessary or desirable to enforce the Fund’s rights as a creditor or to protect the value of securities held by the Fund.
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Payable in Kind (“PIK”) Bonds
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PIK bonds are obligations which provide that the issuer thereof may, at its option, pay interest on such bonds in cash or “in kind”, which means in the form of additional debt securities. Such securities benefit the issuer by mitigating its need for cash to meet debt service, but also require a higher rate of return to attract investors who are willing to defer receipt of such cash. The Funds will accrue income on such investments for tax and accounting purposes, which is distributable to shareholders and which, because no cash is received at the time of accrual, may require the liquidation of other portfolio securities to satisfy the Funds’ distribution obligations. The market prices of PIK bonds generally are more volatile than the market prices of securities that pay interest periodically, and they are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than would otherwise similar bonds on which regular cash payments of interest are being made.
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Ratings
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The rating or quality of a debt security refers to a rating agency’s assessment of the issuer’s creditworthiness, i.e., its ability to pay principal and interest when due. Higher ratings indicate better credit quality, as rated by independent rating organizations such as Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, which publish their ratings on a regular basis. Appendix A provides a description of the various ratings provided for bonds (including convertible bonds), municipal bonds, and commercial paper.
After a Fund purchases a debt security, the rating of that security may be reduced below the minimum rating acceptable for purchase by the Fund. A subsequent downgrade does not require the sale of the security, but the Fund’s subadviser will consider such an event in determining whether to continue to hold the obligation. To the extent that ratings established by Moody’s or S&P may change as a result of changes in such organizations or their rating systems, a Fund will invest in securities which are deemed by the Fund’s subadviser to be of comparable quality to securities whose current ratings render them eligible for purchase by the Fund.
Credit ratings issued by credit rating agencies evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of rated securities. They do not, however, evaluate the market-value risk and therefore may not fully reflect the true risks of an investment. In addition, credit rating agencies may or may not make timely changes in a rating to reflect changes in the economy or in the condition of the issuer that affect the market value of the security. Consequently, credit ratings are used only as a preliminary indicator of investment quality.
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Sovereign Debt
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Each Fund may invest in “sovereign debt,” which is issued or guaranteed by foreign governments (including countries, provinces and municipalities) or their agencies and instrumentalities. Sovereign debt may trade at a substantial discount from face value. The Funds may hold and trade sovereign debt of foreign countries in appropriate circumstances to participate in debt conversion programs. Emerging-market country sovereign debt involves a higher degree of risk than that of developed markets, is generally lower-quality debt, and is considered speculative in nature due, in part, to the extreme and volatile nature of debt burdens in such countries and because emerging market governments can be relatively unstable. The issuer or governmental authorities that control sovereign-debt repayment (“sovereign debtors”) may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due in accordance with the terms of the debt. A
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sovereign debtor’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 sovereign debtor’s policy towards the IMF, and the political constraints to which the sovereign debtor may be subject. Sovereign debtors may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearage on their debt. The commitment of these third parties to make such disbursements may be conditioned on the sovereign debtor’s implementation of economic reforms or economic performance and the timely service of the debtor’s obligations. The sovereign debtor’s failure to meet these conditions may cause these third parties to cancel their commitments to provide funds to the sovereign debtor, which may further impair the debtor’s ability or willingness to timely service its debts. In certain instances, the Funds may invest in sovereign debt that is in default as to payments of principal or interest. In the event that the Funds hold non-performing sovereign debt, the Funds may incur additional expenses in connection with any restructuring of the issuer’s obligations or in otherwise enforcing their rights thereunder.
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Brady Bonds
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Each Fund may invest a portion of its assets in certain sovereign debt obligations known as “Brady Bonds.” Brady Bonds are issued under the framework of the Brady Plan, an initiative announced by former U.S. Treasury Secretary Nicholas F. Brady in 1989 as a mechanism for debtor nations to restructure their outstanding external indebtedness. The Brady Plan contemplates, among other things, the debtor nation’s adoption of certain economic reforms and the exchange of commercial bank debt for newly issued bonds. In restructuring its external debt under the Brady Plan framework, a debtor nation negotiates with its existing bank lenders as well as the World Bank or the IMF. The World Bank or IMF supports the restructuring by providing funds pursuant to loan agreements or other arrangements that enable the debtor nation to collateralize the new Brady Bonds or to replenish reserves used to reduce outstanding bank debt. Under these loan agreements or other arrangements with the World Bank or IMF, debtor nations have been required to agree to implement certain domestic monetary and fiscal reforms. The Brady Plan sets forth only general guiding principles for economic reform and debt reduction, emphasizing that solutions must be negotiated on a case-by-case basis between debtor nations and their creditors.
Brady Bonds are often viewed as having three or four valuation components: (i) the collateralized repayment of principal at final maturity; (ii) the collateralized interest payments; (iii) the uncollateralized interest payments; and (iv) any uncollateralized repayment of principal at maturity (these uncollateralized amounts constitute the “residual risk”). In light of the residual risk of Brady Bonds and, among other factors, the history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of countries issuing Brady Bonds, investments in Brady Bonds can be viewed as speculative.
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Stand-by Commitments
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Each Fund may purchase securities together with the right to resell them to the seller or a third party at an agreed-upon price or yield within specified periods prior to their maturity dates. Such a right to resell is commonly known as a stand-by commitment, and the
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aggregate price which a Fund pays for securities with a stand-by commitment may increase the cost, and thereby reduce the yield, of the security. The primary purpose of this practice is to permit the Fund to be as fully invested as practicable in municipal securities while preserving the necessary flexibility and liquidity to meet unanticipated redemptions. Stand-by commitments acquired by a Fund are valued at zero in determining the Fund’s NAV. Stand-by commitments involve certain expenses and risks, including the inability of the issuer of the commitment to pay for the securities at the time the commitment is exercised, non-marketability of the commitment, and differences between the maturity of the underlying security and the maturity of the commitment.
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Strip Bonds
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Strip bonds are debt securities that are stripped of their interest (usually by a financial intermediary) after the securities are issued. The market value of these securities generally fluctuates more in response to changes in interest rates than interest-paying securities of comparable maturity.
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Tender Option Bonds
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Tender option bonds are relatively long-term bonds that are coupled with the option to tender the securities to a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution at periodic intervals and receive the face value of the bond. This investment structure is commonly used as a means of enhancing a security’s liquidity.
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Variable and Floating Rate Obligations
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Each Fund may purchase securities having a floating or variable rate of interest. These securities pay interest at rates that are adjusted periodically according to a specific formula, usually with reference to some interest rate index or market interest rate (the “underlying index”). The floating rate tends to decrease the security’s price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. These securities may carry demand features permitting the holder to demand payment of principal at any time or at specified intervals prior to maturity. Accordingly, as interest rates decrease or increase, the potential for capital appreciation or depreciation is less than for fixed-rate obligations.
In order to most effectively use these investments, a Fund’s subadviser must correctly assess probable movements in interest rates. This involves different skills than those used to select most other portfolio securities. If the Fund’s subadviser incorrectly forecasts such movements, the Fund could be adversely affected by the use of variable or floating rate obligations.
The floating and variable rate obligations that the Funds may purchase include variable rate demand securities. Variable rate demand securities are variable rate securities that have demand features entitling the purchaser to resell the securities to the issuer at an amount approximately equal to amortized cost or the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, which may be more or less than the price that the Fund paid for them. The interest rate on variable rate demand securities also varies either according to some objective standard, such as an index of short-term, tax-exempt rates, or according to rates set by or on behalf of the issuer.
When a Fund purchases a floating or variable rate demand instrument, the Fund’s subadviser will monitor, on an ongoing basis, the ability of the issuer to pay principal and interest on demand. The Fund’s right to obtain payment at par on a demand instrument could be affected by events occurring between the date the Fund elects to
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demand payment and the date payment is due that may affect the ability of the issuer of the instrument to make payment when due, except when such demand instrument permits same day settlement. To facilitate settlement, these same day demand instruments may be held in book entry form at a bank other than the Funds’ custodian subject to a sub-custodian agreement between the bank and the Funds’ custodian.
The floating and variable rate obligations that the Funds may purchase also include certificates of participation in such obligations purchased from banks. A certificate of participation gives the Fund an undivided interest in the underlying obligations in the proportion that the Fund’s interest bears to the total principal amount of the obligation. Certain certificates of participation may carry a demand feature that would permit the holder to tender them back to the issuer prior to maturity.
The income received on certificates of participation in tax-exempt municipal obligations constitutes interest from tax-exempt obligations.
Each Fund will limit its purchases of floating and variable rate obligations to those of the same quality as it otherwise is allowed to purchase. Similar to fixed rate debt instruments, variable and floating rate instruments are subject to changes in value based on changes in prevailing market interest rates or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness.
A floating or variable rate instrument may be subject to a Fund’s percentage limitation on illiquid securities if there is no reliable trading market for the instrument or if the Fund may not demand payment of the principal amount within seven days. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” in this section of the SAI.)
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Zero and Deferred Coupon Debt Securities
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Each Fund may invest in debt obligations that do not make any interest payments for a specified period of time prior to maturity (“deferred coupon” bonds) or until maturity (“zero coupon” bonds). The nonpayment of interest on a current basis may result from the bond’s having no stated interest rate, in which case the bond pays only principal at maturity and is normally initially issued at a discount from face value. Alternatively, the bond may provide for a stated rate of interest, but provide that such interest is not payable until maturity, in which case the bond may initially be issued at par. The value to the investor of these types of bonds is represented by the economic accretion either of the difference between the purchase price and the nominal principal amount (if no interest is stated to accrue) or of accrued, unpaid interest during the bond’s life or payment deferral period.
Because deferred and zero coupon bonds do not make interest payments for a certain period of time, they are generally purchased by a Fund at a deep discount and their value fluctuates more in response to interest rate changes than does the value of debt obligations that make current interest payments. The degree of fluctuation with interest rate changes is greater when the deferred period is longer. Therefore, when a Fund invests in zero or deferred coupon bonds, there is a risk that the value of the Fund’s shares may decline more as a result of an increase in interest rates than would be the case if the Fund did not invest in such bonds.
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Even though zero and deferred coupon bonds may not pay current interest in cash, each Fund is required to accrue interest income on such investments and to distribute such amounts to shareholders. Thus, a Fund would not be able to purchase income-producing securities to the extent cash is used to pay such distributions, and, therefore, the Fund’s current income could be less than it otherwise would have been. Instead of using cash, the Fund might liquidate investments in order to satisfy these distribution requirements.
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Derivative Investments
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Each Fund may invest in various types of derivatives, which may at times result in significant derivative exposure. A derivative is a financial instrument whose performance is derived from the performance of another asset. Each Fund may invest in derivative instruments including, but not limited to: futures contracts, put options, call options, options on future contracts, options on foreign currencies, swaps, forward contracts, structured investments, and other equity-linked derivatives.
Each Fund may use derivative instruments for hedging (to offset risks associated with an investment, currency exposure, or market conditions) or in pursuit of its investment objective(s) and policies (to seek to enhance returns). When a Fund invests in a derivative, the risks of loss of that derivative may be greater than the derivative’s cost. No Fund may use any derivative to gain exposure to an asset or class of assets that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly. In addition to other considerations, a Fund’s ability to use derivative instruments may be limited by tax considerations. (See “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes” in this SAI.)
Investments in derivatives may subject a Fund to special risks in addition to normal market fluctuations and other risks inherent in investment in securities. For example, a percentage of the Fund’s assets may be segregated to cover its obligations with respect to the derivative investment, which may make it more difficult for the Fund’s subadviser to meet redemption requests or other short-term obligations.
Investments in derivatives in general are also subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Investments in derivatives may not directly correlate with the price movements of the underlying instrument. As a result, the use of derivatives may expose the Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. The use of derivatives may result in larger losses or smaller gains than otherwise would be the case.
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Commodity Interests
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Certain of the derivative investment types permitted for the Funds may be considered commodity interests for purposes of the CEA and regulations approved by the CFTC. Investing in commodity interests, outside of certain conditions required to qualify for exemption or exclusion, will cause a Fund to be deemed a commodity pool, thereby subjecting the Fund to regulation under the CEA and CFTC rules. In that event, the Adviser will be registered as a Commodity Pool Operator, certain of the Fund’s subadvisers will be registered as Commodity Trading Advisers, and the Fund will be operated in accordance with CFTC rules. Because of the applicable registration requirements and rules, investing a Fund’s assets in commodity interests could cause the Fund to incur additional expenses. Alternatively, to the extent that a Fund limits its exposure to
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As of the date of this SAI, each Fund intends to limit the use of such investment types as required to qualify for exclusion from being considered a “commodity pool” or otherwise as a vehicle for trading in commodity interests under such regulations, and each
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commodity interests in order to qualify for exemption from being considered a commodity pool, the Fund’s use of investment techniques described in its Prospectus and this SAI may be limited or restricted.
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Fund has filed a notice of exclusion under CFTC Regulation 4.5 or exemption under CFTC Regulation 4.13(a)(3).
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Credit-linked Notes
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Credit-linked notes are derivative instruments used to transfer credit risk. The performance of the notes is linked to the performance of the underlying reference obligation or reference portfolio (“reference entities”). The notes are usually issued by a special purpose vehicle that sells credit protection through a credit default swap agreement in return for a premium and an obligation to pay the transaction sponsor should a reference entity experience a credit event, such as bankruptcy. The special purpose vehicle invests the proceeds from the notes to cover its contingent obligation. Revenue from the investments and the money received as premium are used to pay interest to note holders. The main risk of credit linked notes is the risk of default to the reference obligation of the credit default swap. Should a default occur, the special purpose vehicle would have to pay the transaction sponsor, subordinating payments to the note holders. Credit linked notes also may not be liquid and may be subject to currency and interest rate risks as well.
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Eurodollar Instruments
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The Funds may invest in Eurodollar instruments. Eurodollar instruments are dollar-denominated certificates of deposit and time deposits issued outside the U.S. capital markets by foreign branches of U.S. banks and by foreign banks. Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. A Fund might use Eurodollar instruments to hedge against changes in interest rates or to enhance returns.
Eurodollar obligations are subject to the same risks that pertain to domestic issuers, most notably income risk (and, to a lesser extent, credit risk, market risk, and liquidity risk). Additionally, Eurodollar obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks. One such risk is the possibility that a sovereign country might prevent capital, in the form of dollars, from flowing across its borders. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments, the extent and quality of government regulation of financial markets and institutions, the imposition of foreign withholding taxes, and expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers. However, Eurodollar obligations will undergo the same type of credit analysis as domestic issuers in which a Fund invests.
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Equity-linked Derivatives
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Each Fund may invest in equity-linked derivative products the performance of which is designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of stocks, or to a single stock. Investments in equity-linked derivatives involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the types of securities such products are designed to track. There can be no assurance that the trading price of the equity-linked derivatives will equal the underlying value of the securities purchased to replicate a particular investment or that such basket will replicate the investment.
Investments in equity-linked derivatives may constitute investments in other investment companies. (See “Mutual Fund Investing” in this section of the SAI for information regarding the implications of a Fund investing in other investment companies.)
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Foreign Currency Forward Contracts, Futures and Options
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Each Fund may engage in certain derivative foreign currency exchange and option transactions involving investment risks and transaction costs to which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. If a Fund’s subadviser’s predictions of movements in the direction of securities prices or currency exchange rates are inaccurate, the adverse consequences to the Fund may leave the Fund in a worse position than if it had not used such strategies. Risks inherent in the use of option and foreign currency forward and futures contracts include: (1) dependence on the Fund’s subadviser’s ability to correctly predict movements in the direction of securities prices and currency exchange rates; (2) imperfect correlation between the price of options and futures contracts and movements in the prices of the securities or currencies being hedged; (3) the fact that the skills needed to use these strategies are different from those needed to select portfolio securities; (4) the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at any time; and (5) the possible need to defer closing out certain hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences. The Fund’s ability to enter into futures contracts is also limited by the requirements of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company. (See the “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes” section of this SAI.)
A Fund may engage in currency exchange transactions to protect against uncertainty in the level of future currency exchange rates. In addition, a Fund may write covered put and call options on foreign currencies for the purpose of increasing its return.
A Fund may enter into contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies at a future date (“forward contracts”) and purchase and sell foreign currency futures contracts. For certain hedging purposes, the Fund may also purchase exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on foreign currency futures contracts and on foreign currencies. A put option on a futures contract gives the Fund the right to assume a short position in the futures contract until the expiration of the option. A put option on a currency gives the Fund the right to sell the currency at an exercise price until the expiration of the option. A call option on a futures contract gives the Fund the right to assume a long position in the futures contract until the expiration of the option. A call option on a currency gives the Fund the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the expiration of the option.
When engaging in position hedging, a Fund enters into foreign currency exchange transactions to protect against a decline in the values of the foreign currencies in which its portfolio securities are denominated (or an increase in the values of currency for securities which the Fund expects to purchase, when the Fund holds cash or short-term investments). In connection with position hedging, the Fund may purchase put or call options on foreign currency and on foreign currency futures contracts and buy or sell forward contracts and foreign currency futures contracts. (A Fund may also purchase or sell foreign currency on a spot basis, as discussed in “Foreign Currency Transactions” under “Foreign Investing” in this section of the SAI.)
The precise matching of the amounts of foreign currency exchange transactions and the value of the portfolio securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market
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movements in the value of those securities between the dates the currency exchange transactions are entered into and the dates they mature. It is also impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, it may be necessary for a Fund to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if the market value of the security or securities being hedged is less than the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver and a decision is made to sell the security or securities and make delivery of the foreign currency. Conversely, it may be necessary to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency received upon the sale of the portfolio security or securities if the market value of such security or securities exceeds the amount of foreign currency the Fund is obligated to deliver.
Hedging techniques do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities which a Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange which one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, although these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency, they also tend to limit any potential gain which might result from the increase in value of such currency.
A Fund may seek to increase its return or to offset some of the costs of hedging against fluctuations in currency exchange rates by writing covered put options and covered call options on foreign currencies. In that case, the Fund receives a premium from writing a put or call option, which increases the Fund’s current return if the option expires unexercised or is closed out at a net profit. A Fund may terminate an option that it has written prior to its expiration by entering into a closing purchase transaction in which it purchases an option having the same terms as the option written.
A Fund’s currency hedging transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency and may at times not involve currencies in which its portfolio securities are then denominated. A Fund’s subadviser will engage in such “cross hedging” activities when it believes that such transactions provide significant hedging opportunities for the Fund. Cross hedging transactions by a Fund involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies to which such transactions relate and changes in the value of the currency or other asset or liability which is the subject of the hedge.
Foreign currency forward contracts, futures and options may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States; may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees; and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the relevant Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States, and (v) lesser trading volume.
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The types of derivative foreign currency exchange transactions most commonly employed by the Funds are discussed below, although each Fund is also permitted to engage in other similar transactions to the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment limitations and restrictions.
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Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
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A foreign currency forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (“term”) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.
A Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records any asset, including equity securities and non-investment-grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily in an amount not less than the value of the Fund’s total assets committed to forward foreign currency exchange contracts entered into for the purchase of a foreign currency. If the value of the securities specifically designated declines, additional cash or securities will be added so that the specifically designated amount is not less than the amount of the Fund’s commitments with respect to such contracts.
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Foreign Currency Futures Transactions
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Each Fund may use foreign currency futures contracts and options on such futures contracts. Through the purchase or sale of such contracts, a Fund may be able to achieve many of the same objectives attainable through the use of foreign currency forward contracts, but more effectively and possibly at a lower cost.
Unlike forward foreign currency exchange contracts, foreign currency futures contracts and options on foreign currency futures contracts are standardized as to amount and delivery period and are traded on boards of trade and commodities exchanges. It is anticipated that such contracts may provide greater liquidity and lower cost than forward foreign currency exchange contracts.
Purchasers and sellers of foreign currency futures contracts are subject to the same risks that apply to the buying and selling of futures generally. In addition, there are risks associated with foreign currency futures contracts similar to those associated with options on foreign currencies. (See “Foreign Currency Options” and “Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts”, each in this sub-section of the SAI.) The Fund must accept or make delivery of the underlying foreign currency, through banking arrangements, in accordance with any U.S. or foreign restrictions or regulations regarding the maintenance of foreign banking arrangements by U.S. residents and may be required to pay any fees, taxes or charges associated with such delivery which are assessed in the issuing country.
To the extent required to comply with SEC Release No. IC-10666, when entering into a futures contract or an option transaction, a Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records any asset, including equity securities and non-investment-grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily equal to the net amount of the Fund’s obligation. For foreign currency futures transactions, the prescribed amount will generally be the daily value of the futures contract, marked to market.
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Futures contracts are designed by boards of trade which are designated “contracts markets” by the CFTC. Futures contracts trade on contracts markets in a manner that is similar to the way a stock trades on a stock exchange and the boards of trade, through their clearing corporations, guarantee performance of the contracts. As of the date of this SAI, the Funds may invest in futures contracts under specified conditions without being regulated as commodity pools. However, under recently amended CFTC rules the Funds’ ability to maintain the exclusions/exemptions from the definition of commodity pool may be limited. (See “Commodity Interests” in this section of the SAI.)
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Foreign Currency Options
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A foreign currency option provides the option buyer with the right to buy or sell a stated amount of foreign currency at the exercise price at a specified date or during the option period. A call option gives its owner the right, but not the obligation, to buy the currency, while a put option gives its owner the right, but not the obligation, to sell the currency. The option seller (writer) is obligated to fulfill the terms of the option sold if it is exercised. However, either seller or buyer may close its position during the option period for such options any time prior to expiration.
A call rises in value if the underlying currency appreciates. Conversely, a put rises in value if the underlying currency depreciates. While purchasing a foreign currency option can protect a Fund against an adverse movement in the value of a foreign currency, it does not limit the gain which might result from a favorable movement in the value of such currency. For example, if the Fund were holding securities denominated in an appreciating foreign currency and had purchased a foreign currency put to hedge against a decline in the value of the currency, it would not have to exercise its put. Similarly, if the Fund had entered into a contract to purchase a security denominated in a foreign currency and had purchased a foreign currency call to hedge against a rise in the value of the currency but instead the currency had depreciated in value between the date of purchase and the settlement date, the Fund would not have to exercise its call but could acquire in the spot market the amount of foreign currency needed for settlement.
The value of a foreign currency option depends upon the value of the underlying currency relative to the other referenced currency. As a result, the price of the option position may vary with changes in the value of either or both currencies and have no relationship to the investment merits of a foreign security, including foreign securities held in a “hedged” investment portfolio. Because foreign currency transactions occurring in the interbank market involve substantially larger amounts than those that may be involved in the use of foreign currency options, the Funds may be disadvantaged by having to deal in an odd lot market (generally consisting of transactions of less than $1 million) for the underlying foreign currencies at prices that are less favorable than for round lots.
As in the case of other kinds of options, the use of foreign currency options constitutes only a partial hedge, and a Fund could be required to purchase or sell foreign currencies at disadvantageous exchange rates, thereby incurring losses. The purchase of an option on a foreign currency may not necessarily constitute an effective hedge against fluctuations in exchange rates and, in the event of rate movements
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adverse to the Fund’s position, the Fund may forfeit the entire amount of the premium plus related transaction costs.
Options on foreign currencies written or purchased by a Fund may be traded on U.S. or foreign exchanges or over the counter. There is no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies traded over the counter or any regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis. Quotation information available is generally representative of very large transactions in the interbank market and thus may not reflect relatively smaller transactions (i.e., less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable. The interbank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that the options markets are closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, significant price and rate movements may take place in the underlying markets that are not reflected in the options market.
For additional information about options transactions, see “Options” under “Derivative Investments” in this section of the SAI.
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Foreign Currency Warrants
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Foreign currency warrants such as currency exchange warrants are warrants that entitle the holder to receive from the issuer an amount of cash (generally, for warrants issued in the United States, in U.S. dollars) that is calculated pursuant to a predetermined formula and based on the exchange rate between two specified currencies as of the exercise date of the warrant. Foreign currency warrants generally are exercisable upon their issuance and expire as of a specified date and time.
Foreign currency warrants may be used to reduce the currency exchange risk assumed by purchasers of a security by, for example, providing for a supplemental payment in the event the U.S. dollar depreciates against the value of a major foreign currency such as the Japanese Yen or Euro. The formula used to determine the amount payable upon exercise of a foreign currency warrant may make the warrant worthless unless the applicable foreign currency exchange rate moves in a particular direction (e.g., unless the U.S. dollar appreciates or depreciates against the particular foreign currency to which the warrant is linked or indexed).
Foreign currency warrants are severable from the debt obligations with which they may be offered, and may be listed on exchanges. Foreign currency warrants may be exercisable only in certain minimum amounts, and an investor wishing to exercise warrants who possesses less than the minimum number required for exercise may be required either to sell the warrants or to purchase additional warrants, thereby incurring additional transaction costs. Upon exercise of warrants, there may be a delay between the time the holder gives instructions to exercise and the time the exchange rate relating to exercise is determined, thereby affecting both the market and cash settlement values of the warrants being exercised. The expiration date of the warrants may be accelerated if the warrants should be delisted from an exchange or if their trading should be suspended permanently, which would result in the loss of any remaining “time value” of the warrants (i.e., the difference between the current market value and the exercise value of the warrants), and, if the warrants were “out-of-the-money,” in a total loss of the purchase price of the warrants.
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Warrants are generally unsecured obligations of their issuers and are not standardized foreign currency options issued by the OCC. Unlike foreign currency options issued by OCC, the terms of foreign exchange warrants generally will not be amended in the event of governmental or regulatory actions affecting exchange rates or in the event of the imposition of other regulatory controls affecting the international currency markets. The initial public offering price of foreign currency warrants could be considerably in excess of the price that a commercial user of foreign currencies might pay in the interbank market for a comparable option involving larger amounts of foreign currencies. Foreign currency warrants are subject to significant foreign exchange risk, including risks arising from complex political or economic factors.
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Performance Indexed Paper
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Performance indexed paper is commercial paper the yield of which is linked to certain currency exchange rate movements. The yield to the investor on performance indexed paper is established at maturity as a function of spot exchange rates between the designated currencies as of or about the time (generally, the index maturity two days prior to maturity). The yield to the investor will be within a range stipulated at the time of purchase of the obligation, generally with a guaranteed minimum rate of return that is below, and a potential maximum rate of return that is above, market yields on commercial paper, with both the minimum and maximum rates of return on the investment corresponding to the minimum and maximum values of the spot exchange rate two business days prior to maturity.
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Principal Exchange Rate Linked Securities (“PERLS”)
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PERLS are debt obligations the principal on which is payable at maturity in an amount that may vary based on the exchange rate between the particular currencies at or about that time. The return on “standard” principal exchange rate linked securities is enhanced if the currency to which the security is linked appreciates against the base currency, and is adversely affected by increases in the exchange value of the base currency. “Reverse” PERLS are like the “standard” securities, except that their return is enhanced by increases in the value of the base currency and adversely impacted by increases in the value of other currency. Interest payments on the securities are generally made at rates that reflect the degree of currency risk assumed or given up by the purchaser of the notes (i.e., at relatively higher interest rates if the purchaser has assumed some of the currency exchange risk, or relatively lower interest rates if the issuer has assumed some of the currency exchange risk, based on the expectations of the current market). PERLS may in limited cases be subject to acceleration of maturity (generally, not without the consent of the holders of the securities), which may have an adverse impact on the value of the principal payment to be made at maturity.
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Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts
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Each Fund may use interest rate, foreign currency, dividend, volatility or index futures contracts. An interest rate, foreign currency, dividend, volatility or index futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified quantity of a financial instrument, foreign currency, dividend basket or the cash value of an index at a specified price and time. A futures contract on an index is an agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index contract was originally written. Although the value of an index might be a function of the value
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of certain specified securities, no physical delivery of these securities is made. A public market exists in futures contracts covering several indexes as well as a number of financial instruments and foreign currencies, and it is expected that other futures contracts will be developed and traded in the future. Interest rate and volatility futures contracts currently are traded in the United States primarily on the floors of the Chicago Board of Trade and the International Monetary Market of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Interest rate futures also are traded on foreign exchanges such as the London International Financial Futures Exchange and the Singapore International Monetary Exchange. Volatility futures also are traded on foreign exchanges such as Eurex. Dividend futures are also traded on foreign exchanges such as Eurex, NYSE Euronext Liffe, London Stock Exchange and the Singapore International Monetary Exchange.
A Fund may purchase and write call and put options on futures. Futures options possess many of the same characteristics as options on securities and indexes discussed above. A futures option gives the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true.
Except as otherwise described in this SAI, the Funds will limit their use of futures contracts and futures options to hedging transactions and in an attempt to increase total return, in accordance with Federal regulations. The costs of, and possible losses incurred from, futures contracts and options thereon may reduce the Fund’s current income and involve a loss of principal. Any incremental return earned by the Fund resulting from these transactions would be expected to offset anticipated losses or a portion thereof.
The Funds will only enter into futures contracts and futures options which are standardized and traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade, or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system.
When a purchase or sale of a futures contract is made by a Fund, the Fund is required to deposit with its custodian (or broker, if legally permitted) a specified amount of cash or U.S. Government securities (“initial margin”). The margin required for a futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded and may be modified during the term of the contract. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract which is returned to the Fund upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The Funds expect to earn interest income on their initial margin deposits. A futures contract held by a Fund is valued daily at the official settlement price of the exchange on which it is traded. Each day the Fund pays or receives cash, called “variation margin,” equal to the daily change in value of the futures contract. This process is known as “marking to market.” Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by the Fund but is instead a settlement between the Fund and the broker of the amount one would owe the other if the futures contract expired. In computing daily NAV, the Fund will mark to market its open futures positions.
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The Funds are also required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by them. Such margin deposits will vary depending on the nature of the underlying futures contract (and the related initial margin requirements), the current market value of the option, and other futures positions held by the relevant Fund.
To the extent required to comply with SEC Release No. IC-10666, when entering into a futures contract or an option on a futures contract, a Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records any asset, including equity securities and non-investment-grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily equal to the prescribed amount. Generally, for cash-settled futures contracts the prescribed amount is the net amount of the Fund’s obligation, and for non-cash-settled futures contracts the prescribed about is the notional value of the reference obligation.
Futures contracts are designed by boards of trade which are designated “contracts markets” by the CFTC. Futures contracts trade on contracts markets in a manner that is similar to the way a stock trades on a stock exchange and the boards of trade, through their clearing corporations, guarantee performance of the contracts. A Fund’s ability to claim an exclusion or exemption from the definition of a commodity pool may be limited when the Fund invests in futures contracts. (See “Commodity Interests” in this SAI.)
The requirements of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company also may limit the extent to which a Fund may enter into futures, futures options or forward contracts. (See the “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes” section of this SAI.)
Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying securities, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (same exchange, underlying security or index, and delivery month). If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sales price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations.
Positions in futures contracts and related options may be closed out only on an exchange which provides a secondary market for such contracts or options. The Fund will enter into an option or futures position only if there appears to be a liquid secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option or futures contract at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close out a futures or related option position. In the case of a futures position, in the event of adverse price movements the Fund would continue to be required to make daily margin payments. In this situation, if the Fund has insufficient cash to meet daily margin requirements it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet its margin obligations at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, the Fund may be required to take or make delivery of the securities underlying the futures contracts it holds. The inability to close out futures positions also could have an adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to hedge its portfolio effectively.
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There are several risks in connection with the use of futures contracts as a hedging device. While hedging can provide protection against an adverse movement in market prices, it can also limit a hedger’s opportunity to benefit fully from a favorable market movement. In addition, investing in futures contracts and options on futures contracts will cause the Fund to incur additional brokerage commissions and may cause an increase in the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate.
The successful use of futures contracts and related options may also depend on the ability of the relevant Fund’s subadviser to forecast correctly the direction and extent of market movements, interest rates and other market factors within a given time frame. To the extent market prices remain stable during the period a futures contract or option is held by a Fund or such prices move in a direction opposite to that anticipated, the Fund may realize a loss on the transaction which is not offset by an increase in the value of its portfolio securities. Options and futures may also fail as a hedging technique in cases where the movements of the securities underlying the options and futures do not follow the price movements of the hedged portfolio securities. As a result, the Fund’s total return for the period may be less than if it had not engaged in the hedging transaction. The loss from investing in futures transactions is potentially unlimited.
Utilization of futures contracts by a Fund involves the risk of imperfect correlation in movements in the price of futures contracts and movements in the price of the securities which are being hedged. If the price of the futures contract moves more or less than the price of the securities being hedged, the Fund will experience a gain or loss which will not be completely offset by movements in the price of the securities. It is possible that, where a Fund has sold futures contracts to hedge its portfolio against a decline in the market, the market may advance and the value of securities held in the Fund’s portfolio may decline. If this occurred, the Fund would lose money on the futures contract and would also experience a decline in value in its portfolio securities. Where futures are purchased to hedge against a possible increase in the prices of securities before the Fund is able to invest its cash (or cash equivalents) in securities (or options) in an orderly fashion, it is possible that the market may decline; if the Fund then determines not to invest in securities (or options) at that time because of concern as to possible further market decline or for other reasons, the Fund will realize a loss on the futures that would not be offset by a reduction in the price of the securities purchased.
The market prices of futures contracts may be affected if participants in the futures market elect to close out their contracts through off-setting transactions rather than to meet margin deposit requirements. In such case, distortions in the normal relationship between the cash and futures markets could result. Price distortions could also result if investors in futures contracts opt to make or take delivery of the underlying securities rather than to engage in closing transactions because such action would reduce the liquidity of the futures market. In addition, from the point of view of speculators, because the deposit requirements in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the cash market, increased participation by speculators in the futures market could cause temporary price distortions. Due to the possibility of price distortions in the futures market and because of the imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of securities and movements in the prices of futures
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contracts, a correct forecast of market trends may still not result in a successful hedging transaction.
Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the purchase of put or call options on futures contracts involves less potential risk for the Fund because the maximum amount at risk is the premium paid for the options plus transaction costs. However, there may be circumstances when the purchase of an option on a futures contract would result in a loss to the Fund while the purchase or sale of the futures contract would not have resulted in a loss, such as when there is no movement in the price of the underlying securities.
For additional information about options transactions, see “Options” under “Derivative Investments” in this section of the SAI.
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Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities
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Each Fund may purchase mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, which collectively are securities backed by mortgages, installment contracts, credit card receivables or other financial assets. Asset-backed securities represent interests in “pools” of assets in which payments of both interest and principal on the securities are made periodically, thus in effect “passing through” such payments made by the individual borrowers on the assets that underlie the securities, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities. The average life of asset-backed securities varies with the maturities of the underlying instruments, and the average life of a mortgage-backed instrument, in particular, is likely to be less than the original maturity of the mortgage pools underlying the securities as a result of mortgage prepayments, where applicable. For this and other reasons, an asset-backed security’s stated maturity may be different, and the security’s total return may be difficult to predict precisely.
If an asset-backed security is purchased 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 yield to maturity. Conversely, if an asset-backed security is purchased at a discount, faster than expected prepayments will increase yield to maturity, while slower than expected prepayments will decrease yield to maturity.
Prepayments of principal of mortgage-related securities by mortgagors or mortgage foreclosures affect the average life of the mortgage-related securities in the Fund’s portfolio. Mortgage prepayments are affected by the level of interest rates and other factors, including general economic conditions and the underlying location and age of the mortgage. In periods of rising interest rates, the prepayment rate tends to decrease, lengthening the average life of a pool of mortgage-related securities. The longer the remaining maturity of a security the greater the effect of interest rate changes will be. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the market’s perception of its creditworthiness also affect the market value of that issuer’s debt securities.
In periods of falling interest rates, the prepayment rate tends to increase, shortening the average life of a pool. Because prepayments of principal generally occur when interest rates are declining, it is likely that the Fund, to the extent that it retains the same percentage of debt securities, may have to reinvest the proceeds of prepayments at lower interest rates than those of its previous investments. If this occurs, that Fund’s yield will correspondingly decline. Thus, mortgage-related securities may have less potential for capital appreciation in periods of falling interest rates than other fixed income securities of comparable
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duration, although they may have a comparable risk of decline in market value in periods of rising interest rates. To the extent that the Fund purchases mortgage-related securities at a premium, unscheduled prepayments, which are made at par, result in a loss equal to any unamortized premium.
Duration is one of the fundamental tools used by a Fund’s subadviser in managing interest rate risks including prepayment risks. Traditionally, a debt security’s “term to maturity” characterizes a security’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. “Term to maturity,” however, measures only the time until a debt security provides its final payment, taking no account of prematurity payments. Most debt securities provide interest (“coupon”) payments in addition to a final (“par”) payment at maturity, and some securities have call provisions allowing the issuer to repay the instrument in full before maturity date, each of which affect the security’s response to interest rate changes. “Duration” therefore is generally considered a more precise measure of interest rate risk than “term to maturity.” Determining duration may involve a subadviser’s estimates of future economic parameters, which may vary from actual future values. Generally fixed income securities with longer effective durations are more responsive to interest rate fluctuations than those with shorter effective durations. For example, if interest rates rise by 1%, the value of securities having an effective duration of three years will generally decrease by approximately 3%.
Descriptions of some of the different types of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities most commonly acquired by the Funds are provided below. In addition to those shown, other types of mortgage-related and asset-backed investments are, or may become, available for investment by the Funds.
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Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”)
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CMOs are hybrid instruments with characteristics of both mortgage-backed and mortgage pass-through securities. Interest and prepaid principal on a CMO are paid, in most cases, monthly. CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans but are more typically collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed by entities such as GNMA, FHLMC, or FNMA, and their income streams.
CMOs are typically structured in multiple classes, each bearing a different stated maturity. Actual maturity and average life will depend upon the prepayment experience of the collateral. CMOs provide for a modified form of call protection through a de facto breakdown of the underlying pool of mortgages according to how quickly the loans are repaid. Monthly payment of principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including prepayments, is first returned to investors holding the shortest maturity class. Investors holding the longer maturity classes typically receive principal only after the first class has been retired. An investor may be partially guarded against a sooner than desired return of principal because of the sequential payments.
FHLMC CMOs are debt obligations of FHLMC issued in multiple classes having different maturity dates and are secured by the pledge of a pool of conventional mortgage loans purchased by FHLMC. The amount of principal payable on each monthly payment date is determined in accordance with FHLMC’s mandatory sinking fund schedule. Sinking fund payments in the CMOs are allocated to the retirement of the individual classes of bonds in the order of their stated
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maturities. Payments of principal on the mortgage loans in the collateral pool in excess of the amount of FHLMC’s minimum sinking fund obligation for any payment date are paid to the holders of the CMOs as additional sinking-fund payments. Because of the “pass-through” nature of all principal payments received on the collateral pool in excess of FHLMC’s minimum sinking fund requirement, the rate at which principal of the CMOs is actually repaid is likely to be such that each class of bonds will be retired in advance of its scheduled maturity date. If collection of principal (including prepayments) on the mortgage loans during any semiannual payment period is not sufficient to meet FHLMC’s minimum sinking fund obligation on the next sinking fund payment date, FHLMC agrees to make up the deficiency from its general funds.
