N-1A 1 d613103dn1a.htm J.P. MORGAN EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND TRUST J.P. Morgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2013

Securities Act File No. 333-            

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22903

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

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.    ¨

and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

  THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940      x   

Amendment No.

 

 

J.P. Morgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

270 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10017

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (800) 480-4111

Frank J. Nasta, Esq.

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

270 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10017

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

With copies to:

Elizabeth A. Davin, Esq.

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

460 Polaris Parkway

Westerville, OH 43082

 

Jon S. Rand, Esq.

Dechert LLP

1095 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

 

 

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering

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

 

  ¨ immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
  ¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
  ¨ 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
  ¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
  ¨ 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
  ¨ on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

 

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

 

 

 


Table of Contents

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

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus dated October 21, 2013

Prospectus

J.P. Morgan Exchange-Traded Funds

                        , 2014

JPMorgan Global Equity ETF

Ticker:             

Listing Exchange:

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

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

CONTENTS

 

Risk/Return Summary:

  

JPMorgan Global Equity ETF

     1   

More About the Fund

     4   

Additional Information About the Fund’s Investment Strategies

     4   

Investment Risks

     4   

Main Risks

     4   

Additional Risks

     5   

Index Construction

     6   

Disclaimer

     6   

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

     6   

The Fund’s Management and Administration

     7   

Purchase and Redemption of Shares

     8   

Buying and Selling on an Exchange

     8   

Creations and Redemptions Units

  

Premium/Discount Information

     8   

Pricing Fund Shares

     8   

Frequent Purchases & Redemptions

     9   

Shareholder Information

     10   

Taxes on Distributions

     10   

Taxes on Exchange-Listed Sales

     11   

Taxes on Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units

     11   

Availability of Proxy Voting Record

     11   

Tax-Advantaged Product Structure

     11   

Other Information

     11   

Risk and Reward Elements for the Fund

     12   

Financial Highlights

     15   

How to Reach Us

     Back cover   


Table of Contents

JPMorgan/ Global Equity ETF

Ticker:                 

What is the goal of the Fund?

The Fund seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the              Index.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. Investors purchasing shares in the secondary market may be subject to costs (including customary brokerage commissions) charged by their broker.

 

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES

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

 

Management Fees

                 
  

 

 

 

Other Expenses1

  
  

 

 

 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

  

Fee Waivers and Expense Reimbursements2

  

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and Expense Reimbursements2

  

 

1  “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
2  The Fund’s adviser and [administrator] (the Service Providers) have contractually agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent total annual operating expenses (excluding Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, dividend expenses relating to short sales, interest, taxes, expenses related to litigation and potential litigation and extraordinary expenses ) exceed         % of the average daily net assets of the Shares. This contract cannot be terminated prior     /    /15, at which time the Service Providers will determine whether or not to renew or revise it.

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds. The Example does not take into account brokerage commissions that you pay when purchasing or selling Shares of the Fund.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses are equal to the total annual fund operating expenses after fee waivers and expense reimbursements shown in the table through     /    /15 and total annual fund operating expenses thereafter. Your actual costs may be higher or lower.

 

WHETHER OR NOT YOU SELL YOUR SHARES,
YOUR COST WOULD BE
   1 Year      3 Years  

FUND SHARES ($)

     —           —     

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund Shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund has not yet commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus. Therefore, there is no portfolio turnover rate for the Fund to report at this time.

 

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What are the Fund’s main investment strategies?

The Fund seeks investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the [__] Index (the Underlying Index). The Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise its benchmark index. The Underlying Index is composed of equity securities from developed global markets selected for their specific investment characteristics based on a multi-factor investment selection process. Such investment characteristics include, but are not limited to, attractive relative valuation, positive price momentum, low volatility, and specific market capitalization. The equity securities will be diversified across global regions and industries. The equity securities in the Underlying Index will be large-cap and mid-cap equity securities of companies from developed countries, including common stock, preferred stock and real estate investment trusts (REITs).

The Fund, using a “passive” or indexing investment approach, attempts to closely correspond to the investment performance of the Underlying Index. The adviser expects that, over time, the correlation between the Fund’s performance before fees and expenses and that of the Underlying Index will be 95% or better. A figure of 100% would indicate perfect correlation. Because of the practical difficulties and expense of purchasing all of the securities in the Underlying Index, the Fund generally will not purchase all of the securities in the Underlying Index. Instead, the adviser utilizes a “sampling” methodology in seeking to achieve the Fund’s objective. As such, the Fund generally will purchase a subset of the equity securities in the Underlying Index in an effort to hold a portfolio of equity securities with generally the same risk and return characteristics of the Underlying Index.

The Fund may use exchange-traded futures to seek performance that corresponds to the Underlying Index.

To the extent that the securities in the Underlying Index are concentrated in one or more industries or group of industries, the Fund may concentrate in such industries or groups of industries.

The Fund’s Main Investment Risks

An investment in this Fund or any other fund may not provide a complete investment program. The suitability of an investment in the Fund should be considered based on investment objective, strategies and risks described in this prospectus, considered in light of all of the other investments in your portfolio, as well as your risk tolerance, financial goals and time horizons. You may want to consult with a financial advisor to determine if this Fund is suitable for you.

Equity Market Risk. The price of equity securities may rise or fall because of changes in the broad market or changes in a company’s financial condition, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, sectors or industries included in the Underlying Index or the securities market as a whole, such as changes in economic or political conditions. When the value of the Fund’s securities goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value.

General Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions.

Foreign Securities Risk. Investments in foreign issuers and foreign securities (including depositary receipts) are subject to additional risks, including political and economic risks, civil conflicts and war, greater volatility, expropriation and nationalization risks, currency fluctuations, higher transaction costs, delayed settlement, possible foreign controls on investment, and less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of foreign markets. In certain markets where securities and other instruments are not traded “delivery versus payment,” the Fund may not receive timely payment for securities or other instruments it has delivered and may be subject to increased risk that the counterparty will fail to make payments when due or default completely. Events and evolving conditions in certain economies or markets may alter the risks associated with investments tied to countries or regions that historically were perceived as comparatively stable becoming riskier and more volatile.

Currency Risk. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the value of the Fund’s securities and the price of the Fund’s shares. Generally, when the value of the U.S. dollar rises in value relative to a foreign currency, an investment in that country loses value because that currency is worth fewer U.S. dollars. Devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority also will have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets.

Index Tracking Risk. The Fund’s return may not track the return of the Underlying Index for a number of reasons. For example, the Fund incurs a number of operating expenses not applicable to the Underlying Index, and incurs costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund’s securities holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Underlying Index.

In addition, the Fund’s use of a representative sampling approach may cause the Fund to not be as well correlated with the return of the Underlying Index as would be the case if the Fund purchased all of the securities in the Underlying Index in the proportions in which they are represented in the Underlying Index. To the extent the Fund calculates its NAV based on fair value prices and the value of the Underlying Index is based on securities’ closing prices on local foreign markets (i.e., the value of the Underlying Index is not based on fair value prices), the Fund’s ability to track the Underlying Index may be adversely affected.

It is also possible that the composition of the Fund may not exactly replicate the composition of the Underlying Index if the Fund has to adjust its portfolio holdings in order to continue to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Internal Revenue Code).

 

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The Fund may not be fully invested at times, either as a result of cash flows into the Fund or reserves of cash held by the Fund to meet redemptions and expenses.

Sampling Risk. The Fund’s use of a representative sampling approach will result in its holding a smaller number of securities than are in the Underlying Index. As a result, an adverse development respecting an issuer of securities held by the Fund could result in a greater decline in the Fund’s net asset value than would be the case if the Fund held all of the securities in the Underlying Index. Conversely, a positive development relating to an issuer of securities in the Underlying Index that is not held by the Fund could cause the Fund to underperform the Underlying Index. To the extent the assets in the Fund are smaller, these risks may be greater.

Derivatives Risk. Derivatives, including futures, may be riskier than other types of investments and may increase the volatility of the Fund. Derivatives may be sensitive to changes in economic and market conditions and may create leverage, which could result in losses that significantly exceed the Fund’s original investment. Derivatives expose the Fund to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the derivative counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations (and includes credit risk associated with the counterparty). Certain derivatives are synthetic instruments that attempt to replicate the performance of certain reference assets. With regard to such derivatives, the Fund does not have a claim on the reference assets and is subject to enhanced counterparty risk. Derivatives may not perform as expected, so the Fund may not realize the intended benefits. In addition, given their complexity, derivatives expose the Fund to risks of mispricing or improper valuation.

Mid Cap Company Risk. The Fund’s risks increase as it invests more heavily in mid cap companies. Mid cap companies may be more volatile and vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of other equity securities, especially over the short term.

Passive Management Risk. Unlike many investment companies, the Fund is not “actively” managed. Therefore, it would not generally sell a security because the security’s issuer was in financial trouble unless that security is removed from the Underlying Index. The Fund will not take defensive positions under any market conditions, including in declining markets.

Premium/Discount Risk. Disruptions to creations and redemptions, the existence of extreme market volatility or potential lack of an active trading market for Shares may result in Shares trading at a significant premium or discount to NAV. If a shareholder purchases Shares at a time when the market price is at a premium to the net asset value (NAV) or sells Shares at a time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV, the shareholders performance may be negatively impacted.

Concentration Risk. If the Underlying Index concentrates in an industry or group of industries, the Fund’s investments generally will be concentrated accordingly. In such event, the value of the Fund’s Shares may rise and fall more than the value of shares of a fund that invests in securities of companies in a broader range of industries.

Investments in the Fund are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

You could lose money investing in the Fund.

The Fund’s Past Performance

The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus and therefore, has no reportable performance history. Once the Fund has operated for at least one calendar year, a bar chart and performance table will be included in the prospectus to show the performance of the Fund. Although past performance of the Fund is no guarantee of how it will perform in the future, historical performance may give you some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.

Management

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

 

Portfolio Manager    Managed the
Fund Since
   Primary Title with
Investment Adviser
 

Beltran Lastra

   2014      Managing Director   

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

The Fund will issue and redeem Shares at NAV only in a large specified number of Shares called a “Creation Unit” or multiples thereof. A Creation Unit consists of                  Shares. The Fund generally issues and redeems Creation Units principally in-kind. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, the Shares are not redeemable securities of the Fund. Individual Shares of the Fund may only be purchased and sold in secondary market transactions through brokers. Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on [             (Exchange)], and because Shares trade at market prices rather than NAV, Shares of the Fund may trade at a price greater than or less than NAV.

Tax Information

To the extent the Fund makes distributions, those distributions will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) plan or other tax-advantaged investment plan, in which case you may be subject to federal income tax upon withdrawal from the tax-advantaged investment plan.

 

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More About the Fund

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Main Investment Strategies

The Fund will invest primarily in equity securities of U.S. or foreign issuers located in developed markets. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Underlying Index.

The types of equity securities that are included in the Underlying Index are the following:

 

  common stock

 

  preferred stock

 

  Real estate investment trusts (REITs) which are pooled vehicles that invest primarily in income-producing real estate or loans related to real estate.

In addition to purchasing the securities that are included in the Underlying Index, the Fund may utilize the following:

 

  Other equity securities, including U.S. or foreign equity securities which are not included in the Underlying Index. The foreign securities may be in the form of depositary receipts.

 

  Exchange-traded futures contracts to seek performance that corresponds to the Underlying Index and for the efficient management of cash flows.

The Fund will not invest in money market instruments as a part of a temporary defensive to protect against potential stock market decline, but may purchase affiliated money market funds for cash management.

The frequency with which the Fund buys and sells securities will vary from year to year, depending on market conditions or on the composition of the Underlying Index.

The Fund has adopted a policy that requires the Fund to provide shareholders with at least 60 days notice prior to any change in its policy to invest at least 80% of its assets in securities that comprise its benchmark index. The Board of Trustees of the Trust may change the Fund’s investment strategy and other policies without shareholder approval, except as otherwise indicated.

NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

An investment objective is fundamental if it cannot be changed without the consent of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without the consent of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

INVESTMENT RISKS

There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

The main risks associated with investing in the Fund are summarized in “Risk/Return Summary” at the front of this prospectus. More detailed descriptions of the main risks and additional risks of the Fund are described below.

Please note that the Fund also may use strategies that are not described herein, but which are described in the “Risk and Reward Elements for the Fund” later in the prospectus and/or in the Statement of Additional Information.

MAIN RISKS

Equity Market Risk. The price of equity securities may rise or fall because of changes in the broad market or changes in a company’s financial condition, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, sectors or industries selected for the Fund’s portfolio or the securities market as a whole, such as changes in economic or political conditions. Equity securities are subject to “stock market risk” meaning that stock prices in general (or in particular, the prices of the types of securities in which the Fund invests) may decline over short or extended periods of time. When the value of the Fund’s securities goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value.

 

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Foreign Securities Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in foreign securities, these investments are subject to special risks in addition to those of U.S. investments. These risks include political and economic risks, civil conflicts and war, greater volatility, expropriation and nationalization risks, currency fluctuations, higher transaction costs, delayed settlement, possible foreign controls on investment, and less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of foreign markets. The securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number of companies representing a small number of industries. If foreign securities are denominated and traded in a foreign currency, the value of the Fund’s foreign holdings can be affected by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. In certain markets where securities and other instruments are not traded “delivery versus payment,” the Fund may not receive timely payment for securities or other instruments it has delivered and may be subject to increased risk that the counterparty will fail to make payments when due or default completely. Events and evolving conditions in certain economies or markets may alter the risks associated with investments tied to countries or regions that historically were perceived as comparatively stable becoming riskier and more volatile.

Currency Risk. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the value of the Fund’s securities and the price of the Fund’s shares. Generally, when the value of the U.S. dollar rises in value relative to a foreign currency, an investment in that country loses value because that currency is worth fewer U.S. dollars. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates. Devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority also may have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities markets.

Derivatives Risk. The Fund may use derivatives in connection with its investment strategies. Derivatives may be riskier than other types of investments because they may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions than other types of investments and could result in losses that significantly exceed the Fund’s original investment. Derivatives are subject to the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. The use of derivatives may not be successful, resulting in losses to the Fund, and the cost of such strategies may reduce the Fund’s returns. Derivatives also expose the Fund to counterparty risk (the risk that the derivative counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations), including credit risk of the derivative counterparty. Certain derivatives are synthetic instruments that attempt to replicate the performance of certain reference assets. With regard to such derivatives, the Fund does not have a claim on the reference assets and is subject to enhanced counterparty risk.

Investing in derivatives will result in a form of leverage. Leverage involves special risks. The Fund may be more volatile than if the Fund had not been leveraged because leverage tends to exaggerate any effect of the increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Registered investment companies are limited in their ability to engage in derivative transactions and are required to identify and earmark assets to provide asset coverage for derivative transactions.

The Fund’s transactions in futures contracts could also affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders which may result in the Fund realizing more short-term capital gain and ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in such transactions, which may adversely impact the Fund’s after-tax return.

WHAT IS A DERIVATIVE?

Derivatives are securities or contracts (for example, futures) that derive their value from the performance of underlying assets or securities.

Mid Cap Company Risk. Investments in smaller, newer companies may be riskier than investments in larger, more established companies. The securities of smaller companies may trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than securities of larger companies. In addition, smaller companies may be more vulnerable to economic, market and industry changes. As a result, share price changes may be more sudden or erratic than the prices of large capitalization companies, especially over the short term. Because mid cap companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources or may depend on a few key employees, they may be more susceptible to particular economic events or competitive factors than large capitalization companies. This may cause unexpected and frequent decreases in the value of the Fund’s investments.

Fluctuation of NAV. The NAV of the Fund’s Shares will generally fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The market prices of the Shares will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for the Shares on the Exchange. The adviser cannot predict whether the Shares will trade below, at or above their NAV. Price differences may be due, in large part, to the fact that supply and demand forces at work in the secondary trading market for the Shares will be closely related to, but not identical to, the same forces influencing the prices of the securities of the Underlying Index trading individually or in the aggregate at any point in time.

ADDITIONAL RISKS

Trading Issues. Trading in Shares on the Exchange may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in Shares inadvisable. In addition, trading in Shares on the Exchange is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to the Exchange “circuit breaker” rules. If a trading halt or unanticipated early closing of the Exchange occurs, a Shareholder may be unable to purchase or sell shares of the Fund. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

 

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Real Estate Securities Risk. The value of real estate securities in general, and REITs in particular, are subject to the same risks as direct investments in real estate and mortgages which include, but are not limited to, sensitivity to changes in real estate values and property taxes, interest rate risk, tax and regulatory risk, fluctuations in rent schedules and operating expenses, adverse changes in local, regional or general economic conditions, deterioration of the real estate market and the financial circumstances of tenants and sellers, unfavorable changes in zoning, building, environmental and other laws, the need for unanticipated renovations, unexpected increases in the cost of energy, environmental factors and, in the case of mortgages, credit risk, prepayment risk and extension risk. In addition, the underlying mortgage loans may be subject to the risks of default or of prepayments that occur earlier or later than expected, and such loans may also include so-called “sub-prime” mortgages. The value of REITs will also rise and fall in response to the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer. In particular, the value of these securities may decline when interest rates rise and will also be affected by the real estate market and by the management of the underlying properties. REITs may be more volatile and/or more illiquid than other types of equity securities. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses, including management fees, paid by each REIT in which it invests in addition to the expenses of the Fund.

Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred stock generally has a preference as to dividends and liquidation over an issuer’s common stock but ranks junior to debt securities in an issuer’s capital structure. Unlike interest payments on debt securities, preferred stock dividends are payable only if declared by the issuer’s board of directors. Preferred stock also may be subject to optional or mandatory redemption provisions.

Investment Company Risk. The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies. Shareholders bear both their proportionate share of the Fund’s expenses and similar expenses of the underlying investment company when the Fund invests in shares of another investment company.

No Guarantee of Active Trading Market. While Shares are listed on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that active trading markets for the Shares will be maintained. [    ], the distributor of the Fund’s Shares (the “Distributor”), does not maintain a secondary market in the Shares.

For more information about risks associated with the types of investments that the Fund purchases, please read the “Risk/Return Summary”, the “Risk and Reward Elements for the Fund” later in the prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information.

INDEX CONSTRUCTION

Component securities included in the Underlying Index are selected from a securities universe of developed global equity markets and the Underlying Index is developed after applying a proprietary multi-factor quantitative rules based methodology across the following criteria:

 

1. Liquidity of eligible securities is considered to ensure an investable index

 

2. Eligible securities are chosen to provide for diversification across international regions and industries

 

3. To ensure appropriate risk diversification, selected securities are weighted based on the following individual factors: value, momentum, size within the securities universe, and low volatility.

 

4. Individual security selection is limited to ensure stock level diversification.

The Index Provider reviews the composition of the Underlying Index monthly. The constituent selection process, as well as the ranking, reconstitution and rebalancing of the Underlying Index occurs monthly.

DISCLAIMER

The “             Index” is a trademark of              and has been licensed for use for certain purposes by the adviser. The Fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by              and              makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in Shares of the Fund.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

A description of the Trusts policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio securities is available in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

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The Fund’s Management and Administration

The Fund is a series of JPMorgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the Trust). The Trust is governed by trustees who are responsible for overseeing all business activities of the Fund.

The Fund’s Investment Adviser

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (JPMIM) is the investment adviser to the Fund. JPMIM is located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

JPMIM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Asset Management Holdings Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMorgan Chase), a bank holding company.

The Fund pays the adviser a management fee of             % as a percentage of average daily net assets of the Fund.

A discussion of the basis the Board of Trustees of the Trust used in approving the investment advisory agreement for the Fund will be available in the first shareholder report for the Fund.

The Portfolio Manager

The management team is led by Beltran Lastra. Mr. Lastra, a Managing Director and CFA charterholder, has been an employee of JPMIM or its affiliates since 1996.

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

The Fund’s Administrator

JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc. (the Administrator) provides administrative services for and oversees the other service providers of the Fund. The Administrator receives a pro-rata portion of the following annual fee on behalf of each J.P. Morgan Fund for administrative services:             % of average daily net assets of the Fund.

The Fund’s Distributor

             (the Distributor) is the distributor for the Fund. The Distributor or its agent distributes Creation Units for the Fund on an agency basis. The Distributor does not maintain a secondary market in shares of the Fund. The Distributor has no role in determining the investment policies of the Fund or the securities that are purchased or sold by the Fund. The Distributor’s principal address is             .

 

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Purchase and Redemption of Shares

BUYING AND SELLING ON AN EXCHANGE

Most investors will buy and sell Shares of the Fund in secondary market transactions through brokers. Shares of the Fund are listed and traded on the secondary market on the Exchange. Shares can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like other publicly traded shares. There is no minimum investment. Although Shares are generally purchased and sold in “round lots” of 100 Shares, brokerage firms typically permit investors to purchase or sell Shares in smaller “odd lots,” at no per-Share price differential. When buying or selling Shares through a broker, you will incur customary brokerage commissions and charges, and you may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. The spread varies over time for shares of the Fund based on the Fund’s trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if the Fund has a lot of trading volume and market liquidity.

Shares of the Fund trade on the Exchange at prices that may differ to varying degrees from the daily NAV of the Shares.

The Fund’s Shares are issued or redeemed by the Fund at NAV per Share only in Creation Units. Investors such as market makers, large investors and institutions who wish to deal in Creation Units directly with the Fund must have entered into an authorized participant agreement with the Distributor, or purchase through a dealer that has entered into such an agreement. Set forth below is a brief description of the procedures applicable to purchase and redemption of Creation units. For more detailed information, see “Creation and Redemption of Creation Unit Aggregations” in the Statement of Additional Information.

The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) serves as securities depository for the Shares. (The Shares may be held only in book-entry form; stock certificates will not be issued.) DTC, or its nominee, is the record or registered owner of all outstanding Shares. Beneficial ownership of Shares will be shown on the records of DTC or its participants (described below). Beneficial owners of Shares are not entitled to have Shares registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form and are not considered the registered holder thereof. Accordingly, to exercise any rights of a holder of Shares, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of: (i) DTC; (ii) “DTC Participants,” i.e., securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC; and (iii) “Indirect Participants,” i.e., brokers, dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly, through which such beneficial owner holds its interests. The Trust understands that under existing industry practice, in the event the Trust requests any action of holders of Shares, or a beneficial owner desires to take any action that DTC, as the record owner of all outstanding Shares, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the DTC Participants to take such action and that the DTC Participants would authorize the Indirect Participants and beneficial owners acting through such DTC Participants to take such action and would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them. As described above, the Trust recognizes DTC or its nominee as the owner of all Shares for all purposes. For more information, see the section entitled “Book Entry Only System” in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

PREMIUM/DISCOUNT INFORMATION

The Fund has not yet commenced operations and, therefore, does not have information about the differences between the Fund’s daily market price on the Exchange and its NAV. When available, information regarding how often the Shares of the Fund traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Fund during the past four calendar quarters, as applicable, can be found at www. [ ].com.

PRICING FUND SHARES

The trading price of the Fund’s Shares on the Exchange may differ from the Fund’s daily NAV and can be affected by market forces of supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors.

The Exchange disseminates the approximate value of Shares of the Fund every fifteen seconds. This approximate value should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of the NAV per Share of the Fund because the approximate value may not be calculated in the same manner as the NAV, which is computed once a day, generally at the end of the business day. The Fund is not involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the approximate value and the Fund does not make any representation or warranty as to its accuracy.

NAV is calculated each business day as of the close of the Exchange, which is typically 4:00 p.m. ET. On occasion, the Exchange will close before 4:00 p.m. ET. When that happens, NAV will be calculated as of the time the Exchange closes. The price at which a purchase of a Creation Unit is effected is based on the next calculation of NAV after the order is received in proper form in accordance with this prospectus. To the extent the Fund invests in securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges or other markets that trade on weekends or other days when the Fund does not price its Shares, the value of the Fund’s Shares may change on days when you will not be able to purchase or redeem your Shares.