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CMO Residuals
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CMO residuals are derivative mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans. As described above, the cash flow generated by the mortgage assets underlying a series of CMOs is applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the CMOs and second to pay the related administrative expenses of the issuer. The “residual” in a CMO structure generally represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining after making the foregoing payments. Each payment of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual represents income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characteristics of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and, in particular, the prepayment experience on the mortgage assets. In addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are based. 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 currently may not have the liquidity of other more established securities trading in other markets. CMO residuals may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability, may be deemed illiquid and therefore subject to the Funds’ limitations on investment in illiquid securities. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” in this section of the SAI.)
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Mortgage Pass-through Securities
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Mortgage pass-through securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans, assembled and issued by various governmental, government-related, and private organizations. Unlike other forms of debt securities, which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity or specified call dates, these securities provide a monthly payment consisting of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their residential or commercial mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Additional payments are caused by repayments of principal resulting from the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, net of fees or costs. “Modified pass-through” securities (such as securities issued by GNMA) entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, at the
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scheduled payment dates regardless of whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment.
The principal governmental guarantor of U.S. mortgage-related securities is GNMA. GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the United States Government, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by GNMA (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers) and backed by pools of Federal Housing Administration insured or Veterans Administration guaranteed mortgages. Government-related guarantors whose obligations are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates that represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FNMA and FHLMC guarantee the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal on securities they issue, but the securities they issue are neither issued nor guaranteed by the United States Government.
Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/ or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such non-governmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments for such securities. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers. Such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof will be considered in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets a Fund’s investment quality standards. There can be no assurance that the private insurers or guarantors can meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements. A Fund may buy mortgage-related securities without insurance or guarantees if, through an examination of the loan experience and practices of the originator/servicers and poolers, the Fund’s subadviser determines that the securities meet the Fund’s quality standards. Securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable and may therefore be subject to the Funds’ limitations on investments in illiquid securities. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” in this section of the SAI.)
Mortgage-backed securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, are not subject to the Funds’ industry concentration restrictions set forth in the “Investment Restrictions” section of this SAI by virtue of the exclusion from the test available to all U.S. Government securities. The Funds will take the position that privately-issued, mortgage-related securities do not represent interests in any particular “industry” or group of industries.
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The assets underlying such securities may be represented by a portfolio of first lien residential mortgages (including both whole mortgage loans and mortgage participation interests) or portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities issued or guaranteed by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC. Mortgage loans underlying a mortgage-related security may in turn be insured or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs. In the case of private issue mortgage-related securities whose underlying assets are neither U.S. Government securities nor U.S. Government-insured mortgages, to the extent that real properties securing such assets may be located in the same geographical region, the security may be subject to a greater risk of default than other comparable securities in the event of adverse economic, political or business developments that may affect such region and, ultimately, the ability of residential homeowners to make payments of principal and interest on the underlying mortgages.
It is possible that the availability and the marketability (that is, liquidity) of the securities discussed in this section could be adversely affected by the actions of the U.S. Government to tighten the availability of its credit. On September 7, 2008, the FHFA, an agency of the U.S. Government, placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship, a statutory process with the objective of returning the entities to normal business operations. FHFA will act as the conservator to operate FNMA and FHLMC until they are stabilized. The conservatorship is still in effect as of the date of this SAI and has no specified termination date. There can be no assurance as to when or how the conservatorship will be terminated or whether FNMA or FHLMC will continue to exist following the conservatorship or what their respective business structures will be during or following the conservatorship. FHFA, as conservator, has the power to repudiate any contract entered into by FNMA or FHLMC prior to its appointment if it determines that performance of the contract is burdensome and repudiation of the contract promotes the orderly administration of FNMA’s or FHLMC’s affairs. Furthermore, FHFA has the right to transfer or sell any asset or liability of FNMA or FHLMC without any approval, assignment or consent. If FHFA were to transfer any such guarantee obligation to another party, holders of FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed securities would have to rely on that party for satisfaction of the guarantee obligation and would be exposed to the credit risk of that party.
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Other Asset-Backed Securities
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Through trusts and other special purpose entities, various types of securities based on financial assets other than mortgage loans are increasingly available, in both pass-through structures similar to mortgage pass-through securities described above and in other structures more like CMOs. As with mortgage-related securities, these asset-backed securities are often backed by a pool of financial assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. They often include credit-enhancement features similar to mortgage-related securities.
Financial assets on which these securities are based include automobile receivables; credit card receivables; loans to finance boats, recreational vehicles, and mobile homes; computer, copier, railcar, and medical equipment leases; and trade, healthcare, and franchise receivables. In general, the obligations supporting these asset-backed securities are of shorter maturities than mortgage loans and are less likely to experience substantial prepayments. However,
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obligations such as credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the obligors are often entitled to protection under a number of consumer credit laws granting, among other things, rights to set off certain amounts owed on the credit cards, thus reducing the balance due. Other obligations that are secured, such as automobile receivables, may present issuers with difficulties in perfecting and executing on the security interests, particularly where the issuer allows the servicers of the receivables to retain possession of the underlying obligations, thus increasing the risk that recoveries on defaulted obligations may not be adequate to support payments on the securities.
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Stripped Mortgage-backed Securities (“SMBS”)
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SMBS are derivative multi-class mortgage securities. They may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans. SMBS are usually structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of SMBS will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). The yield to maturity on an IO class security is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on a Fund’s yield to maturity from these securities. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in these securities even if the security is in one of the highest rating categories. The market value of the PO class generally is unusually volatile in response to changes in interest rates.
Although SMBS are purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers, these securities were only recently developed. As a result, established trading markets have not yet developed and, accordingly, these securities may be deemed illiquid and therefore subject to the Funds’ limitations on investment in illiquid securities. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” in this section of the SAI.)
Each Fund may invest in other mortgage-related securities with features similar to those described above, to the extent consistent with the relevant Fund’s investment objectives and policies.
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Options
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Each Fund may purchase or sell put and call options on securities, indices and other financial instruments. Options may relate to particular securities, foreign and domestic securities indices, financial instruments, volatility, credit default, foreign currencies or the yield differential between two securities. Such options may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the OCC.
A call option for a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and a writer the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the stated exercise price before the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. A premium is paid to the writer by the purchaser in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives
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the purchaser the right to sell and a writer the obligation to buy the security at the stated exercise price before the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.
To the extent required to comply with SEC Release No. IC-10666, options written by a Fund will be covered and will remain covered as long as the Fund is obligated as a writer. A call option is “covered” if the Fund owns the underlying security or its equivalent covered by the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or for additional cash consideration if such cash is segregated) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held in its portfolio. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds on a share-for-share or equal principal amount basis a call on the same security as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written or greater than the exercise price of the call written if appropriate liquid assets representing the difference are segregated by the Fund. A put option is “covered” if the Fund maintains appropriate liquid securities with a value equal to the exercise price, or owns on a share-for-share or equal principal amount basis a put on the same security as the put written where the exercise price of the put held is equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written.
A Fund’s obligation to sell an instrument subject to a covered call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a secured put option written by it, may be terminated before the expiration of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction. This means that a Fund buys an option of the same series (i.e., same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. Such a purchase does not result in the ownership of an option. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying instrument. The cost of such a closing purchase plus related transaction costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will experience a loss. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. A Fund that has written an option and is unable to effect a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument (in the case of a covered call option) or liquidate the segregated assets (in the case of a secured put option) until the option expires or the optioned instrument is delivered upon exercise. The Fund will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument during such period.
To the extent required to comply with SEC Release No. IC-10666, when entering into an option transaction, a Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records any asset, including equity securities and non-investment-grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily equal to the prescribed amount. For options transactions, the prescribed amount will generally be the market value of the underlying instrument but will not be less than the exercise price.
Options purchased are recorded as an asset and written options are recorded as liabilities to the extent of premiums paid or received. The amount of this asset or liability will be subsequently marked-to-market
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to reflect the current value of the option purchased or written. The current value of the traded option is the last sale price or, in the absence of a sale, the current bid price. If an option purchased by a Fund expires unexercised, the Fund will realize a loss equal to the premium paid. If a Fund enters into a closing sale transaction on an option purchased by it, the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, or a loss if it is less. If an option written by a Fund expires on the stipulated expiration date or if a Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold), and the liability related to such option will be eliminated. If an option written by a Fund is exercised, the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss.
Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails more complex and potentially greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments and, therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.
There are several other risks associated with options. For example, there are significant differences among the securities, currency, volatility, credit default and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation among these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, may be absent for reasons that include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the OCC may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading value; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options 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 staff of the SEC currently takes the position that options not traded on registered domestic securities exchanges and the assets used to cover the amount of the Fund’s obligation pursuant to such options are illiquid, and are therefore subject to each Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. However, for options written with “primary dealers” in U.S. Government securities pursuant to an agreement requiring a closing transaction at the formula price, the amount considered to be illiquid may be calculated by reference to a formula price. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” in this section of the SAI.)
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Options on Indexes and “Yield Curve” Options
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Each Fund may enter into options on indexes or options on the “spread,” or yield differential, between two fixed income securities, in transactions referred to as “yield curve” options. Options on indexes and yield curve options provide the holder with the right to make or receive a cash settlement upon exercise of the option. With respect to options on indexes, the amount of the settlement will equal the difference between the closing price of the index at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars, times a specified multiple. With respect to yield curve options, the amount of the settlement will equal the difference between the yields of designated securities.
With respect to yield curve options, a call or put option is covered if a Fund holds another call or put, respectively, on the spread between the same two securities and maintains in a segregated account liquid assets sufficient to cover the Fund’s net liability under the two options. Therefore, the Fund’s liability for such a covered option is generally limited to the difference between the amount of the Fund’s liability under the option it wrote less the value of the option it holds. A Fund may also cover yield curve options in such other manner as may be in accordance with the requirements of the counterparty with which the option is traded and applicable laws and regulations.
The trading of these types of options is subject to all of the risks associated with the trading of other types of options. In addition, however, yield curve options present risk of loss even if the yield of one of the underlying securities remains constant, if the spread moves in a direction or to an extent which was not anticipated.
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Reset Options
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In certain instances, a Fund may purchase or write options on U.S. Treasury securities, which provide for periodic adjustment of the strike price and may also provide for the periodic adjustment of the premium during the term of each such option. Like other types of options, these transactions, which may be referred to as “reset” options or “adjustable strike” options grant the purchaser the right to purchase (in the case of a call) or sell (in the case of a put), a specified type of U.S. Treasury security at any time up to a stated expiration date (or, in certain instances, on such date). In contrast to other types of options, however, the price at which the underlying security may be purchased or sold under a “reset” option is determined at various intervals during the term of the option, and such price fluctuates from interval to interval based on changes in the market value of the underlying security. As a result, the strike price of a “reset” option, at the time of exercise, may be less advantageous than if the strike price had been fixed at the initiation of the option. In addition, the premium paid for the purchase of the option may be determined at the termination, rather than the initiation, of the option. If the premium for a reset option written by a Fund is paid at termination, the Fund assumes the risk that (i) the premium may be less than the premium which would otherwise have been received at the initiation of the option because of such factors as the volatility in yield of the underlying Treasury security over the term of the option and adjustments made to the strike price of the option, and (ii) the option purchaser may default on its obligation to pay the premium at the termination of the option. Conversely, where a Fund purchases a reset option, it could be required to pay a higher premium than would have been the case at the initiation of the option.
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Swaptions
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A Fund may enter into swaption contracts, which give the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset or instrument at a specified strike price on or before a specified date. Over-the-counter swaptions, although providing greater flexibility, may involve greater credit risk than exchange-traded options as they are not backed by the clearing organisation of the exchanges where they are traded, and as such, there is a risk that the seller will not settle as agreed. A Fund’s financial liability associated with swaptions is linked to the marked-to-market value of the notional underlying investments. Purchased swaption contracts are exposed to a maximum loss equal to the price paid for the option/swaption (the premium) and no further liability. Written swaptions, however, give the right of potential exercise to a third party, and the maximum loss to the Fund in the case of an uncovered swaption is unlimited.
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Swap Agreements
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Each Fund may enter into swap agreements on, among other things, interest rates, indices, securities and currency exchange rates. A Fund’s subadviser may use swaps in an attempt to obtain for the Fund a particular desired return at a lower cost to the Fund than if the Fund had invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods typically ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. The “notional amount” of the swap agreement is only a fictive basis on which to calculate the obligations the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. A Fund’s obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). A Fund’s obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily on the Fund’s accounting records (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by specifically designating on the accounting records of the Fund liquid assets to avoid leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio.
Because swap agreements are two-party contracts and may have terms of greater than seven days, they may be considered to be illiquid and therefore subject to the Funds’ limitations on investment in illiquid securities. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” in this section of the SAI.) Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. A Fund’s subadviser will cause the Fund to enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that would be eligible for consideration as repurchase agreement counterparties under the Funds’ repurchase agreement guidelines. (See “Repurchase Agreements” in this section of the SAI.) Certain restrictions imposed on the Funds by the Code may limit the Funds’ ability to use swap agreements. (See the “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes” section of this SAI.) The swaps market is a relatively new market and is largely unregulated. It is
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possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect a Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.
Certain swap agreements are exempt from most provisions of the CEA and, therefore, are not regulated as futures or commodity option transactions under the CEA, pursuant to regulations of the CFTC. To qualify for this exemption, a swap agreement must be entered into by eligible participants and must meet certain conditions (each pursuant to the CEA and regulations of the CFTC). However, recent CFTC rule amendments dictate that certain swap agreements be considered commodity interests for purposes of the CEA. (See “Commodity Interests” in this section of the SAI for additional information regarding the implications of investments being considered commodity interests under the CEA.)
Recently, the SEC and the CFTC have developed rules under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to create a new, comprehensive regulatory framework for swap transactions. Under the new regulations, certain swap transactions will be required to be executed on a regulated trading platform and cleared through a derivatives clearing organization. Additionally, the new regulations impose other requirements on the parties entering into swap transactions, including requirements relating to posting margin, and reporting and documenting swap transactions. A Fund engaging in swap transactions may incur additional expenses as a result of these new regulatory requirements. The Adviser is continuing to monitor the implementation of the new regulations and to assess their impact on the Funds.
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Credit Default Swap Agreements
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Each Fund may enter into credit default swap agreements. A credit default swap is a bilateral financial contract in which one party (the protection buyer) pays a periodic fee in return for a contingent payment by the protection seller following a credit event of a reference issuer. The protection buyer must either sell particular obligations issued by the reference issuer for its par value (or some other designated reference or strike price) when a credit event occurs or receive a cash settlement based on the difference between the market price and such reference price. A credit event is commonly defined as bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, material adverse restructuring of debt, or failure to meet payment obligations when due. A Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If a Fund is a buyer and no event of default occurs, the Fund loses its investment and recovers nothing; however, if an event of default occurs, the Fund receives full notional value for a reference obligation that may have little or no value. As a seller, a Fund receives a periodic fee throughout the term of the contract, provided there is no default event; if an event of default occurs, the Fund must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation. The value of the reference obligation received by the Fund as a seller, coupled with the periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value the Fund pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the Fund.
As with other swaps, when a Fund enters into a credit default swap agreement, to the extent required by applicable law and regulation the Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records any asset, including equity securities and non-investment-grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily, equal to the Fund’s net exposure under the
swap (the “Segregated Assets”).
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Generally, the minimum cover amount for a swap agreement is the amount owed by the Fund, if any, on a daily mark-to-market basis. With respect to swap contracts that provide for the netting of payments, the net
amount of the
excess, if any, of the Fund’s
obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap contract will be accrued on a daily basis and an amount of Segregated Assets having an aggregate market value at least equal to the accrued excess will be maintained to cover the transactions in accordance with SEC positions. With respect to swap contracts that do not provide for the netting of payments by the counterparties, the full
notional
amount for
which the Fund is obligated under the swap contract with
respect to each swap contract will be accrued on a daily basis and an amount of Segregated Assets having an aggregate market value at least equal to the accrued full notional value will be maintained to cover the transactions in accordance with SEC positions. When the Fund sells protection on an individual
credit default swap,
upon a
credit event, the Fund may be obligated to pay the cash equivalent value of the asset. Therefore, the cover amount will be the notional value of the underlying credit. With regard to selling protection on an index (CDX), as a practical matter, the Fund would not be required to pay the full notional
amount of the
index; therefore, only the amount
owed
by the Fund,
if any, on a daily mark-to-market basis is required
as cover.
Credit default swaps involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly. In addition to general market risks, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risks. A Fund will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties deemed creditworthy by the Fund’s subadviser.
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Dividend Swap Agreements
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A dividend swap agreement is a financial instrument where two parties contract to exchange a set of future cash flows at set dates in the future. One party agrees to pay the other the future dividend flow on a stock or basket of stocks in an index, in return for which the other party gives the first call options. Dividend swaps generally are traded over the counter rather than on an exchange.
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Inflation Swap Agreements
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Inflation swap agreements are contracts in which one party agrees to pay the cumulative percentage increase in a price index (e.g., the Consumer Price Index with respect to CPI swaps) over the term of the swap (with some lag on the inflation index), while the other pays a compounded fixed rate. Inflation swap agreements may be used by a Fund to hedge the inflation risk associated with non-inflation indexed investments, thereby creating “synthetic” inflation-indexed investments. One factor that may lead to changes in the values of inflation swap agreements is a change in real interest rates, which are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates may rise, which may lead to a decrease in value of an inflation swap agreement.
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Total Return Swap Agreements
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“Total return swap” is the generic name for any non-traditional swap where one party agrees to pay the other the “total return” of a defined underlying asset, usually in return for receiving a stream of cash flows based upon an agreed rate. A total return swap may be applied to any underlying asset but is most commonly used with equity indices, single stocks, bonds and defined portfolios of loans and mortgages. A total return swap is a mechanism for the user to accept the economic
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benefits of asset ownership without utilizing the balance sheet. The other leg of the swap, which is often LIBOR, is spread to reflect the non-balance sheet nature of the product. Total return swaps can be designed with any underlying asset agreed between the two parties. No notional amounts are exchanged with total return swaps.
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Variance and Correlation Swap Agreements
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Variance swap agreements are contracts in which two parties agree to exchange cash payments based on the difference between the stated level of variance and the actual variance realized on an underlying asset or index. “Actual variance” as used here is defined as the sum of the square of the returns on the reference asset or index (which in effect is a measure of its “volatility”) over the length of the contract term. In other words, the parties to a variance swap can be said to exchange actual volatility for a contractually stated rate of volatility. Correlation swap agreements are contracts in which two parties agree to exchange cash payments based on the differences between the stated and the actual correlation realized on the underlying equity securities within a given equity index. “Correlation” as used here is defined as the weighted average of the correlations between the daily returns of each pair of securities within a given equity index. If two assets are said to be closely correlated, it means that their daily returns vary in similar proportions or along similar trajectories. A Fund may enter into variance or correlation swaps in an attempt to hedge equity market risk or adjust exposure to the equity markets.
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Equity Securities
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The Funds may invest in equity securities. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks and preference stocks; securities such as bonds, warrants or rights that are convertible into stocks; and depositary receipts for those securities.
Common stockholders are the owners of the company issuing the stock and, accordingly, usually have the right to vote on various corporate governance matters such as mergers. They are not creditors of the company, but rather, in the event of liquidation of the company, would be entitled to their pro rata shares of the company’s assets after creditors (including fixed income security holders) and, if applicable, preferred stockholders are paid. Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to dividends or upon liquidation. A preferred stockholder is a shareholder in the company and not a creditor of the company as is a holder of the company’s fixed income securities. Dividends paid to common and preferred stockholders are distributions of the earnings or other surplus of the company and not interest payments, which are expenses of the company. Equity securities owned by the Fund may be traded in the over-the-counter market or on a securities exchange and may not be traded every day or in the volume typical of securities traded on a major U.S. national securities exchange. As a result, disposition by the Fund of a portfolio security to meet redemptions by shareholders or otherwise may require the Fund to sell the security at less than the reported value of the security, to sell during periods when disposition is not desirable, or to make many small sales over a lengthy period of time. The market value of all securities, including equity securities, is based upon the market’s perception of value and not necessarily the book value of an issuer or other objective measure of a company’s worth.
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Stock values may fluctuate in response to the activities of an individual company or in response to general market and/or economic conditions. Historically, common stocks have provided greater long-term returns and have entailed greater short-term risks than other types of securities. Smaller or newer issuers may be more likely to realize more substantial growth or suffer more significant losses. Investments in these companies can be both more volatile and more speculative. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a Fund invests will cause the NAV of the Fund to fluctuate.
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Securities of Small and Mid Capitalization Companies
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While small and medium-sized issuers in which a Fund invests may offer greater opportunities for capital appreciation than larger market capitalization issuers, investments in such companies may involve greater risks and thus may be considered speculative. For example, smaller companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or they may be dependent on a limited management group. In addition, many small and mid-capitalization company stocks trade less frequently and in smaller volume, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements, than stocks of larger companies. The securities of small and mid-capitalization companies may also be more sensitive to market changes than the securities of larger companies. When a Fund invests in small or mid-capitalization companies, these factors may result in above-average fluctuations in the NAV of the Fund’s shares. Therefore, a Fund investing in such securities should be considered as a long-term investment and not as a vehicle for seeking short-term profits. Similarly, an investment in a Fund solely investing in such securities should not be considered a complete investment program.
Market capitalizations of companies in which the Funds invest are determined at the time of purchase.
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Unseasoned Companies
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As a matter of operating policy, each Fund may invest to a limited extent in securities of unseasoned companies and new issues. The Adviser regards a company as unseasoned when, for example, it is relatively new to, or not yet well established in, its primary line of business. Such companies generally are smaller and younger than companies whose shares are traded on the major stock exchanges. Accordingly, their shares are often traded over-the-counter and their share prices may be more volatile than those of larger, exchange-listed companies. Generally, a Fund will not invest more than 5% of its total assets in securities of any one company with a record of fewer than three years’ continuous operation (including that of predecessors).
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Foreign Investing
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The Funds may invest in a broad range of securities of foreign issuers, including equity, debt and convertible securities and foreign government securities. The Funds may purchase the securities of issuers from various countries, including countries commonly referred to as “emerging markets.” The Funds may also invest in domestic securities denominated in foreign currencies.
Investing in the securities of foreign companies involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These include differences in accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, generally higher commission rates on foreign portfolio transactions, the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations, political instability which could affect U.S.
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Investment Technique
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Description and Risks
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investments in foreign countries, and potential restrictions on the flow of international capital. Foreign issuers may become subject to sanctions imposed by the United States or another country, which could result in the immediate freeze of the foreign issuers’ assets or securities. The imposition of such sanctions could impair the market value of the securities of such foreign issuers and limit a Fund’s ability to buy, sell, receive or deliver the securities. Additionally, dividends payable on foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes withheld prior to distribution. Foreign securities often trade with less frequency and volume than domestic securities and therefore may exhibit greater price volatility. Changes in foreign exchange rates will affect the value of those securities which are denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Many of the foreign securities held by a Fund will not be registered with, nor will the issuers thereof be subject to the reporting requirements of, the SEC. Accordingly, there may be less publicly available information about the securities and about the foreign company or government issuing them than is available about a domestic company or government entity. Moreover, individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the United States economy in such respects as growth of Gross National Product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payment positions. Finally, the Funds may encounter difficulty in obtaining and enforcing judgments against issuers of foreign securities.
Securities of U.S. issuers denominated in foreign currencies may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than securities issued by domestic issuers and denominated in U.S. dollars. In addition, investing in securities denominated in foreign currencies often entails costs not associated with investment in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of U.S. issuers, such as the cost of converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars, higher brokerage commissions, custodial expenses and other fees. Non-U.S. dollar denominated securities may be subject to certain withholding and other taxes of the relevant jurisdiction, which may reduce the yield on the securities to the Funds and which may not be recoverable by the Funds or their investors.
The Trust may use an eligible foreign custodian in connection with its purchases of foreign securities and may maintain cash and cash equivalents in the care of a foreign custodian. The amount of cash or cash equivalents maintained in the care of eligible foreign custodians will be limited to an amount reasonably necessary to effect the Trust’s foreign securities transactions. The use of a foreign custodian invokes considerations which are not ordinarily associated with domestic custodians. These considerations include the possibility of expropriations, restricted access to books and records of the foreign custodian, inability to recover assets that are lost while under the control of the foreign custodian, and the impact of political, social or diplomatic developments.
Settlement procedures relating to the Funds’ investments in foreign securities and to the Funds’ foreign currency exchange transactions may be more complex than settlements with respect to investments in debt or equity securities of U.S. issuers, and may involve certain risks not present in the Funds’ domestic investments. For example, settlement of transactions involving foreign securities or foreign currency may occur within a foreign country, and a Fund may be required to accept or make delivery of the underlying securities or currency in conformity with any applicable U.S. or foreign restrictions
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or regulations, and may be required to pay any fees, taxes or charges associated with such delivery. Such investments may also involve the risk that an entity involved in the settlement may not meet its obligations. Settlement procedures in many foreign countries are less established than those in the United States, and some foreign country settlement periods can be significantly longer than those in the United States.
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Depositary Receipts
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Each Fund permitted to hold foreign securities may also hold ADRs, ADSs, GDRs and EDRs. ADRs and ADSs typically are issued by an American bank or trust company and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. EDRs, which are sometimes referred to as CDRs, are issued in Europe typically by foreign banks and trust companies and evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic securities. GDRs are similar to EDRs and are designed for use in several international financial markets. Generally, ADRs and ADSs in registered form are designed for use in United States securities markets and EDRs in bearer form are designed for use in European securities markets. For purposes of a Fund’s investment policies, its investments in ADRs, ADSs, GDRs and EDRs will be deemed to be investments in the underlying foreign securities.
Depositary Receipts may be issued pursuant to sponsored or unsponsored programs. In sponsored programs, an issuer has made arrangements to have its securities traded in the form of Depositary Receipts. In unsponsored programs, the issuer may not be directly involved in the creation of the program. Although regulatory requirements with respect to sponsored and unsponsored programs are generally similar, in some cases it may be easier to obtain financial information from an issuer that has participated in the creation of a sponsored program. Accordingly, there may be less information available regarding issuers of securities underlying unsponsored programs and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts. For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, investments in Depositary Receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Thus, a Depositary Receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.
Depositary Receipts are generally subject to the same sort of risks as direct investments in a foreign country, such as currency risk, political and economic risk, and market risk, because their values generally depend on the performance of a foreign security denominated in its home currency. (The risks of foreign investing are addressed above in this section of the SAI under the heading “Foreign Investing.”) In addition to risks associated with the underlying portfolio of securities, receipt holders also must consider credit standings of the custodians and broker/dealer sponsors. The receipts are not registered with the SEC and qualify as Rule 144A securities which may make them more difficult and costly to sell. (For information about Rule 144A securities, see “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” in this section of the SAI.)
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Emerging Market Securities
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The Funds may invest in countries or regions with relatively low gross national product per capita compared to the world’s major economies, and in countries or regions with the potential for rapid economic growth (emerging markets). Emerging markets will include any country: (i) having an “emerging stock market” as defined by the International Finance Corporation; (ii) with low-to-middle-income economies according to the World Bank; (iii) listed in World Bank
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publications as developing; or (iv) determined by the adviser to be an emerging market as defined above.
Certain emerging market countries are either comparatively underdeveloped or are in the process of becoming developed and may consequently be economically dependent on a relatively few or closely interdependent industries. A high proportion of the securities of many emerging market issuers may also be held by a limited number of large investors trading significant blocks of securities. While a Fund’s subadviser will strive to be sensitive to publicized reversals of economic conditions, political unrest and adverse changes in trading status, unanticipated political and social developments may affect the values of the Fund’s investments in such countries and the availability of additional investments in such countries.
The risks of investing in foreign securities may be intensified in the case of investments in emerging markets. Securities of many issuers in emerging markets may be less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic issuers. Emerging markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures, and in certain markets there have been times when settlements have been unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions, making it difficult to conduct such transactions. Delays in settlement could result in temporary periods when a portion of the assets of a Fund is uninvested and no return is earned thereon. The inability of a Fund to make intended security purchases due to settlement problems could cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities. Inability to dispose of portfolio securities due to settlement problems could result either in losses to the Fund due to subsequent declines in value of portfolio securities or, if a Fund has entered into a contract to sell the security, in possible liability to the purchaser. Securities prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than in the more developed nations of the world, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may have relatively unstable governments, present the risk of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership, or prohibitions of repatriation of assets, and may have less protection of property rights than more developed countries.
Certain emerging markets may require governmental approval for the repatriation of investment income, capital or the proceeds of sales of securities by foreign investors. In addition, a country could impose temporary restrictions on foreign capital remittances, whether because deterioration occurs in an emerging market’s balance of payments or for other reasons. The Funds could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for repatriation of capital, as well as by the application to the Funds of any restrictions on investments.
Investments in certain foreign emerging market debt obligations may be restricted or controlled to varying degrees. These restrictions or controls may at times preclude investment in certain foreign emerging market debt obligations and increase the expenses of the Funds.
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Foreign Currency Transactions
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When investing in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the Funds will be subject to the additional risk of currency fluctuations. An adverse change in the value of a particular foreign currency as against the U.S. dollar, to the extent that such change is not offset by
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a gain in other foreign currencies, will result in a decrease in the Fund’s assets. Any such change may also have the effect of decreasing or limiting the income available for distribution. Foreign currencies may be affected by revaluation, adverse political and economic developments, and governmental restrictions. Further, no assurance can be given that currency exchange controls will not be imposed on any particular currency at a later date.
As a result of its investments in foreign securities, a Fund may receive interest or dividend payments, or the proceeds of the sale or redemption of such securities, in the foreign currencies in which such securities are denominated. In that event, the Fund may convert such currencies into dollars at the then current exchange rate. Under certain circumstances, however, such as where the Fund’s subadviser believes that the applicable rate is unfavorable at the time the currencies are received or the Fund’s subadviser anticipates, for any other reason, that the exchange rate will improve, the Fund may hold such currencies for an indefinite period of time.
In addition, a Fund may be required to receive delivery of the foreign currency underlying forward foreign currency contracts it has entered into. This could occur, for example, if an option written by the Fund is exercised or the Fund is unable to close out a forward contract. A Fund may hold foreign currency in anticipation of purchasing foreign securities.
A Fund may also elect to take delivery of the currencies’ underlying options or forward contracts if, in the judgment of the Fund’s subadviser, it is in the best interest of the Fund to do so. In such instances as well, the Fund may convert the foreign currencies to dollars at the then current exchange rate, or may hold such currencies for an indefinite period of time.
While the holding of currencies will permit a Fund to take advantage of favorable movements in the applicable exchange rate, it also exposes the Fund to risk of loss if such rates move in a direction adverse to the Fund’s position. Such losses could reduce any profits or increase any losses sustained by the Fund from the sale or redemption of securities, and could reduce the dollar value of interest or dividend payments received. In addition, the holding of currencies could adversely affect the Fund’s profit or loss on currency options or forward contracts, as well as its hedging strategies.
When a Fund effects foreign currency exchange transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign exchange market, the Fund incurs expenses in converting assets from one currency to another. A Fund may also effect other types of foreign currency exchange transactions, which have their own risks and costs. For information about such transactions, please see “Foreign Currency Forward Contracts, Futures and Options” under “Derivatives” in this section of the SAI.
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Foreign Investment Companies
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Some of the countries in which the Funds may invest may not permit, or may place economic restrictions on, direct investment by outside investors. Investments in such countries may be permitted only through foreign government-approved or -authorized investment vehicles, which may include other investment companies. These funds may also invest in other investment companies that invest in foreign securities. Investing through such vehicles may involve frequent or layered fees or expenses and may also be subject to limitation under the 1940 Act. As a shareholder of another investment
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company, the Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. Those expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations. For additional information, see “Mutual Fund Investing” in this section of the SAI.
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Privatizations
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The governments of some foreign countries have been engaged in programs of selling part or all of their stakes in government owned or controlled enterprises (“privatizations”). Privatizations may offer opportunities for significant capital appreciation. In certain foreign countries, the ability of foreign entities such as the Funds to participate in privatizations may be limited by local law, or the terms on which a Fund may be permitted to participate may be less advantageous than those for local investors. There can be no assurance that foreign governments will continue to sell companies currently owned or controlled by them or that privatization programs will be successful.
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Funding Agreements
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Each Fund may invest in funding agreements, which are insurance contracts between an investor and the issuing insurance company. For the issuer, they represent senior obligations under an insurance product. For the investor, and from a regulatory perspective, these agreements are treated as securities. These agreements, like other insurance products, are backed by claims on the general assets of the issuing entity and rank on the same priority level as other policy holder claims. Funding agreements typically are issued with a one-year final maturity and a variable interest rate, which may adjust weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Some agreements carry a seven-day put feature. A funding agreement without this feature is considered illiquid and will therefore be subject to the Funds’ limitations on investments in illiquid securities. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” in this section of the SAI.) Funding agreements are regulated by the state insurance board of the state where they are executed.
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Guaranteed Investment Contracts
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Each Fund may invest in GICs issued by U.S. and Canadian insurance companies. A GIC requires the investor to make cash contributions to a deposit fund of an insurance company’s general account. The insurance company then makes payments to the investor based on negotiated, floating or fixed interest rates. A GIC is a general obligation of the issuing insurance company and not a separate account. The purchase price paid for a GIC becomes part of the general assets of the insurance company, and the contract is paid from the insurance company’s general assets. Generally, a GIC is not assignable or transferable without the permission of the issuing insurance company, and an active secondary market in GICs does not currently exist. Therefore, these investments may be deemed to be illiquid, in which case they will be subject to the Funds’ limitations on investments in illiquid securities. (See “Illiquid and Restricted Securities” in this section of the SAI.)
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Illiquid and Restricted Securities
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Each Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities that are considered illiquid. Historically, illiquid securities have included securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale because they have not been registered under the 1933 Act (“restricted securities”), securities that are otherwise not readily marketable, such as over-the-counter options, and repurchase agreements not entitling the holder to payment of principal in seven days. Such securities may
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offer higher yields than comparable publicly traded securities, and they also may incur higher risks.
Repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements and time deposits that do not provide for payment to the Fund within seven days after notice or which have a term greater than seven days are deemed illiquid securities for this purpose unless such securities are variable amount master demand notes with maturities of nine months or less or unless the Fund’s subadviser has determined that an adequate trading market exists for such securities or that market quotations are readily available.
The Funds may purchase Rule 144A securities sold to institutional investors without registration under the 1933 Act and commercial paper issued in reliance upon the exemption in Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act, for which an institutional market has developed. Institutional investors depend on an efficient institutional market in which the unregistered security can be readily resold or on the issuer’s ability to honor a demand for repayment of the unregistered security.
Although the securities described in this section generally will be considered illiquid, a security’s contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of the security and therefore these securities may be determined to be liquid in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. The Trustees have delegated to each Fund’s subadviser the day-to-day determination of the liquidity of such securities in the respective Fund’s portfolio, although they have retained oversight and ultimate responsibility for such determinations. Although no definite quality criteria are used, the Trustees have directed the subadvisers to consider such factors as (i) the nature of the market for a security (including the institutional private resale markets); (ii) the terms of these securities or other instruments allowing for the disposition to a third party or the issuer thereof (e.g. certain repurchase obligations and demand instruments); (iii) availability of market quotations; and (iv) other permissible factors. The Trustees monitor implementation of the guidelines on a periodic basis.
If illiquid securities exceed 15% of a Fund’s net assets after the time of purchase, the Fund will take steps to reduce in an orderly fashion its holdings of illiquid securities. Because illiquid securities may not be readily marketable, the relevant Fund’s subadviser may not be able to dispose of them in a timely manner. As a result, the Fund may be forced to hold illiquid securities while their price depreciates. Depreciation in the price of illiquid securities may cause the NAV of the Fund holding them to decline. A security that is determined by a Fund’s subadviser to be liquid may subsequently revert to being illiquid if not enough buyer interest exists.
Restricted securities ordinarily can be sold by the Fund in secondary market transactions to certain qualified investors pursuant to rules established by the SEC, in privately negotiated transactions to a limited number of purchasers or in a public offering made pursuant to an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act. When registration is required, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses and a considerable time may elapse between the decision to sell and the sale date. If, during such period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a
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less favorable price than the price which prevailed when it decided to sell.
Restricted securities will be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Trustees or their delegate.
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Leverage
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Each Fund may employ investment techniques that create leverage, either by using borrowed capital to increase the amount invested, or investing in instruments, including derivatives, where the investment loss can exceed the original amount invested. Certain investments or trading strategies that involve leverage can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested.
The SEC takes the position that transactions that have a leveraging effect on the capital structure of a mutual fund or are economically equivalent to borrowing can be viewed as constituting a form of borrowing by the fund for purposes of the 1940 Act. These transactions can include buying and selling certain derivatives (such as futures contracts); selling (or writing) put and call options; engaging in sale-buybacks; entering into firm-commitment and stand-by commitment agreements; engaging in when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward-commitment transactions; and other similar trading practices (additional discussion about a number of these transactions can be found throughout this section of the SAI). As a result, when a Fund enters into such transactions the transactions may be subject to the same requirements and restrictions as borrowing. (See “Borrowing” below for additional information.)
The following are some of the Funds’ permitted investment techniques that are generally viewed as creating leverage for the Funds.
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Borrowing
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A Fund’s ability to borrow money is limited by its investment policies and limitations, by the 1940 Act, and by applicable exemptions, no-action letters, interpretations, and other pronouncements issued from time to time by the SEC and its staff or any other regulatory authority with jurisdiction. Under the 1940 Act, a Fund is required to maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed, with an exception for borrowings not in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets made for temporary or emergency purposes. Any borrowings for temporary purposes in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets must maintain continuous asset coverage. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or for other reasons, a Fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days (excluding Sundays and holidays) to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to sell securities at that time.
Borrowing will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of a Fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs that may or may not be recovered by earnings on the securities purchased. A Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with a borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.
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Investment Technique
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Description and Risks
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Fund-Specific Limitations
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Mortgage “Dollar-Roll” Transactions
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Each Fund may enter into mortgage “dollar-roll” transactions pursuant to which it sells mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the future and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Fund foregoes principal and interest paid on the mortgage-backed securities. The Fund is compensated for the lost interest by the difference between the current sales price and the lower price for the future purchase (often referred to as the “drop”) as well as by the interest earned on, and gains from, the investment of the cash proceeds of the initial sale. The Fund may also be compensated by receipt of a commitment fee. If the income and capital gains from the Fund’s investment of the cash from the initial sale do not exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss that would have been realized on the securities sold as part of the dollar roll, the use of this technique will diminish the investment performance of the Fund compared with what the performance would have been without the use of the dollar roll.
Dollar-roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities the Fund is required to purchase may decline below the agreed upon repurchase price of those securities. If the broker/dealer to whom the Fund sells securities becomes insolvent, the Fund’s right to purchase or repurchase securities may be restricted. Successful use of dollar rolls may depend upon the Fund’s subadviser’s ability to correctly predict interest rates and prepayments. There is no assurance that dollar rolls can be successfully employed.
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Reverse Repurchase Agreements
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Reverse repurchase agreements are transactions in which the Fund sells a security and simultaneously commits to repurchase that security from the buyer, such as a bank or broker-dealer, at an agreed upon price on an agreed upon future date. The resale price in a reverse repurchase agreement reflects a market rate of interest that is not related to the coupon rate or maturity of the sold security. For certain demand agreements, there is no agreed upon repurchase date and interest payments are calculated daily, often based upon the prevailing overnight repurchase rate.
Generally, a reverse repurchase agreement enables the Fund to recover for the term of the reverse repurchase agreement all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities sold and to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are only advantageous if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining the cash otherwise. In addition, interest costs on the money received in a reverse repurchase agreement may exceed the return received on the investments made by the Fund with those monies. Using reverse repurchase agreements to earn additional income involves the risk that the interest earned on the invested proceeds is less than the expense of the reverse repurchase agreement transaction.
Because reverse repurchase agreements are considered borrowing under the 1940 Act, while a reverse repurchase agreement is outstanding, the Fund will maintain cash and appropriate liquid assets in a segregated custodial account to cover its obligation under the agreement. A Fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only with parties that the Fund’s subadviser deems creditworthy, but such investments are still subject to the risks of leverage discussed above.
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Investment Technique
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Description and Risks
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Fund-Specific Limitations
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Master Limited Partnerships
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An investment in MLP units involves some risks that differ from an investment in the common stock of a corporation. Holders of MLP units have limited control on matters affecting the partnership. Conflicts of interest exist between common unit holders and the general partner, including those arising from incentive distribution payments. MLPs holding credit-related investments are subject to interest rate risk and the risk of default on payment obligations by debt issuers. MLPs that concentrate in a particular industry or a particular geographic region are subject to risks associated with such industry or region. The fees that MLPs charge for transportation of oil and gas products through their pipelines are subject to government regulation, which could negatively impact the revenue stream. Investing in MLPs also involves certain risks related to investing in the underlying assets of the MLPs and risks associated with pooled investment vehicles. These include the risk of environmental incidents, terrorist attacks, demand destruction from high commodity prices, proliferation of alternative energy sources, inadequate supply of external capital, and conflicts of interest with the general partner. There are also certain tax risks associated with investment in MLPs. The benefit derived from a Fund’s investment in MLPs is somewhat dependent on the MLP being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, so any change to this status would adversely affect the price of MLP units. Historically, a substantial portion of the gross taxable income of MLPs has been offset by tax losses and deductions reducing gross income received by investors, and any change to these tax rules would adversely affect the price of an MLP unit. Certain MLPs may trade less frequently than other securities, and those with limited trading volumes may display volatile or erratic price movements.
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Money Market Instruments
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Each Fund may invest in money market instruments, which are high-quality short-term investments. The types of money market instruments most commonly acquired by the Funds are discussed below, although each Fund is also permitted to invest in other types of money market instruments to the extent consistent with the Fund’s investment limitations and restrictions.
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Bankers’ Acceptances
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A bankers’ acceptance is a time draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower usually in connection with an international commercial transaction (to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods). The borrower, as well as the bank, is liable for payment, and the bank unconditionally guarantees to pay the draft at its face amount on the maturity date. Most acceptances have maturities of six months or less and are traded in secondary markets prior to maturity.
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Certificates of Deposit
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Certificates of deposit are generally short-term, interest-bearing negotiable certificates issued by banks or savings and loan associations against funds deposited in the issuing institution. They generally may be withdrawn on demand but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which could reduce the Fund’s yield. Deposits subject to early withdrawal penalties or that mature in more than seven days are treated as illiquid securities if there is no readily available market for the securities.
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Commercial Paper
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Commercial paper refers to short-term, unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations to finance short-term credit needs. Commercial paper is usually sold on a discount basis and has a maturity at the time of issuance not exceeding nine months.
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Investment Technique
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Description and Risks
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Fund-Specific Limitations
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Obligations of Foreign Banks and Foreign Branches of U.S. Banks
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The money market instruments in which the Funds may invest include negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits of foreign branches of U.S. banks, foreign banks and their non-U.S. branches (Eurodollars), U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks (Yankee dollars), and wholly-owned banking-related subsidiaries of foreign banks. For the purposes of each Fund’s investment policies with respect to money market instruments, obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and of foreign banks are obligations of the issuing bank and may be general obligations of the parent bank. Such obligations, however, may be limited by the terms of a specific obligation and by government regulation. As with investment in non-U.S. securities in general, investments in the obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and of foreign banks may subject a Fund to investment risks that are different in some respects from those of investments in obligations of domestic issuers.
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Time Deposits
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Time deposits are deposits in a bank or other financial institution for a specified period of time at a fixed interest rate for which a negotiable certificate is not received.
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U.S. Government Obligations
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Securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States Government include a variety of Treasury securities, which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. Treasury bills have maturities of one year or less. Treasury notes have maturities of one to ten years, and Treasury bonds generally have maturities of greater than ten years.
Agencies of the United States Government which issue or guarantee obligations include, among others, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Farmers Home Administration, Federal Housing Administration, GNMA, Maritime Administration, Small Business Administration and The Tennessee Valley Authority. Obligations of instrumentalities of the United States Government include securities issued or guaranteed by, among others, FNMA, Federal Home Loan Banks, FHLMC, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, Banks for Cooperatives, and the U.S. Postal Service. Some of these securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the Treasury, while still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. There is no guarantee that the U.S. Government will provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities, now or in the future, if it is not obligated to do so by law. Accordingly, although these securities have historically involved little risk of loss of principal if held to maturity, they may involve more risk than securities backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government because the Fund must look principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the securities for repayment and may not be able to assert a claim against the United States if the agency or instrumentality does not meet its commitment.
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Mutual Fund Investing
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Each Fund is authorized to invest in the securities of other investment companies subject to the limitations contained in the 1940 Act.
Investment companies in which the Fund may invest may include ETFs. An ETF is an investment company classified as an open-end investment company or unit investment trust that is traded similarly to a publicly traded company. Most ETFs seek to achieve the same return as a particular market index. That type of ETF is similar to an
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Investment Technique
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Description and Risks
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Fund-Specific Limitations
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index fund in that it will primarily invest in the securities of companies that are included in a selected market index. An index-based ETF will invest in all of the securities included in the index, a representative sample of the securities included in the index, or other investments expected to produce returns substantially similar to that of the index. Other types of ETFs include leveraged or inverse ETFs, which are ETFs that seek to achieve a daily return that is a multiple or an inverse multiple of the daily return of a securities index. An important characteristic of these ETFs is that they seek to achieve their stated objectives on a daily basis, and their performance over longer periods of time can differ significantly from the multiple or inverse multiple of the index performance over those longer periods of time. ETFs also include actively managed ETFs that pursue active management strategies and publish their portfolio holdings on a frequent basis.
In connection with the management of its daily cash positions, each Fund may invest in securities issued by investment companies that invest in short-term debt securities (which may include municipal obligations that are exempt from Federal income taxes) and that seek to maintain a $1.00 NAV per share.
In certain countries, investments by the Funds may only be made through investments in other investment companies that, in turn, are authorized to invest in the securities that are issued in such countries. (See “Foreign Investment Companies” under “Foreign Investing” in this section of the SAI.)
Under the 1940 Act, a Fund
generally
may not own more than 3% of
the outstanding voting stock of an investment company, invest more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, or invest more than 10% of its total assets in the securities of investment companies. In some instances, a Fund may invest in an investment company in excess of these limits; for instance, with respect to investments in money market funds or investments made pursuant to
exemptive rules adopted and/or orders
granted by the SEC.
The SEC
has adopted exemptive rules to permit funds of funds to exceed these limits when complying with certain conditions, which differ depending upon whether the funds in which a fund of funds invests are affiliated or unaffiliated with the fund of funds.
Many ETFs have obtained
exemptive relief from the SEC to permit unaffiliated funds to invest in the ETF’s shares beyond the statutory limitations discussed above, subject to certain conditions. The Funds may rely on these exemptive rules and/or
orders to invest in
affiliated or unaffiliated mutual funds
and/or unaffiliated
ETFs. In addition to this, the Trust has obtained
exemptive relief permitting the Funds to exceed the limitations with respect to investments in affiliated and unaffiliated funds that are not themselves funds of funds, subject to certain conditions.
The risks associated with investing in other investment companies generally reflect the risks of owning shares of the underlying securities in which those investment companies invest, although lack of liquidity in an investment company could result in its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of securities. For purposes of complying with investment policies requiring a Fund to invest a percentage of its assets in a certain type of investments (e.g., stocks of small capitalization companies), the Fund generally will look through an investment company in which it invests, to categorize the investment company in accordance with the types of investments the investment company holds.
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Investment Technique
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Description and Risks
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Fund-Specific Limitations
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Certain investment companies in which the Funds may invest may be considered commodity pools under the CEA and applicable CFTC regulations. If a Fund invests in such an investment company, the Fund will be required to treat some or all of its holding of the investment company’s shares as a commodity interest for the purposes of determining whether the Fund is qualified to claim exclusion or exemption from regulation by the CFTC. (See “Commodity Interests” in this section of the SAI for additional information regarding the implications to the Funds of investing in commodity interests.)
Investors in each Fund should recognize that when a Fund invests in another investment company, the Fund will bear its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees, in addition to the expenses the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations.
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Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
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Each Fund may invest in REITs. REITs pool investors’ funds for investment primarily in income producing commercial real estate or real estate related loans. A REIT is not taxed on income distributed to shareholders if it complies with several requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets, and income and a requirement that it distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its taxable income (other than net capital gains) for each taxable year.
REITs can generally be classified as follows:
•
•
•
REITs are like closed-end investment companies in that they are essentially holding companies. An investor should realize that by investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, he will bear not only his proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the underlying REITs. (See “Mutual Fund Investing” in this section of the SAI.)
Selecting REITs requires an evaluation of the merits of each type of asset a particular REIT owns, as well as regional and local economics. Due to the proliferation of REITs in recent years and the relative lack of sophistication of certain REIT managers, the quality of REIT assets has varied significantly. The risks associated with REITs are similar to those associated with the direct ownership of real estate. These include declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general and local economic conditions, dependence on management skill, cash flow dependence, possible lack of availability of long-term mortgage funds, over-building, extended vacancies of properties, decreased occupancy rates and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in neighborhood values and the appeal of the properties to tenants and changes in interest rates.
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Investment Technique
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Description and Risks
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Fund-Specific Limitations
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Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying properties they own, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, equity and mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally are not diversified. Equity and mortgage REITs are also subject to potential defaults by borrowers, self-liquidation, and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free status of income under the Code and failing to maintain exemption from the 1940 Act. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments. In addition, investment in REITs could cause the Fund to possibly fail to qualify as a regulated investment company. (See the “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes” section of the SAI.)
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Repurchase Agreements
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Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements by which the Fund purchases portfolio securities subject to the seller’s agreement to repurchase them at a mutually agreed upon time and price. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase price may be the same, with interest payable to the Fund at a stated rate together with the repurchase price on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the security.
A repurchase agreement must be collateralized by obligations that could otherwise be purchased by the Fund (except with respect to maturity), and these must be maintained by the seller in a segregated account for the Fund. The value of such collateral will be monitored throughout the term of the repurchase agreement in an attempt to ensure that the market value of the collateral always equals or exceeds the repurchase price (including accrued interest). If the value of the collateral dips below such repurchase price, additional collateral will be requested and, when received, added to the account to maintain full collateralization.
Repurchase agreements will be entered into with commercial banks, brokers and dealers considered by the relevant Fund’s subadviser to be creditworthy. However, the use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks such as default by, or insolvency of, the other party to the transaction. The Fund also might incur disposition costs in connection with liquidating the underlying securities or enforcing its rights.
Typically, repurchase agreements are in effect for one week or less, but they may be in effect for longer periods of time.
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Repurchase agreements of more than seven days’ duration are subject to each Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities, which means that no more than 15% of the market value of a Fund’s total assets may be invested in repurchase agreements with a maturity of more than seven days and in other illiquid securities.
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Securities Lending
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Subject to certain investment restrictions, each Fund may, subject to the Trustees’ and Trust Treasurer’s approval, lend securities from its portfolio to brokers, dealers and financial institutions deemed creditworthy and receive, as collateral, cash or cash equivalents which at all times while the loan is outstanding will be maintained in amounts equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. Any cash collateral will be invested in short-term securities that will increase the current income of the Fund lending its securities.
A Fund will have the right to regain record ownership of loaned securities to exercise beneficial rights such as voting rights and subscription rights. While a securities loan is outstanding, the Fund is to receive an amount equal to any dividends, interest or other distributions with respect to the loaned securities. A Fund may pay
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Investment Technique
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Description and Risks
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reasonable fees to persons unaffiliated with the Trust for services in arranging such loans.
Even though securities lending usually does not impose market risks on the lending Fund, as with any extension of credit, there are risks of delay in recovery of the loaned securities and in some cases loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. In addition, the value of the collateral taken as security for the securities loaned may decline in value or may be difficult to convert to cash in the event that a Fund must rely on the collateral to recover the value of the securities. Moreover, if the borrower of the securities is insolvent, under current bankruptcy law, the Fund could be ordered by a court not to liquidate the collateral for an indeterminate period of time. If the borrower is the subject of insolvency proceedings and the collateral held might not be liquidated, the result could be a material adverse impact on the liquidity of the lending Fund.
No Fund will lend securities having a value in excess of 33 1/3% of its assets, including collateral received for loaned securities (valued at the time of any loan).
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Short Sales
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Each Fund may sell securities short as part of its overall portfolio management strategies involving the use of derivative instruments and to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities. A short sale is a transaction in which a Fund sells a security it does not own or have the right to acquire, or that it owns but does not wish to deliver, in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline. A short sale is “against the box” to the extent the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short. All other short sales are commonly referred to as “naked” short sales.
When a Fund makes a short sale, the broker-dealer through which the short sale is made must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the party purchasing the security. The Fund is required to make a margin deposit in connection with such short sales; the Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and will often be obligated to pay over any dividends and accrued interest on borrowed securities. If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time the Fund covers its short position, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.
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. If a Fund engages in naked short sales, the Fund’s risk of loss could be as much as the maximum attainable price of the security (which could be limitless) less the price paid by the Fund for the security at the time it was borrowed.
When a Fund sells securities short, to the extent required by applicable law and regulation the Fund will “cover” the short sale, which generally means that the Fund will segregate any asset, including equity securities and non-investment-grade debt so long as the asset is liquid, unencumbered and marked to market daily, equal to the market value of the securities sold short, reduced by any
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amount deposited as margin. Alternatively, the Fund may “cover” a short sale by (a) owning the underlying securities, (b) owning securities currently convertible into the underlying securities at an exercise price equal to or less than the current market price of the underlying securities, or (c) owning a purchased call option on the underlying securities with an exercise price equal to or less than the price at which the underlying securities were sold short.
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Special Situations
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Each Fund may invest in special situations that the Fund’s subadviser believes present opportunities for capital growth. Such situations most typically include corporate restructurings, mergers, and tender offers.
A special situation arises when, in the opinion of the Fund’s subadviser, the securities of a particular company will, within a reasonably estimable period of time, be accorded market recognition at an appreciated value solely by reason of a development particularly or uniquely applicable to that company and regardless of general business conditions or movements of the market as a whole. Developments creating special situations might include, among others, the following: liquidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations, mergers, or tender offers; material litigation or resolution thereof; technological breakthroughs; and new management or management policies. Although large and well-known companies may be involved, special situations often involve much greater risk than is inherent in ordinary investment securities.
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Temporary Investments
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When business or financial conditions warrant, each Fund may assume a temporary defensive position by investing in money-market instruments, including obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies and instrumentalities, obligations of foreign sovereigns, other debt securities, commercial paper including bank obligations, certificates of deposit (including Eurodollar certificates of deposit) and repurchase agreements. (See “Money Market Instruments” in this section of the SAI for more information about these types of investments.)
For temporary defensive purposes, during periods in which a Fund’s subadviser believes adverse changes in economic, financial or political conditions make it advisable, the Fund may reduce its holdings in equity and other securities and may invest up to 100% of its assets in certain short-term (less than twelve months to maturity) and medium-term (not greater than five years to maturity) debt securities and in cash (U.S. dollars, foreign currencies, or multicurrency units). The short-term and medium-term debt securities in which a Fund may invest for temporary defensive purposes will be those that the Fund’s subadviser believes to be of high quality (i.e., subject to relatively low risk of loss of interest or principal). If rated, these securities will be rated in one of the three highest rating categories by rating services such as Moody’s or S&P (i.e., rated at least A).
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Warrants or Rights to Purchase Securities
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Each Fund may invest in or acquire warrants or rights to purchase equity or fixed income securities at a specified price during a specific period of time. A Fund will make such investments only if the underlying securities are deemed appropriate by the Fund’s subadviser for inclusion in the Fund’s portfolio. Included are warrants and rights whose underlying securities are not traded on principal domestic or foreign exchanges. Warrants and stock rights are almost identical to call options in their nature, use and effect except that they are issued by the issuer of the underlying security, rather than an
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option writer, and they generally have longer expiration dates than call options. (See “Options” in this section of the SAI for information about call options.)
Bonds with warrants attached to purchase equity securities have many characteristics of convertible bonds and their prices may, to some degree, reflect the performance of the underlying stock. However, unlike convertible securities and preferred stocks, warrants do not pay a fixed dividend. Bonds also may be issued with warrants attached to purchase additional fixed income securities at the same coupon rate. A decline in interest rates would permit a Fund holding such warrants to buy additional bonds at the favorable rate or to sell the warrants at a profit. If interest rates rise, the warrants would generally expire with no value.
A Fund may purchase put warrants and call warrants whose values vary depending on the change in the value of one or more specified securities indices (“index warrants”). Index warrants are generally issued by banks or other financial institutions and give the holder the right, at any time during the term of the warrant, to receive upon exercise of the warrant a cash payment from the issuer based on the value of the underlying index at the time of exercise. In general, if the value of the underlying index rises above the exercise price of the index warrant, the holder of a call warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the value of the index and the exercise price of the warrant; if the value of the underlying index falls, the holder of a put warrant will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the issuer upon exercise based on the difference between the exercise price of the warrant and the value of the index. The holder of a warrant would not be entitled to any payments from the issuer at any time when, in the case of a call warrant, the exercise price is greater than the value of the underlying index or, in the case of a put warrant, the exercise price is less than the value of the underlying index. If a Fund were not to exercise an index warrant prior to its expiration, then the Fund would lose the amount of the purchase price paid by it for the warrant.
A Fund will normally use index warrants in a manner similar to its use of options on securities indices. The risks of the Fund’s use of index warrants are generally similar to those relating to its use of index options. (See “Options” in this section of the SAI for information about index options.) Unlike most index options, however, index warrants are issued in limited amounts and are not obligations of a regulated clearing agency, but are backed only by the credit of the bank or other institution which issues the warrant. Also, index warrants generally have longer terms than index options. Although a Fund will normally invest only in exchange-listed warrants, index warrants are not likely to be as liquid as certain index options backed by a recognized clearing agency. In addition, the terms of index warrants may limit a Fund’s ability to exercise the warrants at such time, or in such quantities, as the Fund would otherwise wish to do.
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When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions
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Each Fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis. These transactions are also known as delayed delivery transactions. (The phrase “delayed delivery” is not intended to include purchases where a delay in delivery involves only a brief period required by the selling party solely to locate appropriate certificates and prepare them for submission for clearance and settlement in the customary way.) Delayed delivery transactions involve a commitment by the Fund to purchase or sell securities at a
|
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|
|
Investment Technique
|
|
|
Description and Risks
|
|
|
Fund-Specific Limitations
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
|
future date (ordinarily up to 90 days later). The price of the underlying securities (usually expressed in terms of yield) and the date when the securities will be delivered and paid for (the settlement date) are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. When-issued purchases and forward commitments are negotiated directly with the selling party.
When-issued purchases and forward commitments enable the Fund to lock in what is believed to be an attractive price or yield on a particular security for a period of time, regardless of future changes in interest rates. For example, in periods of rising interest rates and falling bond prices, the Fund might sell debt securities it owns on a forward commitment basis to limit its exposure to falling prices. In periods of falling interest rates and rising prices, the Fund might sell securities it owns and purchase the same or similar securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, thereby obtaining the benefit of currently higher yields. The Fund will not enter into such transactions for the purpose of leverage.
The value of securities purchased on a when-issued or forward commitment basis and any subsequent fluctuations in their value will be reflected in the Fund’s NAV starting on the first business day after the date of the agreement to purchase the securities. The Fund will be subject to the rights and risks of ownership of the securities on the agreement date. However, the Fund will not earn interest on securities it has committed to purchase until they are paid for and received. A seller’s failure to deliver securities to the Fund could prevent the Fund from realizing a price or yield considered to be advantageous and could cause the Fund to incur expenses associated with unwinding the transaction.
When a Fund makes a forward commitment to sell securities it owns, the proceeds to be received upon settlement will be included in the Fund’s assets. Fluctuations in the market value of the underlying securities will not be reflected in the Fund’s NAV as long as the commitment to sell remains in effect. Settlement of when-issued purchases and forward commitment transactions generally takes place up to 90 days after the date of the transaction, but the Fund may agree to a longer settlement period.
The Funds will make commitments to purchase securities on a when-issued basis or to purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis only with the intention of completing the transaction and actually purchasing or selling the securities. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, a Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into. A Fund also may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. The Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with these transactions.
When a Fund purchases securities on a when-issued or forward-commitment basis, the Fund will specifically designate on its accounting records securities having a value (determined daily) at least equal to the amount of the Fund’s purchase commitments. These procedures are designed to ensure that each Fund will maintain sufficient assets at all times to cover its obligations under when-issued purchases and forward commitments.
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|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Year of Birth
|
|
|
Length of Time Served
|
|
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
|
|
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
|
|
|
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
McClellan, Hassell H.
YOB: 1945
|
|
|
Served since 2015.
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
Retired.
|
|
|
Trustee, (since 2000), John Hancock Fund Complex (collectively, 228 portfolios); Trustee (since 2008), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust (9 portfolios); Director (since 2010), Barnes Group, Inc. (diversified global components manufacturer and logistical services company); Professor (1984 to 2013), Wallace E. Carroll School of Management, Boston College; and Trustee (since 2015), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex
(43
portfolios).
|
|
|
McLoughlin, Philip
Chairman
YOB: 1946
|
|
|
Served since
1995.
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
Partner (2006 to 2010), Cross Pond Partners, LLC (investment management consultant); and
Managing
Director
(2008 to 2010),
SeaCap Partners, LLC
(investment management).
|
|
|
Director (since 1991) and Chairman (since 2010), World Trust Fund (closed-end investment firm in Luxembourg); Director (since 1995), closed-end funds managed by Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. (4 portfolios); Chairman (since 2002) and Trustee (since 1989), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex
(43
portfolios);
Chairman and Trustee (since 2003), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust (9 portfolios);
Trustee/Director
and Chairman
(since 2011), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); and Trustee and Chairman (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust
(7
portfolios).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Year of Birth
|
|
|
Length of Time Served
|
|
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
|
|
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
|
|
|
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
McNamara, Geraldine M.
YOB: 1951
|
|
|
Served since 2001.
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
Retired.
|
|
|
Trustee (since 2001), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex
(43
portfolios); and Director (since 2003), closed-end funds managed by Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. (4 portfolios); and Trustee (since 2015), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust (9 portfolios).
|
|
|
Oates, James M.
YOB: 1946
|
|
|
Served since 1996.
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
Managing Director (since 1994), Wydown Group (consulting firm).
|
|
|
Trustee (since 1987), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex
(43
portfolios); Director (since 1996), Stifel Financial; Director (1998 to 2014), Connecticut River Bancorp; Chairman and Director (1999 to 2014), Connecticut River Bank; Chairman (since 2000), Emerson Investment Management, Inc.; Director (2002 to 2014), New Hampshire Trust Company; Chairman and Trustee (since 2005), John Hancock Fund Complex (228 portfolios); Non-Executive Chairman (2007 to 2011), Hudson Castle Group, Inc. (formerly IBEX Capital Markets, Inc.) (financial services);
Trustee/Director
(since 2013),
Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); and Trustee (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust
(7
portfolios).
|
|
|
Segerson, Richard E.
YOB: 1946
|
|
|
Served since 1996.
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
Retired.
|
|
|
Trustee (since 1983), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex
(43
portfolios); and Managing Director (1998 to 2013), Northway Management Company.
|
|
|
Verdonck, Ferdinand L.J.
YOB: 1942
|
|
|
Served since
2004.
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
Director
(1998 to 2015),
The
J.P. Morgan European Investment Trust; Director
(2005 to 2015),
Galapagos
N.V. (biotechnology);
Director
(until 2015), Groupe SNEF; and
Mr.
Verdonck is also a
director of several non-U.S. companies.
|
|
|
Trustee (since 2002), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex
(43
portfolios).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Year of Birth
|
|
|
Length of Time Served
|
|
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Trustee
|
|
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
|
|
|
Other Directorships Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Aylward, George R.
YOB: 1964
|
|
|
Served since 2006.
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (since 2008), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries; and various senior officer positions with Virtus affiliates (since 2005).
**
|
|
|
Trustee (since 2006), Virtus Mutual Funds
(43
portfolios);
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (since 2006), The Zweig Closed-End Funds (2 portfolios); Trustee (since
2012) and President (since
2010),
Virtus Variable
Insurance Trust (9 portfolios);
Trustee/Director
and President
(since 2011), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); Director (since 2013), Virtus Global Funds, PLC; and Trustee (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust
(7
portfolios).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address and Year of Birth
|
|
|
Position(s) Held with the Trust and Length of Time Served
|
|
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bradley, W. Patrick
YOB: 1972
|
|
|
Senior Vice President (since 2015), Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (since 2006)
|
|
|
Senior Vice President, Fund Services (since 2010), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries; various officer positions (since 2006) with Virtus affiliates; Senior Vice President (since 2013), Vice President (2011 to 2013), Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (since 2004), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust; Senior Vice President (since 2013), Vice President (2011 to 2013), Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (since 2006), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex; Senior Vice President (since 2013), Vice President (2012 to 2013) and Treasurer (Chief Financial Officer) (since 2007), The Zweig Closed-End Funds; Senior Vice President (since 2013), Vice President (2011 to 2013), Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (since 2011), Virtus Closed-End Funds; Vice President and Assistant Treasurer (since 2011), Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund Inc.; Director (since 2013), Virtus Global Funds, PLC; and Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name, Address and Year of Birth
|
|
|
Position(s) Held with the Trust and Length of Time Served
|
|
|
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Carr, Kevin J.
YOB: 1954
|
|
|
Senior Vice President (since 2015), Vice President (2005 to 2015), Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary (since 2005)
|
|
|
Senior Vice President (since 2009), Vice President, Counsel and Secretary (2008 to 2009), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries; various senior officer positions (since 2005) with Virtus affiliates; Senior Vice President (since 2013), Vice President (2005 to 2013), Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary (since 2005), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex; Senior Vice President (2013 to 2014), Vice President (2012 to 2013) and Assistant Secretary (since 2012), Secretary and Chief Legal Officer (2005 to 2012), The Zweig Closed-End
Funds;
Assistant
Secretary (since 2013), Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary (2010 to 2013), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust; Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since 2011), Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund Inc.; Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2013 to 2014), Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2012 to 2013), Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary (2011 to 2012), Virtus Closed-End Funds (3 portfolios); and Assistant Secretary (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust.
|
|
|
Engberg, Nancy J.
YOB: 1956
|
|
|
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2011)
|
|
|
Vice President (since 2008) and Chief Compliance Officer (2008 to 2011), Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries; various officer positions (since 2003) with Virtus affiliates; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2011), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex; Vice President (since 2010), Chief Compliance Officer (since 2011), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2011), Virtus Closed-End Funds; Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2012), The Zweig Closed-End Funds;
Vice
President and Chief Compliance Officer (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions
Trust; Chief Compliance Officer (since
August
2015).
|
|
|
Waltman, Francis G.
YOB: 1962
|
|
|
Executive Vice President (since 2015), Senior Vice President (2008 to 2015)
|
|
|
Executive Vice President (Product Development) (since 2009), ETF is Series Trust I; and Chief Compliance Officer (since November
2015), Virtus ETF Trust II. Virtus
Investment Partners,
Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries; various senior officer positions (since 2006) with Virtus affiliates; Executive Vice President (since 2013), Senior Vice President (2008 to 2013), Virtus Mutual Fund Complex; Executive Vice President (since 2013), Senior Vice President (2010 to 2013), Virtus Variable Insurance Trust; Executive Vice President (since 2013), Senior Vice President (2011 to 2013), Virtus Closed-End Funds; Director (since 2013), Virtus Global Funds PLC; and Executive Vice President (since 2013), Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent Trustees
|
|
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities in a Fund of the Trust
*
|
|
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Trustee Ownership in All Funds Overseen by Trustee in Family of Investment Companies
**
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hassell H. McClellan
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Philip McLoughlin
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
Geraldine M. McNamara
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
James M. Oates
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
Richard E. Segerson
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
Ferdinand L.J. Verdonck
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
Interested Trustee
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
George R. Aylward
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
Over $100,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Independent Trustees
|
|
|
Aggregate Compensation from Trust
|
|
|
Total Compensation From Trust and Fund Complex Paid to Trustees
|
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hassell H. McClellan
|
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
296,000
|
|
|
|
|
Philip R. McLoughlin
|
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
705,000
|
|
|
|
|
Geraldine M. McNamara
|
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
375,000
|
|
|
|
|
James M. Oates
|
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
376,000
|
|
|
|
|
Richard E. Segerson
|
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
221,000
|
|
|
|
|
Ferdinand L.J. Verdonck
|
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
221,000
|
|
|
|
|
Interested Trustee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
George R. Aylward
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
None
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Investment Advisory Fee
|
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.30
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund
|
|
|
Class A
|
|
|
Class I
|
|
|
Class R6
|
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
|
|
|
|
0.85
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.60
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.40
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First $15 billion
|
|
|
0.10%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$15+ billion to $30 billion
|
|
|
0.095%
|
|
|
$30+ billion to $50 billion
|
|
|
0.09%
|
|
|
Greater than $50 billion
|
|
|
0.085%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First $15 billion
|
|
|
0.0325%
|
|
|
$15+ billion to $30 billion
|
|
|
0.0225%
|
|
|
$30+ billion to $50 billion
|
|
|
0.0075%
|
|
|
Greater than $50 billion
|
|
|
0.005%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount of Transaction at Offering Price
|
|
|
Sales Charge as Percentage of Offering Price (%)
|
|
|
Sales Charge as Percentage of Net Amount Invested (%)
|
|
|
Dealer Discount or Agency Fee as Percentage of Offering Price (%)
|
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Less than $50,000
|
|
|
|
|
5.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount of Transaction at Offering Price
|
|
|
Sales Charge as Percentage of Offering Price (%)
|
|
|
Sales Charge as Percentage of Net Amount Invested (%)
|
|
|
Dealer Discount or Agency Fee as Percentage of Offering Price (%)
|
|
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$50,000 but under $100,000
|
|
|
|
|
4.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.25
|
|
|
|
|
$100,000 but under $250,000
|
|
|
|
|
3.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.90
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.25
|
|
|
|
|
$250,000 but under $500,000
|
|
|
|
|
2.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.83
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.25
|
|
|
|
|
$500,000 but under $1,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
2.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.04
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.75
|
|
|
|
|
$1,000,000 or more
|
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund(s)
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager(s)
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Target Date Funds
|
|
|
Joseph H. Chi
Jed S. Fogdall
David A. Plecha
Joseph F. Kolerich
Allen Pu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles (PIVs)
|
|
|
Other Accounts
|
|
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Portfolio Manager
|
|
|
Number of Accounts
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
Number of Accounts
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
Number of Accounts
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
Joseph H. Chi
(1)
|
|
|
111
|
|
|
$244.7 billion
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
$10.8 billion
|
|
|
79
|
|
|
$20.7 billion
|
|
|
Jed S. Fogdall
(1)
|
|
|
111
|
|
|
$244.7 billion
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
$10.8 billion
|
|
|
79
|
|
|
$20.7 billion
|
|
|
David A. Plecha
(1)
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
$89.9 billion
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
$2.6 billion
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
$1.0 billion
|
|
|
Joseph F. Kolerich
(1)
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
$83.9 billion
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
$2.6 billion
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
$1.0 billion
|
|
|
Allen Pu
(1)
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
$43.1 billion
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
$2.6 billion
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
$2.7 billion
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registered Investment Companies
|
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles (PIVs)
|
|
|
Other Accounts
|
|
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Portfolio Manager
|
|
|
Number of Accounts
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
Number of Accounts
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
Number of Accounts
|
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
Joseph H. Chi
(1)
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$0
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
$156 million
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
$1.8 billion
|
|
|
Jed S. Fogdall
(1)
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$0
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
$156 million
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
$1.8 billion
|
|
|
David A. Plecha
(1)
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$0
|
|
|
Joseph F. Kolerich
(1)
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
$0
|
|
|
Allen Pu
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
$6 million
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST
PART C — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 28. Exhibits |
(a) | Agreement and Declaration of Trust. |
1. | Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated August 17, 2000, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit a) with Post-effective Amendment No. 14 (File No. 033-80057) on October 30, 2000, and incorporated herein by reference. |
2. | Amendment to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated November 16, 2006, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit a.2) with Post-effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-80057) on April 23, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference. |
3. | Second Amendment to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Registrant, dated August 20, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit a.3) with Post-effective Amendment No. 32 (File No. 033-80057) on September 21, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference. |
(b) | Bylaws. |
1. | Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, dated November 16, 2005, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit b.1) with Post-effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-80057) on April 23, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference. |
2. | Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, dated August 23, 2006, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit b.2) with Post-effective Amendment No. 25 (File No. 033-80057) on April 23, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference. |
3. | Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, dated August 20, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit b.3) with Post-effective Amendment No. 32 (File No. 033-80057) on September 21, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference. |
(c) | Reference is made to Articles III, V and VI of Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and Articles II, VII and VIII of Registrant’s By-Laws. See Exhibits (a) and (b). |
(d) | Investment Advisory Contracts. |
1. | *Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Virtus Retirement Investment Advisers, LLC (“VRIA”), effective January 8, 2016, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit d.1) herewith. |
2. | *Form of Subadvisory Agreement between VRIA and Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (“DFA”), effective January 8, 2016, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit d.2) herewith. |
(e) | Underwriting Agreement. |
1. | *Underwriting Agreement with VP Distributors, LLC (“VP Distributors”), dated January 8, 2016, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit 6.a) herewith. |
2. | *Form of Sales Agreement between VP Distributors and dealers, effective January, 2016, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit e.2) herewith. |
(f) | None. |
(g) | Custodian Agreement. |
1. | Master Global Custody Agreement between each of Virtus Equity Trust (“VET”), Virtus Insight Trust (“VIT”), Virtus Opportunities Trust (“VOT”) (collectively, “Virtus Mutual Funds”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated March 1, 2013, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit g.1) with Post-effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registration Statement of VIT (File No. 033-64915) on April 29, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference. |
2. | *Amendment to Master Global Custody Agreement among Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., effective as of December 17, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit g.2) herewith. |
(h) | Other Material Contracts. |
1. | Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and VP |
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Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services, LLC (“Virtus Fund Services”)), dated January 1, 2010, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.2) with Post-effective Amendment No. 44 to the Registration Statement of VOT (File No. 033-65137) on January 27, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference.
a) | Amendment to Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services), dated April 14, 2010, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.8) with Post-effective Amendment No. 51 to VIT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-64915) on April 28, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference. |
b) | Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Transfer Agent and Service Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services), dated March 15, 2011, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.16), with Post-effective Amendment No. 52 to VIT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-64915) on April 28, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference. |
c) | Corrected Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and Virtus Fund Services, dated January 1, 2013, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.1.c) with Post-effective Amendment No. 104 to VET’s Registration Statement (File No. 002-16590) on July 28, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference. |
d) | Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Virtus Mutual Funds and Virtus Fund Services, dated January 1, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.1.d) with Post-effective Amendment No. 104 to VET’s Registration Statement (File No. 002-16590) on July 28, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference. |
e) | *Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and Virtus Fund Services, dated January 8, 2016, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.1.e) herewith. |
2. | Sub-Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement among Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds, VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services) and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), dated April 15, 2011, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.6) with Post-effective Amendment No. 54 to the Registration Statement of VIT (File No. 033-64915) on April 27, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference. |
a) | Adoption and Amendment Agreement among Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust (“VAST”), Virtus Mutual Funds, Virtus Fund Services and BNY Mellon dated as of March 21, 2014, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.2.b) with Pre-effective Amendment No. 4 to VAST’s Registration Statement (File No. 333-191940) on April 4, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference. |
b) | Amendment to Sub-Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement among VAST, Virtus Mutual Funds, Virtus Fund Services and BNY Mellon dated as of August 19, 2014, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.2.a) with Post-effective Amendment No. 4 to VAST’s Registration Statement (File No. 333-191940) on September 8, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference. |
c) | Amendment to Sub-Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement among VAST, Virtus Mutual Funds, Virtus Fund Services and BNY Mellon dated as of November 12, 2014, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.2.c) with Post-effective Amendment No. 9 to VAST’s Registration Statement (File No. 333-191940) on January 22, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference. |
d) | Amendment to Sub-Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement among VAST, Virtus Mutual Funds, Virtus Fund Services and BNY Mellon dated as of May 28, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.2.d) with Post-effective Amendment No. 18 to VAST’s Registration Statement (File No. 333-191940) on June 5, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference. |
e) | *Amendment to Sub-Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement among Registrant, VAST, Virtus Mutual Funds, Virtus Fund Services and BNY Mellon, dated as of December 10, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.2.e) herewith. |
3. | Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services), effective as of January 1, 2010, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.4) with Post-effective No. 36 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on January 28, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference. |
a) | First Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services), effective as of April 14, 2010, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.5) with Post-effective Amendment No. 44 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on January 27, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference. |
b) | Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services), effective as of June 30, 2010, filed via |
C- 2
EDGAR (as Exhibit h.6) with Post-effective Amendment No. 44 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on January 27, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference.
c) | Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services), effective as of September 14, 2010, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.7) with Post-effective Amendment No. 44 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on January 27, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference. |
d) | Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services), effective as of January 1, 2011, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.8) with Post-effective Amendment No. 51 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on January 27, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference. |
e) | Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services), effective as of March 15, 2011, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.9) with Post-effective Amendment No. 51 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on January 27, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference. |
f) | Sixth Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services), effective as of August 28, 2012, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.2.f) with Post-effective Amendment No. 61 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on January 25, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference. |
g) | Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Virtus Mutual Funds and VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services), effective as of December 18, 2012, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.2.g) with Post-effective Amendment No. 61 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on January 25, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference. |
h) | Eighth Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Virtus Mutual Funds and Virtus Fund Services, effective as of June 10, 2013, filed via EDGAR with Post-effective Amendment No. 64 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on June 10, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference. |
i) | Ninth Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Virtus Mutual Funds and Virtus Fund Services, effective as of December 18, 2013, on behalf of Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.3.i) with Post-effective Amendment No. 70 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on January 27, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference. |
j) | Tenth Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Virtus Mutual Funds and Virtus Fund Services, effective as of November 13, 2014, on behalf of International Wealth Masters Fund, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.3.j) with Post-effective Amendment No. 75 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on November 12, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference. |
k) | Eleventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Virtus Mutual Funds and Virtus Fund Services, effective as of January 1, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.3.k) with Post-effective Amendment No. 80 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on January 27, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference. |
l) | Twelfth Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Virtus Mutual Funds and Virtus Fund Services, effective as of March 19, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.3.l) with Post-effective No. 82 to VOT’s Registration Statement (File No. 033-65137) on March 23, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference. |
m) | *Thirteenth Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement between Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds and Virtus Fund Services, effective as of January 8, 2016, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.3.m) herewith. |
4. | Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement among Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds, VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services) and BNY Mellon, effective as of January 1, 2010, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.5) with Post-effective Amendment No. 50 to the Registration Statement of VIT (File No. 033-64915) on February 25, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference. |
a) | First Amendment to Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement among Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds, VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services) and BNY Mellon, effective as of June 30, 2010, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.13.) with Post-effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registration Statement of VIT (File No. 033-64915) on April 28, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference. |
b) | Second Amendment to Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement among Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds, VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services) and BNY Mellon, effective as of September 14, 2010 filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.14.) with Post-effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registration Statement of VIT (File No. 033-64915) on April 28, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference. |
c) | Third Amendment to Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement among Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds, VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services) and BNY Mellon, effective as of |
C- 3
March 15, 2011 filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.15.) with Post-effective Amendment No. 52 to the Registration Statement of VIT (File No. 033-64915) on April 28, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference.
d) | Fourth Amendment to Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement among Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds, VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services) and BNY Mellon, effective as of August 28, 2012, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.4.d) with Post-effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registration Statement of VIT (File No. 033-64915) on April 29, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference. |
e) | Fifth Amendment to Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement among Virtus Mutual Funds, VP Distributors (since assigned to Virtus Fund Services) and BNY Mellon, effective as of December 18, 2012, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.4.e) with Post-effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registration Statement of VIT (File No. 033-64915) on April 29, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference. |
f) | Sixth Amendment to Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement among Virtus Mutual Funds, Virtus Fund Services and BNY Mellon, effective as of June 10, 2013, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.4.f) with Post-effective Amendment No. 64 to the Registration Statement of VOT (File No. 033-65137) on June 10, 2013, and incorporated herein by reference. |
g) | Seventh Amendment to Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement among Virtus Mutual Funds, Virtus Fund Services and BNY Mellon, effective as of December 18, 2013, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.4.g) with Post-effective Amendment No. 70 to the Registration Statement of VOT (File No. 033-65137) on January 27, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference. |
h) | Joinder Agreement and Amendment to Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement among Virtus Mutual Funds, Virtus Variable Insurance Trust (“VVIT”), VAST, VATS, Virtus Fund Services and BNY Mellon dated February 24, 2014, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.4.h) with Pre-effective Amendment No. 3 to VAST’s Registration Statement (File No. 333-191940) to the Registration Statement on March 28, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference. |
i) | *Joinder Agreement to Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement among Registrant, Virtus Mutual Funds, VVIT, VAST, VATS, Virtus Fund Services and BNY Mellon dated December 10, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.4.i) herewith. |
5. | *Expense Limitation Agreement between Registrant and VRIA, effective as of January 8, 2016, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.5) herewith. |
6. | *Form of Indemnification Agreement with each trustee of Registrant, effective as of November 19, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit h.6) herewith. |
(i) | Legal Opinion. |
1. | *Opinion of Counsel as to legality of the shares filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit i.1) herewith. |
2. | *Consent of Sullivan & Worcester LLP filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit i.2) herewith. |
(j) | Other Opinions. |
1. | *Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit j.1) herewith. |
(k) | Not applicable. |
(l) | Not applicable. |
(m) | Rule 12b-1 Plans. |
1. | *Class A Shares Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit m.1) herewith. |
(n) | Rule 18f-3 Plans. |
1. | Amended and Restated Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, effective as of August 21, 2014, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit n.1) with Post-effective Amendment No. 75 to the Registration Statement of VOT (File No. 033-65137) on November 12, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. |
a) | First Amendment to Amended and Restated Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, effective as of November 13, 2014, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit n.1.a) with Post-effective Amendment No. 75 to the Registration Statement of VOT (File No. 033-65137) on November 12, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. |
C- 4
b) | Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, effective as of March 19, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit n.1.b) with Post-effective Amendment No. 82 to the Registration Statement of VOT (File 033-65137) on March 23, 2015 and incorporated by reference. |
c) | *Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, effective as of January 8, 2016, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit n.1.c) herewith. |
(o) | Reserved. |
(p) | Code of Ethics. |
1. | Code of Ethics of the Registrant and other Virtus Funds effective August 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit p.1) with Post-effective Amendment No. 22 to VAST’s Registration Statement (File No. 333-191940) on September 8, 2015, and incorporated herein by reference. |
2. | *Code of Ethics of subadviser DFA effective January 1, 2016, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit p.2) herewith. |
(q) | Power of Attorney. |
1. | Power of Attorney for all Trustees, dated June 2, 2010, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit q) with VET’s Post-effective Amendment No. 92 (File No. 002-16590) on July 28, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference. |
2. | Power of Attorney for Trustee Hassell H. McClellan, dated August 18, 2015, filed via EDGAR (as Exhibit q.2) with Post-effective Amendment No. 32 (File No. 033-80057) on September 21, 2015, and incorporated herein reference. |
*Filed Herewith
C- 5
Item 29. Persons Controlled By or Under Common Control with the Fund
None.
Item 30. Indemnification
The indemnification of Registrant’s principal underwriter against certain losses is provided for in Section 16 of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6.a of the Registrant’s Registration Statement. Indemnification of Registrant’s Custodian is provided for in section 7 of the Master Global Custody Agreement incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits g.1 and g.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement. The indemnification of Registrant’s Transfer Agent is provided for in Article 6 of the Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits h.1 and h.1.e of the Registrant’s Registration Statement. The Trust has entered into Indemnification Agreements with each trustee, the form of which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit h.6 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement, whereby the Registrant shall indemnify the trustee for expenses incurred in any proceeding in connection with the trustee’s service to the Registrant subject to certain limited exceptions.
Article VII sections 2 and 3 of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit a.3 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement, provides in relevant part as follows:
“A Trustee, when acting in such capacity, shall not be personally liable to any Person, other than the Trust or a Shareholder to the extent provided in this Article VII, for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust, of such Trustee or of any other Trustee. The Trustees shall not be responsible or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, agent, employee, Manager or Principal Underwriter of the Trust. The Trust (i) may indemnify an agent of the Trust or any Person who is serving or has served at the Trust’s request as an agent of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise and (ii) shall indemnify each Person who is, or has been, a Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust and any Person who is serving or has served at the Trust’s request as a director, officer, trustee, or employee of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise, in the case of (i) and (ii), to the fullest extent consistent with the Investment Company Act of 1940 and in the manner provided in the By-Laws; provided that such indemnification shall not be available to any of the foregoing Persons in connection with a claim, suit or other proceeding by any such Person against the Trust or a Series (or Class) thereof.
All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or the Trustees shall look only to the assets of the appropriate Series (or Class thereof if the Trustees have included a Class limitation on liability in the agreement with such person as provided below), or, if the Trustees have yet to establish Series, of the Trust for payment under such credit, contract or claim; and neither the Trustees nor the Shareholders, nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor.
Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking and every other act or thing whatsoever executed or done by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees by any of them in connection with the Trust shall conclusively be deemed to have been executed or done only in or with respect to his or their capacity as Trustee or Trustees, and such Trustee or Trustees shall not be personally liable thereon.
… A Trustee shall be liable to the Trust and to any Shareholder solely for her or his own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the office of Trustee, and shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Trustees may take advice of counsel or other experts with respect to the meaning and operation of this Declaration of Trust, and shall be under no liability for any act or omission in accordance with such advice nor for failing to follow such advice.”
In addition, Article III section 7 of such Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides for the indemnification of shareholders of the Registrant as follows: “If any Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be exposed to liability by reason of a claim or demand relating to such Person being or having been a Shareholder, and not because of such Person's acts or omissions, the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or such Person's heirs, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives or in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general successor) shall be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified out of the assets of the Trust against all cost and expense reasonably incurred in connection with such claim or demand, but only out of the assets held with respect to the particular Series of Shares of which such Person is or was a Shareholder and from or in relation to which such liability arose. The Trust may, at its option and shall, upon request by the Shareholder, assume the defense of any claim made against the Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets held with respect to the particular series.”
C- 6
Article VI Section 2 of the Registrant’s Bylaws filed herewith provides in relevant part, subject to certain exceptions and limitations, “every agent shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liabilities and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him or her in connection with any proceeding in which he or she becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his or her being or having been an agent.” Such indemnification would not apply in the case of any liability to which the Registrant would otherwise be subject by reason of or for willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of such person’s duties.
The Investment Advisory Agreement, Subadvisory Agreement, Master Global Custody Agreement, Sub-Administration Agreement and Sub-Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, each as amended, respectively provide that the Registrant will indemnify the other party (or parties, as the case may be) to the agreement for certain losses. Similar indemnities to those listed above may appear in other agreements to which the Registrant is a party.
The Registrant, in conjunction with VRIA, the Registrant’s Trustees, and other registered investment management companies managed by VRIA, maintains insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Registrant, or who is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of another trust or corporation, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by him or arising out of his position. However, in no event will Registrant maintain insurance to indemnify any such person for any act for which the Registrant itself is not permitted to indemnify him.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser and Subadvisers
See “Management of the Funds” in the Prospectus and “Investment Advisory and Other Services” and “Management of the Trust” in the Statement of Additional Information which is included in this Post-effective Amendment. For information as to the business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature of directors and officers of the Adviser and Subadvisers, reference is made to the Adviser’s and Subadviser’s current Form ADV filed under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and incorporated herein by reference.
Adviser | SEC File No.: |
VRIA | 801-106649 |
DFA | 801-16283 |
C- 7
Item 32. Principal Underwriter
(a) | VP Distributors, LLC serves as the principal underwriter for the following registrants: Virtus Retirement Trust, Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust, Virtus Equity Trust, Virtus Insight Trust, Virtus Opportunities Trust and Virtus Variable Insurance Trust. |
(b) | Directors and executive officers of VP Distributors, 100 Pearl Street, Hartford, CT 06103, are as follows: |
(c) | Not applicable. |
Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records
Persons maintaining physical possession of accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Rules promulgated thereunder include:
Secretary of the Trust: | Principal Underwriter: | |
Kevin J. Carr, Esq. 100 Pearl Street Hartford, CT 06103 |
VP Distributors, LLC 100 Pearl Street Hartford, CT 06103 |
|
Administrator and Transfer Agent: | Custodian: | |
Virtus Fund Services, LLC 100 Pearl Street Hartford, CT 06103 |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 19 th Floor New York, NY 10005 |
|
Fund Accountant, Sub-Administrator, Sub-Transfer Agent and Dividend Dispersing Agent: | Investment Adviser: | |
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. 301 Bellevue Parkway Wilmington, DE 19809 |
Virtus Retirement Investment Advisers, Inc. 100 Pearl Street Hartford, CT 06103 |
|
Subadviser: | ||
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One Austin, TX 78746 |
C- 8
Item 34. Management Services
Not applicable.
Item 35. Undertakings
Not applicable.
C- 9
PART C – OTHER INFORMATION
Exhibit List
d.1 | Investment Advisory Agreement |
d.2 | Form of Subadvisory Agreement |
e.1 | Underwriting Agreement |
e.2 | Form of Sales Agreement |
g.2 | Amendment to Master Global Custody Agreement |
h.1.e | Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement |
h.2.e | Amendment to Sub-Transfer Agency and Shareholder Services Agreement |
h.3.m | Thirteenth Amendment to Amended and Restated Administration Agreement |
h.4.i | Joinder Agreement to Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement |
h.5 | Expense Limitation Agreement |
h.6 | Form of Indemnification Agreement |
i.1 | Opinion of Counsel |
i.2 | Consent of Sullivan & Worcester LLP |
j.1 | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
m.1 | Class A Shares Distribution Plan Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 |
n.1.c | Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3 |
p.2 | Code of Ethics of subadviser Dimensional Fund Advisors LP |
C- 10
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under rule 485(b) of the Securities Act and has duly caused this amendment to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut on the 8 th day of January, 2016.
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST | |
By: | /s/ GEORGE R. AYLWARD |
George R. Aylward | |
President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 8 th day of January, 2016.
Signature | Title | |
/s/ GEORGE R. AYLWARD | ||
George R. Aylward | Trustee and President (principal executive officer) | |
/s/ W. PATRICK BRADLEY | ||
W. Patrick Bradley |
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(principal financial and accounting officer) |
|
/s/ HASSELL H. MCCLELLAN | ||
Hassell H. McClellan* | Trustee | |
/s/ PHILIP R. MCLOUGHLIN | ||
Philip R. McLoughlin* | Trustee and Chairman | |
/s/ GERALDINE M. MCNAMARA | ||
Geraldine M. McNamara* | Trustee | |
/s/ JAMES M. OATES | ||
James M. Oates* | Trustee | |
/s/ RICHARD E. SEGERSON | ||
Richard E. Segerson* | Trustee | |
/s/ FERDINAND L.J. VERDONCK | ||
Ferdinand L.J. Verdonck* |
Trustee
|
* By: | /s/ GEORGE R. AYLWARD |
*George R. Aylward, Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to a | |
power of attorney |
Exhibit 99.(d).(1)
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, effective as of the 8 th day of January, 2016 (the “Contract Date”) by and between Virtus Retirement Trust, a Delaware business trust (the “Trust”), and Virtus Retirement Investment Advisers, LLC, a Delaware corporation (the “Adviser”).
WITNESSETH THAT:
1. The Trust hereby appoints the Adviser to act as investment adviser to the Trust on behalf of each of the portfolio series of the Trust established and designated by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Trustees”) on or before the date hereof, as listed on attached Schedule A (collectively, the “Existing Series”), for the period and on the terms set forth herein. The Adviser accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services described in this Agreement for the compensation herein provided.
2. In the event that the Trustees desire to retain the Adviser to render investment advisory services hereunder with respect to one or more of the additional series (the "Additional Series"), by agreement in writing, the Trust and the Adviser may agree to amend Schedule A to include such Additional Series, whereupon such Additional Series shall become subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
3. The Adviser shall furnish continuously an investment program for the portfolio of each Existing Series and the portfolio of any Additional Series which may become subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (the Existing Series and the Additional Series sometimes collectively referred to as the "Series") and shall manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the portfolio of each Series, subject at all times to the supervision of the Trustees.
4. With respect to managing the investment and reinvestment of the portfolio of the Series' assets, the Adviser shall provide, at its own expense:
(a) | Investment research, advice and supervision; |
(b) | An investment program for each Series consistent with its investment objectives, policies and procedures; |
(c) | Implementation of the investment program for each Series including the purchase and sale of securities; |
(d) | Implementation of an investment program designed to manage cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments for a Series with respect to assets designated from time to time to be managed by a subadviser to such Series; |
(e) | Advice and assistance on the general operations of the Trust; and |
(f) | Regular reports to the Trustees on the implementation of each Series' investment program. |
5. The Adviser shall, for all purposes herein, be deemed to be an independent contractor.
6. The Adviser shall furnish at its own expense, or pay the expenses of the Trust, for the following:
(a) | Office facilities, including office space, furniture and equipment; |
(b) | Personnel necessary to perform the functions required to manage the investment and reinvestment of each Series' assets (including those required for research, statistical and investment work); |
(c) | Except as otherwise approved by the Board, personnel are to serve without direct compensation from the Trust as officers or agents of the Trust. The Adviser need not provide personnel to perform, or pay the expenses of the Trust for, services customarily performed for an open-end management investment company by its national distributor, custodian, financial agent, transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent, auditors and legal counsel; |
(d) | Compensation and expenses, if any, of the Trustees who are also affiliated persons of the Adviser or any of its affiliated persons; and |
(e) | Any subadviser recommended by the Adviser and appointed to act on behalf of the Trust. |
7. All costs and expenses not specifically enumerated herein as payable by the Adviser shall be paid by the Trust. Such expenses shall include, but shall not be limited to, all expenses (other than those specifically referred to as being borne by the Adviser) incurred in the operation of the Trust and any public offering of its shares, including, among others, interest, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions, fees of Trustees who are not affiliated persons of the Adviser or any of its affiliated persons, expenses of Trustees' and shareholders' meetings including the cost of printing and mailing proxies, expenses of Adviser personnel attending Trustee meetings as required, expenses of insurance premiums for fidelity and other coverage, expenses of repurchase and redemption of shares, expenses of issue and sale of shares (to the extent not borne by its national distributor under its agreement with the Trust), expenses of printing and mailing share certificates representing shares of the Trust, association membership dues, charges of custodians, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and financial agents, bookkeeping, auditing and legal expenses. The Trust will also pay the fees and bear the expense of registering and maintaining the registration of the Trust and its shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission and registering or qualifying its shares under state or other securities laws and the expense of preparing and mailing prospectuses and reports to shareholders. Additionally,
2
if authorized by the Trustees, the Trust shall pay for extraordinary expenses and expenses of a non-recurring nature which may include, but not be limited to the reasonable and proportionate cost of any reorganization or acquisition of assets and the cost of legal proceedings to which the Trust is a party.
8. The Adviser shall adhere to all applicable requirements under laws, regulations, rules and orders of regulatory or judicial bodies and all applicable policies and procedures as adopted from time to time by the Trustees, including but not limited to the following:
(a) | Code of Ethics. The Adviser shall adopt a Code of Ethics designed to prevent “access persons” (as defined therein in accordance with Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”)) from engaging in fraudulent acts or transactions that are, or have the potential of being viewed as, a conflict of interest, and shall monitor for compliance with its Code of Ethics and report any violations to the Trust’s Compliance Officer. |
(b) | Policy with Respect to Portfolio Transactions. The Adviser shall have full trading discretion in selecting broker-dealers for Series transactions on a day to day basis so long as each selection is in conformance with the Trust’s Policy with Respect to Portfolio Transactions. Such discretion shall include use of “soft dollars” for certain broker and research services, also in conformance with the Trust’s Policy with Respect to Portfolio Transactions. The Adviser may delegate the responsibilities under this section to a Subadviser of a Series. |
(c) | Procedures for the Determination of Liquidity of Assets. It shall be the responsibility of the Adviser to monitor the Series’ assets that are not liquid, making such determinations as to liquidity of a particular asset as may be necessary, in accordance with the Trust’s Procedures for the Determination of Liquidity of Assets. The Adviser may delegate the responsibilities under this section to a Subadviser of a Series. |
(d) | Policy with Respect to Proxy Voting. In the absence of specific direction to the contrary by the Trustees and in a manner consistent with the Trust’s Policy with Respect to Proxy Voting, the Adviser shall be responsible for voting proxies with respect to portfolio holdings of the Trust. The Adviser shall review all proxy solicitation materials and be responsible for voting and handling all proxies in relation to the assets under management by the Adviser in accordance with such policies and procedures adopted or approved by each Series. Unless the Trust gives the Adviser written instructions to the contrary, the Adviser will, in compliance with the proxy voting procedures of the Series then in effect or approved by the Series, vote or abstain from voting, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which the assets of the Series may be invested. The Adviser shall cause the Custodian to forward promptly to the Adviser (or designee) all proxies upon receipt so as to afford the Adviser a reasonable |
3
amount of time in which to determine how to vote such proxies. The Adviser agrees to provide the Trust with quarterly proxy voting reports in such form as the Trust may request from time to time. The Adviser may delegate the responsibilities under this section to a Subadviser of a Series. |
(e) | Procedures for the Valuation of Securities. It shall be the responsibility of the Adviser to fully comply with the Trust’s Valuation Procedures. The Adviser may delegate the responsibilities under this section to a Subadviser of a Series. |
9. For providing the services and assuming the expenses outlined herein, the Trust agrees that the Adviser shall be compensated as follows:
(a) | The Trust shall pay a monthly fee calculated at an annual rate as specified in Schedule A. The amounts payable to the Adviser with respect to the Series shall be based upon the average of the values of the net assets of the Series as of the close of business each day, computed in accordance with the Trust's Declaration of Trust. |
(b) | Compensation shall accrue immediately upon the effective date of this Agreement. |
(c) | If there is termination of this Agreement with respect to any Series during a month, the Series' fee for that month shall be proportionately computed upon the average of the daily net asset values of such Series for such partial period in such month. |
(d) | The Adviser agrees to reimburse the Trust for the amount, if any, by which the total operating and management expenses of the portfolio of any Series (including the Adviser's compensation, pursuant to this paragraph, but excluding taxes, interest, costs of portfolio acquisitions and dispositions and extraordinary expenses), for any "fiscal year" exceed the level of expenses which such Series is permitted to bear under the most restrictive expense limitation (which is not waived by the State), if any, imposed on open-end investment companies by any state in which shares of such Series are then qualified. Such reimbursement, if any, will be made by the Adviser to the Trust within five days after the end of each month. For the purpose of this subparagraph (d), the term "fiscal year" shall include the portion of the then current fiscal year which shall have elapsed at the date of termination of this Agreement. |
10. The services of the Adviser to the Trust are not to be deemed exclusive, the Adviser being free to render services to others and to engage in other activities. Without relieving the Adviser of its duties hereunder and subject to the prior approval of the Trustees and subject further to compliance with applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, as amended, the Adviser may appoint one or more agents to perform any of the functions and
4
services which are to be provided under the terms of this Agreement upon such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon among the Trust, the Adviser and any such agent.
11. The Adviser shall not be liable to the Trust or to any shareholder of the Trust for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust or by any shareholder of the Trust in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties hereunder.
12. It is understood that:
(a) | Trustees, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the Trust are or may be "interested persons" of the Adviser as directors, officers, shareholders or otherwise; |
(b) | Directors, officers, employees, agents and stockholders of the Adviser are or may be "interested persons" of the Trust as Trustees, officers, shareholders or otherwise; and |
(c) | The existence of any such dual interest shall not affect the validity hereof or of any transactions hereunder. |
13. This Agreement shall become effective with respect to the Existing Series as of the date stated above, and with respect to any Additional Series, on the date specified in any amendment to this Agreement reflecting the addition of each Additional Series in accordance with paragraph 2 (the “Amendment Date”). Unless terminated as herein provided, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until December 31, 2017 with respect to each Existing Series and until the later of such initial termination or the next succeeding anniversary thereof following the Amendment Date with respect to each Additional Series, and shall continue in full force and effect for periods of one year thereafter with respect to each Series so long as (a) such continuance with respect to any such Series is approved at least annually by either the Trustees or by a "vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities" of such Series and (b) the terms and any continuation of this Agreement with respect to any such Series have been approved by a vote of a majority of the 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.
Any approval of this Agreement by a vote of the holders of a "majority of the outstanding voting securities" of any Series shall be effective to continue this Agreement with respect to such Series notwithstanding (a) that this Agreement has not been approved by a "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" of any other Series of the Trust affected thereby and (b) that this Agreement has not been approved by the holders of a "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" of the Trust, unless either such additional approval shall be required by any other applicable law or otherwise.
5
14. The Trust may terminate this Agreement with respect to the Trust or to any Series upon 60 days' written notice to the Adviser at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the Trustees or, as to any Series, by a "vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities" of such Series. The Adviser may terminate this Agreement upon 60 days' written notice to the Trust, without the payment of any penalty. This Agreement shall immediately terminate in the event of its "assignment".
15. The terms "majority of the outstanding voting securities", "interested persons" and "assignment", when used herein, shall have the respective meanings in the Investment Company Act.
16. In the event of termination of this Agreement, or at the request of the Adviser, the Trust will eliminate all reference to “Virtus” from its name, and will not thereafter transact business in a name using the word “Virtus” in any form or combination whatsoever, or otherwise use the word “Virtus” as a part of its name. The Trust will thereafter in all prospectuses, advertising materials, letterheads, and other material designed to be read by investors or prospective investors delete from the name the word “Virtus” or any approximation thereof. If the Adviser chooses to withdraw the Trust’s right to use the word “Virtus,” it agrees to submit the question of continuing this Agreement to a vote of the Trust’s shareholders at the time of such withdrawal.
17. It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Trust personally, but bind only the trust property of the Trust, as provided in the Declaration of Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been authorized by the Trustees and shareholders of the Trust and signed by the President of the Trust, acting as such, and neither such authorization by such Trustees and shareholders nor such execution and delivery by such officer shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or be binding upon or impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Trust as provided in its Declaration of Trust.
18. This Agreement does not benefit any third-party not expressly named in the Agreement. To the extent that state law is not preempted by the provisions of any law of the United States heretofore or hereafter enacted, as the same may be amended from time to time, this Agreement shall be administered, construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Delaware.
19. Unless the parties hereto mutually consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, any suit, action or proceeding brought by or in the right of any shareholder or any person claiming any interest in any shares seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement, any Series or class or any shares, including any claim of any nature against the Trust, any Series or class, the Trustees or officers of the Trust, shall be brought exclusively in a federal or state court located within the State of Delaware (and the appropriate appellate courts therefrom).
6
20. Subject to the duty of the Adviser and the Trust to comply with applicable law, including any demand of any regulatory or taxing authority having jurisdiction, the parties hereto shall treat as confidential all information pertaining to the Series and any Additional Series that may be named, and the actions of the Adviser and the Trust in respect thereof.
21. In the case of class action suits involving securities held in the Series’ portfolios, the Adviser may include information about the Series for purposes of participating in any settlements.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first written above.
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST
By: | /s/ W. Patrick Bradley |
Name: | W. Patrick Bradley |
Title: | Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer |
VIRTUS RETIREMENT INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC
By: | /s/ Francis G. Waltman |
Name: | Francis G. Waltman |
Title: | Executive Vice President |
7
SCHEDULE A
Series
|
Annual Investment Advisory Fee
|
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
0.30% |
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
0.30% |
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
0.30% |
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
0.30% |
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
0.30% |
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
0.30% |
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
0.30% |
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
0.30% |
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
0.30% |
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
|
0.30% |
8
Exhibit 99.(d).(2)
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST
SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
[Date]
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP
6300 Bee Cave Road
Building One
Austin, TX 78746
RE: | Subadvisory Agreement |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Virtus Retirement Trust (the “Fund”) is an open-end investment company of the series type registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”), and is subject to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The shares of the Fund are offered or may be offered in several series, including the series identified in Schedule E (collectively, the series in Schedule E are sometimes hereafter referred to as the “Series”).
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. (the “Adviser”) evaluates and recommends series advisers for the Series and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Series.
1. | Employment as a Subadviser . The Adviser, being duly authorized, hereby employs Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Subadviser”) as a discretionary series adviser to invest and reinvest that discrete portion of the assets of the Series designated by the Adviser as set forth on Schedule E attached hereto (the “Designated Series”) on the terms and conditions set forth herein. |
2. | Acceptance of Employment; Standard of Performance . The Subadviser accepts its employment as a discretionary series adviser of the Designated Series and agrees to use its best professional judgment to make investment decisions for the Designated Series in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and as set forth in Schedule C attached hereto and made a part hereof. |
3. | Services of Subadviser . In providing management services to the Designated Series, the Subadviser shall be subject to the (i) investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Fund as they apply to the Designated Series and as set forth in the Fund’s then current prospectus (“Prospectus”) and statement of additional information (“Statement of Additional Information”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as part of the Fund’s Registration Statement, as may be periodically amended and provided to the Subadviser by the Adviser; (ii) applicable investment restrictions set forth in the Act and the Rules thereunder; (iii) supervision and control of the Trustees of the Fund (the “Trustees”); and (iv) instructions from the Adviser. The Subadviser shall not, without the Fund’s prior written approval, knowingly effect any transactions that would cause the Designated Series at the time of the transaction to be materially out of compliance with any of such restrictions or policies. |
In rendering the services required under this Agreement, Subadviser may, consistent with applicable law and regulations, from time to time, employ, delegate, engage, or associate with such affiliated or unaffiliated entities or persons as it believes necessary to assist it in carrying out its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that, in the case of any such delegation that involves any such entities or persons serving as an “investment adviser” to a Designated Series within the meaning of the Act, such delegation must meet the requirements of Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act and related guidance of the Securities and Exchange Commission and its staff. Subadviser shall remain liable for the performance of Subadviser’s obligations hereunder and for the acts and omission of such other persons or entities. |
4. | Transaction Procedures . All series transactions for the Designated Series shall be consummated by payment to, or delivery by, the Custodian(s) from time to time designated by the Fund (the “Custodian”), or such depositories or agents as may be designated by the Custodian in writing, of all cash and/or securities due to or from the Series. The Subadviser shall not have possession or custody of such cash and/or securities or any responsibility or liability with respect to such custody. The Subadviser shall advise the Custodian and confirm in writing to the Fund all investment orders for the Designated Series placed by it with brokers and dealers at the time and in the manner set forth in Schedule A hereto (as amended from time to time). The Fund shall issue to the Custodian such instructions as may be appropriate in connection with the settlement of any transaction initiated by the Subadviser. The Fund shall be responsible for all custodial arrangements and the payment of all custodial charges and fees, and, upon giving proper instructions to the Custodian, the Subadviser shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to custodial arrangements or the act, omissions or other conduct of the Custodian. |
5. | Allocation of Brokerage . The Subadviser shall have authority and discretion to select brokers and dealers to execute Designated Series transactions initiated by the Subadviser, and to select the markets on or in which the transactions will be executed. The provisions of this Section 5 will not apply unless the Subadviser excercises any of the foregoing powers to cause a Designated Series to hold securities other than shares of other investment companies (“Registered Funds”) registered as such under the Act. |
A. | In placing orders for the sale and purchase of Designated Series securities for the Fund, the Subadviser’s primary responsibility shall be to seek the best execution of orders at the most favorable prices in the manner provided in Subadviser’s then-current Form ADV Part 2A. However, this responsibility shall not obligate the Subadviser to solicit competitive bids for each transaction or to seek the lowest available commission cost to the Fund, so long as the Subadviser reasonably believes that the broker or dealer selected by it can be expected to obtain a “best execution” market price on the particular transaction and determines in good faith that the commission cost is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services (as defined in Section 28(e)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided by such broker or dealer to the Subadviser, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or of the Subadviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to its clients, including the Fund, as to which the Subadviser exercises investment discretion, notwithstanding that the Fund may not be the direct or exclusive beneficiary of any such services or that another broker may be willing to charge the Fund a lower commission on the particular transaction. |
B. | The Subadviser may manage other portfolios and expects that the Fund and other portfolios the Subadviser manages will, from time to time, purchase or sell the same securities. The Subadviser may aggregate orders for the purchase or sale of securities on behalf of the Designated Series with orders on behalf of other portfolios the Subadviser manages. Securities purchased or proceeds of securities sold through aggregated orders, as well as expenses incurred in the transaction, shall be allocated to the account of each portfolio managed by the Subadviser that bought or sold such securities in a manner considered by the Subadviser to be equitable and consistent with the Subadviser’s fiduciary obligations in respect of the Designated Series and to such other accounts in the manner provided in Subadviser’s then-current Form ADV Part 2A. |
C. | The Subadviser shall not knowingly execute any Series transactions for the Designated Series with a broker or dealer that is (i) an “affiliated person” (as defined in the Act) of the Fund, the Subadviser, any subadviser to any other Series of the Fund, or the Adviser; (ii) a principal underwriter of the Fund’s shares; or (iii) an affiliated person of such an affiliated person or principal underwriter; in each case, unless such transactions are permitted by applicable law or regulation and carried out in compliance with any applicable policies and procedures of the Fund. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with a list of such brokers and dealers and applicable policies and procedures. |
D. | Consistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Fund in respect of the Designated Series and the requirements of best price and execution, the Subadviser may arrange to have purchase and sale |
2 |
transactions effected directly between the Designated Series and another account managed by the Subadviser (“cross transactions”), provided that such transactions are carried out in accordance with applicable law or regulation and Subadviser’s then-current Form ADV Part 2A and that Subadviser consult with Adviser before the first such cross transaction. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with applicable policies and procedures. |
6. | Proxies, Corporate Actions, Investment Documentation and Legal Proceedings . |
A. | The Subadviser will not be responsible for evaluating or exercising voting discretion with respect to any proxies solicited by or with respect to a Registered Fund affiliated with the Subadviser; however, Subadviser will seek instructions from the Adviser as to how the Series are to vote, abstain, or withhold, as the case may be, with respect to such proxies and vote the shares accordingly. With respect to securities other than shares of Registered Funds affiliated with the Subadviser the following applies. Unless the Adviser or the Fund gives the Subadviser written instructions to the contrary, the Subadviser will, in compliance with its then-current proxy voting procedures, vote or abstain from voting, all proxies solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which assets of the Designated Series may be invested. The Adviser shall cause the Custodian to forward promptly to the Subadviser all proxies upon receipt, so as to afford the Subadviser a reasonable amount of time in which to determine how to vote such proxies. The Subadviser agrees to provide the Adviser in a timely manner with a record of votes cast containing all of the voting information required by Form N-PX in an electronic format to enable the Fund to file Form N-PX as required by Rule 30b1-4 under the Act. |
B. | The Subadviser is authorized to tender securities pursuant to a tender offer and to deal with reorganizations, exchange offers, options, rights, warrants, conversions and other voluntary corporate actions with respect to securities held in the Series in such manner as the Subadviser deems advisable, unless the Fund or the Adviser otherwise specifically directs in writing. With the Adviser’s approval, the Subadviser shall also have the authority to) employ suitable agents, including legal counsel, and to pay their reasonable fees, expenses and related costs from the Series. The Subadviser is authorized on behalf of a Designated Series (i) except as indicated below, to enter into agreements and execute any documents in making investments on behalf of the Series, which shall include any market or industry standard documentation and the standard representations contained therein; and (ii) to acknowledge the receipt of brokers’ risk disclosure statements, electronic trading disclosure statements and similar disclosures. Under Sub-section (i) of this Section 6.B, Subadviser is authorized to enter into or sign agreements and documents with respect to executing broker (also known as “give up”) arrangements for exchange-traded futures, but Subadviser must obtain the prior approval of the Adviser before entering into or signing other agreements or documents relating to derivative instruments. |
Subadviser shall not be responsible to advise or act for the Adviser or the Designated Series in any legal proceedings, including any bankruptcy action or class action settlements, relating to the securities or assets currently or previously held or purchased or sold by the Designated Series; provided, however, that Subadviser, upon request, shall provide Adviser or the Designated Series with non-confidential information in Subadviser’s possession with respect to such proceedings.
7. | Prohibited Conduct . In providing the services described in this Agreement, the Subadviser’s responsibility regarding investment advice hereunder is limited to the Designated Series, and the Subadviser will not consult with any other investment advisory firm that provides investment advisory services to the Fund or any other investment company sponsored by Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. regarding transactions for the Fund in securities or other assets. The Fund shall provide the Subadviser with a list of investment companies sponsored by Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. and the Subadviser shall be in breach of the foregoing provision only if the investment company is included in such a list provided to the Subadviser prior to such prohibited action. |
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8. | Information and Reports . |
A. | The Subadviser shall provide the Fund, the Adviser and their respective officers with such periodic reports concerning the obligations the Subadviser has assumed under this Agreement as the Fund and the Adviser may from time to time reasonably request in such form as may be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Adviser. |
B. | Each of the Adviser and the Subadviser shall provide the other party with (i) a list, to the best of the Adviser’s or the Subadviser’s respective knowledge, of each affiliated person (and any affiliated person of such an affiliated person) of the Adviser or the Subadviser, as the case may be, or (ii) a document reflecting the corporate structure of the Adviser or Subadviser, as the case may be. Each of the Adviser and Subadviser agrees promptly to provide an updated list or document, as applicable, (y) upon request of the other party or (z) in the absence of any such request, with the next regular quarterly or semi-annual periodic compliance or other report provided to the other party. |
B. | The Subadviser shall also provide the Adviser with any information reasonably requested by the Adviser regarding Subadviser’s management of the Designated Series required for any shareholder report, amended registration statement, or Prospectus supplement to be filed by the Fund with the SEC. |
9. | Fees for Services . The compensation of the Subadviser for its services under this Agreement shall be calculated and paid by the Adviser in accordance with the attached Schedule B. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and the Adviser, the Adviser is solely responsible for the payment of fees to the Subadviser. |
10. | Limitation of Liability . Except as otherwise stated in this Agreement, the Subadviser shall not be liable for any action taken, omitted or suffered to be taken by it in its best professional judgment, in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Agreement, or in accordance with specific directions or instructions from the Fund or the Adviser, provided, however, that such acts or omissions shall not have resulted from the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. In no event shall Subadviser be liable for any consequential, indirect, punitive or exemplary damages or for lost profits under any provision of this Agreement, including with respect to a party’s indemnification obligation under Section 22 of this Agreement. |
11. | Confidentiality . The parties hereto shall treat as confidential all non-public information pertaining to the Designated Series and the actions of the Subadviser and the Fund in respect thereof. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund and the Adviser agree that the Subadviser may (i) disclose in marketing materials and similar communications that the Subadviser has been engaged to manage assets of the Designated Series pursuant to this Agreement, and (ii) include performance statistics regarding the Series in composite performance statistics regarding one or more groups of Subadviser's clients published or included in any of the foregoing communications, provided that the Subadviser does not identify any performance statistics as relating specifically to the Series.
Notwithstanding the first paragraph of this Section 11, a party may disclose confidential information to a third party: (i) with the prior written consent of the other party; (ii) as required by applicable federal or state law, regulation, court order, or the rules and regulations or request of any governmental or self-regulatory body or official having jurisdiction over such party; (iii) to its associates, delegates and other agents who reasonably require access to such information in order to provide the services contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) to any market counterparty or broker, dealer, or futures commission merchant (collectively, “trading counterparties”) (in accordance with market practice) in relation to transactions undertaken for a Designated Series in order to assist or enable the proper performance of its services
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under the Agreement; or (v) if such third party agrees in writing with such party to keep such information confidential and to not trade based upon such information. Each party and any trading counterparties are authorized to disclose transaction and other information to data repositories and regulators for the purposes of meeting applicable transaction and other regulatory reporting requirements.