Securities for which market quotations are readily available are generally valued at their current market value. Other securities and assets, including securities for which market quotations are not readily available, market quotations are determined not to be reliable; or, their value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of trading on the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded but before the Fund’s NAV is calculated, may be valued at fair value in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. Fair value represents a good faith determination of the value of a security or other asset based upon specifically applied procedures. Fair valuation may require subjective determinations. There can be no assurance that the fair value of an asset is the price at which the asset could have been sold during the period in which the particular fair value was used in determining the Fund’s NAV.

 

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Generally, short-term securities, which mature in 60 days or less, are valued at amortized cost if their maturity at acquisition was 60 days or less, or by amortizing their value on the 61st day prior to maturity, if their maturity when acquired by the Fund was more than 60 days.

Equity securities listed on a North American, Central American, South American or Caribbean securities exchange are generally valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which the security is principally traded. Other foreign equity securities are fair valued using quotations from an independent pricing service. The value of securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. is generally the NASDAQ official closing price.

Fixed income securities with a remaining maturity of 61 days or more are valued using prices supplied by an approved independent third party or affiliated pricing services or broker/dealers. Those prices are determined using a variety of inputs and factors as more fully described in the Statement of Additional Information.

Assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates from an approved independent pricing service as of 4:00 p.m. ET.

Exchange-traded futures (e.g., on stock indices, debt securities or commodities) are valued at the settled price, or if no settled price is available, at the last sale price as of the close of the exchanges on which they trade.

Non-listed over-the-counter options and futures are valued at the evaluated price provided by a counterparty or broker/dealer.

FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

The Fund imposes no restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions. The Board of Trustees evaluated the risks of market timing activities by the Fund’s shareholders when they considered that no restriction or policy was necessary. The Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, the Fund issues and redeems its Shares at NAV for a basket of securities intended to mirror the Fund’s portfolio, plus a small amount of cash, and the Fund’s Shares may be purchased and sold on the Exchange at prevailing market prices. Given this structure, the Board determined that it is unlikely that (a) market timing would be attempted by the Fund’s shareholders or (b) any attempts to market time the Fund by its shareholders would result in negative impact to the Fund or its shareholders.

 

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Shareholder Information

TAXES ON DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund has elected to be treated and intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company. A regulated investment company is not subject to tax at the corporate level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. The Fund’s failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would result in corporate-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

The Fund can earn income and realize capital gain. The Fund deducts any expenses and then pays out the earnings, if any, to shareholders as distributions.

The Fund generally declares and distributes net investment income, if any, at least quarterly. The Fund will distribute net realized capital gain, if any, at least annually. For each taxable year, the Fund will distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gain.

For federal income tax purposes, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income. Dividends of net investment income paid to a non-corporate U.S. shareholder that are properly reported as qualified dividend income generally will be taxable to such shareholder at preferential rates. The maximum individual rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” is either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. The amount of dividend income that may be so reported by the Fund generally will be limited to the aggregate of the eligible dividends received by the Fund. In addition, the Fund must meet certain holding period and other requirements with respect to the shares on which the Fund received the eligible dividends, and the non-corporate U.S. shareholder must meet certain holding period and other requirements with respect to the Fund. Dividends of net investment income that are not reported as qualified dividend income and dividends of net short-term capital gain will be taxable as ordinary income.

Distributions of net capital gain (that is, the excess of the net gains from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for more than one year over the net losses from investments that the Fund owned for one year or less) that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends will be taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund. The maximum individual rate applicable to long-term capital gains is generally either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. Distributions of net short-term capital gain (that is, the excess of any net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss), if any, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Capital gain of a corporate shareholder is taxed at the same rate as ordinary income.

An additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from a Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.

If you buy shares of the Fund just before a distribution, you will pay tax on the entire amount of the taxable distribution you receive. Distributions are taxable to you even if they are paid from income or gain earned by the Fund before your investment (and thus were included in the price you paid for your Fund shares). Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as long-term or short-term gain, depending upon how long you have held the shares.

The Fund is generally subject to foreign withholding or other foreign taxes, which in some cases can be significant, on any income or gain from investments in foreign stocks or securities. In that case, the Fund’s total return on those securities would be decreased. The Fund may generally deduct these taxes in computing its taxable income. Rather than deducting these foreign taxes, if the Fund invests more than 50% of its assets in the stock or securities of foreign corporations or foreign governments at the end of its taxable year it may make an election to treat a proportionate amount of eligible foreign taxes as constituting a taxable distribution to each shareholder, which would, subject to certain limitations, generally allow the shareholders to either (i) credit that proportionate amount of taxes against U.S. Federal income tax liability as a foreign tax credit or (ii) take that amount as an itemized deduction. Although in some cases the Fund may be able to apply for a refund of a portion of such taxes, the ability to successfully obtain such a refund may be uncertain.

The Fund’s investment in REIT securities, derivative instruments and so called “passive foreign investment companies” may require the Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. In order to generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to liquidate other investments in its portfolio that it otherwise would have continued to hold, including at times when it is not advantageous to do so. The Fund’s investment in REIT securities may also result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes such amounts, such distribution could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund’s transactions in futures contracts, will be subject to special tax rules, the effect of which may be to accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The Fund’s use of these types of transactions may result in the Fund realizing more short-term capital gain and ordinary income subject to tax at ordinary income tax rates than it would if it did not engage in such transactions.

Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional discussion of the tax consequences of the above-described and other investments to the Fund and its shareholders.

The dates on which dividends and capital gain, if any, will be distributed are available online at                 .

 

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Early in each calendar year, you will receive a notice showing the amount of distributions you received in the preceding year and the tax status of those distributions.

The Fund is not intended for foreign shareholders. Any foreign shareholder would generally be subject to U.S. tax-withholding on distributions by the Fund, as discussed in the Statement of Additional Information.

Any investor for whom the Fund does not have a valid Taxpayer Identification Number may be subject to backup withholding.

The tax considerations described in this section do not apply to tax-deferred accounts or other non-taxable entities.

TAXES ON EXCHANGE-LISTED SHARES SALES

Currently, any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Shares is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year and as short-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for one year or less. Capital loss realized on the sale or exchange of Shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received by the shareholder. The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

TAXES ON PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

At the time of purchase, an Authorized Participant who exchanges equity securities for Creation Units generally will recognize a gain or loss. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time and the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered and the Cash Component paid. At redemption, a person who exchanges Creation Units for equity securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units and the aggregate market value of the securities received and the Cash Redemption Amount. The Internal Revenue Service, however, may assert that a loss realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units cannot be deducted currently under the rules governing “wash sales” on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. Persons exchanging securities should consult their own tax advisor with respect to whether the wash sale rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.

Under current federal tax laws, any capital gain or loss realized upon redemption of Creation Units is generally treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for more than one year and as a short-term capital gain or loss if the Shares have been held for one year or less.

If you purchase or redeem Creation Units, you will be sent a confirmation statement showing how many and at what price you purchased or sold Shares.

The above is a general summary of tax implications of investing in the Fund. Because each investor’s tax consequences are unique, please consult your tax advisor to see how investing in the Fund and, for individuals and S corporations, selection of a particular cost method of accounting will affect your own tax situation.

AVAILABILITY OF PROXY VOTING RECORD

The Trustees have delegated the authority to vote proxies for securities owned by the Fund to JPMIM. When available, a copy of the Fund’s voting record for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or on the J.P. Morgan Funds’ website at              no later than August 31 of each year. The Fund’s proxy voting record will include, among other things, a brief description of the matter voted on for each portfolio security, and will state how each vote was cast, for example, for or against the proposal.

TAX-ADVANTAGED PRODUCT STRUCTURE

Unlike interests in many conventional mutual funds, the Shares are traded throughout the day on a national securities exchange, whereas mutual fund interests are typically only bought and sold at closing net asset values. The Shares have been designed to be tradable in the secondary market on a national securities exchange on an intra-day basis, and to be created and redeemed principally in-kind in Creation Units at each day’s next calculated NAV. These arrangements are designed to protect ongoing shareholders from adverse effects on the Fund’s portfolio that could arise from frequent cash creation and redemption transactions. In a conventional mutual fund, redemptions can have an adverse tax impact on taxable shareholders because the mutual fund may need to sell portfolio securities to obtain cash to meet fund redemptions. These sales may generate taxable gains for the shareholders of the mutual fund, whereas the Shares’ in-kind redemption mechanism generally will not lead to a tax event for the Fund or its ongoing shareholders.

OTHER INFORMATION

For purposes of the 1940 Act, the Fund is treated as a registered investment company. Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by investment companies in the securities of other investment companies, including shares of the Fund. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1) subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with a Fund.

 

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Risk and Reward Elements for the Fund

This table discusses the main elements that may make up the Fund’s overall risk and reward characteristics. It also outlines the Fund’s policies toward various investments, including those that are designed to help the Fund manage risk.

 

POTENTIAL RISKS   POTENTIAL REWARDS   POLICIES TO BALANCE RISK AND REWARD

Foreign and other market conditions

   

•    The Fund’s share price and performance will fluctuate in response to stock market movements

 

•    The Fund could lose money because of foreign government actions, political instability, or lack of adequate and/or accurate information

 

•    Because the Fund employs a passive management style, it will not necessarily take defensive positions even during adverse market, economic, political or other conditions

 

•    Stocks have generally outperformed more stable investments (such as bonds and cash equivalents) over the long term

 

•    Foreign investments, which represent a major portion of the world’s securities, offer attractive potential performance and opportunities for diversification

 

•    Under normal circumstances the Fund plans to remain fully invested in accordance with its policies and may invest uninvested cash in affiliated money market funds

 

•    In addition to the securities described in the “What are the Fund’s main investment strategies?” section, equity securities may include U.S. and foreign common stocks, convertible securities1, preferred stocks2, depositary receipts, (such as American Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts), trust or partnership interests, warrants and rights3 and investment company securities

 

1 Convertible securities are bonds or preferred stock that can convert to common stock.
2 Preferred stock is a class of stock that generally pays a dividend at a specified rate and has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and in liquidation.
3 Warrants and rights are securities, typically issued with preferred stock or bonds, that give the holder the right to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price.

 

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POTENTIAL RISKS   POTENTIAL REWARDS   POLICIES TO BALANCE RISK AND REWARD

Derivatives*

   

•    Derivatives, such as futures,1 may be used manage cash flows and to gain exposure to particular foreign securities or markets and this could result in losses to the Fund that would not have otherwise occurred

 

•    The Fund may have difficulty exiting a derivatives position

 

•    Derivatives may not have the intended effects and may result in losses or missed opportunities

 

•    The counterparty to a derivatives contract could default

 

•    Certain types of derivatives involve costs to the Fund which can reduce returns

 

•    Segregated or earmarked assets and collateral accounts established in connection with derivatives may limit the Fund’s investment flexibility

 

•    Derivatives may, for tax purposes, affect the character of gain and loss realized by the Fund, accelerate recognition of income to the Fund, affect the holding period of the Fund’s assets and defer recognition of certain of the Fund’s losses

 

•    The Fund could make money and protect against losses if management’s analysis proves correct

 

•    The Fund uses derivatives to manage cash flows and to gain exposure to particular foreign securities or markets.

 

•    The Fund segregates or earmarks liquid assets to cover its derivatives and offset a portion of the leverage risk

 

* The Fund is not subject to registration or regulation as a “commodity pool operator” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act because the Fund has claimed an exclusion from that definition.
1 A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a set quantity of an underlying instrument at a future date, or to make or receive a cash payment based on changes in the value of a securities index. An option is the right to buy or sell a set quantity of an underlying instrument at a predetermined price. A swap is a privately negotiated agreement to exchange one stream of payments for another. A forward foreign currency contract is an obligation to buy or sell a given currency on a future date and at a set price.