12. | Assignment . This Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the Act. The Subadviser shall notify the Fund and the Adviser in writing sufficiently in advance of any proposed change of control, as defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Act, as will enable the Fund to consider whether an assignment as defined in Section 2(a)(4) of the Act will occur, and to take the steps necessary to enter into a new contract with the Subadviser. |
13. | Representations, Warranties and Agreements |
A. | The Subadviser represents, warrants and agrees that: |
1. | It is registered as an “investment adviser” under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”). |
2. | It will maintain, keep current and preserve such records on behalf of the Fund, in the manner required or permitted by the Act and the Rules thereunder as are required of an investment adviser of a registered investment company (as applicable to the services provided by the Subadviser under this Agreement). The Subadviser agrees that such records are the property of the Fund, and shall be surrendered to the Fund or to the Adviser as agent of the Fund promptly upon request of either. The Fund acknowledges that Subadviser may retain copies of all records required to meet the record retention requirements imposed by law and regulation. |
3. | It shall maintain a written code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) complying with the requirements of Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act and Rule 17j-l under the Act and shall provide the Fund and the Adviser with a copy of the Code of Ethics and evidence of its adoption. It shall institute procedures reasonably necessary to prevent Access Persons (as defined in Rule 17j-1) from violating its Code of Ethics. The Subadviser acknowledges receipt of the written code of ethics adopted by and on behalf of the Fund. Each calendar quarter while this Agreement is in effect, a duly authorized compliance officer of the Subadviser shall certify to the Fund and to the Adviser, in a form to be mutual agreed by the Subadviser and Adviser, that the Subadviser has complied with the requirements of Rules 204A-1 and 17j-l during the previous calendar quarter Annually, the Subadviser shall furnish to the Fund and the Adviser a written report which complies with the requirements of Rule 17j-1 concerning the Subadviser’s Code of Ethics. |
4. | It has adopted and implemented, and throughout the term of this Agreement shall maintain in effect and implement, written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation, by it and its supervised persons, of the Advisers Act and the rules that the SEC has adopted under the Advisers Act. Throughout the term of this Agreement, the Subadviser shall provide the Adviser, in a form to be mutually agreed upon by the Subadviser and Adviser, with any certifications, information and access to personnel and resources (including those resources that will permit testing of Subadviser’s compliance policies by the Adviser) that the Adviser may reasonably request to enable the Fund to comply with Rule 38a-1 under the Act. The Subadviser has provided the Fund with true and complete copies of its policies and procedures (or summaries thereof) that relate the services to be provided by Subadviser hereunder and related information reasonably requested by the Fund and/or the Adviser. The Subadviser agrees to provide reasonable cooperation with periodic reviews by the Fund’s and/or the Adviser’s compliance personnel of the Subadviser’s policies and |
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procedures, their operation and implementation and other compliance matters and to provide to the Fund and/or the Adviser from time to time, in a form to be mutually agreed upon by the Adviser and Subadviser, such additional information and certifications in respect of the Subadviser’s policies and procedures, compliance by the Subadviser with federal securities laws and related matters as the Fund’s and/or the Adviser’s compliance personnel may reasonably request. The Subadviser agrees to promptly notify the Adviser if the Subadviser has knowledge of any compliance violations which materially affect the Designated Series. |
5. | The Subadviser will promptly notify the Fund and the Adviser upon the Subadviser’s having knowledge of the occurrence of any event that the Subadviser believes would disqualify the Subadviser from serving as an investment adviser of an investment company pursuant to Section 9 of the Act or otherwise. The Subadviser will also promptly notify the Fund and the Adviser if it is served or otherwise receives notice of any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, at law or in equity, before or by any court, public board or body, if the Designated Series is identified as a party to or the subject of any such action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation. |
B. | The Fund represents, warrants and agrees that: |
1. | the Fund is a statutory trust established pursuant to the laws of State of Delaware; |
2. | the Fund is duly registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act; |
3. | the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within the Fund’s powers, have been and remain duly authorized by all necessary action (including without limitation all necessary approvals and other actions required under the 1940 Act) and will not violate or constitute a default under any applicable law or regulation or of any decree, order, judgment, agreement or instrument binding on the Fund; |
4. | no consent of any applicable governmental authority or body is necessary, except for such consents as have been obtained and are in full force and effect, and all conditions of which have been duly complied with; and |
5. | this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation enforceable against the Fund in accordance with its terms. |
C. | The Adviser represents, warrants and agrees that: |
1. | The Adviser is a limited liability company duly established, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Delaware and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect on its business; |
2. | Adviser is duly registered as an “investment adviser” under the Advisers Act; |
3. | Adviser has been duly appointed by the Trustees and shareholders of the Fund to provide investment services to the Fund as contemplated by the advisory contract; |
4. | the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are within Adviser’s powers, have been and remain duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not violate or constitute a default under any applicable law or regulation or of any decree, order, judgment, agreement or instrument binding on Adviser; |
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5. | no consent of any applicable governmental authority or body is necessary, except for such consents as have been obtained and are in full force and effect, and all conditions of which have been duly complied with; and |
6. | this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation enforceable against Adviser. |
14. | Use of Subadviser Name |
A. | Subadviser Property . The parties agree that the names of the Subadviser and its affiliates, and their logos, trademarks, service marks or trade names, and any derivatives of such (collectively, “Subadviser Property”) are the valuable property of the Subadviser and its affiliates. |
B. | Permitted Use . The Adviser and the Fund may use Subadviser Property only: (i) to identify the Subadviser as the Subadviser to the Designated Series as required by law or governmental regulations; and (ii) in marketing materials for the Designated Series or for insurance or annuity products that offer the Designated Series as an investment option, provided that such use is limited to: (a) identifying the Subadviser and the services performed for the Designated Series by the Subadviser; and (b) providing biographical information about the Subadviser that is accurately derived from information provided by or made public by the Subadviser or its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Subadvisor hereby consents to the use of the name “DFA” in the name of the Designated Series and use of Subadviser's name in the Designated Series' disclosure documents, and to the extent required, necessary or advisable, in shareholder communications; provided, however, Subadviser may withdraw authorization for the use of its name with respect to a Designated Series upon 30 days' written notice to Manager if Subadviser is no longer the sole sub-advisor to the Designated Series. The Adviser and the Fund agree to provide samples of any material that uses Subadviser Property at the Subadviser’s request and to (i) not use such material if Subadviser reasonably objects in writing five business days after receipt thereof and (ii) otherwise abide by reasonable guidance provided by the Subadviser and its affiliates regarding proper use of Subadviser Property. Any other use of Subadviser Property must be expressly pre-approved in writing by the Subadviser. Any change in any approved use of Subadviser Property, including, without limitation, a change in a name of a Designated Series that includes Subadviser Property, requires prior approval in writing by the Subadviser or its appropriate affiliate. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Adviser and the Fund shall forthwith cease to use Subadviser Property except to the limited extent necessary to comply with laws, governmental regulations or a court order. In addition, the Adviser and Fund shall cease use of the Subadviser’s name if Subadviser is no longer the sole Subadviser to the Designated Series, provided that the Adviser and the Fund may use up any remaining stock of materials that include the Subadviser’s name. |
C. | Unauthorized Use . If the Adviser or the Fund makes any unauthorized use of Subadviser Property, the parties acknowledge that the Subadviser and its affiliates shall suffer irreparable harm for which monetary damages may be inadequate, and the Subadviser and its affiliates shall thus be entitled to injunctive relief, as well as any other remedy available under law. |
15. | No Personal Liability . Reference is hereby made to the Declaration of Trust establishing the Fund, a copy of which has been filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and elsewhere as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware and elsewhere as required by law, and to any and all amendments thereto so filed or hereafter filed. The name “ Virtus Retirement Trust ” refers to the Trustees under said Declaration of Trust, as Trustees and not personally, and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, agent or employee of the Fund shall be held to any personal liability in connection with the affairs of the Fund; only the trust estate under said Declaration of Trust is liable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Subadviser nor any of its officers, directors, partners, shareholders or employees shall, under any circumstances, have recourse or cause or willingly permit recourse to be had directly or indirectly to any personal, statutory, or other liability of any |
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shareholder, Trustee, officer, agent or employee of the Fund or of any successor of the Fund, whether such liability now exists or is hereafter incurred for claims against the trust estate. |
16. | Entire Agreement; Amendment . This Agreement, together with the Schedules attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior written or oral agreements pertaining to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended at any time, but only by written agreement among the Subadviser, the Adviser and the Fund, which amendment, other than amendments to Schedules A, C, D, and E is subject to the approval of the Trustees and the shareholders of the Series as and to the extent required by the Act, subject to any applicable orders of exemption issued by the SEC. |
17. | Effective Date; Term . This Agreement shall become effective on the date set forth on the first page of this Agreement, and shall continue in effect until December 31, 2017 . The Agreement shall continue from year to year thereafter only so long as its continuance has been specifically approved at least annually by the Trustees in accordance with Section 15(a) of the Act, and by the majority vote of the disinterested Trustees in accordance with the requirements of Section 15(c) thereof. |
18. | Termination . This Agreement may be terminated at any time without payment of any penalty (i) by the Board, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund (as defined in the Act), upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Adviser and the Subadviser, (ii) by the Subadviser upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Adviser and the Fund, or (iii) by the Adviser upon 30 days’ written notice to the Subadviser. This Agreement may also be terminated, without the payment of any penalty, by the Adviser or the Board immediately upon the material breach by the Subadviser of this Agreement or by the Subadviser immediately upon the material breach by the Adviser of this Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately upon termination of the Advisory Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate automatically and immediately in the event of its assignment, as such term is defined in and interpreted under the terms of the Act and the rules promulgated thereunder. Provisions of this Agreement relating to indemnification shall survive any termination of this Agreement. |
19. | Applicable Law . To the extent that state law is not preempted by the provisions of any law of the United States heretofore or hereafter enacted, as the same may be amended from time to time, this Agreement shall be administered, construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Delaware . |
20. | Severability . If any term or condition of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent or in any application, then the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each and every term and condition of this Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. |
21. | Notices. Any notice or other communication required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed duly given if delivered personally or by overnight delivery service or mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, or sent by facsimile addressed to the parties at their respective addresses set forth below, or at such other address as shall be designated by any party in a written notice to the other party. |
(a) | To Virtus or the Fund at: |
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.
100 Pearl Street |
Hartford, Connecticut 06103 |
Attn: Kevin J. Carr |
Telephone: (860) 263-4791 |
Facsimile: (860) 241-1024 |
E-mail: kevin.carr@virtus.com |
(b) | To Subadviser at: |
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Dimensional Fund Advisors LP
6300 Bee Cave Road
Building One
Austin, TX 78746
Attn: General Counsel |
Telephone: (512) 306-7400 |
22. | Certifications . The Subadviser hereby warrants and represents that it will provide, in a form to be mutually agreed by upon by the Adviser and Subadviser, the certifications reasonably requested by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Fund to assist those named officers in fulfilling their reporting and certification obligations on Form N-CSR and Form N-Q as required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to the extent that such reporting and certifications relate to the Subadviser’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. Subadviser shall provide a quarterly certification in a form substantially similar to that attached as Schedule E, which form may be amended from time to time as mutually agreed upon by the Adviser and Subadviser. |
23. | Indemnification . |
(a) | The Subadviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, or damages (including reasonable attorney’s fees and other related expenses) (collectively, “Losses”) arising from the Subadviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Subadviser’s obligation under this Paragraph shall be reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability, or damage experienced by the Adviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to (i) any breach by the Adviser of its representations or warranties made herein, (ii) any willful misconduct, bad faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence of the Adviser in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder, or (iii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus or SAI, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Fund(s) or the omission to state therein a material fact known to the Adviser that was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Adviser or the Trust by the Subadviser for use therein. |
(b) | The Adviser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Subadviser from and against any and all Losses arising from the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of its duties under this Agreement in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Adviser’s obligation under this Paragraph 6 shall be reduced to the extent that the claim against, or the loss, liability, or damage experienced by the Subadviser, is caused by or is otherwise directly related to (i) any breach by the Subadviser of its representations or warranties made herein, (ii) any willful misconduct, bad faith, reckless disregard or gross negligence of the Subadviser in the performance of any of its duties or obligations hereunder, or (iii) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus or SAI, proxy materials, reports, advertisements, sales literature, or other materials pertaining to the Fund(s) or the omission to state therein a material fact known to the Subadviser that was required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Adviser or the Trust by the Subadviser for use therein. |
(c) | If the Adviser, the Fund, or the Subadviser, their affiliates, or any officer, director, employee, or agent of any of the foregoing, is entitled to indemnification as stated in (b) or (c) above ("Indemnified Party") in respect of a claim to be made against any person obligated to provide indemnification under this section ("Indemnifying Party"), such Indemnified Party shall notify the Indemnifying Party in writing as soon as practicable after receipt of the summons, notice or other first legal process or notice giving |
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information on the nature of such claim; provided that the failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability under this section, except to the extent that such Indemnifying Party is damaged as a result of the failure to give such notice. The Indemnifying Party, upon the request of the Indemnified Party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party in the proceeding which relates to the indemnifiable claim, and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (1) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, or (2) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party and representation by both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify the Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
24. | Relationship of Parties. The Adviser, the Fund and Subadviser are not partners or joint venturers with each other and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed so as to make them partners or joint venturers or impose any liability as such on either of them. Subadviser shall perform its duties under this Agreement as an independent contractor and not as an agent of the Fund, the Trustees or the Adviser. |
25. | Receipt of Disclosure Document . The Fund and the Adviser acknowledge receipt, at least 48 hours prior to entering into this Agreement, of a copy of Part 2A of the Subadviser’s Form ADV containing certain information concerning the Subadviser and the nature of its business. |
26. | Counterparts; Fax Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including executed counterparts delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission) with the same effect as if all signing parties had originally signed the same document, and all counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute the same instrument. For all purposes, signatures delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission shall be binding and effective to the same extent as original signatures. |
[signature page follows]
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VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST |
By: | ||||
Name: | W. Patrick Bradley | |||
Title: | Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer |
VIRTUS RETIREMENT INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC. |
By: | ||||
Name: | Francis G. Waltman | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President |
ACCEPTED:
DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP
By: Dimensional Holdings Inc., its general partner
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
SCHEDULES: | A. | Operational Procedures | |
B. | Fee Schedule | ||
C. | Subadviser Functions | ||
D. | Form of Sub-Certification | ||
E. | Designated Series |
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SCHEDULE A
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
In order to minimize operational problems, it will be necessary for a flow of information to be supplied by Subadviser to The JPMorgan (the "Custodian") and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., (the “Sub-Accounting Agent”) for the Fund.
The Sub-Accounting Agent specifically requires a daily blotter reflecting all executed trades, or, if no trades are executed, with a report to that effect. Daily information as to executed trades for same-day settlement (not including trades for shares of Registered Funds) and future trades must be sent to the Sub-Accounting Agent generally no later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), but in no event later than 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), on the day of the trade each day the Trust is open for business. In the event that Subadvisor anticipates delivering daily information as to executed futures trades later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) (a “Late Delivery”), Subadvisor shall endeavor to notify the Sub-Accounting Agent by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) of such Late Delivery. All other executed trades, including trades for shares of Registered Funds, must be delivered to the Sub-Accounting Agent on Trade Date plus 1 by 11am (Eastern Time) to ensure that they are part of the Series’ NAV calculation. (The Subadviser will be responsible for reimbursement to the Trust for any loss caused by the Subadviser’s failure to comply with the requirements of this Schedule A.) Information to be provided to the Custodian and Sub-Accounting Agent shall include the following, as applicable to a particular trade:
1. | Purchase or sale; |
2. | Security type (e.g., equity, fixed income, swap, future, option, short, long); |
3. | Security name; |
4. | CUSIP number, ISIN or Sedols (as applicable); |
5. | Number of shares and sales price per share or aggregate principal amount; |
6. | Transaction price per share (clean if possible); |
7. | Strike price; |
8. | Aggregate principal amount; |
9. | Executing broker; |
10. | Settlement agent; |
11. | Trade date; |
12. | Settlement date; |
13. | Aggregate commission or if a net trade; |
14. | Interest purchased or sold from interest bearing security; |
15. | Net proceeds of the transaction; |
16. | Exchange where trade was executed; |
17. | Derivative terms; |
18. | Non-deliverable forward classification (to be provided quarterly); |
19. | Maturity/expiration date; |
20. | Trade commission reason: best execution, soft dollar or research (to be provided quarterly); and |
21. | Wire/Settlement instructions for all trades executed. |
The Custodian will supply the Subadviser daily with a cash availability report via access to the Custodian website, or by email or by facsimile and the Sub-Accounting Agent will provide a five day cash projection. This will normally be done by email or, if email is unavailable, by another form of immediate written communication, so that the Subadviser will know the amount available for investment purposes.
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SCHEDULE B
SUBADVISORY FEE
(a) For services provided to the Fund, the Adviser will pay to the Subadviser a fee, payable monthly in arrears, at the annual rate stated below. The fee shall be prorated for any month during which this Agreement is in effect for only a portion of the month. In computing the fee to be paid to the Subadviser, the net asset value of each Designated Series shall be valued as set forth in the then current registration statement of the Fund.
(b)
Name of Series | Proposed Subadvisory Fee to be Paid by VRIA to DFA |
All series listed on Schedule E | .03% |
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SCHEDULE C
SUBADVISER FUNCTIONS
With respect to managing the investment and reinvestment of the Designated Series’ assets, the Subadviser shall provide, at its own expense:
(a) | An investment program for the Designated Series consistent with its investment objectives based upon the development, review and adjustment of buy/sell strategies approved from time to time by the Board of Trustees and the Adviser as described in paragraph 3 of this Subadvisory Agreement, as well as implementation of that program; |
(b) | Periodic reports, on at least a quarterly basis, in form and substance as agreed upon by the Subadviser and the Adviser, with respect to: i) compliance with the Code of Ethics and the Fund’s code of ethics; ii) compliance with procedures adopted from time to time by the Trustees of the Fund relative to securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; iii) diversification of Designated Series assets in accordance with the then prevailing Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information pertaining to the Designated Series and governing laws, regulations, rules and orders; iv) compliance with governing restrictions relating to the fair valuation of securities for which market quotations are not readily available or considered "illiquid" for the purposes of complying with the Designated Series’ limitation on acquisition of illiquid securities; v) any and all other reports reasonably requested in accordance with or described in this Agreement; and vi) the implementation of the Designated Series’ investment program, including, without limitation, analysis of Designated Series performance; |
(c) | Promptly after filing with the SEC an amendment to its Form ADV, a copy of such amendment to the Adviser; |
(d) | Attendance by appropriate representatives of the Subadviser at meetings requested by the Adviser or Trustees at such time(s) and location(s) as reasonably requested by the Adviser or Trustees; and |
(e) | Upon request, (1) fair value pricing recommendations for a security in the form and in the manner that Subadviser provides such fair value recommendations for that security to other funds that Subadviser subadvises that are registered as investment companies under the Act, and (2) participation of appropriate representatives at fair valuation committee meetings. |
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SCHEDULE D
FORM OF SUB-CERTIFICATION
To: |
Re: | Subadviser’s Form N-CSR and Form N-Q Certification for the [Name of Designated Series]. |
From: | [Name of Subadviser] |
Representations in support of Investment Company Act Rule 30a-2 certifications of Form N-CSR and Form N-Q.
[Name of Designated Series]. |
In connection with your certification responsibility under Rule 30a-2 and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, I have reviewed the following information presented in the schedule of investments for the period ended [Date of Reporting Period] (the “Report”) which forms part of the N-CSR or N-Q, as applicable, for the Fund.
Schedule of Investments
The Subadviser has designed, implemented and maintained internal controls and procedures, designed for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and completeness of relevant portfolio trade data that the Subadviser transmits to the Fund. As of the date of this certification there have been no material modifications to these internal controls and procedures. In addition, our organization has:
a. | Designed such internal controls and procedures to ensure that material information is made known to the appropriate groups responsible for servicing the above-mentioned mutual fund. |
b. | Evaluated the effectiveness of our internal controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the date of this certification and we have concluded that such controls and procedures are effective. |
c. | In addition, to the best of my knowledge, there has been no fraud, whether or not material, that involves our organization’s management or other employees who have a significant role in our organization’s control and procedures. |
I have read the draft of the Report which I understand to be current as of [Date of Reporting Period] and based on my knowledge, such draft of the Report does not, with respect to the Designated Series, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the information contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which such information is presented, not misleading with respect to the period covered by such draft Report.
I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation, to the Designated Series or the Adviser:
a. | All significant changes, deficiencies and material weakness, if any, in the design or operation of the Subadviser’s internal controls and procedures which could adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data with respect to the Designated Series in a timely fashion; |
b. | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves the Subadviser’s management or other employees who have a significant role in the Subadviser’s internal controls and procedures for financial reporting. |
15 |
This certification relates solely to the Designated Series named above and may not be relied upon by any other fund or entity.
The Subadviser does not maintain the official books and records of the above Designated Series. The Subadviser’s records are based on its own portfolio management system, a record-keeping system that is not intended to serve as the Designated Series official accounting system. The Subadviser is not responsible for the preparation of the Report. All certifications, representations and statements herein are made only with respect to the subadvisory services that the Subadviser provides to the Designated Series and are made by the authorized signer to the best of his or her knowledge on behalf of the Subadviser and not in an individual capacity.
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP | Date | ||
[Name of Authorized Signer] | |||
[Title of Authorized Signer] |
16 |
SCHEDULE E
DESIGNATED SERIES
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
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Exhibit 99.(e).(1)
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made as of this 6 th day of January, 2016, by and between Virtus Retirement Trust, a Delaware statutory trust having a place of business located at 101 Munson Street, Greenfield, Massachusetts (the “Trust”) and VP Distributors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company having a place of business located at 100 Pearl Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06103 (the “Underwriter”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
1. | The Fund hereby grants to the Underwriter the right to purchase shares of beneficial interest of each class of each series of the Fund established and designated as of the date hereof and of any additional series and classes thereof which the Board of Directors or Board of Trustees, as applicable (“Trustees”) may establish and designate during the term of this Agreement (called the “Series” and “Classes”, respectively) and to resell shares of various Classes, as applicable, of each Series (collectively called the “Shares”) as principal and not as agent. The Underwriter accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services described in this Agreement for the compensation herein provided. |
2. | The Underwriter’s right to purchase Shares shall be exclusive except that the terms of this Agreement shall not apply to Shares issued or transferred: |
a. | pursuant to an offer of exchange exempted under Section 22(d) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”) by reason of the fact that said offer is permitted by Section 11 of the Act, including any offer made pursuant to clause (1) or (2) of Section 11(b); |
b. | upon the sale to a registered unit investment trust which is the issuer of periodic payment plan certificates the net proceeds of which are invested in redeemable securities; |
c. | pursuant to an offer made solely to all registered holders of Shares, or all registered holders of Shares of any Series, proportionate to their holdings or proportionate to any cash distribution made to them by the Fund (subject to appropriate qualifications designed solely to avoid issuance of fractional securities); |
d. | in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Fund or of any Series with any other investment company or the acquisition by the Fund, by purchase or otherwise, of any other investment company; |
e. | pursuant to sales exempted from Section 22(d) of the Act, by rule or regulation or order of the Securities and Exchange Commission as provided in the then current registration statement of the Fund; or |
f. | in connection with the reinvestment by Fund shareholders of dividend and capital gains distributions. |
3. | The “Net Asset Value” and the “Public Offering Price” of the Shares as referred to in this Agreement shall be computed in accordance with the provisions of the then current registration statement of the Fund. The Underwriter shall be notified promptly by the Fund of such computations. |
4. | The Underwriter has and shall enter into written sales agreements with broker/dealers (“dealers”) and with banks as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), that are not required to register as a broker/dealer under the Exchange Act or the |
regulations thereunder (“Banks”). Such sales agreements shall provide that dealers or Banks shall use their best efforts to promote the sale of Shares. Such sales agreements shall include such terms and conditions as Underwriter may determine not inconsistent with this Agreement; provided, however, that such sales agreements shall specify a) that the dealer is registered as a broker/dealer under the Exchange Act and a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or, in the alternative, that the Bank is exempt from broker/dealer registration under the Exchange Act; and b) that such dealers and Banks agree that they will comply with all applicable state, and federal laws and the rules and regulations of applicable regulatory agencies. |
5. | Each day the Underwriter shall have the right to purchase from the Fund, as principal, the amount of Shares needed to fill unconditional orders for such Shares received by the Underwriter from dealers, Banks, or investors, but no more than the Shares needed, at a price equal to the Net Asset Value of the Shares. Any purchase of Shares by the Underwriter under this Agreement shall be subject to reasonable adjustment for clerical errors, delays and errors of transmission and cancellation of orders. |
6. | With respect to transactions other than with dealers or Banks, the Underwriter will sell Shares only at the Public Offering Price then in effect, except to the extent that sales at less than the Public Offering Price may be allowed by the Act, any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder or by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), provided, however, that any such sales at less than the Public Offering Price shall be consistent with the terms of the then current registration statement of the Fund. The Underwriter will sell at Net Asset Value Shares of any Classes which are offered by the then current registration statement or prospectus of the Fund for sale at such Net Asset Value or at Net Asset Value with a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC Shares”). The Underwriter shall receive from the Fund all contingent deferred sales charges applied on redemptions of CDSC Shares. |
7. | Sales at a discount from the Public Offering Price shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the terms of the current registration statement of the Fund allowing such discounts. Such discounts shall not exceed the difference between the Net Asset Value and the Public Offering Price; however, the Underwriter may offer compensation in excess of the difference between the Net Asset Value and the Public Offering Price, at its discretion and from its own profits and resources, and only as described in the current registration statement of the Fund. With respect to sales of CDSC Shares, the Underwriter, in accordance with the terms of the current registration statement of the Fund, shall pay dealers a commission on such sales from its profits and resources. |
8. | As reimbursement for expenditures made in connection with providing certain distribution-related services, the Underwriter may receive from the Fund a distribution fee under the terms and conditions set forth in the Fund’s distribution plan adopted under Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as the plan may be amended from time to time and subject to any further limitations on such fees as the Trustees may impose. The Underwriter may also receive from the Fund a service fee under the 12b-1 Plan to be retained by the Underwriter as compensation for providing services to shareholders of the Fund or to be paid to dealers and Banks for providing services to their clients who are also shareholders of the Fund. |
9. | The Fund shall furnish the Underwriter with copies of its organizational documents, as amended from time to time. The Fund shall also furnish the Underwriter with any other documents of the Fund which will assist the Underwriter in the performance of its duties hereunder. |
10. | The Underwriter agrees to use its best efforts (in states where it may lawfully do so) to obtain from investors unconditional orders for Shares authorized for issue by the Fund and registered under applicable Federal securities laws, and, so long as it does so, nothing herein contained shall prevent the Underwriter from entering into similar arrangements with other registered investment companies. The Underwriter may, in the exercise of its discretion, refuse to accept orders for Shares from any person. |
11. | Upon receipt by the Fund of a purchase order from the Underwriter, accompanied by proper delivery instructions, the Fund shall, as promptly as practicable thereafter, cause evidence of ownership of Shares to be delivered as indicated in such purchase order. Payment for such Shares shall be made by the Underwriter to the Fund in a manner acceptable to the Fund, provided that the Underwriter shall pay for such Shares no later than the third business day after the Underwriter shall have contracted to purchase such shares. |
12. | In connection with offering for sale and selling Shares, the Fund authorizes the Underwriter to give only such information and to make only such statements or representations as are contained in the then current registration statement of the Fund. The Underwriter shall be responsible for the approval and filing of sales material as required under SEC and NASD regulations. |
13. | The Fund agrees to pay the following expenses: |
a. | the cost of mailing any stock certificates representing Shares; |
b. | fees and expenses (including legal expenses) of registering and maintaining registrations of the Fund and of each Series and Class with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the preparation and printing of registration statements and prospectuses for filing with said Commission; |
c. | fees and expenses (including legal expenses) incurred in registering and qualifying Shares for sale with any state regulatory agency and fees and expenses of maintaining, renewing, increasing or amending such registrations and qualifications; |
d. | the expense of any issue or transfer taxes upon the sale of Shares to the Underwriter by the Fund; |
e. | the cost of preparing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders; and |
f. | fees and expenses of the transfer agent, including the cost of preparing and mailing notices to shareholders pertaining to transactions with respect to such shareholders accounts. |
14. | The Underwriter agrees to pay the following expenses: |
a. | all expenses of printing prospectuses and statements of additional information used in connection with the sale of Shares and printing and preparing all other sales literature; |
b. | all fees and expenses in connection with the qualification of the Underwriter as a dealer in the various states and countries; |
c. | the expense of any stock transfer tax required in connection with the sale of Shares by the Underwriter as principal to dealers or to investors; and |
d. | all other expenses in connection with offering for sale and the sale of Shares which have not been herein specifically allocated to the Fund. |
15. | The Fund hereby appoints the Underwriter its agent to receive requests to accept the Fund’s offer to repurchase Shares upon such terms and conditions as may be described in the Fund’s then current registration statement. The agency granted in this paragraph 15 is terminable at the discretion of the Fund. As compensation for acting as such agent and as part of the consideration for acting as |
underwriter, Underwriter shall receive from the Fund all contingent deferred sales charges imposed upon the redemption of Shares. Whether and to what extent a contingent deferred sales charge will be imposed shall be determined in accordance with, and in the manner set forth in, the applicable Fund’s prospectus. |
16. | The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, its officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of any legal fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Underwriter, its officers, directors or any such controlling person may incur under said Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon |
a. | any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus (including amendments and supplements thereto), or |
b. | any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Fund's registration statement or prospectus or necessary to make the statements in either not misleading, provided, however, that insofar as losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund by the Underwriter for use in the Fund's registration statement or prospectus, such indemnification is not applicable. In no case shall the Fund indemnify the Underwriter or its controlling persons as to any amounts incurred for any liability arising out of or based upon any action for which the Underwriter, its officers and directors or any controlling person would otherwise be subject to liability by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement. |
17. | The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, its officers and trustees and each person, if any, who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of any legal fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Fund, its officers, trustees or any such controlling person may incur under said Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise arising out of the acquisition of any shares by any person which |
a. | may be based upon any wrongful act by the Underwriter or any of its employees or representatives, or |
b. | may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Fund’s registration statement (including amendments and supplements thereto) or sales material, or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished or confirmed in writing to the Fund by the Underwriter. |
18. | It is understood that: |
a. | trustees, officers, employees, agents and shareholders of the Fund are or may be interested persons, as that term is defined in the Act (“Interested Persons”), of the Underwriter as directors, officers, stockholders or otherwise; |
b. | directors, officers, employees, agents and stockholders of the Underwriter are or may be Interested Persons of the Fund as trustees, officers, shareholders or otherwise; |
c. | the Underwriter may be an Interested Person of the Fund as shareholder or otherwise; and |
d. | the existence of any such dual interest shall not offset the validity hereof or of any transactions hereunder. |
19. | The Fund may terminate this Agreement by 60 days written notice to the Underwriter at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of the Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as that term is defined in the Act, of the Fund. The Underwriter may terminate this Agreement by 60 days written notice to the Fund, without the payment of any penalty. This Agreement shall immediately terminate in the event of its assignment, as that term is defined in the Act. |
20. | Subject to prior termination as provided in paragraph 19, this Agreement shall continue in force for one year from the date of execution and from year to year thereafter so long as the continuance after such one year period shall be specifically approved at least annually by vote of the Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the appropriate class of outstanding voting securities, as that term is defined in the Act, of the Fund. Additionally, each annual renewal of this Agreement must be approved by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreement or Interested Persons of any such party, cast in person at a meeting of the Trustees called for the purpose of voting on such approval. |
21. | It is expressly agreed that the obligations of the Fund hereunder shall not be binding upon any of the Trustees, shareholders, nominees, officers, agents or employees of the Fund personally, but bind only the trust property of the Fund, as provided in the Declaration of Trust. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the President of the Fund has been authorized by the Trustees acting as such, and neither such execution and delivery by such officer nor such authorization by such Trustees shall be deemed to have been made by any of them individually or be binding upon or impose any liability on any of them personally, but shall bind only the trust property of the Fund as provided in the Declaration of Trust. |
22. | This Agreement shall become effective upon the date first set forth above. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware and shall be binding on the successors and assigns of the parties to the extent permitted by law. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first written above.
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST
By: /s/ W. Patrick Bradley
Name: W. Patrick Bradley
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
VP DISTRIBUTORS, LLC
By: /s/ David G. Hanley
Name: David G. Hanley
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
Exhibit 99.(e).(2)
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100 Pearl Street
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800.248.7971 | VIRTUS.COM |
VP Distributors, LLC.
100 Pearl Street
Hartford, CT 06103
VIRTUS FUNDS
SALES AGREEMENT
To: | Dealer Name |
Attention: | |
Address | |
City, State, Zip Code |
VP Distributors, LLC ("VPD", "we", "us", or "our") invites you to participate in the sale and distribution of shares of registered investment companies (which shall collectively be referred to hereinafter as the "Funds") for which we are national distributor or principal underwriter, and which may be listed in Annex A hereto which such Annex may be amended by us from time to time. Upon acceptance of this agreement by VPD, you may offer and sell shares of each of the Funds (hereafter "Shares") subject, however, to the terms and conditions hereof including our right to suspend or cease the sale of such shares. For the purposes hereof, the above referenced dealer shall be referred to as "you".
1. | You understand and agree that in all sales of Shares to the public, you shall act as dealer for your own account. All purchase orders and applications are subject to acceptance or rejection by us in our sole discretion and are effective only upon confirmation by us. Each purchase will be deemed to have been consummated in our principal office subject to our acceptance and effective only upon confirmation to you by us. |
2. | You agree that all purchases of Shares by you shall be made only for the purpose of covering purchase orders already received from your customers (who may be any person other than a securities dealer or broker) or for your own bona-fide investment. |
3. | You shall offer and sell Shares purchased pursuant to this agreement for the purpose of covering purchase orders of your customers, to the extent applicable, (a) at the current public offering price ("Offering Price") for Class A Shares or (b) at the Net Asset Value for Class B and Class C shares as set forth in the current prospectus of each of the funds. |
4. | You shall pay us for Shares purchased within three (3) business days of the date of our confirmation to you of such purchase or within such time as required by applicable rule or law. The purchase price shall be (a) the Offering Price, less only the applicable dealer discount (Dealer Discount) for Class A Shares, if applicable, or (b) the Net Asset Value, less only the applicable sales commission (Sales Commission) for Class C Shares, if applicable, as set forth in the current prospectus at the time the purchase is received by us. We have the right, without notice, to cancel any order for which payment of good and sufficient funds has not been received by us as provided in this paragraph, in which case you may be held responsible for any loss suffered by us resulting from your failure to make payment as aforesaid. |
5. | You understand and agree that any Dealer Discount, Sales Commission or fee is subject to change from time to time without prior notice. Any orders placed after the effective date of any such change shall be subject to the Dealer Discount or Sales Commission in effect at the time such order is received by us. |
6. | You understand and agree that Shares purchased by you under this Agreement will not be delivered until payment of good and sufficient funds has been received by us. Delivery of Shares will be made by credit to a shareholder open account unless delivery of certificates is specified in the purchase order. In order to avoid unnecessary delay, it is understood that, at your request, any Shares resold by you to one of your customers will be delivered (whether by credit to a shareholder open account or by delivery of certificates) in the name of your customer. |
7. | You understand that on all purchases of Shares to which the terms of this Agreement are applicable by a shareholder for whom you are dealer of record, we will pay you an amount equal to the Dealer Discount, Sales Commission or fees which would have been paid to you with respect to such Shares if such Shares had been purchased through you. You understand and agree that the dealer of record for this purpose shall be the dealer through whom such shareholder most recently purchased Shares of such fund, unless the shareholder or you have instructed us otherwise. You understand that all amounts payable to you under this paragraph and currently payable under this agreement will be paid as of the end of the month unless specified otherwise for the total amount of Shares to which this paragraph is applicable but may be paid more frequently as we may determine in our discretion. Your request for Dealer Discount or Sales Commission reclaims will be considered if adequate verification and documentation of the purchase in question is supplied to us, and the reclaim is requested within three years of such purchase. |
8. | We appoint the transfer agent (or identified sub-transfer agent) for each of the Funds as our agent to execute the purchase transaction of Shares and to confirm such purchases to your customers on your behalf, and you guarantee the legal capacity of your customers so purchasing such Shares. You further understand that if a customer's account is established without the customer signing the application form, you hereby represent that the instructions relating to the registration and shareholder options selected (whether on the application form, in some other document or orally) are in accordance with the customer's instructions and you agree to indemnify the Funds, the transfer agent (or identified sub-transfer agent) and us for any loss or liability resulting from acting upon such instructions. |
9. | Upon the purchase of Class A Shares pursuant to a Letter of Intent, you will promptly return to us any excess of the Dealer Discount previously allowed or paid to you over that allowable in respect to such larger purchases. |
10. | Unless at the time of transmitting a purchase order you advise us to the contrary, we may consider that the investor owns no other Shares and may further assume that the investor is not entitled to any lower sales charge than that accorded to a single transaction in the amount of the purchase order, as set forth in the current prospectus. |
11. | You understand and agree that if any Shares purchased by you under the terms of this Agreement are, within seven (7) business days after the date of our confirmation to you of the original purchase order for such Shares, repurchased by us as agent for such fund or are tendered to such fund for redemption, you shall forfeit the right to, and shall promptly pay over to us the amount of, any Dealer Discount or Sales Commission allowed to you with respect to such Shares. We will notify you of such repurchase or redemption within ten (10) days of the date upon which certificates are delivered to us or to such fund or the date upon which the holder of Shares held in a shareholder open account places or causes to be placed with us or with such fund an order to have such shares repurchased or redeemed. |
12. | You agree that, in the case of any repurchase of any Shares made more than seven (7) business days after confirmation by us of any purchase of such Shares, except in the case of Shares purchased from you by us for your own bona fide investment, you will act only as agent for the holders of such Shares and will place the orders for repurchase only with us. It is understood that you may charge the holder of such Shares a fair commission for handling the transaction. |
13. | Our obligations to you under this Agreement are subject to all the provisions of the respective distribution agreements entered into between us and each of the Funds. You understand and agree that in performing your services under this agreement you are acting in the capacity of an independent contractor, and we are in no way responsible for the manner of your performance or for any of your acts or omissions in connection therewith. Nothing in the Agreement shall be construed to constitute you or any of your agents, employees, or representatives as our agent, partner or employee, or the agent, partner of employee of any of the Funds. |
In connection with the sale and distribution of shares of Virtus Funds, you agree to indemnify and hold us and our affiliates, employees, and/or officers harmless from any damage or expense as a result of (a) the negligence, misconduct or wrongful act by you or any employee, representative, or agent of yours and/or (b) any actual or alleged violation of any securities laws, regulations or orders. Any indebtedness or obligation of yours to us whether arising hereunder or otherwise, and any liabilities incurred or moneys paid by us to any person as a result of any misrepresentation, wrongful or unauthorized act or omission, negligence of, or failure of you or your employees, representatives or agents to comply with the Sales Agreement, shall be set off against any compensation payable under this agreement. Any differential between such expenses and compensation payable
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hereunder shall be payable to us upon demand. The terms of this provision shall not be impaired by the termination of this agreement.
In connection with the sale and distribution of shares of Virtus Funds, we agree to indemnify and hold you harmless from any damage or expense on account of the gross and willful negligence, misconduct or wrongful act of us or any employee, representative, or agent of ours which arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of material fact, or the omission or alleged omission of a material fact in: (i) any registration statement, including any prospectus or any post-effective amendment thereto; or (ii) any material prepared and/or supplied by us for use in conjunction with the offer or sale of Virtus Funds; or (iii) any state registration or other document filed in any state or jurisdiction in order to qualify any Fund under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The terms of this provision shall not be impaired by the termination of this agreement.
14. | We will supply you with reasonable quantities of the current prospectus, periodic reports to shareholders, and sales materials for each of the Funds. You agree not to use any other advertising or sales material relating to the sale of shares of any of the Funds unless other advertising or sales material is pre-approved in writing by us. |
15. | You agree to offer and sell Shares only in accordance with the terms and conditions of the then current prospectus of each of the Funds and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, and you will make no representations not contained in any such prospectus or any authorized supplemental sales material supplied by us. You agree to use your best efforts in the development and promotion of sales of the Shares covered by this Agreement, and agree to be responsible for the proper instruction, training and supervision of all sales representatives employed by you in order that such Shares will be offered in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and all applicable laws, rules and regulations. All expenses incurred by you in connection with your activities under this Agreement shall be borne by you. In consideration for the extension of the right to exercise telephone exchange and redemption privileges to you and your registered representatives, you agree to bear the risk of any loss resulting from any unauthorized telephone exchange or redemption instructions from you or your registered representatives. In the event we determine to refund any amounts paid by any investor by reason of such violation on your part, you shall forfeit the right to, and pay over to us, the amount of any Dealer Discount or Sales Commission allowed to you with respect to the transaction for which the refund is made. |
16. | You represent that you are either properly registered as a broker or dealer under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 or exempt from such registration, and you are either a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) or not eligible for membership with FINRA; and if you are a bank, you represent that you are a member of all applicable self-regulatory organizations. You agree to notify us promptly of any change, termination or suspension of your status(es) as referenced in the foregoing sentence. You agree to abide by all the rules and regulations of FINRA and NASD Rules, including NASD Conduct Rule 2830, which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full. You further agree to comply with all applicable state and federal laws and the rules and regulations of applicable regulatory agencies. You further agree that you will not sell, or offer for sale, Shares in any jurisdiction in which such Shares have not been duly registered or qualified for sale. You agree to promptly notify us with respect to (a) the initiation and disposition of any formal disciplinary action by the FINRA or any other agency or instrumentality having jurisdiction with respect to the subject matter hereof against you or any of your employees or agents; (b) the issuance of any form of deficiency notice by the FINRA or any such agency regarding your training, supervision or sales practices; and (c) the effectuation of any consensual order with respect thereto. |
16.1 | Patriot Act. You shall employ policies and procedures designed to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated from time to time by the Office of Foreign Asset Control (including transactions involving embargoed countries or Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and all other applicable money laundering restrictions, including, without limitation, such restrictions as may be adopted pursuant to the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act) of 2001 with respect to similarly situated financial institutions as VPD. You agree that you will perform the Customer Identification Program requirements of the USA Patriot Act, as applicable, with respect to Accounts established and transactions made pursuant to this Agreement. |
16.2 | Sarbanes-Oxley Act. You agree to cooperate with VPD and will facilitate the filing by VPD, each underlying registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”) and/or their respective officers and auditors of any and all certifications or attestations as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, |
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including, without limitation, furnishing such sub-certifications from your relevant officers with respect to the services performed by you under this Agreement as reasonably requested from time to time. |
16.3 | Rule 38a-1. Upon reasonable request, you agree to provide your written policies and procedures to the Funds’ chief compliance officer for review and the Funds’ board of trustees’ approval to assist our compliance with Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. You further agree to cooperate with VPD in its review of such written policies and procedures, including, without limitation, furnishing such certifications and sub-certifications as VPD shall reasonably request from time to time. You agree that you shall promptly notify VPD and Funds in the event that a “material compliance matter” (as such term is defined pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act) arises with respect the services you provide under this Agreement. |
16.4 | Late Trading. You will accept no orders for the purchase and redemption of Fund shares after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on any Business Day. For the purposes hereof, a "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which a Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter, the “SEC”), as amended from time to time, subject to such terms and conditions as may be set forth in the registration statements for the Funds as filed with the SEC, as the same shall be amended from time to time. |
16.5 | Market Timing. VPD may refuse to sell shares of any Fund (or series thereof) to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Fund (or series thereof), if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction with respect to VPD or Fund, as the case may be, or is, in the reasonable discretion of VPD, reasonably necessary in order to protect the best interests of its investors. You shall establish and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect, monitor and deter (including, without limitation, rejecting specific purchase orders) account owners (or their agents) whose purchase and redemption activity follows a market timing pattern, and to take such other actions as you deem necessary to discourage or reduce market timing activity. For the purposes hereof, “market timing activity” shall mean and refer to any discernable pattern of excessive trading in and out of a Fund (or series thereof) by one or more account owners (or their agents), including, without limitation, any purchase and sale (round trip) in and out of a single series of a Fund within any thirty day period. The parties acknowledge that, if necessary, such policies and procedures may include the identification of account owners engaged in such market timing activity and the imposition of restrictions on their requests to purchase or exchange Fund shares. You shall provide reasonable reports regarding your implementation and enforcement of such restrictions on purchase and redemption activity that follows a market-timing pattern upon request. |
17. | Shareholder Information and SEC Rule 22c-2. If trading as an Intermediary (a broker, dealer, bank or other entity that holds securities of record issued by the Funds in nominee name; and in the case of a participant-directed employee benefit plan that owns securities issued by the Funds; a retirement plan administrator under ERISA or any entity that maintains the plan’s participant records) you hereby agree as follows: |
17.1 | Agreement to Provide Information. Intermediary agrees to provide the Funds, upon written request, the taxpayer information number (“TIN”), if known, of any or all Shareholder(s) of the account and the amount, date, name or other identifier of any investment professional(s) associated with the Shareholder(s) or account (if known), and transaction type (purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange) of every purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange of Fund shares held through an account maintained by the Intermediary during the period covered by the request. |
17.1.1 | Period Covered by Request. Requests must set forth a specific period, not to exceed 180 days from the date of the request, for which transaction information is sought. The Fund may request transaction information older than 180 days from the date of the request as it deems necessary to investigate compliance with policies established by the Fund for the purposes of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Fund. If requested by the Fund, Intermediary agrees to provide the information specified in 17.1 for each trading day. |
17.1.2 | Form and Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to transmit the requested information that is on its books and records to the Funds or its designee promptly, but in any event not later than 10 business days, after receipt of a request. If the requested information is not on the Intermediary’s books and records, Intermediary agrees to use reasonable efforts to: (i) promptly obtain and transmit the requested information; (ii) obtain assurances from the accountholder that the requested information will be |
4 |
provided directly to the Fund Agent promptly; or (iii) if directed by the Fund Agent, block further purchases of Fund shares from such accountholder. In such instance, Intermediary agrees to inform the Fund Agent whether it plans to perform (i), (ii) or (iii). Responses required by this paragraph must be communicated in writing and in format mutually agreed upon by the parties. To the extent practicable, the format for any transaction information provided to the Fund Agent should be consistent with the NSCC Standardized Data Reporting Format. |
17.1.3 | Limitations on Use of Information. The Fund Agent agrees not to use the information received for marketing or any other similar purpose without the prior written consent of the Intermediary. |
17.2. | Agreement to Restrict Trading. Intermediary agrees to execute written instructions from the Fund Agent to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Fund shares by a Shareholder that has been identified by the Fund Agent as having engaged in transactions of the Funds’ shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate policies established by the Funds for the purposes of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Funds. |
17.2.1 | Form of Instructions. Instructions must include the TIN, if known, and the specific restriction(s) to be executed. If the TIN is not known, the instructions must include any equivalent identifying number of the Shareholder(s) or account(s) or other agreed upon information to which the instruction relates. |
17.2.2 | Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to execute instructions as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than five business days after receipt of the instructions by the Intermediary. |
17.2.3 | Confirmation by Intermediary. Intermediary must provide written confirmation to the Fund Agent that instructions have been executed. Intermediary agrees to provide confirmation as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than ten business days after the instructions have been executed. |
17.3 | Definitions. For purposes of this paragraph: |
17.3.1 | The term “Funds” includes the fund’s principal underwriter and transfer agent. The term not does include any “excepted funds” as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940. |
17.3.2 | The term “Shares” means the interests of Shareholders corresponding to the redeemable securities of record issued by the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that are held by the Intermediary. |
17.3.3 | The term “Shareholder” means the beneficial owner of Shares, whether the Shares are held directly or by the Intermediary in nominee name or, if applicable, the Plan participant notwithstanding that the Plan may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of Shares. |
18. | Either party may terminate this agreement for any reason by written or electronic notice to the other party which termination shall become effective fifteen (15) days after the date of mailing or electronically transmitting such notice to the other party. We may also terminate this agreement for cause or as a result of a violation by you, as determined by us in our discretion, of any of the provisions of this Agreement, said termination to be effective on the date of mailing written or electronic notice to you of the same. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, your own expulsion from the FINRA will automatically terminate this Agreement without notice. Your suspension from the FINRA or violation of applicable state or Federal laws or rules and regulations of applicable regulatory agencies will terminate this Agreement effective upon the date of our mailing written notice or transmitting electronic notice to you of such termination. Our failure to terminate this Agreement for any cause shall not constitute a waiver of our right to so terminate at a later date. |
19. | All communications and notices to you or us shall be sent to the addresses set forth at the beginning of this Agreement or to such other address as may be specified in writing from time to time. |
20. | VPD agrees to comply with all laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances relating to privacy, confidentiality, security, data security, and the handling of customer information which may from time to time be established. VPD agrees not to disclose or use any consumer nonpublic personal information (including nonpublic personal financial information and nonpublic personal health information), which may be supplied by you to VPD in performance under this Agreement other than to: a) carry out the purpose for which the information was provided; and b) to use or disclose the information as otherwise permitted or required by law. You agree to comply with all laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances relating to privacy, confidentiality, security, data security, and the handling of |
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customer information which may from time to time be established. You agree not to disclose or use any consumer nonpublic personal information (including nonpublic personal financial information and nonpublic personal health information), which may be supplied by VPD to you in performance under this Agreement other than to: a) carry out the purpose for which the information was provided; and b) to use or disclose the information as otherwise permitted or required by law. This provision will survive and continue in full force and effect after the termination of this Agreement. |
21. | This agreement shall become effective upon the date of its acceptance by us as set forth herein. This agreement may be amended by VPD from time to time. This Agreement and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Connecticut. This agreement is not assignable or transferable, except that we may assign or transfer this agreement to any successor distributor of the Shares described herein. |
ACCEPTED ON BEHALF OF | ACCEPTED ON BEHALF OF | ||
VP DISTRIBUTORS, LLC | |||
Name of Dealer Firm |
Date | Date |
By | By |
Name | Barry Mandinach | Print Name |
Title | President | Print Title |
FINRA CRD Number |
VPD 80 (8/15)
6 |
|
100
Pearl Street
|
800.248.7971 | VIRTUS.COM |
Virtus Mutual Funds Sales Agreement Amended Annex A January 2016 VP Distributors, LLC |
Virtus Mutual Funds and Available Share Classes |
ALTERNATIVES | FIXED INCOME | |||||
Virtus Alternative Income Solution | A C I | Virtus Bond Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus Alternative Inflation Solution | A C I | Virtus CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | A I | |||
Virtus Alternative Total Solution | A C I R6 | Virtus Credit Opportunities Fund | A C I R6 | |||
Virtus Alternatives Diversifier Fund | A C I | Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus Dynamic Trend Fund | A C I R6 | Virtus High Yield Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus Essential Resources Fund | A C I | Virtus Low Duration Income Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus Global Infrastructure Fund | A C I | Virtus Multi-Sector Intermediate Bond Fund | A C I R6 | |||
Virtus Global Real Estate Securities Fund | A C I | Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund | A C I T | |||
Virtus Herzfeld Fund | A C I | Virtus Senior Floating Rate Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus International Real Estate Securities Fund | A C I | Virtus Strategic Income Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus Multi-Strategy Target Return Fund | A C I | Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus Real Estate Securities Fund | A C I R6 | |||||
Virtus Select MLP and Energy Fund | A C I | INTERNATIONAL/GLOBAL | ||||
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | A C I | |||||
ASSET ALLOCATION | Virtus Emerging Market Opportunities Fund | A C I R6 | ||||
Virtus Balanced Fund | A C | Virtus Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus Multi-Asset Trend Fund | A C I | Virtus Foreign Opportunities Fund | A C I R6 | |||
Virtus Tactical Allocation Fund | A C | Virtus Global Equity Trend Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus Global Opportunities Fund | A C I | |||||
EQUITY | Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund | A C I | ||||
Virtus Contrarian Value Fund | A C I R6 | Virtus International Equity Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus Equity Trend Fund | A C I R6 | Virtus International Small-Cap Fund | A C I R6 | |||
Virtus Growth & Income Fund | A C I | Virtus International Wealth Masters Fund | A C I | |||
Virtus Low Volatility Equity Fund | A C I | |||||
Virtus Mid-Cap Core Fund | A C I | TARGET DATE RETIREMENT INCOME | ||||
Virtus Mid-Cap Growth Fund | A C I | Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | A I R6 | |||
Virtus Quality Large-Cap Value Fund | A C I | Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | A I R6 | |||
Virtus Quality Small-Cap Fund | A C I | Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | A I R6 | |||
Virtus Sector Trend Fund | A C I | Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | A I R6 | |||
Virtus Small-Cap Core Fund | A C I R6 | Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | A I R6 | |||
Virtus Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund | A C I | Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | A I R6 | |||
Virtus Strategic Growth Fund | A C I | Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | A I R6 | |||
Virtus Wealth Masters Fund | A C I | Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | A I R6 | |||
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | A I R6 | |||||
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | A I R6 |
VP Distributors, LLC 100 Pearl Street, Hartford, CT 06103
Marketing: (800) 243-4361 | Customer Service: (800) 243-1574 | www.Virtus.com |
Applicable waivers of Class A sales charges and Class B and C contingent deferred sales charges are described in the prospectus.
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Class A Shares |
Equity, Asset Allocation, | Bond, Credit Opportunities, | |||||
International/Global, Alternative and | Emerging Market Debt, High Yield, Multi-Sector | |||||
Target Date Retirement Income Funds: | Intermediate Bond and Strategic Income Funds: | |||||
Amount of | Dealer Discount | Dealer Discount | ||||
Transaction | Sales Charge | or Agency Fee | Sales Charge | or Agency Fee | ||
Plus Applicable Rights | As Percentage of | As Percentage of | As Percentage of | As Percentage of | ||
of Accumulation: | Offering Price | Offering Price | Offering Price | Offering Price | ||
Less than $50,000 | 5.75% | 5.00% | 3.75% | 3.25% | ||
$50,000 but under $100,000 | 4.75 | 4.25 | 3.50 | 3.00 | ||
$100,000 but under $250,000 | 3.75 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 2.75 | ||
$250,000 but under $500,000 | 2.75 | 2.25 | 2.25 | 2.00 | ||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 | 2.00 | 1.75 | 1.75 | 1.50 | ||
$1,000,000 or more | None | None | None | None | ||
Tax-Exempt Bond, CA Tax-Exempt Bond, | Multi-Sector Short Term Bond | |||||
and Senior Floating Rate Funds: | and Low Duration Income Funds: | |||||
Amount of | Dealer Discount | Dealer Discount | ||||
Transaction | Sales Charge | or Agency Fee | Sales Charge | or Agency Fee | ||
Plus Applicable Rights | As Percentage of | As Percentage of | As Percentage of | As Percentage of | ||
of Accumulation: | Offering Price | Offering Price | Offering Price | Offering Price | ||
Less than $50,000 | 2.75% | 2.25% | 2.25% | 2.00% | ||
$50,000 but under $100,000 | 2.25 | 2.00 | 1.25 | 1.00 | ||
$100,000 but under $250,000 | 1.75 | 1.50 | 1.00 | 1.00 | ||
$250,000 but under $500,000 | 1.25 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | ||
$500,000 but under $1,000,000 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 | ||
$1,000,000 or more | None | None | None | None |
Service Fee: 0.25% For providing shareholder services such as responding to shareholder inquiries; processing redemptions; changing dividend options, account designations, and addresses; transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, prospectuses and other correspondence from the Funds to shareholders; and providing such other information and assistance to shareholders as may be reasonably requested by such shareholders, VPD intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.25% annually. The Service Fee is based on the average daily net asset value of Class A shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds’ books during the period in which the fee is calculated. Dealers must have an aggregate value of $50,000 or more in a Fund Class to qualify for payment in that Fund Class. The Service Fee for shares on which a Finder’s Fee has been paid will commence in the thirteenth month following purchase of Class A shares. See the last page of this Annex A for Terms and Conditions for Service and Distribution Fees.
Finder’s Fee and CDSC Applicable to Sector Trend and Fixed Income Funds: VPD may pay broker-dealers a Finder’s Fee in an amount equal to 0.50% of eligible Class A Share purchases from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 and 0.25% on amounts greater than $3,000,000. Purchases by an account in the name of a qualified employee benefit plan are eligible for a Finder’s Fee only if such plan has at least 100 eligible employees. A contingent deferred sales charge of 0.50% may apply on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of Class A shares on which a Finder’s Fee has been paid to a dealer. The 18 month period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
Finder’s Fee and CDSC Applicable to Equity, Asset Allocation, International/Global, Alternative and Target Date Retirement Income Funds Class A Shares: (excluding Sector Trend Fund) VPD may pay broker-dealers a Finder’s Fee in an amount equal to 1.00% of eligible Class A Share purchases from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000, 0.50% on amounts of $3,000,001 to $10,000,000 and 0.25% on amounts greater than $10,000,000. Purchases by an account in the name of a qualified employee benefit plan are eligible for a Finder’s Fee only if such plan has at least 100 eligible employees. A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% may apply on certain redemptions made within 18 months following purchases of Class A shares on which a Finder’s Fee has been paid to a dealer. The 18 month period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
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Class B Shares |
As of December 1, 2009, Class B shares of the Virtus Mutual Funds are no longer available for purchase by new or existing shareholders, except for the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions into existing Class B share accounts, and for exchanges from existing Class B share accounts to other Virtus Mutual Funds with Class B shares.
CDSC (Except Virtus | CDSC | CDSC | |||
Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund | Virtus Multi-Sector | Virtus Dynamic | |||
and Virtus Dynamic Trend Fund) | Short Term Bond Fund | Trend Fund | |||
Years since | Contingent Deferred | Contingent Deferred | Contingent Deferred | ||
Each Purchase: | Sales Charge: | Sales Charge: | Sales Charge | ||
First | 5.0% | 2.0% | 5.0% | ||
Second | 4.0 | 1.5 | 4.0 | ||
Third | 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | ||
Fourth | 2.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | ||
Fifth | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | ||
Sixth | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
Dealers maintaining omnibus accounts, upon redemption of a customer account within the time frames specified above, shall charge such customer account the appropriate contingent deferred sales charge as indicated and shall forward the proceeds to VPD.
Service Fee: 0.25% For providing shareholder services such as responding to shareholder inquiries; processing redemptions; changing dividend options, account designations, and addresses; transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, prospectuses and other correspondence from the Funds to shareholders; and providing such other information and assistance to shareholders as may be reasonably requested by such shareholders, VPD intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.25% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of Class B shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds’ books during the period in which the fee is calculated. Dealers must have an aggregate value of $50,000 or more in a Fund Class to qualify for payment in that Fund Class. The Class B Service Fee is paid beginning in the 13 th month following each purchase. See the last page of this Annex A for Terms and Conditions for Service and Distribution Fees.
Class C Shares |
Sales Commission: | 1% for all Class C Funds except Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund |
0% for Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund | |
When original purchases of the Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund Class C are exchanged to other Class C or T shares, the dealer will receive a 1% sales commissions. |
CDSC: 1% for all Class C Funds, except Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund (no CDSC). Dealers maintaining omnibus accounts, upon redemption of a customer account within the time frames specified below, shall charge such customer account the appropriate contingent deferred sales charge as indicated and shall forward the proceeds to VPD. The CDSC on Class C shares is 1% for one year from each purchase.
Distribution Fee: 0.25% - 0.75% VPD intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.25% annually for Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund, and 0.75% annually for all other Class C Funds, based on the average daily net asset value of Class C shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds’ books during the period in which the fee is calculated. The Class C Trail Fee is paid beginning in the 13 th month following each purchase. There is no hold for the Class C Trail Fee for the Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund. See the last page of this Annex A for Terms and Conditions for Service and Distribution Fees.
Service Fee: 0.25% For providing shareholder services such as responding to shareholder inquiries; processing redemptions; changing dividend options, account designations, and addresses; transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, prospectuses and other correspondence from the Funds to shareholders; and providing such other information and assistance to shareholders as may be reasonably requested by such shareholders, VPD intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.25% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of Class C shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds’ books during the period in which the fee is calculated. The Class C Service Fee is paid beginning in the 13 th month following each purchase. There is no hold for the Class C Service Fee for the Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund. See the last page of this Annex A for Terms and Conditions for Service and Distribution Fees.
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Class I Shares |
There is no dealer compensation payable on Class I shares.
Class R6 Shares |
R6 Shares are available only to certain employer-sponsored retirement plans, including Section 401(k), 403(b) and 457, profit-sharing, money purchase pension and defined benefit plans and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, in each case provided that plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of the fund. No compensation, administrative payments, sub-transfer agency payments or service payments are paid to dealers or other entities from fund assets or VPD’s or an affiliate’s resources on sales of or investments in Class R6 Shares. Class R6 Shares do not carry sales commissions or pay Rule 12b-1 fees, or make payments to dealers or other entities to assist in, or in connection with, the sale of the fund’s shares.
Class T Shares – Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund only |
Dealer Concession: 1%
CDSC: 1% for one year from the date of each purchase.
Service Fee: 0.25% For providing shareholder services such as responding to shareholder inquiries; processing redemptions; changing dividend options, account designations, and addresses; transmitting proxy statements, annual reports, prospectuses and other correspondence from the Funds to shareholders; and providing such other information and assistance to shareholders as may be reasonably requested by such shareholders, VPD intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.25% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of Class T shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds’ books during the period in which the fee is calculated. The Class T Service Fee is paid beginning in the 13 th month following each purchase. See below for Terms and Conditions for Service and Distribution Fees.
Distribution Fee: 0.75% VPD intends to pay a quarterly fee to qualifying dealers at the equivalent of 0.75% annually, based on the average daily net asset value of Class T shares sold by such dealers and remaining on the Funds’ books during the period in which the fee is calculated. The Class T Distribution Fee is paid beginning in the 13 th month following each purchase. See below for Terms and Conditions for Service and Distribution Fees.
Terms and Conditions for Service and Distribution Fees – All Share Classes |
Applicable Service and Distribution Fees are paid pursuant to one or more distribution and/or service plans (“Plan”) adopted by certain of the Funds. Payment of these fees will automatically terminate in the event such Plan terminates or is not continued or in the event that this Agreement terminates, is assigned or ceases to remain in effect. VP Distributors shall be under no obligation to pay any fees hereunder to the extent such fees have not been paid to VP Distributors by the applicable Fund(s). In addition, these fees may be terminated at any time, without the payment of an penalty, by vote of a majority of the members of the Funds’ Board of Trustees who are not interested persons of the Funds and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of any Fund or Funds on not more than sixty days' written notice to any other party to the Agreement.
VPD 80A (January 2016 rev.)
10 |
Exhibit 99.(g).(2)
AMENDMENT TO GLOBAL CUSTODY AGREEMENT
This AMENDMENT, is made and effective as of December 17, 2015 (the “Amendment”), to the GLOBAL CUSTODY AGREEMENT, dated March 1, 2013 (the “Agreement”), as amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, by and among each trust listed on Schedule A attached thereto for itself and for each fund listed under such trust (collectively, each a “Customer”); and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“J.P. Morgan”). For other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and legal sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Customers and J.P. Morgan hereby agree as follows:
1. Amendment . Schedule A of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced by Schedule A attached to this Amendment and any reference to Schedule A in the Agreement shall mean Schedule A as attached to this Amendment, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the Agreement.
2. Integration/Effect of Amendment . This Amendment and any instruments and agreements delivered pursuant hereto constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersede all prior oral and written communications with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. Except as expressly provided herein, no other changes or modifications to the Agreement are intended or implied, and in all other respects the Agreement is hereby specifically ratified, restated and reaffirmed by all parties hereto. To the extent that any provision of the Agreement is inconsistent with the provisions of this Amendment, the provisions of this Amendment shall control.
3. Governing Law . This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.
4. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and any such counterpart shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement.
[ Signature Page Follows ]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have entered into this Amendment as of the date set forth above.
Each trust listed on Schedule A attached hereto for itself and for each fund listed under such trust
By: /s/ Amy Hackett Name: Amy Hackett Title: Vice President & Assistant Treasurer
|
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Bank
By: /s/ Brian Eckert Name: Brian Eckert Title: Executive Director |
2
SCHEDULE A
AS OF December 17, 2015
List of Funds
Virtus Opportunities Trust
Virtus Dynamic Trend Fund
Virtus Sector Trend Fund
Virtus Multi-Asset Trend Fund
Virtus Alternatives Diversifier Fund
Virtus Disciplined Equity Style Fund
Virtus Disciplined Select Bond Fund
Virtus Disciplined Select Country Fund
Virtus Global Equity Trend Fund
Virtus Equity Trend Fund
Virtus Bond Fund
Virtus CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Virtus Herzfeld Fund
Virtus High Yield Fund
Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
Virtus Senior Floating Rate Fund
Virtus Wealth Masters Fund
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund
Virtus Global Commodities Stock Fund
Virtus Global Dividend Fund
Virtus Global Opportunities Fund
Virtus Global Real Estate Securities Fund
Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund
Virtus International Equity Fund
Virtus International Real Estate Securities Fund
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund
Virtus International Wealth Masters Fund
Virtus Foreign Opportunities Fund
Virtus Multi-Sector Intermediate Bond Fund
Virtus Real Estate Securities Fund
Virtus Low Volatility Equity Fund
Virtus Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund
Virtus Essential Resources Fund
SCHEDULE A
Page 2 of 2
List of Funds cont’d
Virtus Equity Trust
Virtus Balanced Fund
Virtus Growth & Income Fund
Virtus Mid-Cap Core Fund
Virtus Mid-Cap Growth Fund
Virtus Contrarian Value Fund
Virtus Quality Large-Cap Value Fund
Virtus Quality Small-Cap Fund
Virtus Small-Cap Core Fund
Virtus Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund
Virtus Strategic Growth Fund
Virtus Tactical Allocation Fund
Virtus Insight Trust
Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund
Virtus Low Duration Income Fund
Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Virtus Retirement Trust
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
4
Exhibit 99.(h).(1).(e)
FIFTH AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
This Amendment, effective as of January 8, 2016, is made by and between the undersigned entities (hereinafter each referred to as the “Fund” and collectively referred to as the “Virtus Mutual Funds”) and Virtus Fund Services, LLC (hereinafter referred to as the “Transfer Agent”).
WHEREAS: | The Transfer Agent and the Virtus Mutual Funds are parties to an Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated January 1, 2010 (the “Agreement”); and |
WHEREAS: | The parties desire to make an amendment to the Agreement to reflect the addition of Virtus Retirement Trust as a party to the Agreement; and |
WHEREAS: | Article 11 of the Agreement states that amendments to the Agreement shall be set forth in a written amendment signed by both parties; |
NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. | Virtus Retirement Trust is hereby added as a party to the Agreement. |
2. | Except as herein provided, the Amended and Restated Transfer Agency and Service Agreement shall be and remain unmodified and in full force and effect. All initial capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement. |
3. | This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts (including executed counterparts delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission) with the same effect as if all signing parties had originally signed the same document, and all counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute the same instrument. For all purposes, signatures delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission shall be binding and effective to the same extent as original signatures. |
[signatures appear on next page]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed in their names and on their behalf and through their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.
VIRTUS EQUITY TRUST
VIRTUS INSIGHT TRUST
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST
VIRTUS OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
(collectively, the “Virtus Mutual Funds”)
By: | /s/ W. Patrick Bradley |
Name: W. Patrick Bradley |
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer |
VIRTUS FUND SERVICES, LLC
By: | /s/ Heidi Griswold |
Name: Heidi Griswold |
Title: Vice President, Mutual Fund Services |
2
Schedule A
Fee Schedule
Effective Date: January 1, 2015
|
Total Transfer Agent Fee |
BNYM portion of Total Fee |
|
Direct Accounts | $9.20 per account per annum up to 130,000 accounts | $9.20 per account per annum up to 130,000 accounts | |
$8.30 per account per annum (for accounts in excess of 130,000 accounts) | $8.30 per account per annum (for accounts in excess of 130,000 accounts) | ||
Networked Accounts | $6.25 per account | $6.25 per account | |
Closed Accounts | $0.50 per account | $0.50 per account | |
Compliance Fee | 4.25% of per account fees | 4.25% of per account fees | |
Oversight & Service | Money Market Funds | 0 | |
All assets | 0.25 bps | ||
Other Funds | |||
0 - $15,000,000,000 | 4.50 bps | ||
$15,000,000,001 - $30,000,000,000 | 4.25 bps | ||
$30,000,000,001 - $50,000,000,000 | 4.00 bps | ||
Over $50,000,000,000 | 3.75 bps |
Credit to Certain Fees :
Any Fund with net assets in excess of $10 billion will receive an offsetting credit to its Oversight & Service fee, such that the portion of its net assets in excess of $10 billion will only be assessed an Oversight & Service fee of 3.25 bps. The Oversight & Service fee for the portion of such a Fund’s net assets up to and inclusive of the first $10 billion will remain consistent with the fee schedule above.
Account Charges :
Account Charges will be allocated on the basis of the number of accounts.
Base Fees :
Base Fees will be allocated according to average net assets.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses :
Out-of-pocket expenses include, but are not limited to: expenses invoiced by broker-dealers and financial institutions for shareholder servicing, confirmation production, postage, forms, telephone, microfilm, microfiche, stationary and supplies, and expenses incurred at the specific direction of the Fund. Postage for mass mailings is due seven days in advance of the mailing date.
3
Exhibit 99.(h).(2).(e)
EXECUTION VERSION
Amendment
To
Sub-Transfer Agency And Shareholder Services Agreement
This Amendment To Sub-Transfer Agency And Shareholder Services Agreement, dated as of December 10, 2015 (" Amendment "), is being entered into by and among BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (" BNYM "), Virtus Fund Services, LLC (" Company ") and each of the " Funds ", which is hereby defined to mean each of the Investment Companies and each Portfolio of such Investment Companies listed on Schedule B to the Amended Agreement (as defined below).
Background
BNYM, certain of the Funds and VP Distributors, Inc., as transfer agent to the Funds, entered into the Sub-Transfer Agency And Shareholder Services Agreement as of April 15, 2011 (" Original Agreement "). VP Distributors, LLC, the surviving entity in a merger with VP Distributors, Inc. that was effective September 22, 2011, transferred all rights and obligations as transfer agent of the Funds under the Original Agreement to the Company pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2013, among VP Distributors, LLC, the Company, certain of the Funds and BNYM (the Original Agreement as so assigned and amended being the " Assigned Agreement "). BNYM, the Company and certain of the Funds subsequently entered into amendments to the Assigned Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2014, June 1, 2014, August 19, 2014, November 12, 2014, May 28, 2015 and September 1, 2015 (the Assigned Agreement as so amended being the " Current Agreement "). BNYM, the Funds and the Company wish to amend the Current Agreement in accordance with the terms of this Amendment.
Terms
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree to all statements made above and as follows:
1. Modifications to Current Agreement . The Current Agreement is hereby amended by deleting Schedule B and replacing it in its entirety with the Schedule B attached to the Amendment To Sub-Transfer Agency And Shareholder Services Agreement, dated as of December 10, 2015, by and among BNYM, the Company and the Funds, including in particular Virtus Retirement Trust and the Portfolios of Virtus Retirement Trust .
2. Adoption of Amended Agreement by Each New Fund . Each Fund that has been added to Schedule B by virtue of this Amendment acknowledges and agrees that (i) by virtue of its execution of this Amendment, it becomes and is a party to the Current Agreement as amended by this Amendment (" Amended Agreement ") as of the date first written above, or, if BNYM commenced providing services to the Fund prior to the date first written above, as of the date BNYM first provided services to the Fund, and
(ii) it is bound by all terms and conditions of the Amended Agreement as of such date.
3. Remainder of Current Agreement . Except as specifically modified by this Amendment, all terms and conditions of the Current Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
4. Governing Law . The governing law of the Current Agreement shall be the governing law of this Amendment.
5. Entire Agreement . This Amendment constitutes the final, complete, exclusive and fully integrated record of the agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter herein and the amendment of the Current Agreement.
Page 1
EXECUTION VERSION
6. Facsimile Signatures; Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in one more counterparts; such execution of counterparts may occur by manual signature, facsimile signature, manual signature transmitted by means of facsimile transmission or manual signature contained in an imaged document attached to an email transmission; and each such counterpart executed in accordance with the foregoing shall be deemed an original, with all such counterparts together constituting one and the same instrument. The exchange of executed copies of this Amendment or of executed signature pages to this Amendment by facsimile transmission or as an imaged document attached to an email transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery hereof and may be used for all purposes in lieu of a manually executed copy of this Amendment.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized officers, as of the day and year first above written.
BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. | Virtus Equity Trust | |
Virtus Insight Trust | ||
Virtus Opportunities Trust | ||
By: /s/ Armando Fernandez | Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust | |
Virtus Retirement Trust | ||
Name: Armando Fernandez | Each on its own behalf and on behalf of each of its | |
Portfolios in its individual and separate capacity, and | ||
not on behalf of any other Fund | ||
Title: Vice President | ||
By: /s/ W. Patrick Bradley | ||
Virtus Fund Services, LLC | Name: W. Patrick Bradley | |
By: /s/ Heidi Griswold | Title: Senior Vice President | |
Name: Heidi Griswold | ||
Title: Vice President, Mutual Fund Services |
Page 2
EXECUTION VERSION
SCHEDULE B
(Dated: December 10, 2015)
THIS SCHEDULE B is Schedule B to that certain Sub-Transfer Agency And Shareholder Services Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2011, by and among BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., Virtus Fund Services, LLC (under the name of its predecessor in interest, VP Distributors, Inc.) and the Funds, as further set forth below.
Portfolios
Investment Company : Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust
Portfolios :
Virtus Alternative Income Solution Fund A
Virtus
Alternative Income Solution Fund C
Virtus Alternative Income Solution Fund I
Virtus Alternative Inflation Solution Fund A
Virtus Alternative Inflation Solution Fund C
Virtus Alternative Inflation Solution Fund I
Virtus Alternative Total Solution Fund A
Virtus Alternative Total Solution Fund C
Virtus Alternative Total Solution Fund I
Virtus Alternative Total Solution Fund R6
Virtus Credit Opportunities Fund A
Virtus Credit Opportunities Fund C
Virtus Credit
Opportunities Fund I
Virtus Credit Opportunities Fund R6
Virtus Multi-Strategy Target Return Fund A
Virtus
Multi-Strategy Target Return Fund C
Virtus Multi-Strategy Target Return Fund I
Virtus Select MLP and Energy Fund A
Virtus Select
MLP and Energy Fund C
Virtus Select MLP and Energy Fund I
Virtus Strategic Income Fund
A
Virtus Strategic Income Fund C
Virtus Strategic Income Fund I
Investment Company : Virtus Equity Trust
Portfolios :
Virtus Balanced Fund A
Virtus
Balanced Fund B
Virtus Balanced Fund C
Virtus Contrarian Value Fund A
Virtus Contrarian Value
Fund C
Virtus Contrarian Value Fund I
Virtus Contrarian Value Fund R6
Virtus Growth & Income Fund A
Virtus Growth & Income
Fund C
Virtus Growth & Income Fund I
Virtus Mid-Cap Core Fund A
Virtus Mid-Cap Core Fund C
Virtus Mid-Cap Core Fund I
Virtus
Mid-Cap Growth Fund A
Virtus Mid-Cap Growth Fund B
Page 3
EXECUTION VERSION
Virtus Mid-Cap Growth Fund C
Virtus Mid-Cap
Growth Fund I
Virtus Quality Large-Cap Value Fund A
Virtus Quality
Large-Cap Value Fund C
Virtus Quality Large-Cap Value Fund I
Virtus Quality Small-Cap Fund A
Virtus Quality Small-Cap Fund C
Virtus Quality Small-Cap
Fund I
Virtus Small-Cap Core Fund A
Virtus Small-Cap Core Fund C
Virtus Small-Cap Core Fund I
Virtus Small-Cap Core Fund R6
Virtus Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund A
Virtus
Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund C
Virtus Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund I
Virtus Strategic Growth Fund A
Virtus Strategic Growth Fund B
Virtus Strategic
Growth Fund C
Virtus Strategic Growth Fund I
Virtus Tactical Allocation Fund A
Virtus Tactical Allocation Fund B
Virtus Tactical
Allocation Fund C
Investment Company : Virtus Insight Trust
Portfolios :
Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund A
Virtus
Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund C
Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund I
Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund R6
Virtus Low Duration Income Fund A
Virtus Low Duration Income Fund C
Virtus Low Duration
Income Fund I
Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond Fund A
Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond Fund C
Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond Fund I
Investment Company : Virtus Opportunities Trust
Portfolios :
Virtus Multi-Asset Trend Fund A
Virtus Multi-Asset
Trend Fund C
Virtus Multi-Asset Trend Fund I
Virtus Sector Trend Fund A
Virtus Sector Trend Fund C
Virtus Sector Trend Fund I
Virtus Alternatives Diversifier Fund A
Virtus Alternatives
Diversifier Fund C
Virtus Alternatives Diversifier Fund I
Virtus Bond Fund A
Virtus Bond Fund B
Virtus Bond
Fund C
Virtus Bond Fund I
Virtus CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund A
Virtus CA
Tax-Exempt Bond Fund I
Virtus Disciplined Equity Style Fund A
(1)
Virtus Disciplined
Equity Style Fund C
(1)
Virtus Disciplined Equity Style Fund I
(1)
Page 4
EXECUTION VERSION
Virtus Disciplined Select Bond Fund A
(1)
Virtus Disciplined Select Bond Fund C
(1)
Virtus Disciplined Select Bond
Fund I
(1)
Virtus Disciplined Select Country Fund A
(1)
Virtus Disciplined Select Country Fund C
(1)
Virtus Disciplined Select Country
Fund I
(1)
Virtus Dynamic Trend Fund A
Virtus Dynamic Trend Fund B
Virtus Dynamic Trend
Fund C
Virtus Dynamic Trend Fund I
Virtus Dynamic Trend Fund R6
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt
Fund A
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund C
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund I
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund A
Virtus
Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund C
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund I
Virtus Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund A
Virtus
Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund C
Virtus Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund I
Virtus Essential Resources Fund A
Virtus Essential Resources Fund C
Virtus Essential Resources Fund I
Virtus Foreign Opportunities Fund A
Virtus Foreign Opportunities Fund C
Virtus Foreign Opportunities Fund I
Virtus Foreign Opportunities Fund R6
Virtus Global Infrastructure Fund A
Virtus Global Infrastructure Fund C
Virtus Global Infrastructure Fund I
Virtus Global Opportunities Fund A
Virtus Global Opportunities Fund B
Virtus Global Opportunities Fund C
Virtus Global Opportunities Fund I
Virtus Global Equity Trend Fund A
Virtus Global Equity Trend Fund C
Virtus Global Equity Trend Fund I
Virtus Global Real Estate Securities Fund A
Virtus
Global Real Estate Securities Fund C
Virtus Global Real Estate Securities Fund I
Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund A
Virtus
Greater European Opportunities Fund C
Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund I
Virtus Herzfeld Fund A
Virtus Herzfeld Fund C
Virtus Herzfeld Fund I
Virtus
High Yield Fund A
Virtus High Yield Fund B
Virtus High Yield Fund C
Virtus High Yield Fund I
Virtus International Equity
Fund A
Virtus International Equity Fund C
Virtus International Equity Fund I
Virtus International Real Estate Securities Fund
A
Virtus International Real Estate Securities Fund C
Virtus International Real Estate Securities Fund I
Virtus International Small-Cap
Fund A
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund C
Page 5
EXECUTION VERSION
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund I
Virtus
International Small-Cap Fund R6
Virtus International Wealth Masters Fund A
Virtus International Wealth Masters Fund C
Virtus International
Wealth Masters Fund I
Virtus Low Volatility Equity Fund A
Virtus Low Volatility Equity Fund C
Virtus Low
Volatility Equity Fund I
Virtus Multi-Sector Intermediate Bond Fund A
Virtus
Multi-Sector Intermediate Bond Fund B
Virtus Multi-Sector Intermediate Bond Fund C
Virtus Multi-Sector Intermediate Bond Fund I
Virtus Multi-Sector Intermediate Bond Fund R6
Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund A
Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
B
Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund C
Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund I
Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund
T
Virtus Equity Trend Fund A
Virtus Equity Trend Fund C
Virtus Equity Trend
Fund I
Virtus Equity Trend Fund R6
Virtus Real Estate Securities Fund A
Virtus Real
Estate Securities Fund B
Virtus Real Estate Securities Fund C
Virtus Real Estate Securities Fund I
Virtus Real Estate Securities
Fund R6
Virtus Senior Floating Rate Fund A
Virtus Senior Floating Rate Fund C
Virtus Senior Floating Rate Fund I
Virtus Wealth
Masters Fund A
Virtus Wealth Masters Fund C
Virtus Wealth Masters
Fund I
Investment Company : Virtus Retirement Trust (2)
Portfolios :
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income
Fund A
(2)
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund I
(2)
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund R6
(2)
Virtus DFA 2020
Target Date Retirement Income Fund A
(2)
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income
Fund I
(2)
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund R6
(2)
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund A
(2)
Virtus DFA 2025
Target Date Retirement Income Fund I
(2)
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income
Fund R6
(2)
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund A
(2)
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund I
(2)
Virtus DFA 2030
Target Date Retirement Income Fund R6
(2)
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income
Fund A
(2)
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund I
(2)
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund R6
(2)
Virtus DFA 2040
Target Date Retirement Income Fund A
(2)
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income
Fund I
(2)
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund R6
(2)
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund A
(2)
Virtus DFA 2045
Target Date Retirement Income Fund I
(2)
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income
Fund R6
(2)
Page 6
EXECUTION VERSION
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income
Fund A
(2)
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund I
(2)
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund R6
(2)
Virtus DFA 2055
Target Date Retirement Income Fund A
(2)
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income
Fund I
(2)
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund R6
(2)
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund A
(2)
Virtus DFA 2060
Target Date Retirement Income Fund I
(2)
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income
Fund R6
(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Liquidated December 2, 2015.