 

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POTENTIAL RISKS   POTENTIAL REWARDS   POLICIES TO BALANCE RISK AND REWARD

Illiquid holdings

   

•    The Fund could have difficulty valuing these holdings precisely

 

•    The Fund could be unable to sell these holdings at the time or price it desires

 

•    These holdings may offer more attractive yields or potential growth than comparable widely traded securities

 

•    The Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid holdings

 

•    To maintain adequate liquidity to meet redemptions, the Fund may hold high quality short-term securities (including repurchase agreements) and may borrow from banks as permitted by law

 

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Financial Highlights

This section would ordinarily include Financial Highlights. The Financial Highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund’s performance for the Fund’s periods of operations. Because the JPMorgan Global Equity ETF has not yet commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, no financial highlights are shown.

 

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HOW TO REACH US

MORE INFORMATION

For investors who want more information on the Fund the following documents are available free upon request:

ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS

The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports will contain more information about the Fund’s investments and performance. The annual report will also include details about the market conditions and investment strategies that have a significant effect on the Fund’s performance.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

The SAI contains more detailed information about the Fund and its policies. It is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This means, by law, it is considered to be part of this prospectus.

You can get a free copy of these documents and other information, or ask us any questions, by calling us at [] or writing to:

[Address]

You can write or e-mail the SEC’s Public Reference Room and ask them to mail you information about the Fund, including the SAI. They will charge you a copying fee for this service. You can also visit the Public Reference Room and copy the documents while you are there.

Public Reference Room of the SEC

Washington, DC 20549-1520

1-202-551-8090

Email: publicinfo@sec.gov

Reports, a copy of the SAI and other information about the Fund are also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Investment Company Act File No. for the Fund is                             

 

 

©JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2014. All rights reserved.                            .

 

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

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Statement of Additional Information dated October 21, 2013

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PART I

            , 2014

J.P. MORGAN EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND TRUST (the “Trust”)

 

Fund Name

   (Exchange)
Ticker

JPMorgan Global Equity ETF (the “Fund”)

  
  

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus, but contains additional information which should be read in conjunction with the prospectus for the Fund dated             , 2014, as supplemented from time to time (“Prospectus”). The Prospectus is available without charge upon request by contacting              (the “Distributor”), the Fund’s distributor, at             .

This SAI is divided into two Parts – Part I and Part II. Part I of this SAI contains information that is particular to the Fund. Part II of this SAI contains additional information that more generally applies to the Fund.

For more information about the Fund, simply write or call:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAI-            


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

 

GENERAL

     1   

The Trust and the Fund

     1   

Miscellaneous

     1   

INVESTMENT POLICIES

     2   

INVESTMENT PRACTICES

     4   

DIVERSIFICATION

     5   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

     5   

TRUSTEES

     6   

Standing Committees

     6   

Ownership of Securities

     6   

Trustee Compensation

     6   

INVESTMENT ADVISER

     6   

Investment Advisory Fees

     6   

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     6   

Portfolio Managers’ Other Accounts Managed

     6   

Portfolio Managers’ Ownership of Securities

     7   

ADMINISTRATOR

     7   

Administrator Fees

     7   

DISTRIBUTOR

     7   

Compensation Paid to the Distributor

     7   

BROKERAGE

     8   

Brokerage Commissions

     8   

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

     8   

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

     8   

Other Cash Compensation Payments

     8   

TAX MATTERS

     9   

Capital Loss Carryforwards

     9   

SHARE OWNERSHIP

     9   

Trustees and Officers

     9   

Principal Holders

     9   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     9   

PLEASE SEE PART II OF THIS SAI FOR ITS TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

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GENERAL

The Trust and the Fund

The Fund is a series of JPMorgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end, management investment company formed as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware on February 25, 2010, pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated                     .

The Fund will offer and issue Shares at net asset value (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of Shares (each a “Creation Unit” or a “Creation Unit Aggregation”). The Fund’s Shares will be listed and traded on the              Exchange (the “Exchange”). Fund Shares will trade on the Exchange at market prices that may be below, at or above NAV. Shares are redeemable only in Creation Unit Aggregations and, generally, in exchange for portfolio securities held by the Fund and/or a specified cash payment. The amount of Shares in a Creation Unit for the Fund is             .

In the event of the liquidation of the Fund, the Trust may lower the number of Shares in a Creation Unit. The Trust reserves the right to offer a full or partial “cash” option for creations and/or redemptions of Fund Shares. Fund Shares may be issued in advance of receipt of a basket of equity securities and other investments (“Deposit Instruments”) included in the Fund’s index (“Underlying Index”) subject to various conditions including a requirement to maintain on deposit with the Trust cash at least [equal to 115%] of the market value of the missing Deposit Instruments. See the “Creation and Redemption of Creation Units” section. In each instance of such cash creations or redemptions, transaction fees may be imposed that will be higher than the transaction fees associated with in-kind creations or redemptions. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities.

Miscellaneous

This SAI describes the financial history, investment strategies and policies, management and operation of the Fund in order to enable investors to determine whether the Fund best suits their needs.

This SAI provides additional information with respect to the Fund and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s current Prospectus. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings accorded to them in the Prospectus. The Fund’s executive offices are located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

This SAI is divided into two Parts – Part I and Part II. Part I of this SAI contains information that is particular to the Fund. Part II of this SAI contains information that applies more generally to the Fund. The Trust’s Board of Trustees is referred to herein as the “Board of Trustees,” and each trustee is referred to as a “Trustee.”

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (“JPMIM”) is the investment adviser to the Fund.

Investments in the Fund are not deposits or obligations of, nor guaranteed or endorsed by, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan Chase Bank”), an affiliate of the Adviser, or any other bank. Shares of the Fund are not federally insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other governmental agency. An investment in the Fund is subject to risks that may cause the value of the investment to fluctuate, and when the investment is redeemed, the value may be higher or lower than the amount originally invested by the investor.

 

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INVESTMENT POLICIES

The following investment policies have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund. The investment policies listed below under the heading “Fundamental Investment Policies” are “fundamental” policies which, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), may not be changed without the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as such term is defined in the “Additional Information” section in Part II of this SAI. All other investment policies of the Fund (including its investment objective) are non-fundamental, unless otherwise designated in the Prospectus or herein, and may be changed by the Trustees of the Fund without shareholder approval.

Except for each of the restrictions on borrowings set forth in the fundamental investment policies below, the percentage limitations contained in the policies below apply at the time of purchase of the securities. If a percentage or rating restriction on investment or use of assets set forth in a fundamental investment policy or a non-fundamental investment policy or in a Prospectus is adhered to at the time of investment, later changes in percentage resulting from any cause other than actions by the Fund will not be considered a violation. If the value of the Fund’s holdings of illiquid securities at any time exceeds the percentage limitation applicable at the time of acquisition due to subsequent fluctuations in value or other reasons, the Board of Trustees will consider what actions, if any, are appropriate to maintain adequate liquidity. With respect to each fundamental investment policy on borrowing, the 1940 Act generally limits the Fund’s ability to borrow money on a non-temporary basis if such borrowings constitute “senior securities.” As noted in “Investment Strategies and Policies – Miscellaneous Investment Strategies and Risks – Borrowings” in SAI Part II, in addition to temporary borrowing, the Fund may borrow from any bank, provided that immediately after any such borrowing there is an asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings by the Fund and provided further, that in the event that such asset coverage shall at any time fall below 300%, the Fund shall, within three days (not including Sundays or holidays) thereafter or such longer period as the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) may prescribe by rules and regulations, reduce the amount of its borrowings to such an extent that the asset coverage of such borrowing shall be at least 300%. The Fund may also borrow money or engage in economically similar transactions if those transactions do not constitute “senior securities” under the 1940 Act. Under current pronouncements, certain Fund positions (e.g., reverse repurchase agreements) are excluded from the definition of “senior security” so long as the Fund maintains adequate cover, segregation of assets or otherwise. Similarly, a short sale will not be considered a senior security if the Fund takes certain steps contemplated by SEC staff pronouncements, such as ensuring the short sale transaction is adequately covered.

For purposes of a Fund’s fundamental investment policies regarding industry concentration, “to concentrate” generally means to invest 25% or more of the Fund’s assets, taken at market value at the time of investment.

In addition, the Fund has an 80% investment policy which is described in the Fund’s Prospectus. In calculating Assets for the purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, Assets are net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes. This policy may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. However, the Fund will provide shareholders with written notice at least 60 days prior to a change in its policy to invest at least 80% of its assets in securities that comprise its benchmark index.

Finally, the Fund is subject to the fundamental and non-fundamental investment policies and investment restrictions applicable to the Fund that are described herein and by any restrictions imposed by applicable law.

 

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Table of Contents

Fundamental Investment Policies.

The Fund:

(1) May purchase any security which would cause the Fund to concentrate 25% or more of its investments in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in any particular industry or group of industries to the extent the index which the Fund replicates and which may be changed is concentrated in the securities of issuers primarily engaged in any particular industry or group of industries. This policy does not apply to investments in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or repurchase agreements secured thereby, and futures and options transactions issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities;

(2) May not issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act or any rule, order or interpretation thereunder;

(3) May not borrow money, except to the extent permitted by applicable law;

(4) May not underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent that the Fund, in disposing of portfolio securities, may be deemed an underwriter under certain securities laws;

(5) May not invest directly in real estate unless it is acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments. This restriction shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments (a) issued by companies that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate, or (b) backed or secured by real estate or interests in real estate;

(6) May not purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts except as may be permitted by the 1940 Act or unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments issued by persons that purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts; but this shall not prevent the Fund from purchasing, selling and entering into financial futures contracts (including futures contracts on indices of securities, interest rates and currencies), options on financial futures contracts (including futures contracts on indices of securities, interest rates and currencies), warrants, swaps, forward contracts, foreign currency spot and forward contracts or other derivative instruments including derivatives related to physical commodities;

(7) May make loans to other persons, in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies and to the extent permitted by applicable law;

(8) May not make any investment inconsistent with its classification as a diversified investment company under the 1940 Act.

The Fund may invest in types of investments and engage in transactions that are considered lending transactions. The types of investments and strategies that the Fund may use are described in further detail in the Prospectus and this SAI.

 

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Non-Fundamental Investment Policies.

The Fund:

(1) May not acquire any illiquid securities, such as repurchase agreements with more than seven days to maturity or fixed time deposits with a duration of over seven days, if as a result thereof, more than 15% of the market value of the Fund’s net assets would be in investments which are illiquid; and

(2) May not acquire the securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.

INVESTMENT PRACTICES

The Fund invests in a variety of securities and employs a number of investment techniques. What follows is a list of some of the securities and techniques which may be utilized by the Fund. For a more complete discussion, see the “Investment Strategies and Policies” section in Part II of this SAI.