(2) Expected launch date for commencement of services on January 6, 2016
Page 7
Exhibit 99.(h).(3).(m)
THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT
to
AMENDED AND RESTATED ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT made effective as of the 8 th day of January 2016 amends that certain amended and restated administration agreement, dated as of January 1, 2010, as amended, between the Trusts listed on Schedule A including the Funds listed under each Trust and Virtus Fund Services, LLC (successor in interest to VP Distributors, LLC (formerly VP Distributors, Inc.)) (the “Administration Agreement”) as herein below provided.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Section 8, Amendments to the Agreement, of the Administration Agreement, the Trusts and the Funds wish to amend Schedule A of the Administration Agreement to add the Virtus Retirement Trust (the “Trust”), and each series of the Trust listed on Schedule A, and to otherwise update the schedule.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premise, the parties to the Administration Agreement hereby agree that the Administration Agreement is amended as follows:
1. | Schedule A to the Administration Agreement is hereby replaced with Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof. |
2. | Except as herein provided, the Administration Agreement shall be and remain unmodified and in full force and effect. All initial capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Administration Agreement. |
3. | This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts (including executed counterparts delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission) with the same effect as if all signing parties had originally signed the same document, and all counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute the same instrument. For all purposes, signatures delivered and exchanged by facsimile transmission shall be binding and effective to the same extent as original signatures. |
[signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their duly authorized officers.
VIRTUS MUTUAL FUNDS
VIRTUS EQUITY TRUST
VIRTUS INSIGHT TRUST
VIRTUS OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST
By: /s/ W. Patrick Bradley
Name: W. Patrick Bradley
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
VIRTUS FUND SERVICES, LLC
By: /s/ David G. Hanley
Name: David G. Hanley
Title: Vice President & Assistant Treasurer
SCHEDULE A
(as of January 8, 2016)
Virtus Equity Trust |
Virtus Balanced Fund Virtus Contrarian Value Fund |
Virtus Growth & Income Fund |
Virtus Mid-Cap Core Fund |
Virtus Mid-Cap Growth Fund |
Virtus Quality Large-Cap Value Fund |
Virtus Quality Small-Cap Fund |
Virtus Small-Cap Core Fund |
Virtus Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund |
Virtus Strategic Growth Fund |
Virtus Tactical Allocation Fund |
Virtus Insight Trust |
Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund |
Virtus Low Duration Income Fund |
Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond Fund |
Virtus Opportunities Trust |
Virtus Alternatives Diversifier Fund |
Virtus Bond Fund |
Virtus CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund |
Virtus Dynamic Trend Fund |
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund |
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund Virtus Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund Virtus Equity Trend Fund Virtus Essential Resources Fund |
Virtus Foreign Opportunities Fund |
Virtus Global Equity Trend Fund |
Virtus Global Infrastructure Fund |
Virtus Global Opportunities Fund |
Virtus Global Real Estate Securities Fund |
Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund |
Virtus Herzfeld Fund |
Virtus High Yield Fund |
Virtus International Equity Fund |
Virtus International Real Estate Securities Fund |
Virtus International Small-Cap Fund |
Virtus International Wealth Masters Fund |
Virtus Low Volatility Equity Fund |
Virtus Multi-Asset Trend Fund |
Virtus Multi-Sector Intermediate Bond Fund |
Virtus Multi-Sector Short Term Bond Fund |
Virtus Real Estate Securities Fund |
Virtus Sector Trend Fund |
Virtus Senior Floating Rate Fund |
Virtus Wealth Masters Fund |
Virtus Retirement Trust |
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund |
Any Fund with net assets in excess of $10 billion will receive an offsetting credit to its administrative fee, such that the portion of its net assets in excess of $10 billion will only be assessed an administrative fee of .07%. The fees for the portion of such a Fund’s net assets up to and inclusive of the first $10 billion will remain consistent with the fee schedule above.
Exhibit 99.(h).(4).(i)
EXECUTION VERSION
JOINDER AGREEMENT
TO
SUB-ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Joinder Agreement and Amendment dated December 10, 2015 by and among Virtus Fund Services, LLC (“Company”), the trusts known as Virtus Mutual Funds listed on Exhibit A, Virtus Variable Insurance Trust, Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust, and VATS Offshore Fund, Ltd. (each, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”) and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”).
BACKGROUND:
A. | Company, Virtus Mutual Funds and BNY Mellon are parties to a Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement dated as of January 1, 2010, as amended (the “Agreement”), relating to BNY Mellon’s provision of certain sub-administration and accounting services to the Funds’ investment portfolios listed on Exhibit B to the Agreement (each, a “Portfolio”). A Joinder Agreement and Amendment to the Sub- Administration and Accounting Services Agreement was entered into among the parties on February 24, 2014 for the purpose of amending the Agreement and adding certain Funds. |
B. | Company, each Fund and BNY Mellon desire that each Fund be a party to the Agreement and receive the sub-administration and accounting services set forth in the Agreement. |
C. | This Background section is incorporated by reference into and made a part of this Amendment. |
TERMS:
The parties hereby agree that:
1. | By executing this Agreement, Company, each Fund and BNY Mellon agree to become a party to, and be bound by, and to comply with the terms of the Agreement in the same manner as if each of the undersigned were an original signatory to the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each investment company listed at Exhibit A shall be considered to have a separate agreement with Company and BNY Mellon and hereby appoints BNY Mellon to provide administration and accounting services in accordance with the terms set forth in the Agreement. BNY Mellon accepts such appointment and agrees to furnish such services. |
2. | Exhibit A to the Agreement shall be amended and restated as attached hereto. |
3. | Exhibit B to the Agreement shall be amended and restated as attached hereto. |
4. | Miscellaneous. |
(a) | As amended and supplemented hereby, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. |
EXECUTION VERSION
(b) | This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The facsimile signature of any party to this Amendment shall constitute the valid and binding execution hereof by such party. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each party hereto has caused this Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized representatives designated below as of the day and year first above written.
BNY MELLON INVESTMENT SERVICING (US) INC. | |||
By: | /s/ Armando Fernandez | ||
Name: | Armando Fernandez | ||
Title: | Vice President | ||
VIRTUS FUND SERVICES, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ W. Patrick Bradley | ||
Name: | W. Patrick Bradley | ||
Title: | Senior Vice President | ||
VIRTUS MUTUAL FUNDS: | |||
VIRTUS EQUITY TRUST | |||
VIRTUS INSIGHT TRUST | |||
VIRTUS OPPORTUNITIES TRUST | |||
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST | |||
By: | /s/ Amy Hackett | ||
Name: | Amy Hackett | ||
Title: | V.P. & Ass't. Treasurer | ||
VIRTUS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST | |||
By: | /s/ Amy Hackett | ||
Name: | Amy Hackett | ||
Title: | V.P. & Ass't. Treasurer | ||
VIRTUS ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TRUST | |||
By: | /s/ Amy Hackett | ||
Name: | Amy Hackett | ||
Title: | V.P. & Ass't. Treasurer | ||
VATS OFFSHORE FUND, LTD. | |||
By: | /s/ Amy Hackett | ||
Name: | Amy Hackett | ||
Title: | V.P. & Ass't. Treasurer | ||
EXECUTION VERSION
EXHIBIT A
THIS EXHIBIT A, dated December 10, 2015 is Exhibit A to that certain Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement dated as of January 1, 2010, as amended, by and among Virtus Fund Services, LLC, the investment companies as listed below and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
FUNDS
VIRTUS MUTUAL FUNDS
Virtus Equity Trust
Virtus Insight Trust
Virtus Opportunities Trust
Virtus Retirement Trust (effective January 6, 2016)
Virtus Variable Insurance Trust
Virtus Alternative Solutions Trust
VATS Offshore Fund, Ltd.
EXECUTION VERSION
EXHIBIT B
THIS EXHIBIT B, dated December 10, 2015 is Exhibit B to that certain Sub-Administration and Accounting Services Agreement dated as of January 1, 2010, as amended, by and among Virtus Services, LLC, each of the investment companies and the Portfolios listed below and BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.
PORTFOLIOS
GROUP A
Virtus Equity Trust
Virtus Balanced Fund*
Virtus Contrarian Value Fund
Virtus Growth & Income Fund*
Virtus
Mid-Cap Core Fund*
Virtus Mid-Cap Growth Fund*
Virtus Quality Large-Cap
Value Fund*
Virtus Quality Small-Cap Fund*
Virtus Small-Cap Core Fund*
Virtus Small-Cap Sustainable
Growth Fund*
Virtus Strategic Growth Fund*
Virtus Tactical Allocation Fund*
Virtus Insight Trust
Virtus Emerging Markets
Opportunities Fund*
Virtus Low Duration Income Fund*
Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond Fund*
Virtus Opportunities Trust
Virtus Bond Fund*
Virtus
CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund*
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund*
Virtus Emerging Markets
Equity Income Fund*
Virtus Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund*
Virtus Essential Resources Fund
Virtus Foreign Opportunities
Fund*
Virtus Global Infrastructure Fund
(formerly, Virtus Global Dividend Fund*)
Virtus Global Opportunities Fund*
Virtus Global Real Estate
Securities Fund*
Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund*
Virtus Herzfeld Fund*
Virtus High Yield Fund*
Virtus
International Equity Fund*
Virtus International
Real Estate Securities Fund*
Virtus International Small Cap Fund*
Virtus International
Wealth Masters Fund
Virtus Low Volatility Equity Fund*
Virtus Multi-Sector Intermediate Bond Fund*
EXECUTION VERSION
Virtus Multi-Sector
Short Term Bond Fund*
Virtus Real Estate Securities Fund*
Virtus Senior Floating Rate Fund*
Virtus Wealth Masters Fund*
FUNDS OF FUNDS
Virtus Alternatives
Diversifier Fund*
Virtus Sector Trend Fund
Virtus
Dynamic Trend Fund
Virtus Equity Trend Fund
Virtus Multi-Asset Trend Fund
Virtus Global Equity Trend Fund
Virtus Retirement Trust 1
(effective January 6, 2016)
Virtus DFA
2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement
Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2040
Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income
Fund
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
GROUP B
VIRTUS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
Virtus
Capital Growth Series*
Virtus Growth & Income Series*
Virtus International Series*
Virtus Multi-Sector
Fixed Income Series*
Virtus Equity Trend Series
Virtus Real Estate
Securities Series*
Virtus Small-Cap Growth Series*
Virtus Small-Cap Value Series*
Virtus Strategic Allocation Series*
GROUP C
VIRTUS ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TRUST
Virtus Alternative Income
Solution Fund
Virtus Alternative Total Solution Fund
VATS Offshore Fund, LTD.
2
Virtus Alternative Inflation Solution Fund
_________________________
1 Expected launch date for commencement of services on or about January 6, 2016.
2 Fees will be included with those fees charged to the Portfolio that holds the Cayman subsidiary.
EXECUTION VERSION
Virtus Credit Opportunities
Fund
Virtus Select MLP and Energy Fund
Virtus Multi-Strategy Target Return
Fund
Virtus Strategic Income Fund
*For those Portfolios denoted with an asterisk, BNY Mellon performed the regulatory administration services described in Section 14(b) of the Agreement through April 15, 2014. Thereafter, BNY Mellon ceased performing regulatory administration services under the Agreement.
Exhibit 99.(h).(5)
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST
This Expense Limitation Agreement (the “Agreement”), effective as of January 8, 2016, by and between Virtus Retirement Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Registrant”), on behalf of each series of the Registrant listed in Appendix A (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) and the Adviser of each of the Funds, Virtus Retirement Investment Advisers, LLC, a Delaware corporation (the “Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Adviser renders advice and services to the Funds pursuant to the terms and provisions of one or more Investment Advisory Agreements entered into between the Registrant and the Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Adviser desires to maintain the expenses of each Fund at a level below the level to which each such Fund might otherwise be subject; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser understands and intends that the Registrant will rely on this Agreement in accruing the expenses of the Registrant for purposes of calculating net asset value and for other purposes, and expressly permits the Registrant to do so.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. | Limit on Fund Expenses. The Adviser has agreed to limit the respective rate of Total Fund Operating Expenses or Other Expenses (“Expense Limit”) for each Fund as specified in Appendix A of this Agreement, for the time period indicated. |
2. | Definitions. |
2.1. | For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Total Fund Operating Expenses” with respect to a Fund is defined to include all expenses necessary or appropriate for the operation of the Fund including the Adviser’s investment advisory or management fee under the Advisory Agreement and other expenses described in the Advisory Agreement that the Fund is responsible for and have not been assumed by the Adviser, but excludes front-end or contingent deferred loads, taxes, interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, extraordinary expenses (such as litigation) or acquired fund fees and expenses. |
3. | Recoupment and Recapture of Fees and Expenses. Each Fund has agreed to reimburse the Adviser and/or certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Virtus”) out of assets belonging to the relevant class of the Fund for any Total Fund Operating Expenses or Other Expenses, as the case may be, of the relevant class of the Fund in excess of the Expense Limit paid, waived or assumed by Virtus for that Fund, provided that Virtus would not be entitled to reimbursement for any amount that would cause the applicable Expense Limit to be exceeded or, if the Expense Limit has been removed, then the previous Expense Limit, at the time that the reimbursement would be made, and provided further that no amount would be reimbursed by the Fund more than three years after the fiscal year in which it was incurred or waived by Virtus. |
4. | Term, Termination and Modification. This Agreement is effective for the time period indicated on Appendix A, unless sooner terminated as provided below in this Paragraph. Subsequent to the initial term indicated on Appendix A, the amount of the Expense Limit and term applicable to each Fund shall be as disclosed in the then current prospectus of that Fund. This Agreement shall remain in effect with respect to each Fund subject to a Voluntary Expense Limitation until such time as specified in a notice of its termination provided by one party to the other party which, for the |
avoidance of doubt, may be provided verbally or in writing. This Agreement also may be terminated by the Registrant on behalf of any one or more of the Funds at any time without payment of any penalty or by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Adviser. In addition, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to a Fund upon termination of the Advisory Agreement with respect to such Fund. |
5. | Assignment. This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned without the written consent of the other party. |
6. | Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall otherwise be rendered invalid, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. |
7. | Captions. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. |
8. | Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof; provided that nothing herein shall be construed to preempt, or to be inconsistent with, any Federal securities law, regulation or rule, including the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. |
9. | Computation. If the fiscal year-to-date Total Fund Operating Expenses of a Fund or Other Expenses, as applicable, at the end of any month during which this Agreement is in effect exceed the Expense Limit for that Fund (the “Excess Amount”), the Adviser shall (at its option) waive or reduce its fee under the Advisory Agreement and/or remit to that Fund an amount that is sufficient to pay the Excess Amount computed on the last day of the month. |
10. | Liability. Virtus agrees that it shall look only to the assets of the relevant class of each respective relevant Fund for performance of this Agreement and for payment of any claim Virtus may have hereunder, and neither any other Fund (including the other series of the Registrant) or class of the Fund, nor any of the Registrant’s trustees, officers, employees, agents or shareholders, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their duly authorized officers.
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST | VIRTUS RETIREMENT INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ W. Patrick Bradley | By: | /s/ Francis G. Waltman | ||
W. Patrick Bradley | Francis G. Waltman | ||||
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | Executive Vice President | ||||
and Treasurer |
APPENDIX A
Contractual Expense Limitations*
Virtus Mutual Fund | Total Fund Operating Expense Limit | Effective Date | ||
Class A | Class I |
Class R6
|
||
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | 0.85% | 0.60% | 0.40% | January 8, 2016 – December 31, 2017 |
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | 0.85% | 0.60% | 0.40% | January 8, 2016 – December 31, 2017 |
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | 0.85% | 0.60% | 0.40% | January 8, 2016 – December 31, 2017 |
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | 0.85% | 0.60% | 0.40% | January 8, 2016 – December 31, 2017 |
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | 0.85% | 0.60% | 0.40% | January 8, 2016 – December 31, 2017 |
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | 0.85% | 0.60% | 0.40% | January 8, 2016 – December 31, 2017 |
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | 0.85% | 0.60% | 0.40% | January 8, 2016 – December 31, 2017 |
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | 0.85% | 0.60% | 0.40% | January 8, 2016 – December 31, 2017 |
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | 0.85% | 0.60% | 0.40% | January 8, 2016 – December 31, 2017 |
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund | 0.85% | 0.60% | 0.40% | January 8, 2016 – December 31, 2017 |
Voluntary Expense Limitations**
Virtus Mutual Fund | Total Fund Operating Expense Limit | Effective Date | ||
Class A | Class I |
Class R6
|
||
*Following the contractual period, VRIA may discontinue these arrangements at any time. Under certain conditions, the adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed under these arrangements for a period of three years following the fiscal year in which such reimbursement occurred.
** Voluntary expense limitations are terminable at any time upon notice.
Exhibit 99.(h).(6)
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of November 19, 2015 by and between (i) Virtus Retirement Trust (the “Trust”), acting on behalf of itself and each of its portfolio series, whether existing on the date hereof (as listed on Appendix A hereto) or subsequently established (the “Series”) and (ii) the trustee of the Trust whose name is set forth on the signature page (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Trustee is a trustee of the Trust, and the Trust wishes the Trustee to continue to serve in that capacity;
WHEREAS, the agreement and declaration of trust of the Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”) provides that the business of the Trust shall be managed by the Trustees and they shall have all powers necessary to carry out that responsibility, does not limit any rights to indemnification that the Trustee may be entitled to by contract or otherwise under law and the Trustees have duly authorized this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, to induce the Trustee to continue to provide services to the Trust as a trustee of the Trust and to provide the Trustee with contractual assurance that indemnification will be available to the Trustee, the Trust desires to provide the Trustee with protection against personal liability and delineate certain procedural aspects relating to indemnification and advancement of expenses, as more fully set forth herein,
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as set forth below.
1. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “ Disabling Conduct ” shall mean the Trustee’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
(b) “ Expenses ” shall include without limitation all judgments, penalties, fines, amounts paid in settlement or compromise, prohibited transaction excise taxes, liabilities, losses, interest, expenses of investigation, attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts and witnesses, expenses of preparing for and attending depositions and other proceedings, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other costs, disbursements or expenses of the type customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating or acting as a witness in a Proceeding.
(c) “ Final Adjudication ” shall mean a final decision on the merits by court order or judgment of the court or other body before which a matter was brought, from which no further right of appeal or review exists.
(d) “ Non-Party Trustee ” shall mean a trustee of the Trust who is not (i) an “interested person” of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) a party to the Proceeding with respect to which indemnification or
advances are sought or (iii) a party to any other Proceeding based on the same or similar grounds that is then or has been pending.
(e) The term “ Proceeding ” shall include without limitation any threatened, pending or completed claim, demand, discovery request, request for testimony or information, action, suit, arbitration, alternative dispute mechanism, investigation, hearing or other proceeding, including any appeal from any of the foregoing, whether civil, criminal, administrative, legislative or investigative and, except as otherwise provided herein, shall also include any proceeding brought by or in the right of the Trust or any Series and any proceeding brought by a Trustee against the Trust or any Series.
(f) The Trustee’s “ service to the relevant Series ” shall include without limitation the Trustee’s service as a trustee or advisory trustee of the Trust and his or her service at the request of the Trust or the Series as a trustee, director, officer, employee, agent or representative of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.
(g) “ Special Counsel ” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of investment company law and neither at the time of designation is, nor in the five years immediately preceding such designation was, retained to represent (i) the Trust or the Trustee (except that a majority of the Non-Party Trustees may determine, in their sole discretion, that any prior representation of the Trust or Trustee shall not disqualify such law firm or a member of a law firm from representation, if the prior representation is not related to the issue in dispute) or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding (or any party reasonably expected to become a party to the Proceeding) giving rise to a claim for indemnification or advancements hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, the term “ Special Counsel ” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Trust or the Trustee in an action to determine the Trustee’s rights pursuant to this Agreement, regardless of when the Trustee’s act or failure to act occurred.
2. Indemnification . The Trust on behalf of each Series severally shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee against any and all Expenses actually incurred or paid by the Trustee in any Proceeding in connection with the Trustee’s service to the relevant Series, subject to the provisions of the following sentence and the provisions of Section 3 and paragraph (h) of Section 6 of this Agreement, provided that in any Proceeding initiated by the Trustee, other than one instituted pursuant to Section 6(d) or 6(f), the initiation of the Proceeding by the Trustee was approved in advance by a majority of the Non-Party Trustees. The Trustee shall be indemnified pursuant to this Section 2 against any and all Expenses unless (i) the Trustee is subject to such Expenses by reason of the Trustee’s not having acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Series, (ii) the Trustee is liable to the Series or its shareholders by reason of the Trustee’s Disabling Conduct or (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, the Trustee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful, and with respect to each of (i), (ii) and (iii), there has been a Final Adjudication in the relevant Proceeding that the Trustee’s conduct fell within (i), (ii) or (iii).
3. Advancement of Expenses . Expenses, including accountants’ and counsel fees incurred by the Trustee (but excluding amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise
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or as fines or penalties), shall be paid from time to time by the Trust, on behalf of a Series to which the conduct in question related, in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding in connection with the Trustee’s service to a Series, upon receipt by the Trust of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Trustee to repay amounts so paid to the Trust if it is ultimately determined that the Trustee is not entitled to indemnification of such Expenses under this Agreement, provided, that (a) the Trustee shall provide a surety bond or some other appropriate security for his or her undertaking, (b) the Trust shall be insured against losses arising by reason of the Trustee’s failure to fulfill his or her undertaking, or (c) a majority of a quorum of the Non-Party Trustees (provided that a majority of such Non-Party Trustees then in office act on the matter) or Special Counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based on a review of readily available facts (but not a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe the Trustee ultimately will be entitled to indemnification.
4. Presumptions . For purposes of the determination or opinion referred to in clause (c) of Section 3 or clauses (y)(i) or (y)(ii) of subsection (h) of Section 6 of this Agreement, the Non-Party Trustees or Special Counsel, as the case may be, shall be entitled to rely upon a rebuttable presumption that the Trustee has not engaged in Disabling Conduct.
5. Witness Expenses . To the extent the Trustee is, by reason of the Trustee’s service to the relevant Series, a witness for any reason in any Proceeding to which such Trustee is not a party, such Trustee shall be indemnified against any and all Expenses actually incurred by or on behalf of such Trustee in connection therewith.
6. Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification and Advancements . A request by the Trustee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses shall be made in writing and shall be accompanied by such relevant documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Trustee. The Secretary of the Trust shall promptly advise the trustees of the Trust of such request.
(a) Methods of Determination . Upon the Trustee’s request for indemnification or advancement of Expenses, a determination with respect to the Trustee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in a manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Declaration of Trust. The Trustee shall cooperate with the person or persons making such determination, including without limitation providing to such person or persons upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information that is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and is reasonably available to the Trustee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any failure by the Trustee to cooperate with the person or persons making such determination shall extend as necessary and appropriate the period or periods described in paragraph (c) of this Section 6 regarding determinations deemed to have been made. Any Expenses incurred by the Trustee in so cooperating shall be borne by the relevant Series, irrespective of the determination as to the Trustee’s entitlement to indemnification or advancement of Expenses.
(b) Determinations Regarding Indemnification . A determination that the Covered Person is entitled to indemnification may be made by: (i) a Final Adjudication that the Trustee was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct, (ii) dismissal of a court action or an administrative proceeding against the Trustee for insufficiency of evidence of Disabling Conduct, (iii) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (as
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opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that the indemnitee was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct by (a) a vote of a majority of a quorum of the Non-Party Trustees or (b) a Special Counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) a vote of a majority of the shares of beneficial interest of the Trust outstanding and entitled to vote (excluding such shares owned of record or beneficially by the Trustee).
(c) Special Counsel . If the determination of entitlement to indemnification or advancement of Expenses is to be made by Special Counsel, the Special Counsel shall be selected by a majority of the Non-Party Trustees of the Trust (or, if there are no Non-Party Trustees with respect to the matter in question, by a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Independent Trustees”)), and the Trust shall give written notice to the Trustee advising the Trustee of the identity of the Special Counsel selected. The Trustee may, within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice, deliver to the Trust a written objection to such selection. Such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Special Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements set forth in Section 1 and shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. The Non-Party Trustees (or Independent Trustees, as the case may be) of the Trust shall determine the merits of the objection and, in their discretion, either determine that the proposed Special Counsel shall, despite the objection, act as such hereunder or select another Special Counsel who shall act as such hereunder.
If within fourteen (14) days after submission by the Trustee of a written request for indemnification or advancement of Expenses no such Special Counsel shall have been finally selected as provided in the previous paragraph, then either the Trust or the Trustee may petition an appropriate court of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment as Special Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person so appointed shall act as Special Counsel.
The relevant Series shall pay all reasonable fees and Expenses charged or incurred by Special Counsel in connection with his, her or its determinations pursuant to this Agreement and shall pay all reasonable fees and Expenses incident to the procedures described in this paragraph, regardless of the manner in which such Special Counsel was selected or appointed.
(d) Failure to Make Timely Determination . Subject to paragraph (a) of this Section 6, if the person or persons empowered or selected to determine whether the Trustee is entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses (other than determinations that are made or to be made by a court) shall not have made such determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Trust of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification or advancement of Expenses shall be deemed to have been made, and the Trustee shall be entitled to such indemnification or advancement, absent (i) an intentional misstatement by the Trustee of a material fact, or an intentional omission of a material fact necessary to make the Trustee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification or advancement of Expenses, (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification or advancements under applicable law or the Declaration of Trust or the Trust’s by-laws, (iii) a requirement under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for insurance or security, which has not been satisfied, or (iv) a subsequent Final Adjudication or, in a matter disposed of without a Final Adjudication, determination pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 6, that the Trustee is not
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entitled to indemnification under this Agreement; provided , however , that such period may be extended for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person or persons making the determination in good faith require such additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation or information relating thereto. Any assertion under clauses (i), (ii), or (iii) of this Section 6(c) shall be made in writing, specify the basis for the assertion, and be delivered to the Trustee within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Trust of the request for indemnification or advancement of Expenses (or any extension of such period provided under this Section 6(c)). The Trustee shall be entitled to adjudication of such assertion in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payment upon Determination of Entitlement . If a determination is made pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3 (or is deemed to be made pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 6 and, in the case of advancement of Expenses, the other conditions are satisfied) that the Trustee is entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, payment of any indemnification amounts or advancements owing to the Trustee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination (and, in the case of advancements of further Expenses, within ten (10) days after submission of supporting information, including the required undertaking and evidence of any required security). If such payment is not made when due, the Trustee shall be entitled to adjudication of the Trustee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancements in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction. The Trustee shall commence any proceeding seeking adjudication within 60 days following the date on which he or she first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this paragraph (d). In any such proceeding, the Trust and the relevant Series shall be bound by the determination that the Trustee is entitled to indemnification or advancements, absent (i) an intentional misstatement by the Trustee of a material fact, or an intentional omission of a material fact necessary to make his or her statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification or advancements, (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification or advancements under applicable law or (iii) a requirement under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for insurance or security, which has not been satisfied.
(f) Appeal of Adverse Determination . If a determination is made that the Trustee is not entitled to indemnification or advancements (other than determinations that are made by a court), the Trustee shall be entitled to adjudication of such matter in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction. Alternatively, the Trustee, at his or her option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Trustee shall commence such proceeding or arbitration within 60 days following the date on which the adverse determination is made. Any such judicial proceeding or arbitration shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial or arbitration on the merits, and the Trustee shall not be prejudiced by reason of such prior adverse determination.
(g) Expenses of Appeal . If the Trustee seeks arbitration or a judicial adjudication to determine or enforce his or her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, the indemnification or Expense advancement provisions of this Agreement, the Trustee shall be entitled to recover from the relevant Series, and shall be indemnified by the relevant Series against, any and all Expenses actually incurred by the Trustee in such arbitration or judicial adjudication, but only if the Trustee prevails therein. If it shall be determined in such arbitration
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or judicial adjudication that the Trustee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advancement of Expenses sought, the expenses incurred by the Trustee in connection with such arbitration or judicial adjudication shall be appropriately prorated.
(h) Validity of Agreement . In any arbitration or judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 6, the Trust shall be precluded from asserting that the procedures and presumptions set forth in this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable against the Trust or relevant Series and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Trust is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
(i) Lack of Adjudication . Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, as to any matter disposed of (whether by compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) without a Final Adjudication by a court, or by any other body before which the Proceeding was brought, that the Trustee either (a) did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that the Trustee’s action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Series or (b) is liable to the Series or its shareholders by reason of Disabling Conduct, indemnification shall be provided if (x) there has been a determination that the Trustee did not engage in Disabling Conduct by the court or other body approving any settlement or other disposition of the matter or (y) there has been a reasonable determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (but not a full trial-type inquiry), that the Trustee acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that the Trustee’s action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Series and is not liable to the Trust and the relevant Series or its shareholders by reason of Disabling Conduct, by (i) the vote of a majority of the Non-Party Trustees (provided that a majority of such Non-Party Trustees then in office act on the matter) or (ii) Special Counsel in a written opinion.
7. General Provisions .
(a) Non-Exclusive Rights . The provisions for indemnification of, and advancement of Expenses to, the Trustee set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the Trustee may otherwise be entitled, including any other rights to be indemnified or have Expenses advanced by the Trust. The Trust shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that the Trustee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise, if such payment is not recoverable from the Trustee.
(b) Continuation of Provisions . This Agreement shall be binding upon all successors of the Trust, including without limitation any transferee of all or substantially all assets of a Series and any successor by merger, consolidation or operation of law and shall inure to the benefit of the Trustee’s spouse, heirs, assigns, devisees, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The provisions of this Agreement shall continue with respect to the Trust until the later of (i) ten (10) years after the Trustee has ceased to provide any service to the Trust or any Series and (ii) the final termination of all Proceedings in respect of which the Trustee has asserted, is entitled to assert or has been granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding commenced by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6 relating thereto. No amendment of the Declaration of Trust or by-laws of the Trust shall limit or eliminate the right of the Trustee to indemnification and advancement of Expenses set forth in this Agreement. The Trustee’s right of indemnification and advancement of Expenses set forth
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in this Agreement shall survive the Trustee’s death, disability, retirement or resignation as a Trustee.
(c) Selection of Counsel . The Trust shall be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding for which the Trustee seeks indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Agreement. However, counsel selected by the Trustee shall conduct the defense of the Trustee to the extent reasonably determined by such counsel to be necessary to protect the interests of the Trustee, and the relevant Series shall indemnify the Trustee therefor to the extent otherwise permitted under this Agreement, if (i) the Trustee reasonably determines that there may be a conflict in the Proceeding between the positions of the Trustee and the positions of the Trust or the other parties to the Proceeding that are indemnified by the Trust and not represented by separate counsel, or the Trustee otherwise reasonably concludes that representation of both the Trustee, the Trust and such other parties by the same counsel would not be appropriate, or (ii) the Proceeding involves the Trustee but neither the Trust nor any such other party who is indemnified by the Trust and the Trustee reasonably withholds consent to being represented by counsel selected by the Trust. If the Trust shall not have elected to assume the defense of any such Proceeding for the Trustee within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof from the Trustee, the Trust shall be deemed to have waived any right it might otherwise have to assume such defense. If the Trust does not assume or conduct the defense of any Proceeding, the Trustee shall not consent to a settlement or any other disposition not involving a Final Adjudication without the prior written consent of the Trust.
(d) D&O Insurance . To the extent the Trust maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance to its trustees or its trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Trustee shall be covered by such policy or policies at all times when serving as a trustee of the Trust, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any similarly situated trustee of the Trust. For a period of six (6) years after the Trustee has ceased to serve as a trustee of the Trust, whether through resignation, death or otherwise, and to the extent insurance as provided in the previous sentence does not continue to cover the Trustee even though he or she is no longer serving as a trustee of the Trust, the Trust shall purchase and maintain in effect, through “tail” or other appropriate coverage, one or more policies of insurance on behalf of the Trustee to the maximum extent of the coverage provided to then serving trustees of the Trust (or, if the Trust has been terminated, the coverage in effect immediately prior to such termination), unless the purchase of such insurance by the Trust is not permitted by applicable law, including for these purposes any fiduciary duties applicable to the persons then constituting the trustees of the Trust, such insurance is not generally available, or in the reasonable business judgment of the persons then constituting the trustees of the Trust, the premium for such insurance is substantially disproportionate to the amount of coverage afforded. In the event of liquidation of the Trust, the Trust shall, prior to such liquidation, establish one or more reserves in amounts reasonably necessary to meet its obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, amounts reasonably necessary to pay insurance premiums, to pay deductibles, or to meet claims for indemnification or defense costs that are not reasonably likely to be recovered under applicable insurance policies.
(e) Subrogation . In the event of any payment by any Series pursuant to this Agreement, the Series shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of
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recovery of the Trustee, who shall, upon reasonable written request by the Trust on behalf of the Series and at the Series’ expense, execute all such documents and take all such reasonable actions as are necessary to enable the Trust to enforce such rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to diminish or otherwise restrict the right of the Trust or the Trustee to proceed or collect against any insurers or to give such insurers any rights against the Trust under or with respect to this Agreement, including without limitation any right to be subrogated to the Trustee’s rights hereunder, unless otherwise expressly agreed to by the Trust in writing, and the obligation of such insurers to the Trust and the Trustee shall not be deemed to be reduced or impaired in any respect by virtue of the provisions of this Agreement.
(f) Notice of Proceedings . The Trustee shall promptly notify the Trust in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding that may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses pursuant to this Agreement, but no delay in providing such notice shall in any way limit or affect the Trustee’s rights or the Trust’s obligations under this Agreement.
(g) Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications to a party pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally (with a written receipt by the addressee) or two (2) days after being sent (i) by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or (ii) by nationally recognized overnight courier service to 100 Pearl Street, Hartford, CT 06103 (if addressed to the Trust), the address specified on the signature page of this Agreement (if addressed to the Trustee) or such other address as may have been furnished by such party by notice in accordance with this paragraph.
(h) Severability . If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, for any reason whatsoever, (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any provision that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
(i) Modification and Waiver . This Agreement supersedes any existing or prior agreement between the Trust and the Trustee pertaining to the subject matter of indemnification and advancement of Expenses, other than the Declaration of Trust, the by-laws of the Trust and the terms of any liability insurance policies, which shall not be modified or amended by this Agreement. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both parties or their respective successors or legal representatives; provided , however , that any supplements, modifications or amendments to the Declaration of Trust, by-laws or the terms of the liability insurance policy or policies of the Trust shall not be deemed to constitute supplements, modifications or amendments to this Agreement. Any waiver by either party of any breach by the other party of any provision contained in this Agreement to be performed by the other party must be in writing and signed by the waiving party or such party’s successor or legal representative, and no such waiver shall be deemed a waiver of similar or other provisions at the same or any prior or subsequent time.