 

Instrument

  

Part II

Section Reference

Borrowings: A Fund may borrow for temporary purposes and/or for investment purposes. Such a practice will result in leveraging of a Fund’s assets and may cause a Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. A Fund must maintain continuous asset coverage of 300% of the amount borrowed, with the exception for borrowings not in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets made for temporary administrative purposes.    Miscellaneous Investment Strategies and Risks
Common Stock: Shares of ownership of a company.    Equity Securities, Warrants and Rights
Common Stock Warrants and Rights: Securities, typically issued with preferred stock or bonds, that give the holder the right to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price.    Equity Securities, Warrants and Rights
Convertible Securities: Bonds or preferred stock that can convert to common stock.    Convertible Securities
Foreign Investments: Equity securities of foreign entities and obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks. Foreign securities may also include American Depositary Receipts (“ADR”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDR”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDR”) and American Depositary Securities (“ADS”)    Foreign Investments (including Foreign Currencies)
Futures Transactions: A Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts on securities and indexes of securities.    Futures Transactions
Initial Public Offerings (“IPO”): A transaction in which a previously private company makes its first sale of stock to the public.    Equity Securities, Warrants and Rights
Investment Company Securities: Shares of other investment companies, including money market funds for which the Adviser and/or its affiliates serve as investment adviser or administrator. The Adviser will waive certain fees when investing in funds for which it serves as investment adviser, to the extent required by law.    Investment Company Securities and Exchange Traded Funds

 

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Instrument

  

Part II

Section Reference

Futures Transactions: A Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts on securities and indexes of securities.    Futures Transactions
Preferred Stock: A class of stock that generally pays a dividend at a specified rate and has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and in liquidation.    Equity Securities, Warrants and Rights
Private Placements, Restricted Securities and Other Unregistered Securities: Securities not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, such as privately placed commercial paper and Rule 144A securities.    Miscellaneous Investment Strategies and Risks
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”): Pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interest.    Real Estate Investment Trusts

DIVERSIFICATION

The Trust is a registered management investment company. The Fund is a diversified series of the Trust. The Fund intends to meet the diversification requirements of the 1940 Act. For a more complete discussion, see the “Diversification” section in Part II of this SAI.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

A portfolio turnover rate is, in summary, the percentage computed by dividing the lesser of the Fund’s purchases or sales of securities (excluding short-term securities) by the average market value of the Fund. The Adviser intends to manage the Fund’s assets by buying and selling securities to help attain its investment objective. A rate of 100% indicates that the equivalent of all of the Fund’s assets have been sold and reinvested in a year. High portfolio turnover may affect the amount, timing and character of distributions, and, as a result, may increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders. Higher portfolio turnover also results in higher transaction costs. To the extent that net short-term capital gains are realized by the Fund, any distributions resulting from such gains are considered ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. For a more complete discussion, see the “Distributions and Tax Matters” section in Part II of this SAI. The Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI. Therefore, there is no portfolio turnover rate for the Fund to report at this time.

 

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TRUSTEES

Standing Committees

There are              standing committees of the Board of Trustees: [the              Committee and the              Committee.] Since the Fund has not yet commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, there are no committee meetings to report with respect to the Fund. For a more complete discussion, see the “Trustees” section in Part II of this SAI.

Ownership of Securities

Because the Fund and the Trust have not commenced operations, there are no securities of the Fund or Trust that the initial Trustee could own.

As of             , 2013, none of the independent Trustees or their immediate family members owned securities of the Adviser or [            ] or a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser or [             ].

Trustee Compensation

The Fund overseen by the Trustees will pay each Trustee an annual fee of $             and will reimburse each Trustee for expenses incurred in connection with service as a Trustee. In addition, the Fund pay the Chairman $            . The Trustees may hold various other directorships unrelated to the Trust.

Since the Trust has not commenced operations as of the date of the SAI, there has not been any trustee compensation paid.

INVESTMENT ADVISER

Investment Advisory Fees

Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not paid any investment advisory fees. For more information about the Adviser, see the “Investment Advisers” section in Part II of this SAI.

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

Portfolio Manager’s Other Accounts Managed

The following table shows information regarding all of the other accounts for which advisory fees are not based on the performance of the accounts that are managed by the Fund’s portfolio manager as of             , 2013 (amounts in thousands):

 

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Non-Performance Based Fee Advisory Accounts

 

     Registered Investment
Companies
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
   Other Accounts
     Number of
Accounts
   Total
Assets ($
thousands)
   Number of
Accounts
   Total
Assets ($
thousands)
   Number of
Accounts
   Total
Assets ($
thousands)

JPMorgan Global Equity ETF

                 

Beltran Lastra

                 

The following table shows information on the other accounts managed by the Fund’s portfolio manager that have advisory fees wholly or partly based on performance as of             , 2013:

Performance Based Fee Advisory Accounts

 

     Registered Investment
Companies
   Other Pooled
Investment Vehicles
   Other Accounts
     Number of
Accounts
   Total
Assets ($
thousands)
   Number of
Accounts
   Total
Assets ($
thousands)
   Number of
Accounts
   Total
Assets ($
thousands)

JPMorgan Global Equity ETF

                 

Beltran Lastra

                 

Portfolio Managers’ Ownership of Securities

Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, the portfolio manager does not own any shares of the Fund. For a discussion of the portfolio manager’s compensation, see the “Portfolio Manager Compensation” section in Part II of this SAI.

ADMINISTRATOR

Administrator Fees

Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not paid any administrator fees. For more information about the Administrator, see the “Administrator” section in Part II of this SAI.

DISTRIBUTOR

Compensation Paid to the Distributor

Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not paid any compensation to             . For more information about the Distributor, see the “Distributor” section in Part II of this SAI.

 

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BROKERAGE

Brokerage Commissions

Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not paid any brokerage commissions. For more information concerning brokerage commissions, see the “Portfolio Transactions” section in Part II of this SAI.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

The Trust will issue and sell its Shares only in creation units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at the NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form as described in “Placement of Creation Orders Outside Clearing Process Foreign Funds” in appendix A to Part II of this SAI.

 

FUND

   CREATION*    REDEMPTION*

JPMorgan Global Equity ETF

     

CREATION AND REDEMPTION TRANSACTION FEES. A transaction fee, as set forth in the table below, is imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the purchase or redemption of Creation Units, as applicable. Investors who are authorized to deal in Creation Units (“Authorized Participants”) will be required to pay a fixed creation transaction fee and/or a fixed redemption transaction fee, as applicable, on a given day regardless of the number of Creation Units created or redeemed on that day. The Fund may adjust the transaction fee from time to time. An additional charge or a variable charge (discussed below) will be applied to certain creation and redemption transactions, including non-standard orders and whole or partial cash purchases or redemptions. With respect to creation orders, Authorized Participants are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Instruments to the account of the Trust and with respect to redemption orders, Authorized Participants are responsible for the costs of transferring the Deposit Instruments from the Trust to their account or on their order. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may also be charged a fee for such services.

 

FUND

   TRANSACTION
FEE*, **
   MAXIMUM
TRANSACTION
FEE*, **

JPMorgan Global Equity ETF

     

 

* From time to time, the Fund may waive all or a portion of its applicable transaction fee(s). An additional charge of up to three (3) times the standard transaction fee may be charged to the extent a transaction is outside of the clearing process.
** In addition to the transaction fees listed above, the Fund may charge an additional variable fee for creations and redemptions in cash to offset brokerage and impact expenses associated with the cash transaction. The variable transaction fee will be calculated based on historical transaction cost data and the Adviser’s view of current expenses associated with the cash transaction. The variable transaction fee will be calculated based on historical transaction cost data and the Adviser’s view of current expenses association with the cash transaction. The variable transaction fee will be calculated based on historical transaction cost data and the Adviser’s view of current market conditions; however, the actual variable fee charged for a given transaction may be lower or higher than the trading expenses incurred by the Fund with respect to that transaction.

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

Other Cash Compensation Payments

Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, JPMIM and the Distributor have not made any other cash compensation arrangements with respect to the Fund.

 

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TAX MATTERS

Capital Loss Carryforwards

Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, the Fund has not had any capital loss carryforwards. For more information on tax matters, see the “Distributions and Tax Matters” section in Part II of this SAI.

SHARE OWNERSHIP

Trustees and Officers

Since the Fund has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI, the officers and Trustees do not own any shares of the Fund.

Principal Holders

Since the Fund has not been offered to the public as of the date of this SAI, the initial shareholder owns all of the Fund’s Shares.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

[To be provided by amendment]

 

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J.P. Morgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PART II

Part II of this SAI describes policies and practices that apply to the JPMorgan Global Equity ETF, for which Part I precedes this Part II. Part II is not a standalone document and must be read in conjunction with Part I. References in this Part II to the “Fund” mean JPMorgan Global Equity ETF, unless noted otherwise. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Part II have the meanings given to them in Part I of this SAI.


Table of Contents

PART II

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND POLICIES

     2   

Convertible Securities

     2   

Equity Securities, Warrants and Rights

     2   

Common Stock

     2   

Common Stock Warrants and Rights

     2   

Preferred Stock

     2   

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”).

     2   

Foreign Investments

     3   

Risk Factors of Foreign Investments.

     3   

Futures Transactions

     4   

Futures Contracts

     4   

Cash Equitization

     5   

Correlation of Price Changes

     5   

Liquidity of Futures Contracts

     5   

Position Limits

     5   

Asset Coverage for Futures Contracts Positions

     5   

Investment Company Securities

     5   

Investment Company Securities

     5   

Miscellaneous Investment Strategies and Risks

     6   

Borrowings

     6   

Impact of Large Redemptions and Purchases of Fund Shares

     6   

Government Intervention in Financial Markets

     6   

Private Placements, Restricted Securities and Other Unregistered Securities

     6   

Securities Issued in Connection with Reorganizations and Corporate Restructuring

     7   

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)

     7   

Recent Events Relating to the Overall Economy

     8   

Trust Preferred Securities

     8   

DIVERSIFICATION

     8   

DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAX MATTERS

     9   

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company

     9   

Excise Tax on Regulated Investment Companies

     10   

Fund Distributions

     10   

Sale or Redemption of Shares

     12   

Fund Investments

     12   

Investment in Other Funds

     14   

Backup Withholding

     15   

Foreign Shareholders

     15   

Foreign Taxes

     17   

Exempt-Interest Dividends

     17   

Creation Units

     17   

State and Local Tax Matters

     18   

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations

     18   

General Considerations

     18   

TRUSTEES

     18   

Board Leadership Structure and Oversight

     20   

Standing Committees

     20   

Trustee Compensation

     20   

OFFICERS

     21   

INVESTMENT ADVISER

     21   

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc (“JPMIM”)

     21   

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

     22   

 

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PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMPENSATION

     24   

CODES OF ETHICS

     24   

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

     24   

Investment Decisions and Portfolio Transactions

     24   

Brokerage and Research Services

     25   

OVERVIEW OF SERVICE PROVIDER AGREEMENTS

     27   

ADMINISTRATOR

     27   

DISTRIBUTOR

     27   

CUSTODIAN

     28   

CUSTODY AND FUND ACCOUNTING FEES AND EXPENSES

     28   

TRANSFER AGENT

     28   

EXPENSES

     28   

ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

     28   

TRUST COUNSEL

     29   

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     29   

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

     29   

NET ASSET VALUE

     29   

DELAWARE TRUST

     30   

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

     30   

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE

     31   

PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES

     32   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     34   

APPENDIX A — PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

     A-1   

APPENDIX B — DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

     B-1   

 

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INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND POLICIES

As noted in the applicable Prospectus for the Fund, in addition to the main investment strategy and the main investment risks described in the Prospectus, the Fund may employ other investment strategies and may be subject to other risks, which are described below. The Fund may engage in the practices described below to the extent consistent with its investment objectives, strategies, polices and restrictions.

For a list of investment strategies and policies employed by the Fund, see “INVESTMENT PRACTICES” in Part I of this SAI.

Convertible Securities

The Fund may invest in convertible securities. Convertible securities include any debt securities or preferred stock which may be converted into common stock or which carry the right to purchase common stock. Generally, convertible securities entitle the holder to exchange the securities for a specified number of shares of common stock, usually of the same company, at specified prices within a certain period of time.

The terms of any convertible security determine its ranking in a company’s capital structure. In the case of subordinated convertible debentures, the holders’ claims on assets and earnings are subordinated to the claims of other creditors, and are senior to the claims of preferred and common shareholders. In the case of convertible preferred stock, the holders’ claims on assets and earnings are subordinated to the claims of all creditors and are senior to the claims of common shareholders.

Convertible securities have characteristics similar to both debt and equity securities. Due to the conversion feature, the market value of convertible securities tends to move together with the market value of the underlying common stock. As a result, selection of convertible securities, to a great extent, is based on the potential for capital appreciation that may exist in the underlying stock. The value of convertible securities is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer, and any call provisions. In some cases, the issuer may cause a convertible security to convert to common stock. In other situations, it may be advantageous for a Fund to cause the conversion of convertible securities to common stock. If a convertible security converts to common stock, a Fund may hold such common stock in its portfolio even if it does not ordinarily invest in common stock.

Equity Securities, Warrants and Rights

Common Stock. Common stock represents a share of ownership in a company and usually carries voting rights and may earn dividends. Unlike preferred stock, common stock dividends are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer’s board of directors. Common stock occupies the most junior position in a company’s capital structure. As with all equity securities, the price of common stock fluctuates based on changes in a company’s financial condition and overall market and economic conditions.

Common Stock Warrants and Rights. Common stock warrants entitle the holder to buy common stock from the issuer of the warrant at a specific price (the “strike price”) for a specific period of time. The market price of warrants may be substantially lower than the current market price of the underlying common stock, yet warrants are subject to similar price fluctuations. As a result, warrants may be more volatile investments than the underlying common stock. If a warrant is exercised, the Fund may hold common stock in its portfolio even if it does not ordinarily invest in common stock.

Rights are similar to warrants but normally have a shorter duration and are typically distributed directly by the issuers to existing shareholders, while warrants are typically attached to new debt or preferred stock issuances.

Warrants and rights generally do not entitle the holder to dividends or voting rights with respect to the underlying common stock and do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer company. Warrants and rights will expire if not exercised on or prior to the expiration date.

Preferred Stock. Preferred stock is a class of stock that generally pays dividends at a specified rate and has preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and liquidation. Preferred stock generally does not carry voting rights. As with all equity securities, the price of preferred stock fluctuates based on changes in a company’s financial condition and on overall market and economic conditions.

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”). The Fund may purchase securities in IPOs. These securities are subject to many of the same risks as investing in companies with smaller market capitalizations. Securities issued in IPOs have no trading history, and information about the companies may be available for very limited periods. The prices of securities sold in IPOs may be highly volatile. At any particular time or from time to time, the Fund may not be able to invest in securities issued in IPOs, or invest to the extent desired, because, for example, only a small portion (if any) of the securities being offered in an IPO may be made available to the Fund. In addition, under certain market conditions, a relatively small number of companies may issue securities in IPOs. Similarly, as the number of funds to which IPO securities are allocated increases, the number of securities issued to the Fund may decrease. The investment performance of the Fund during periods when it is unable to invest significantly or at all in IPOs may be lower than during periods when the Fund is able to do so. In addition, as the Fund increases in size, the impact of IPOs on the Fund’s performance will generally decrease.

 

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Foreign Investments (including Foreign Currencies)

The Fund may invest in certain obligations or securities of foreign issuers. For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies and unless described otherwise in the Fund’s prospectus, an issuer of a security will be deemed to be located in a particular country if: (i) the principal trading market for the security is in such country, (ii) the issuer is organized under the laws of such country or (iii) the issuer derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from such country or has at least 50% of its total assets situated in such country. Possible investments include equity securities and debt securities (e.g., bonds and commercial paper) of foreign entities, obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and of foreign banks, including, without limitation, Eurodollar Certificates of Deposit, Eurodollar Time Deposits, Eurodollar Bankers’ Acceptances, Canadian Time Deposits and Yankee Certificates of Deposit, and investments in Canadian Commercial Paper, and Europaper. Securities of foreign issuers may include sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”). Sponsored ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange; unsponsored ADRs are not. Therefore, there may be less information available about the issuers of unsponsored ADRs than the issuers of sponsored ADRs. Unsponsored ADRs are restricted securities. EDRs and GDRs are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As a result, it may be difficult to obtain information about EDRs and GDRs.

Risk Factors of Foreign Investments. The following is a summary of certain risks associated with foreign investments:

Political and Exchange Risks. Foreign investments may subject a Fund to investment risks that differ in some respects from those related to investments in obligations of U.S. domestic issuers. Such risks include potential future adverse political and economic developments, possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest or other income, possible seizure, nationalization or expropriation of foreign deposits, possible establishment of exchange controls or taxation at the source, greater fluctuations in value due to changes in exchange rates, or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on such obligations.

Higher Transaction Costs. Foreign investments may entail higher custodial fees and sales commissions than domestic investments.

Accounting and Regulatory Differences. Foreign issuers of securities or obligations are often subject to accounting treatment and engage in business practices different from those of domestic issuers of similar securities or obligations. In addition, foreign issuers are usually not subject to the same degree of regulation as domestic issuers, and their securities may trade on relatively small markets, causing their securities to experience potentially higher volatility and more limited liquidity than securities of domestic issuers. Foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks are not regulated by U.S. banking authorities and may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks. In addition, foreign banks generally are not bound by accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to U.S. banks. Dividends and interest paid by foreign issuers may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes which may decrease the net return on foreign investments as compared to dividends and interest paid to the Fund by domestic companies.

Currency Risk. Foreign securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, although foreign issuers may also issue securities denominated in U.S. dollars. The value of the Fund’s investments denominated in foreign currencies and any funds held in foreign currencies will be affected by changes in currency exchange rates, the relative strength of those currencies and the U.S. dollar, and exchange-control regulations. Changes in the foreign currency exchange rates also may affect the value of dividends and interest earned, gains and losses realized on the sale of securities and net investment income and gains, if any, to be distributed to shareholders by the Fund. The exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies are determined by the forces of supply and demand in foreign exchange markets. Accordingly, the ability of the Fund that invests in foreign securities as part of its principal investment strategy to achieve its investment objective may depend, to a certain extent, on exchange rate movements. In addition, while the volume of transactions effected on foreign stock exchanges has increased in recent years, in most cases it remains appreciably below that of domestic securities exchanges. Accordingly, the Fund’s foreign investments may be less liquid and their prices may be more volatile than comparable investments in securities of U.S. companies. In buying and selling securities on foreign exchanges, purchasers normally pay fixed commissions that are generally higher than the negotiated commissions charged in the U.S. In addition, there is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and issuers located in foreign countries than in the U.S.

Settlement Risk. The settlement periods for foreign securities and instruments are often longer than those for securities or obligations of U.S. issuers or instruments denominated in U.S. dollars. Delayed settlement may affect the liquidity of the Fund’s holdings. Certain types of securities and other instruments are not traded “delivery versus payment” in certain markets (e.g., government bonds in Russia) meaning that the Fund may deliver securities or instruments before payment is received from the counterparty. In such markets, the Fund may not receive timely payment for securities or other instruments it has delivered and may be subject to increased risk that the counterparty will fail to make payments when due or default completely.

 

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Futures Transactions

The Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts on securities and indexes of securities. Each of these instruments is a derivative instrument as its value derives from the underlying asset or index.

Subject to its investment objective and policies, the Fund may use futures contracts for hedging and risk management purposes and to seek to enhance portfolio performance.

Futures contracts may be used to manage the Fund’s exposure to changing interest rates and/or security prices. Some futures strategies, including selling futures contracts, tend to hedge the Fund’s investments against price fluctuations. Other strategies, including buying futures contracts, tend to increase market exposure. Futures contracts may be combined with each other or with forward contracts in order to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the Fund’s overall strategy in a manner deemed appropriate by the Adviser and consistent with the Fund’s objective and policies.

The use of futures is a highly specialized activity which involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions, and there can be no guarantee that their use will increase the Fund’s return. While the use of these instruments by the Fund may reduce certain risks associated with owning its portfolio securities, these techniques themselves entail certain other risks. If the Adviser applies a strategy at an inappropriate time or judges market conditions or trends incorrectly, options and futures strategies may lower the Fund’s return. Certain strategies limit a Fund’s possibilities to realize gains, as well as its exposure to losses. The Fund could also experience losses if the prices of its futures positions were poorly correlated with its other investments, or if it could not close out its positions because of an illiquid secondary market. In addition, the Fund will incur transaction costs, including trading commissions and option premiums, in connection with its futures and options transactions, and these transactions could significantly increase the Fund’s turnover rate.

The Fund will file a notice under the Commodity Exchange Act under Regulation 4.5 and is operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act and, therefore, is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.

Futures Contracts. When the Fund purchases a futures contract, it agrees to purchase a specified quantity of an underlying instrument at a specified future date or, in the case of an index futures contract, to make a cash payment based on the value of a securities index. When the Fund sells a futures contract, it agrees to sell a specified quantity of the underlying instrument at a specified future date or, in the case of an index futures contract, to receive a cash payment based on the value of a securities index. The price at which the purchase and sale will take place is fixed when the Fund enters into the contract. Futures can be held until their delivery dates or the position can be (and normally is) closed out before then. There is no assurance, however, that a liquid market will exist when the Fund wishes to close out a particular position.

When the Fund purchases a futures contract, the value of the futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of its underlying instrument. Therefore, purchasing futures contracts will tend to increase the Fund’s exposure to positive and negative price fluctuations in the underlying instrument, much as if it had purchased the underlying instrument directly. When the Fund sells a futures contract, by contrast, the value of its futures position will tend to move in a direction contrary to the value of the underlying instrument. Selling futures contracts, therefore, will tend to offset both positive and negative market price changes, much as if the underlying instrument had been sold.

The purchaser or seller of a futures contract is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying instrument unless the contract is held until the delivery date. However, when the Fund buys or sells a futures contract it will be required to deposit “initial margin” with a futures commission merchant (“FCM”). Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a small percentage of the contract’s value. If the value of either party’s position declines, that party will be required to make additional “variation margin” payments equal to the change in value on a daily basis. The party that has a gain may be entitled to receive all or a portion of this amount. The Fund may be obligated to make payments of variation margin at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so. Furthermore, it may not always be possible for the Fund to close out its futures positions. Until it closes out a futures position, the Fund will be obligated to continue to pay variation margin. Initial and variation margin payments do not constitute purchasing on margin for purposes of the Fund’s investment restrictions. In the event of the bankruptcy of an FCM that holds margin on behalf of the Fund, the Fund may be entitled to return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund. The Fund will earmark and reserve Fund assets, in cash or liquid securities, in connection with its use of options and futures contracts to the extent required by the staff of the SEC. The Fund will earmark and reserve liquid assets in an amount equal to the current mark-to-market exposure, on a daily basis, of a futures contract that is contractually required to cash settle. Such assets cannot be sold while the futures contract or option is outstanding unless they are replaced with other suitable assets. By setting aside assets equal only to its net obligation under cash-settled futures, the Fund will have the ability to have exposure to such instruments to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to set aside assets equal to the full notional value of such contracts. There is a possibility that earmarking and reservation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

The Fund only invests in futures contracts to the extent they could invest in the underlying instrument directly.

 

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Cash Equitization. The objective where equity futures are used to “equitize” cash is to match the notional value of all futures contracts to the Fund’s cash balance. The notional values of the futures contracts and of the cash are monitored daily. As the cash is invested in securities and/or paid out to participants in redemptions, the Adviser simultaneously adjusts the futures positions. Through such procedures, the Fund not only gains equity exposure from the use of futures, but also benefits from increased flexibility in responding to client cash flow needs. Additionally, because it can be less expensive to trade a list of securities as a package or program trade rather than as a group of individual orders, futures provide a means through which transaction costs can be reduced. Such non-hedging risk management techniques involve leverage, and thus present, as do all leveraged transactions, the possibility of losses as well as gains that are greater than if these techniques involved the purchase and sale of the securities themselves rather than their synthetic derivatives.

Correlation of Price Changes. Because there are a limited number of types of exchange-traded futures contracts, it is likely that the futures contracts available will not match the Fund’s current or anticipated investments exactly. The Fund may invest in options and futures contracts based on securities with different issuers, maturities, or other characteristics from the securities in which it typically invests, which involves a risk that the options or futures position will not track the performance of the Fund’s other investments.

Futures contracts prices can also diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the underlying instruments match the Fund’s investments well. Futures contracts prices are affected by such factors as current and anticipated short term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract, which may not affect security prices the same way. Imperfect correlation may also result from differing levels of demand in the futures markets and the securities markets, from structural differences in how futures and securities are traded, or from imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading halts. The Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts with a greater or lesser value than the securities it wishes to hedge or intends to purchase in order to attempt to compensate for differences in volatility between the contract and the securities, although this may not be successful in all cases. If price changes in the Fund’s futures positions are poorly correlated with its other investments, the positions may fail to produce anticipated gains or result in losses that are not offset by gains in other investments.