-8-
(j) Joinder of New Series . In the event that additional Series are created and added to the Trust from time to time, Appendix A listing each Series of the Trust covered by this Agreement may be amended to add the additional Series by the Trust’s execution and delivery to the Trustee of an amended Appendix A . Irrespective of whether the Trust executes and delivers to the Trustee an amended Appendix A , the additional Series shall be deemed a “Series” for all purposes of this Agreement as of the date that it is created and added to the Trust.
(k) Headings . The headings of the Sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be deemed to control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.
(l) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which when taken together shall constitute one document.
(m) Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without reference to principles of conflict of laws.
(n) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO JURY TRIAL. BY EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT THEY HAVE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ISSUES RAISED BY THAT DISPUTE.
(o) Miscellaneous . Copies of the Certificate of Trust of each Trust are on file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The obligations of or arising out of this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Trust’s trustees, officers, employees, agents or shareholders individually, but are binding solely upon the assets and property of the respective Series in accordance with their proportionate interests hereunder. The assets and liabilities of each Trust and each Series are separate and distinct, and the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are binding solely upon the assets or property of the respective Trust and Series.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank]
-9-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf on the date set forth above.
{W0252579}
APPENDIX A
TO
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
RELATING TO TRUSTEES OF
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST
Virtus Retirement Trust, on behalf of each of:
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
A-1
Exhibit 99.(i).(1)
January 8, 2016
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549
Re: |
Virtus Retirement Trust (the “Trust”)
Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to Registration Statement 033-80057 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of shares (the “Shares”) of the above-referenced Trust. In rendering this opinion, I have examined such documents, records and matters of law as deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures of all parties, the authenticity of all documents submitted as originals, the correctness of all copies and the correctness of all written or oral statements made to me.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is my opinion that the Shares that will be issued by the Trust when sold will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
My opinion is rendered solely in connection with the Registration Statement on Form N1-A under which the Shares will be registered and may not be relied upon for any other purpose without my written consent. I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to such Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Kevin J. Carr
Kevin J. Carr
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary
Virtus Opportunities Trust
Securities distributed by VP Distributors, LLC
Exhibit 99.(i).(2)
CONSENT OF SULLIVAN & WORCESTER LLP
We hereby consent to the use of our name and any reference to our firm in the Statement of Additional Information of Virtus Retirement Trust (the “Trust”), included as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 32 and Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-80057). In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
/s/ Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Washington, DC
January 8, 2016
Exhibit 99.(j).(1)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the references under the headings “Glossary”, “Non-Public Portfolio Holdings Information”, "Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" and "Financial Statements" in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Virtus Retirement Trust.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
January 8, 2016
Exhibit 99.(m).(1)
VIRTUS RETIREMENT TRUST
(the "Fund")
CLASS A SHARES
DISTRIBUTION PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 12b-1
under the
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
1. | Introduction |
The Fund, on behalf of its series listed in Appendix A, as may be amended from time to time, and VP Distributors, LLC (the "Distributor"), a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, have entered into a Underwriting Agreement pursuant to which the Distributor acts as principal underwriter of each series and class of shares of the Fund for sale to the permissible purchasers. The Trustees of the Fund have determined to adopt this Distribution Plan (the "Plan"), in accordance with the requirements of Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act") with respect to Class A shares of the Fund and have determined that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit the Fund and its Class A shareholders.
2. | Rule 12b-1 Fees |
The Fund shall pay to the Distributor, at the end of each month, an amount on an annual basis equal to 0.25% of the average daily value of the net assets of any series of the Fund's Class A shares, as compensation for the Distributor’s services as distributor of Class A Shares in connection with any activities or expenses primarily intended to result in the sale of the Class A Shares. Expenses may include, but are not limited to, payment of compensation, including incentive compensation to securities dealers and financial institutions and organizations to obtain various distribution related and/or shareholder services for the investors in the Class A Shares; payment of compensation to and expenses of personnel of the Distributor who support the distribution of the Class A Shares; expenses related to the cost of financing or providing such financing from the Distributor’s or an affiliate’s resources in connection with the Distributor’s payment of such distribution expenses and the payment of other direct distribution costs such as the cost of sales literature, advertising and prospectuses. Shareholder services include, but are not limited to, transmitting prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, proxy statements and other materials to shareholders; providing educational materials; providing facilities to answer questions about the Funds; receiving and answering correspondence; assisting shareholders in completing application forms and selecting dividend and other account options and providing such other information and services as the Distributor or Fund may reasonable request.
3. | Reports |
At least quarterly in each year this Plan remains in effect, the Fund's Principal Accounting Officer or Treasurer, or such other person authorized to direct the disposition of monies paid or payable by the Fund, shall prepare and furnish to the Trustees of the Fund for their review, and
1
the Trustees shall review, a written report complying with the requirements of Rule 12b-1 under the Act regarding the amounts expended under this Plan and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
4. | Required Approval |
This plan shall not take effect until it, together with any related agreement, has been approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Fund's Trustees as well as a vote of at least a majority of the Trustees of the Fund who are not interested persons (as defined in the Act) of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of this Plan or in any related agreement (the "Disinterested Trustees"), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on this Plan or any related agreement and this Plan.
5. | Term |
This Plan shall remain in effect for one year from the date of its adoption and may be continued thereafter if specifically approved at least annually by a vote of at least a majority of the Trustees of the Fund as well as a majority of the Disinterested Trustees. This Plan may be amended at any time, provided that (a) the Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount of the distribution expenses without the approval of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the Class A shares of the Fund and (b) all material amendments to this Plan must be approved by a majority vote of the Trustees of the Fund and of the Disinterested Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of such vote.
6. | Selection of Disinterested Trustees |
While this Plan is in effect, the selection and nomination of Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the Act) of the Fund shall be committed to the discretion of the Disinterested Trustees then in office.
7. | Related Agreements |
Any related agreement shall be in writing and shall provide that (a) such agreement shall be subject to termination, without penalty, by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the Class A shares of the Fund on not more than 60 days' written notice to the other party to the agreement and (b) such agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment.
8. | Termination |
This Plan may be terminated at any time by a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the Act) of the Class A shares of the Fund. In the event this Plan is terminated or otherwise discontinued, no further payments hereunder will be made hereunder.
2
9. | Records |
The Fund shall preserve copies of this Plan and any related agreements and all reports made pursuant to Paragraph 3 hereof, and any other information, estimates, projections and other materials that serve as a basis therefor, considered by the Trustees of the Fund, for a period of not less than six years from the date of this Plan, the agreement or report, as the case may be, the first two years in an easily accessible place.
10. | Non-Recourse |
The Trust is a statutory trust established under the laws of the State of Delaware pursuant to its Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust refers to the Trustees collectively as Trustees, but not as individuals or personally, and no Trustee, shareholder, officer, employee or agent of the Fund may be held to any personal liability, nor may any resort be had to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim or otherwise in connection with the affairs of the Fund but the Fund property only shall be liable.
Adopted as of: January 8, 2016
3
APPENDIX A
Virtus DFA 2015 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2020 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2025 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2030 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2035 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2040 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2045 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2050 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2055 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
Virtus DFA 2060 Target Date Retirement Income Fund
4
Exhibit 99.(n).(1).(c)
VIRTUS MUTUAL FUNDS
THIRD AMENDMENT
to
AMENDED AND RESTATED
PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 18f-3
under the
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
THIS AMENDMENT made effective as of the 8 th day of January, 2016, amends that certain amended and restated plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, duly adopted by the Board of Trustees on August 21, 2014 (the “Rule 18f-3 Plan”) and amended from time to time, as herein below provided:
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Trusts and the Funds wish to amend Schedule A of the Rule 18f-3 Plan to reflect the addition of the Virtus Retirement Trust (the “Trust”), and each series of the Trust listed on Schedule A, and to otherwise update the Schedule.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premise, the Trusts and the Funds hereby agree that the Rule 18f-3 Plan is amended as follows:
1. | Schedule A to the Rule 18f-3 Plan is hereby replaced with Schedule A attached hereto and made a part of the Rule 18f-3 Plan. |
2. | Except as herein provided, the Rule 18f-3 Plan shall be and remain unmodified and in full force and effect. All initial capitalized terms used herein shall have such meanings as ascribed thereto in the Rule 18f-3 Plan. |
SCHEDULE A
(as of January 8, 2016)
A Shares |
B Shares |
C Shares |
I Shares |
R6 Shares |
T Shares |
|
Virtus Equity Trust | ||||||
Virtus Balanced Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Contrarian Value Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Growth & Income Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Mid-Cap Core Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Mid-Cap Growth Fund | X | X | X | X | ||
Virtus Quality Large-Cap Value Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Quality Small-Cap Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Small-Cap Core Fund | X | X | X | X | ||
Virtus Small-Cap Sustainable Growth Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Strategic Growth Fund | X | X | X | X | ||
Virtus Tactical Allocation Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Insight Trust | ||||||
Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund | X | X | X | X | ||
Virtus Low Duration Income Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Opportunities Trust | ||||||
Virtus Alternatives Diversifier Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Bond Fund | X | X | X | X | ||
Virtus CA Tax-Exempt Bond Fund | X | X | ||||
Virtus Dynamic Trend Fund | X | X | X | X | X | |
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Equity Trend Fund | X | X | X | X | ||
Virtus Essential Resources Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Foreign Opportunities Fund | X | X | X | X | ||
Virtus Global Equity Trend Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Global Infrastructure Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Global Opportunities Fund | X | X | X | X | ||
Virtus Global Real Estate Securities Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Greater European Opportunities Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus Herzfeld Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus High Yield Fund | X | X | X | X | ||
Virtus International Equity Fund | X | X | X | |||
Virtus International Real Estate Securities Fund | X | X | X |
Exhibit 99.(p).(2)
Dimensional
A Message from Our Co-CEOs
The success of Dimensional Fund Advisors can be traced directly back to our firm's first two guiding principles: Act in the best interest of clients, and act ethically and legally. These beliefs have helped us set the industry standard in exceptional service and build lasting partnerships with our clients.
These strong relationships, some spanning over 20 years, are built on trust – treating our clients as we would want to be treated and always doing what we say we are going to do. We take our fiduciary obligation seriously and continually work to act as stewards of our clients' assets, free from conflicts of interest.
Our firm's commitment to integrity makes us stand out in a financial industry where competitive pressures are intense to behave otherwise. Dimensional will never compromise its principles or its compliance with laws and regulations, and we depend on our employees, as representatives of the firm, to uphold our ideals.
Please read this guide to learn the rules that influence our decisions and enable us to maintain the highest legal and ethical standards. Your cooperation with our code of ethics and standard of conduct will guarantee our reputation well into the future. We would like to thank you for your continued dedication to Dimensional and to our clients, which in turn allows us to continue providing for your success.
|
David Booth and Eduardo Repetto |
Dimensional
Dimensional | 3 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dimensional | 4 |
Policy Against Bribery and Corruption | 21 |
Privacy Policies | 22 |
Glossary of Terms | 23 |
Dimensional | 5 |
Standard of Conduct
All of us at Dimensional are responsible for maintaining the very highest ethical standards when conducting business. In keeping with these standards, we should adhere to the spirit as well as the letter of the law. Dimensional’s Code of Ethics (the “Code”) is designed to help ensure that our actions are consistent with these high standards.
The Code has been adopted by Dimensional pursuant to SEC Rules with the objectives of promoting:
· | honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
· | full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents filed with relevant global regulatory agencies and in other public communications made by Dimensional; |
· | compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations; |
· | the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to the Global Chief Compliance Officer (“Global CCO”) and the Deputy Chief Compliance Officer (“Designated Officer”); and |
· | accountability for adherence to the Code. |
Adherence to the Code is a basic condition of employment. Whether or not a specific situation is addressed, employees must conduct themselves in accordance with its general principles and in a manner that is designed to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest . Failure to comply could result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Reporting Code Violations
Dimensional is committed to fostering a culture of compliance. If you have any questions or concerns, or become aware of a violation or potential violation of the Code, you are required to report the matter to one of the following:
· | The Global CCO and/or Designated Officer |
· | General Counsel or |
· | a member of the Ethics Committee |
The Global CCO will receive reports on all violations of the Code reported to a Designated Officer and/or a member of the Ethics Committee.
Dimensional | 6 |
Employees have the option of reporting compliance-related matters on a confidential basis through the Compliance Reporting System (“CRS”), or email Compliance@dimensional.com.
Retaliation against any employee for reporting compliance related issues is cause for appropriate corrective action up to and including termination of the retaliating employee.
General Code or Standard of Conduct questions should be directed to your local Compliance Team members.
Dimensional | 7 |
Code of Ethics
Who is subject to the Code of Ethics?
The Code applies to all Dimensional employees, directors/trustees, officers and general partners, all of whom have been designated as Access Persons . In addition, certain provisions of the Code also apply to Immediate Family Member(s) living in the same household.
Other restrictions on personal investment transactions may also be applied to temporary personnel (i.e., interns, contractors or consultants), whose tenure exceeds ninety (90) days and/or who are deemed to have access to nonpublic systems.
Covered Accounts
All Access Persons are required to report all investment accounts (i.e., Covered Accounts ) with which they, their spouse, domestic partner, child or any other Immediate Family Member maintain an account in which they have Beneficial Ownership or interests. Covered Accounts include but are not limited to the following:
· Brokerage Accounts | · Discretionary Accounts 1 | · Employee Stock Compensation Plans |
·
Retirement Accounts
(IRAs or local equivalent) |
· Transfer Agent Accounts | · UTMAs or UGMAs |
·
Mutual Fund Accounts
(i.e., collective investment schemes) |
· 529 accounts, in which you direct investments in Dimensional Managed Funds | · Contract for Difference Accounts (CDAs) |
·
Self-Invested Personal Pension
(SIPPs) (UK specific) |
·
Superannuation Accounts
(managed, SMSF or Super Wrap, e.g., IOOF) (Australia specific) |
· Nippon (Japan) Individual Savings Account (NISA) (Japan specific) |
· Stock & Shares ISAs (UK specific) |
·
Wrap Accounts
(Australia specific) |
1 Discretionary Accounts must be disclosed and supporting documentation must be provided to Compliance.
Dimensional | 8 |
Non-Reportable Accounts
Employees do not need to report the following accounts as Compliance has independent access to these records for monitoring and verification purposes:
· | Dimensional 401(k) account (or local equivalent); |
· | Dimensional Health Savings Accounts (HSAs); |
· | Dimensional Managed Fund accounts established through Fund Operations; and |
· | If applicable, holdings in Dimensional’s privately issued shares. |
Although these accounts do not need to be reported, investment activities in these accounts must comply with the standards of conduct embodied in the Code.
Dimensional | 9 |
Personal Securities Transactions
All Access Persons (other than Disinterested Trustees and directors of the Advisors who are not officers or employees of Dimensional) must pre-clear their personal securities transactions in covered securities prior to execution. This also applies to transactions by any Immediate Family Member of the Access Person .
All personal securities transaction reports and requests for pre-clearance must be processed through the CRS, a web-based compliance system. Compliance will evaluate and review each pre-clearance transaction request and notification will be provided to employees through the CRS, in a timely manner.
Pre-clearance approval is valid for T+1 (i.e., market orders), from the time of approval.
Covered securities 2 include but are not limited to the following:
·
Stocks/Shares
(common, preferred or restricted) |
·
Derivatives
2
(options, futures, forwards, CDA trades, etc.) |
·
Private Placements
2
(documentation must be provided) |
· Closed-End Funds and REITs | · Warrants & Rights | · Convertible Securities |
· Voluntary Corporate Actions |
·
Depository Receipts
(ADRs or GDRs) |
· Limited Partnerships and limited liability company interests 2 |
·
Fixed Income Securities
(excluding certain Sovereign Government issuances) 2 |
· Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) must be pre-cleared if the value of the transaction is >$10,000 (USD) | · Dimensional Advised or Sub-advised Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) must be pre-cleared |
In addition, Access Persons are required to provide confirmations (or the local equivalent) for each approved and executed transaction.
Designated Officers
Designated Officers (other than the Global CCO) are required to receive prior written approval of their personal securities transactions from Dimensional’s Global CCO. The Global CCO is required to receive
2 Transactions in certain types of securities may require additional analysis. Example: An Access Person may not purchase a private placement unless approved by the Global CCO or Designated Officer . Approval would be based upon a determination that the investment opportunity was not being offered to the Access Person due to their employment with Dimensional, along with other relevant factors. Each pre-clearance is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Covered securities do not include Exempt Securities .
Dimensional | 10 |
prior approval of his personal securities transactions from one of the Dimensional Co-Chief Executive Officers.
Reportable Transactions (which do not require pre-clearance)
All Access Persons must report security transactions in the following:
· | Dimensional Managed Funds (through a third party service provider or financial advisor); |
· | Investments in 40-Act Funds sub-advised by Dimensional; |
· | 529 Accounts that hold or are exclusively made up of Dimensional Funds; |
Dimensional | 11 |
· | Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) 3 , other than Dimensional-advised or sub-advised ETFs, where the principal value of the transaction is less than USD $10,000 ; and |
· | Automatic Investment Plans (including dividend reinvestment plans) in which regular periodic purchases (or withdrawals) are made automatically in (or from) investment accounts in accordance with a predetermined schedule and allocation. |
Personal Trading Restrictions and Prohibited Activities
The Code prohibits certain transactions (purchase or sale) in covered securities:
· | Initial public offering (IPO) investments; |
· | Short selling of securities; |
· | Securities that are subject to firmwide restriction; and |
· | Transactions in a security while in possession of insider information (reference the Global Insider Trading Policy , the Singapore Supplemental Insider Trading Policy, and the Japan Insider Trading Management Policies ), is unethical and illegal and will be dealt with decisively if it occurs. |
All employees are prohibited from executing personal investment transactions with individuals with whom business is being conducted on behalf of certain institutional clients. Therefore, Compliance may request the name of the account contact (or agent), before processing the pre-clearance request.
Blackout Period Restriction
· | A pre-clearance request involving a covered security will be denied if Dimensional has traded in the same or equivalent security within the past seven (7) calendar days, and the pre-clearance is in an amount over USD $10,000. Please note that transactions in an amount less than USD $10,000 must be pre-cleared and reported. |
· | Compliance will monitor trading activity for seven (7) calendar days following the pre-clearance approval date for conflicts of interest on non-Discretionary Accounts. |
3 Post-trade review will be performed and all other Code provisions will still apply, such as the sixty (60) day profit restriction.
Dimensional | 12 |
Short Term Trading Restrictions
· | Access Persons cannot profit from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) of the same or equivalent security within sixty (60) calendar days. |
· | Gains are calculated based on a last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. |
Excessive Trading of Dimensional Managed Funds
Employees are prohibited from engaging in excessive trading of any Dimensional Managed Funds , in order to take advantage of short-term market movements. Excessive trading activity, such as a frequent pattern of exchanges, could result in harm to shareholders or clients.
ETFs for which Dimensional Serves as Advisor or Subadvisor
Employees with knowledge of the composition of the underlying ETF constituents are prohibited from using such information or from disclosing such information to any other person, except as authorized in the course of their employment, until such information is made public.
Exceptions to Code Restrictions
In cases of hardship, the Global CCO or Designated Officer may grant an exception (or waiver) to the personal trading restrictions of the Code. The decision will be based on a determination that a hardship exists and the transaction for which the exception (or waiver) is requested would not result in a conflict with our clients’ interests or violate any other policy embodied in the Code. Any exception (or waiver) will be evidenced in writing and will be reported to the Ethics Committee.
Certification Requirements
All employees are required to complete a Code of Ethics Acknowledgement Form upon commencement of their employment with Dimensional, and annually thereafter, to acknowledge and certify that they have received, reviewed, understand and shall comply with the Code. In addition, all material amendments to, or any new interpretations of the Code, shall be conveyed to employees (which may include temporary personnel) and require their acknowledgment of receipt and understanding of the amendments or interpretations.
Reporting Requirements
All Access Persons’ personal securities transactions and holdings reports will be reviewed by Compliance. The records and reports created or maintained pursuant to the Code are intended solely for internal use and are confidential unless required to be disclosed to a regulatory or governmental agency.
Dimensional | 13 |
Summary of Reporting Obligations
New Hires 4 | Access Persons | All Employees |
Upon joining the firm
(Due in 10 calendar days) |
Quarterly
(Due 30 calendar days after the quarter) |
Annually
(Due 45 calendar days after each calendar year) |
New Hire Questionnaire
(Disciplinary Action Disclosure) |
Code of Ethics Certification | Annual Compliance Questionnaire |
Initial Holdings Report
(include private placements) |
Quarterly Transactions
and Holdings Report
(even if you did not make a
personal transaction) |
Annual Holdings Certification & Quarterly Transaction Report |
Provide Covered Account statement(s)
(current, within 45 days prior to start date) |
Covered Account(s) Certification | |
Code of Ethics, Insider Trading and Compliance Manual Acknowledgements | Code of Ethics, Insider Trading and Compliance Manual Acknowledgements |
4 Access Persons who fail to submit the Initial Holdings Report/Questionnaire within ten (10) calendar days of their employment start date will be prohibited from engaging in any personal securities transaction until such report is submitted, and may be subject to other sanctions.
Dimensional | 14 |
New Accounts
All Access Persons must promptly report any new Covered Account for themselves, their spouse, domestic partner, child or any other Immediate Family Member. Unless the account has been reported, no personal securities transactions can occur within the account.
The U.S. Compliance Team will send a standard letter to US broker-dealer(s) or bank(s), requesting duplicate statements and confirmations. However, it is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that duplicate statements and confirmations (or the local equivalent) are provided promptly. Confirmations should be provided within ten (10) calendar days.
Sanctions
Depending on the severity of the infraction, you may be subject to sanctions for violating the Code of Ethics and related personal trading controls (e.g., failing to pre-clear transactions, reporting accounts, and submitting statements and/or initial, quarterly and annual certification forms). Sanctions may include but are not limited to:
· | verbal or written warnings, |
· | letters of reprimand, |
· | suspension of personal trading activity, |
· | disgorgement and forfeiture of profits, |
· | suspension, and/or |
· | termination of employment |
Repeated immaterial violations will be communicated to your supervisor, Department Head and the Global CCO for corrective action. Material violations will be escalated to the Ethics Committee and subsequently reported to the Board of Directors of Dimensional and other sub-advised boards as required.
Communications with Disinterested Trustees and Outside Directors
Dimensional attempts to keep directors/trustees informed with respect to Dimensional’s investment activities through reports and other information provided to them in connection with board meetings and other events. However, it is Dimensional’s policy not to communicate specific trading information and/or advice on specific issues to Disinterested Trustees and Outside Directors unless the proposed transaction
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presents issues on which input from the Disinterested Trustees or Outside Directors is appropriate (i.e., no information is given regarding securities for which current activity is being considered for clients). Any information requests by Disinterested Trustees or Outside Directors should be reported to General Counsel or the Global CCO.
Disinterested Trustees are not subject to the reporting requirements except to the extent the Disinterested Trustee knew or, in the ordinary course of fulfilling his or her duties as a director, should have known that during the fifteen (15) days immediately before or after the Disinterested Trustee’s transaction in a Covered Security, a U.S. Mutual Fund purchased or sold the covered security, or an Advisor considered purchasing or selling the covered security for a U.S. Mutual Fund.
Japan Supplement
Pursuant to local rules and regulations, Japanese employees have additional restrictions on personal trading (see the Japanese Code of Ethics Addendum ).
Outside Activities
Certain types of outside business activities may cause a conflict of interest or an appearance of a conflict of interest. There is no absolute prohibition on a Dimensional employee participating in certain outside activities such as charitable foundations and endowments, provided your participation does not present a conflict of interest and you comply with the Code. For example, serving on the board of directors of a publicly-traded company presents clear potential for a conflict of interest, while serving on a board of directors of a charitable organization generally does not. However, as a practical matter there may be circumstances in which it would not be in Dimensional’s best interest to allow an employee to participate in activities with an outside organization, even if the employee’s participation did not violate Dimensional’s policies and procedures (such as whether the activity would absorb a good part of the employee’s time, potentially affecting their performance at Dimensional).
It is impossible to anticipate every conflict of interest that may arise, but activities with outside organizations should be limited to those that either do not present or have the least potential of presenting conflicts of interest. As a result, Dimensional requires that outside business and charitable activities must be approved by your supervisor and Compliance prior to the acceptance of such a position (or if you are new, upon joining the firm).
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Guidelines
Serving on the Boards of Public Companies
· | As a general matter, directorship or (an equivalent position) in an unaffiliated public company (or companies reasonable expected to become public companies) will not be authorized because of the potential conflicts. |
· | If you wish to accept a directorship or (an equivalent position), you must obtain prior approval from the Boards of Directors of the Dimensional entities in which you are an employee and/or an officer. |
Activities with a private organization
· | If you wish to be involved with a private organization (non-Dimensional) in an official capacity (officer, directorship or an equivalent position), you must obtain approval from the Co-CEOs and the Global CCO. |
Activities with a non-profit organization
· | If you wish to be involved with a non-profit organization in an official capacity (directorship or an equivalent position), you must notify Compliance in writing as further approval may be required. |
Compensation
· | If you receive compensation from an outside organization, you must obtain prior written approval from your supervisor and Compliance. |
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Approval Process
Outside activity requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and approval will be granted only if it is determined that the activity does not present a significant conflict of interest. Obtain written approval from your Supervisor with the activity details and copy your local Compliance Team Designee(s). If any additional information is required, Compliance will reach out to you.
In instances where you receive authorization to serve as a director on an outside organization, you are expected to refrain from any direct (or indirect) involvement in the consideration by a Dimensional client of any purchase or sale for securities of that outside organization (or any affiliates of the outside organization) for which you serve as a director.
Gifts and Business Entertainment 5
Employees who accept or provide gifts or entertainment (including business entertainment) relating to Dimensional business must comply with regulatory requirements, Dimensional’s business practices, and the Code. The giving (or accepting) of gifts and entertainment may create (or appear to create) a conflict of interest and place Dimensional or a client in a difficult or embarrassing position. Therefore, embarrassing gifts should never be given (or accepted), and you always should use your best judgment when giving (or accepting) any gift or entertainment to determine whether it is appropriate.
Under certain circumstances, Section 17(e)(1) of the 1940 Act may prohibit Dimensional’s Fund Advisory Personnel from accepting gifts and entertainment from Broker Donors . Accordingly, Dimensional has adopted additional restrictions that apply when Broker Donors offer gifts and entertainment to Authorized Traders. If you are a member of Fund Advisory Personnel, you must comply with these additional restrictions.
Gifts
In general, you may give (or accept) gifts that do not exceed the annual aggregate amount of USD $100 (or the local currency equivalent). However, you must be mindful that some clients (or prospective clients) may be subject to additional regulatory restrictions or prohibitions on the acceptance of gifts or entertainment and may have to comply with related disclosure requirements. Therefore, you should
5 The giving (or accepting) of all Gifts and Business Entertainment must be reported and logged promptly. Contact a member of your local Compliance Team. US employees refer to the designee(s) list on Be.Dimensional .
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inquire about any restrictions or disclosure requirements, prior to giving any gifts (or providing business entertainment).
Gifts include logo items (e.g., pens, hats, etc.), tickets for events, gift baskets, meals and transportation.
This policy does not apply to gifts or charitable donations made by you outside the scope of your responsibilities with Dimensional.
Gift Restrictions
· | You may not give (or accept) gifts in excess of USD $100 (or the local currency equivalent). |
· | You may not give (or accept) gifts in the form of cash or cash equivalents. |
· | Gifts valued in excess of USD $100 must be reported to Compliance and returned unless an exception is granted by the Global CCO or Compliance Designee. |
· | No exceptions will be granted for gifts subject to FINRA’s USD $100 gift limit. |
If you are a member of Fund Advisory Personnel, you must also comply with the following restrictions:
· | You may not accept any gifts from Broker Donors except gifts of de minimis value, such as non-lavish, logoed items or gifts of less than $25 in reasonably estimated value. If you have a long-standing personal relationship with a Broker Donor, you may attend a non-business, social event hosted by the Broker Donor, or accept a non-de minimis gift or entertainment greater in value than USD $25 from the Broker Donor if the event, gift, or entertainment is pre-approved first by your supervisor and then Compliance. You must report all gifts from Broker Donors regardless of value. |
Business Entertainment
Business entertainment includes any event, meal or activity whose primary purpose is business and is offered by and attended by a person who has (either directly or through their employer or affiliate) a current or prospective business relationship with Dimensional. This also includes instances where a Dimensional employee is offering the event, meal or activity on behalf of a current or prospective Dimensional client or vendor.
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Providing Business Entertainment
You may provide business entertainment as long as it is appropriate and reported in writing to your supervisor. Business entertainment provided to a current or a prospective client or vendor will be overseen by your supervisor through the Dimensional expense reporting and approval process. If the business entertainment exceeds USD $100 per person, you will need to provide a written explanation along with the name of the client, business vendor or organization.
Receiving Business Entertainment 6
You may receive business entertainment as long as it is appropriate and reported in writing to your supervisor. If the estimated value of the business entertainment you receive is expected to exceed USD $100 per person, you will need to report the event in writing to the head of your department. Certain types of business entertainment will require pre-approval by your department head. These include:
· | Attending business related events with an expected value in excess of USD $100 per person (or the local equivalent); |
· | Meals or events in which family members or friends are present; and |
· | Attending meals or events in which five (5) or more Dimensional employees are in attendance. |
If you are a member of Fund Advisory Personnel, you must also comply with the following restrictions:
· | You may not accept entertainment (such as sporting events) from Broker Donors. You may accept business meals from Broker Donors of less than USD $100 in anticipated value, and you must report those meals to your supervisor and Compliance. You may accept business meals from Broker Donors of greater than USD $100 in anticipated value provided you first pre-clear the meal with your supervisor and Compliance. |
Unions and Union Officials
Special reporting rules apply when Dimensional employees furnish any gift or entertainment in excess of USD $250 in any calendar year to labor unions, union officials, agents or consultants of a Taft-Hartley plan. Please report all gifts or entertainment involving a union or union official to either Legal or
6 If the person (or entity) paying for the entertainment does not have a representative in attendance, the event constitutes as a gift and is subject to the gift restrictions.
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Compliance. If applicable, Legal will be responsible for filing the required LM-10 form with the Department of Labor.
Supplemental Policies
· | U.K. Supplemental Gift & Business Entertainment Policy |
· | Japan Addendum to Gift and Entertainment |
Political Contributions
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s political contribution regulation, known as the “pay to play” rules 7 , limits contributions 8 by investment advisers and certain of their employees to certain Covered Government Officials . In addition, Dimensional is subject to a variety of Federal, state and local restrictions regarding political contributions, as well as contractual restrictions between Dimensional and certain clients.
Although Dimensional encourages civic and community involvement by its directors, officers and employees, Dimensional desires to avoid any situation that could curtail Dimensional’s current business or business prospects, raise potential or actual conflicts of interest, or create an appearance of impropriety in the context of Dimensional’s business relationships. Accordingly, all contributions by a director, officer, employee or Immediate Family Member of a director, officer or employee of Dimensional (each a “Contributor”), must be made on the Contributor’s behalf, entirely voluntary, and should not be in an amount (determined by Contributor taking into account the Code) that is likely to influence a candidate’s judgment regarding any continued or future business with Dimensional.
Specifically, this policy prohibits a Contributor from making political contributions when the solicitation or request for such contributions implies that continued or future business with Dimensional depends on making such contributions. Similarly, no contributions should be made that create the appearance that Dimensional stands to benefit in its business relations because of the Contributor’s contribution. If a Contributor is unsure if a particular political contribution would be in compliance with this policy, they should consult Dimensional’s U.S. Legal and/or Compliance Department.
7 Rule 206(4)-5
8 Contributions include, but are not limited to, monetary contributions, gifts and loans (including in-kind contributions, such as donation of goods or services).
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More specifically, the following actions are prohibited:
· | Contributors are prohibited from making political or charitable contributions for the purpose of obtaining or retaining potential or existing public entity clients; |
· | Contributors are prohibited from making any contributions that create the appearance that Dimensional stands to benefit in its business relations because of such contribution; and |
· | Contributors from Dimensional’s non-U.S. based advisor affiliates are prohibited from making any political contributions to Federal, state or local candidates for elective office in the United States. |
In order to prevent an inadvertent violation of the “pay to play” rules, Contributors are prohibited from making political contributions, with the exception of contributions to incumbent candidates for Federal offices, without prior approval from the Global CCO to any of the following:
· | Covered Government Officials |
· | Political Action Committees (PACs) |
Requests for approval of political contributions must be submitted through the CRS and cannot exceed Federal, state or client limitations. Dimensional’s Compliance Department will be responsible for maintaining the required books and records associated with employee political contributions to ensure the reports are kept confidential. In addition, Dimensional’s Global CCO or a Chief Executive Officer may grant exceptions to the contribution limitation on a case-by-case basis. Violations of this policy will not necessarily be deemed to be violations of the “pay to play” rules; all violations of this policy will be discussed by Dimensional’s Global Legal and Compliance Officers in making that determination. If you have any questions about the policy, please contact the U.S. Legal and/or Compliance Department.
Other Policy Highlights
Policy Against Bribery and Corruption
Dimensional employees are prohibited from giving, offering or promising anything of value to a non-U.S. Government official with the intent to improperly obtain (or retain) any advantage.
For a full explanation of the policy, please refer to the Bribery and Corruption Policy and the supplemental policies for the following:
· | Anti-Corruption Policy (U.K.) |
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Privacy Policies
You should be aware of your local privacy policies, Dimensional Privacy Policy and Procedures , Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. , Australian Supplemental Privacy Policy Statement and the Singapore Supplemental Privacy Policy . Information concerning Dimensional’s clients that you acquire in connection with your employment at Dimensional is proprietary . As an employee, contractor or consultant you have access to computers, systems and corporate information in order to do your job. This access means that you have an obligation to use these systems responsible and follow company policies to protect information and systems.
You are prohibited from sending or forwarding sensitive or confidential data to your personal email address.
If you have any general questions about the Code, please contact a member of your local Compliance Team.
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Glossary of Terms
The following definitions apply to the bold terms used throughout the brochure:
1940 Act means the Investment Company Act of 1940.
529 Account(s) (or 529 Plans) which have the ability to hold Dimensional Managed Funds are listed on Be.Dimensional.
Access Person means:
· | any director/trustee, officer or general partner of the U.S. Mutual Funds or Dimensional Entities; |
· | any officer or director of the Distributor who, in the ordinary course of business, makes, participates in or obtains information regarding the purchase or sale of covered securities for any registered investment company for which the Distributor acts as the principal underwriter; |
· | employees of Dimensional who, in connection with their regular functions or duties, make, participate in, or obtain information regarding the purchase or sale of covered securities, or other advisory clients for which the Advisors provide investment advice, or whose functions relate to the making of any recommendations with respect to such purchases or sales; |
· | any natural persons in a control relationship with one or more of the U.S. Mutual Funds or Advisors who obtain information concerning recommendations made to such the U.S. Mutual Funds or other advisory clients with regard to the purchase or sale of covered securities, or whose functions or duties, as part of the ordinary course of their business, relate to the making of any recommendation to U.S. Mutual Funds or advisory clients regarding the purchase or sale of covered securities; and |
· | any Supervised Person (which may include contractors or consultants) who has access to nonpublic information regarding client securities transactions, research or portfolio holdings of any Dimensional Managed Funds. |
Advisers Act means the Investment Advisers act of 1940.
Advisor means Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC, Dimensional Fund Advisors Pte. Ltd. and Dimensional Japan Ltd.
Beneficial Ownership means the employee has or shares a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the securities held in an account. Employees have pecuniary interest in securities if they have the ability to
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directly or indirectly profit from a securities transaction. It is presumed that you have beneficial ownership interests in any account held individually or jointly, by you or by your Immediate Family Member or domestic partner ( or an unrelated adult with whom you share your home and contribute to each other’s support) including but not limited to family trusts and family partnerships (’34 Act, rule 16a-1).
Broker Donors mean broker-dealers or similar financial intermediaries and their employees, officers, directors, and other representatives.
Covered Account includes any broker-dealer, investment adviser, bank or other financial institutions in which an Access Person maintains an account in which any securities are held or the account has the ability to hold securities for the direct or indirect benefit of such Access Person.
Covered Government Official means any person who is, at the time of the contribution, an incumbent or a candidate for state or local government office (including any candidate for a federal office currently holding a state or local office).
Designated Officer means the Global Chief Compliance Officer or any employee from the Dimensional Entities designated by the Global CCO .
Dimensional means (i) DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., the DFA Investment Trust Company, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund and Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (collectively, the “U.S. Mutual Funds” ), (ii) Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC, Dimensional Retirement Plan Services LLC, Dimensional Fund Advisors Pte. Ltd. and Dimensional Japan Ltd. (collectively, the “ Dimensional Entities” ); and (iii) DFA Securities LLC (the “Distributor” ).
Dimensional Managed Funds means any series/portfolio of the U.S. Mutual Funds or any other fund advised by or sub-advised by any of the Advisors.
Discretionary Account means a personal account in which you have completely turned over decision-making authority to a professional money manager (who is not an Immediate Family Member or not otherwise covered by the Code) and you have no direct or indirect influence or control over the account. Such accounts are often referred to “professionally managed” or “managed accounts.”
Disinterested Trustee means a director/trustee of the U.S. Mutual funds who is not considered to be an “interested person” of the U.S. Mutual Funds within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19)(A) of the 1940 Act.
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Ethics Committee means the Ethics Committee appointed by the directors/trustees of the Dimensional Entities and consists of the following officers of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP: Co-Chief Executive Officers, General Counsel, Co-Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and the Global Chief Compliance Officer.
Exempt Security means the following :
· | direct obligations of the U.S. Government, or direct obligations of a “Sovereign Government” (e.g., Government of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth Government of Australia, etc.); |
· | bankers’ acceptances, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and high quality short-term debt instruments (including repurchase agreements); |
· | shares of money market funds; |
· | shares of registered open-end investment companies; |
· | shares issued by unit investment trust that are invested exclusively in one or more registered open-end investment companies (none of which are Dimensional Managed Funds); and |
· | privately issued shares of the Advisor. |
Fund Advisory Personnel mean those persons whose names appear on the effective list of Authorized Traders kept by Dimensional.
Immediate Family Member of an employee means any of the following person(s) sharing the same household with the employee:
· | spouse, civil union or domestic partner, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, adoptive relationships and legal guardianships; |
· | someone who holds account(s) in which the employee is a joint owner, has trading authority, or Beneficial Ownership; and/or |
· | someone for whom the employee contributes to the maintenance of the household and the financial support of such person. |
Outside Director means a director of any Advisor who is not considered to be an “interested person” of the Advisor within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19)(B) of the 1940 Act, provided that a director shall not
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be considered interested for purposes of this Code by virtue of being a director or knowingly having a direct or indirect beneficial interest in the securities of the Advisor if such ownership interest does not exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding voting securities of such Advisor.
SEC Rules include but are not limited to Rule 206(4)-5 and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Supervised Person means any partner, officer, director (or other person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions), or employee of an Advisor, or other person who provides (i) investment advice on behalf of an Advisor and (ii) is subject to the supervision and control of the Advisor with respect to activities that are subject to the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act.
Revised December 11, 2015 (22,989v6)
Effective January 1, 2016