Liquidity of Futures Contracts. There is no assurance that a liquid market will exist for any particular futures contract at any particular time even if the contract is traded on an exchange. In addition, exchanges may establish daily price fluctuation limits for futures contracts and may halt trading if a contract’s price moves up or down more than the limit in a given day. On volatile trading days when the price fluctuation limit is reached or a trading halt is imposed, it may be impossible for the Fund to enter into new positions or close out existing positions. If the market for a contract is not liquid because of price fluctuation limits or otherwise, it could prevent prompt liquidation of unfavorable positions, and could potentially require the Fund to continue to hold a position until delivery or expiration regardless of changes in its value. As a result, the Fund’s access to other assets held to cover its futures positions could also be impaired.

Position Limits. Futures exchanges can limit the number of futures contracts that can be held or controlled by an entity. If an adequate exemption cannot be obtained, the Fund or the Fund’s Adviser may be required to reduce the size of its futures positions or may not be able to trade a certain futures contract in order to avoid exceeding such limits.

Asset Coverage for Futures Contracts Positions. The Fund will comply with guidelines established by the SEC with respect to coverage of options and futures contracts by mutual funds, and if the guidelines so require, will set aside or earmark appropriate liquid assets in the amount prescribed. Such assets cannot be sold while the futures contract is outstanding, unless they are replaced with other suitable assets. As a result, there is a possibility that the reservation of a large percentage of the Fund’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.

Investment Company Securities

Investment Company Securities. The Fund may acquire the securities of other investment companies (“acquired funds”) to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and consistent with its investment objective and strategies. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund would bear, along with other shareholders, its pro rata portion of the other investment company’s expenses, including advisory fees. These expenses would be in addition to the advisory and other expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection with its own operations. Except as described below, the 1940 Act currently requires that, as determined immediately after a purchase is made, (i) not more than 5% of the value of the fund’s total assets will be invested in the securities of any one investment company, (ii) not more than 10% of the value of its total assets will be invested in the aggregate in securities of investment companies as a group and (iii) not more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any one investment company will be owned by the fund.

The limitations described above do not apply to investments in money market funds subject to certain conditions. The Fund may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated money market funds without limit under Rule 12d1-1 of the 1940 Act subject to the acquiring fund’s investment policies and restrictions and the conditions of the Rule.

 

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Miscellaneous Investment Strategies and Risks

Borrowings. The Fund may borrow for temporary purposes and/or for investment purposes. Such a practice will result in leveraging of the Fund’s assets and may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. This borrowing may be secured or unsecured. If the Fund utilizes borrowings, for investment purposes or otherwise, it may pledge up to 33 1/3% of its total assets to secure such borrowings. Provisions of the 1940 Act require the Fund 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 administrative or emergency purposes. Any borrowings for temporary administrative 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 other reasons, the Fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days 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 the Fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased. The Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such 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.

Certain types of investments are considered to be borrowings under precedents issued by the SEC. Such investments are subject to the limitations as well as asset segregation requirements.

Government Intervention in Financial Markets. Events in the financial sector over the past several years have resulted in reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets and in an unusually high degree of volatility in the financial markets, both domestically and internationally. While entire markets have been impacted, issuers that have exposure to the real estate, mortgage and credit markets have been particularly affected. These events and the potential for continuing market turbulence may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investments. It is uncertain how long these conditions will continue.

Recent instability in the financial markets has led governments and regulators around the world to take a number of unprecedented actions designed to support certain financial institutions and segments of the financial markets that have experienced extreme volatility, and in some cases a lack of liquidity. Governments, their regulatory agencies, or self regulatory organizations may take actions that affect the regulation of the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that are unforeseeable. Legislation or regulation may also change the way in which the Fund is regulated. Such legislation or regulation could limit or preclude a Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the Fund to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the Fund.

Private Placements, Restricted Securities and Other Unregistered Securities. Subject to its policy limitation, the Fund may acquire investments that are illiquid or have limited liquidity, such as commercial obligations issued in reliance on the so-called “private placement” exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and cannot be offered for public sale in the U.S. without first being registered under the 1933 Act. An illiquid investment is any investment that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the normal course of business at approximately the amount at which it is valued by the Fund. The price a Fund pays for illiquid securities or receives upon resale may be lower than the price paid or received for similar securities with a more liquid market. Accordingly the valuation of these securities will reflect any limitations on their liquidity.

The Fund is subject to a risk that should the Fund decide to sell illiquid securities when a ready buyer is not available at a price the Fund deems representative of their value, the value of the Fund’s net assets could be adversely affected. Where an illiquid security must be registered under the 1933 Act before it may be sold, the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration expenses, and a considerable period may elapse between the time of the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to sell a security under an effective registration statement. If, during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop, the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when it decided to sell.

 

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The Fund may invest in commercial paper issued in reliance on the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act and other restricted securities (i.e., other securities subject to restrictions on resale). Section 4(2) commercial paper (“4(2) paper”) is restricted as to disposition under federal securities law and is generally sold to institutional investors, such as the Fund, that agree that they are purchasing the paper for investment purposes and not with a view to public distribution. Any resale by the purchaser must be in an exempt transaction. 4(2) paper is normally resold to other institutional investors through or with the assistance of the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in 4(2) paper, thus providing liquidity. The Fund believes that 4(2) paper and possibly certain other restricted securities which meet the criteria for liquidity established by the Trustees are quite liquid. The Fund intends, therefore, to treat restricted securities that meet the liquidity criteria established by the Board of Trustees, including 4(2) paper and Rule 144A Securities, as determined by the Adviser, as liquid and not subject to the investment limitation applicable to illiquid securities.

The ability of the Trustees to determine the liquidity of certain restricted securities is permitted under an SEC Staff position set forth in the adopting release for Rule 144A under the 1933 Act (“Rule 144A”). Rule 144A is a nonexclusive safe-harbor for certain secondary market transactions involving securities subject to restrictions on resale under federal securities laws. Rule 144A provides an exemption from registration for resales of otherwise restricted securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A was expected to further enhance the liquidity of the secondary market for securities eligible for resale. The Fund believes that the Staff of the SEC has left the question of determining the liquidity of all restricted securities to the Trustees. The Trustees have directed the Adviser to consider the following criteria in determining the liquidity of certain restricted securities:

 

    the frequency of trades and quotes for the security;

 

    the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential buyers;

 

    dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and

 

    the nature of the security and the nature of the marketplace trades.

Certain 4(2) paper programs cannot rely on Rule 144A because, among other things, they were established before the adoption of the rule. However, the Trustees may determine for purposes of the Trust’s liquidity requirements that an issue of 4(2) paper is liquid if the following conditions, which are set forth in a 1994 SEC no-action letter, are met:

 

    The 4(2) paper must not be traded flat or in default as to principal or interest;

 

    The 4(2) paper must be rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two NRSROs, or if only one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or if unrated, is determined by the Adviser to be of equivalent quality;

 

    The Fund’s Adviser must consider the trading market for the specific security, taking into account all relevant factors, including but not limited to, whether the paper is the subject of a commercial paper program that is administered by an issuing and paying agent bank and for which there exists a dealer willing to make a market in that paper, or whether the paper is administered by a direct issuer pursuant to a direct placement program;

 

    The Fund’s Adviser shall monitor the liquidity of the 4(2) paper purchased and shall report to the Board of Trustees promptly if any such securities are no longer determined to be liquid if such determination causes a Fund to hold more than 10% of its net assets in illiquid securities in order for the Board of Trustees to consider what action, if any, should be taken on behalf of the Trust, unless the Fund’s Adviser is able to dispose of illiquid assets in an orderly manner in an amount that reduces the Fund’s holdings of illiquid assets to less than 10% of its net assets; and

 

    The Fund’s Adviser shall report to the Board of Trustees on the appropriateness of the purchase and retention of liquid restricted securities under these guidelines no less frequently than quarterly.

Securities Issued in Connection with Reorganizations and Corporate Restructuring. Debt securities may be downgraded and issuers of debt securities including investment grade securities may default in the payment of principal or interest or be subject to bankruptcy proceedings. In connection with reorganizing or restructuring of an issuer, an issuer may issue common stock or other securities to holders of its debt securities. A Fund may hold such common stock and other securities even though it does not ordinarily invest in such securities.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)

The Fund may invest in equity interests or debt obligations issued by REITs. REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interest. REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling property that has appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Similar to investment companies, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided they comply with several requirements of the Code. The Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of expenses incurred by REITs in which the Fund invests in addition to the expenses incurred directly by the Fund.

 

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Investing in REITs involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the REITs, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. REITs are dependent upon management skills and on cash flows, are not diversified, and are subject to default by borrowers and self-liquidation. REITs are also subject to the possibilities of failing to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code and failing to maintain their exemption from registration under the 1940 Act.

REITs (especially mortgage REITs) are also subject to interest rate risks. When interest rates decline, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to rise. Conversely, when interest rates rise, the value of a REIT’s investment in fixed rate obligations can be expected to decline. In contrast, as interest rates on adjustable rate mortgage loans are reset periodically, yields on a REIT’s investment in such loans will gradually align themselves to fluctuate less dramatically in response to interest rate fluctuations than would investments in fixed rate obligations.

Investment in REITs involves risks similar to those associated with investing in small capitalization companies. These risks include:

 

    limited financial resources;

 

    infrequent or limited trading; and

 

    more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger company securities.

In addition, small capitalization stocks, such as certain REITs, historically have been more volatile in price than the larger capitalization stocks included in the S&P 500 Index.

Recent Events Relating to the Overall Economy

The U.S. Government, the Federal Reserve, the Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and other governmental and regulatory bodies have recently taken or are considering taking actions to address the financial crisis. These actions include, but are not limited to, the enactment by the United States Congress of the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act”, which was signed into law on July 21, 2010 and imposes a new regulatory framework over the U.S. financial services industry and the consumer credit markets in general, and proposed regulations by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given the broad scope, sweeping nature, and relatively recent enactment of some of these regulatory measures, the potential impact they could have on securities held by the Fund is unknown. There can be no assurance that these measures will not have an adverse effect on the value or marketability of securities held by the Fund. Furthermore, no assurance can be made that the U.S. Government or any U.S. regulatory body (or other authority or regulatory body) will not continue to take further legislative or regulatory action in response to the economic crisis or otherwise, and the effect of such actions, if taken, cannot be known.

Trust Preferred Securities

The Fund may purchase trust preferred securities, also known as “trust preferreds”, which are preferred stocks issued by a special purpose trust subsidiary backed by subordinated debt of the corporate parent. An issuer creates trust preferred securities by creating a trust and issuing debt to the trust. The trust in turn issues trust preferred securities. Trust preferred securities are hybrid securities with characteristics of both subordinated debt and preferred stock. Such characteristics include long maturities (typically 30 years or more), early redemption by the issuer, periodic fixed or variable interest payments, and maturities at face value. In addition, trust preferred securities issued by a bank holding company may allow deferral of interest payments for up to 5 years. Holders of trust preferred securities have limited voting rights to control the activities of the trust and no voting rights with respect to the parent company.

DIVERSIFICATION

The Fund is a diversified fund and as such intends to meet the diversification requirements of the 1940 Act Current 1940 Act diversification requirements require that with respect to 75% of the assets of the Fund, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one issuer or own more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer, except cash or cash items, obligations of the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and securities of other investment companies. As for the other 25% of the Fund’s assets not subject to the limitation described above, there is no limitation on investment of these assets under the 1940 Act, so that all of such assets may be invested in securities of any one issuer. Investments not subject to the limitations described above could involve an increased risk to the Fund should an issuer be unable to make interest or principal payments or should the market value of such securities decline.

The Fund will also comply with the diversification requirements imposed by the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company. See “Distributions and Tax Matters.”

 

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DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAX MATTERS

The following discussion is a brief summary of some of the important federal (and, where noted, state) income tax consequences affecting the Fund and its shareholders. There may be other tax considerations applicable to particular shareholders. Except as otherwise noted in the Fund’s Prospectus, the Fund is not intended for foreign shareholders. As a result, this section does not address in detail the tax consequences affecting any shareholder who, as to the U.S., is a nonresident alien individual, foreign trust or estate, foreign corporation, or foreign partnership. This section is based on the Code, the regulations thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. The following tax discussion is very general; therefore, prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors about the impact an investment in the Fund may have on their own tax situations and the possible application of foreign, state and local law.

The Fund generally will be treated as a separate entity for federal income tax purposes, and thus the provisions of the Code generally will be applied to the Fund and not at the Trust level. Net long-term and short-term capital gain, net income and operating expenses therefore will be determined separately for the Fund.

Special tax rules apply to investments held through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the suitability of shares of the Fund as an investment through such plans.

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company

The Fund intends to elect to be treated and qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, each Fund must, among other things:

 

  (a) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from (i) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gain from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gain from options, swaps, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies and (ii) net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (“QPTPs”, defined below);

 

  (b) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities, limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested (x) in the securities (other than cash or cash items, or securities issued by the U.S. government or other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and that are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or (y) in the securities of one or more QPTPs. In the case of the Fund’s investments in loan participations, the Fund shall treat both the financial intermediary and the issuer of the underlying loan as an issuer for the purposes of meeting this diversification requirement; and

 

  (c) distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid — generally, taxable ordinary income and any excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) and net tax-exempt interest income, for such year.

In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in paragraph (a) above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by the regulated investment company. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (defined as a partnership (x) interests in which are traded on an established securities markets or readily tradable on a secondary market as the substantial equivalents thereof, (y) that derives at least 90% of its income from passive income sources defined in Code section 7704(d), and (z) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in (a)(i) above) will be treated as qualifying income. Although income from a QPTP is qualifying income, as discussed above, investments in QPTPs cannot exceed 25% of the Fund’s assets. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a QPTP.

Gains from foreign currencies (including foreign currency options, foreign currency swaps, foreign currency futures and foreign currency forward contracts) currently constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 90% test, described in paragraph (a) above. However, the Treasury Department has the authority to issue regulations (possibly with retroactive effect) excluding from the definition of “qualifying income” a fund’s foreign currency gains to the extent that such income is not directly related to the Fund’s principal business of investing in stock or securities.

 

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For purposes of paragraph (b) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a QPTP. A Fund’s investment in MLPs may qualify as an investment in (1) a QPTP, (2) a “regular” partnership, (3) a “passive foreign investment company” (a “PFIC”) or (4) a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The treatment of particular master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes will affect the extent to which a Fund can invest in MLPs. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of a Fund’s investments in “PFICs” and “regular” partnerships are discussed in greater detail below.

If the Fund qualifies for a taxable year as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, defined below). If the Fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment in any taxable year, the Fund would be subject to taxation on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gain, would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and for treatment as qualified dividend income in the case of individual shareholders. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gain, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before re-qualifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.

The Fund intends to distribute at least annually to its shareholders all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction) and may distribute its net capital gain (that is the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss). Investment company taxable income which is retained by the Fund will be subject to tax at regular corporate tax rates. The Fund might also retain for investment its net capital gain. If the Fund does retain such net capital gain, such gain will be subject to tax at regular corporate rates on the amount retained, but the Fund may designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a notice to its shareholders who (i) will be required to include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their respective shares of the undistributed amount, and (ii) will be entitled to credit their respective shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. For federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal under current law to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gain included in the shareholder’s gross income and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence.

In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, the Fund may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as the greatest of net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss, in each case attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion of the taxable year after October 31, plus (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

Excise Tax on Regulated Investment Companies

If the Fund fails to distribute in a calendar year an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 (or later if the Fund is permitted to elect and so elects), plus any retained amount from the prior year, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. The Fund intends to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax, although the Fund reserves the right to pay an excise tax rather than make an additional distribution when circumstances warrant (e.g., the excise tax amount is deemed by the Fund to be de minimis). Certain derivative instruments give rise to ordinary income and loss. If the Fund has a taxable year that begins in one calendar year and ends in the next calendar year, the Fund will be required to make this excise tax distribution during its taxable year. There is a risk that the Fund could recognize income prior to making this excise tax distribution and could recognize losses after making this distribution. As a result, an excise tax distribution could constitute a return of capital (see discussion below).

Fund Distributions

The Fund anticipates distributing substantially all of its net investment income for each taxable year. Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gain earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued.

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

For federal income tax purposes, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gain are determined by how long the Fund owned the investment that generated it, rather than how long a shareholder may have owned shares in the Fund. Distributions of net capital gain from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for more than one year and that are properly designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable

 

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as long-term capital gain. Distributions of capital gain generally are made after applying any available capital loss carryovers. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, the maximum individual rate applicable to long-term capital gains is either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. A distribution of gain from the sale of investments that the Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. Distributions attributable to gain from the sale of MLPs that is characterized as ordinary income under the Code’s recapture provisions will be taxable as ordinary income.

Distributions of investment income designated by the Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. In order for some portion of the dividends received by the Fund shareholder to be qualified dividend income, the Fund must meet certain holding-period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio, and the shareholder must meet certain holding-period and other requirements with respect to the Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (i) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (ii) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (iii) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest for purposes of the limitation on deductibility of investment interest, or (iv) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the U.S. (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the U.S.) or (b) treated as a PFIC.

In general, distributions of investment income designated by the Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a non-corporate taxable shareholder so long as the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. In any event, if the qualified dividend income received by the Fund during any taxable year is equal to or greater than 95% of its “gross income”, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends that are properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.

If the Fund receives dividends from an underlying fund, and the underlying fund designates such dividends as “qualified dividend income,” then the Fund may, in turn, designate a portion of its distributions as “qualified dividend income” as well, provided the Fund meets the holding-period and other requirements with respect to shares of the underlying fund.

Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any Capital Gain Dividends received by the shareholder with respect to those shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if other shares of such Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

A distribution paid to shareholders by the Fund in January of a year generally is deemed to have been received by shareholders on December 31 of the preceding year, if the distribution was declared and payable to shareholders of record on a date in October, November, or December of that preceding year. The Fund will provide federal tax information annually, including information about dividends and distributions paid during the preceding year to taxable investors and others requesting such information.

If the Fund makes a distribution to its shareholders in excess of its current and accumulated “earnings and profits” in any taxable year, the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of each shareholder’s basis (for tax purposes) in its shares, and any distribution in excess of basis will be treated as capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces the shareholder’s basis in its shares, which reduces the loss (or increases the gain) on a subsequent taxable disposition by such shareholder of the shares.

Dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders (other than shareholders that are S corporations) of the Fund will qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations to the extent of the amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year. A dividend received by the Fund will not be treated as a qualifying dividend (1) if the stock on which the dividend is paid is considered to be “debt-financed” (generally, acquired with borrowed funds), (2) if it has been received with respect to any share of stock that the Fund has held less than 46 days (91 days in the case of certain preferred stock) during the 91-day period beginning on the date which is 45 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date in the case of certain preferred stock) or (3) to the extent that the Fund is under an obligation (pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. Moreover, the dividends-received deduction may be disallowed or reduced (1) if the corporate shareholder fails to satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to its shares of the Fund or (2) by application of the Code. However, any distributions received by a Fund from REITs and PFICs will not qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction.

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts.

 

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Sale or Redemption of Shares

The sale, exchange, or redemption of Fund shares may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss arising from (or treated as arising from) the sale or redemption of shares of the Fund will be considered capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares were held for more than one year. However, any capital loss arising from the sale or redemption of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of capital gain dividends received on (or undistributed capital gains credited with respect to) such shares. Additionally, any loss realized upon the sale or exchange of Fund shares with a tax holding period of six months or less may be disallowed to the extent of any distributions treated as exempt interest dividends with respect to such shares. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, the maximum individual rate applicable to long-term capital gains is either 15% or 20%, depending on whether the individual’s income exceeds certain threshold amounts. Capital gain of a corporate shareholder is taxed at the same rate as ordinary income. Depending on a shareholder’s percentage ownership in the Fund, a partial redemption of Fund shares could cause the shareholder to be treated as receiving a dividend, taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the full amount of the distribution, rather than capital gain income.

Fund Investments

Certain investments of the Fund, including transactions in options, swaptions, futures contracts, forward contracts, straddles, swaps, short sales, foreign currencies, inflation-linked securities and foreign securities, including for hedging purposes, will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). In a given case, these rules may accelerate income to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, cause adjustments in the holding periods of the Fund’s securities, convert long-term capital gain into short-term capital gain, convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital loss, or otherwise affect the character of the Fund’s income. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to shareholders and cause differences between the Fund’s book income and its taxable income. If the Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess generally will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in its shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If the Fund’s book income is less than taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment. Income earned as a result of these transactions would, in general, not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction or for treatment as exempt-interest dividends when distributed to shareholders. The Fund will endeavor to make any available elections pertaining to such transactions in a manner believed to be in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

The Fund’s participation in loans of securities may affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to shareholders. With respect to any security subject to a securities loan, any (i) amounts received by the Fund in place of dividends earned on the security during the period that such security was not directly held by the Fund will not give rise to qualified dividend income and (ii) withholding taxes accrued on dividends during the period that such security was not directly held by the Fund will not qualify as a foreign tax paid by the Fund and therefore cannot be passed through to shareholders even if the Fund meets the requirements described in “Foreign Taxes,” below.

Certain debt securities purchased by the Fund are sold at an original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments. Similarly, zero-coupon bonds do not make periodic interest payments. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount is treated as interest income and is included in taxable income (and required to be distributed) over the term of the debt security even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, usually when the debt security matures. In addition, payment-in-kind securities will give rise to income that is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund holding the security receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year. Because each Fund distributes substantially all of its net investment income to its shareholders (including such imputed interest), a Fund may have to sell portfolio securities in order to generate the cash necessary for the required distributions. Such sales may occur at a time when the Adviser would not otherwise have chosen to sell such securities and may result in a taxable gain or loss. The Fund may invest in inflation-linked debt securities. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-linked debt security will be original issue discount, which is taxable as ordinary income and is required to be distributed, even though the Fund will not receive the principal, including any increase thereto, until maturity. The Fund investing in such securities may be required to liquidate other investments, including at times when it is not advantageous to do so, in order to satisfy its distribution requirements and to eliminate any possible taxation at the Fund level.

The Fund may invest to a significant extent in debt obligations that are in the lowest rated categories (or are unrated), including debt obligations of issuers that are not currently paying interest or that are in default. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of being in default (or are presently in default) present special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless securities and how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by the Fund when, as and if it invests in such securities, in order to seek to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company and does not become subject to U.S. federal income taxation or any excise tax.

 

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Transactions of the Fund in foreign currencies, foreign currency denominated debt securities and certain foreign currency options, future contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may accelerate income recognition and result in ordinary income or loss to the Fund for federal income tax purposes which will be taxable to the shareholders as such when it is distributed to them.

Special tax considerations apply if the Fund invests in investment companies that are taxable as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. In general, the Fund will not recognize income earned by such an investment company until the close of the investment company’s taxable year. But the Fund will recognize such income as it is earned by the investment company for purposes of determining whether it is subject to the 4% excise tax. Therefore, if the Fund and such an investment company have different taxable years, the Fund may be compelled to make distributions in excess of the income recognized from such an investment company in order to avoid the imposition of the 4% excise tax. The Fund’s receipt of a non-liquidating cash distribution from an investment company taxable as a partnership generally will result in recognized gain (but not loss) only to the extent that the amount of the distribution exceeds the Fund’s adjusted basis in shares of such investment company before the distribution. The Fund that receives a liquidating cash distribution from an investment company taxable as a partnership will recognize capital gain or loss to the extent of the difference between the proceeds received by the Fund and the Fund’s adjusted tax basis in shares of such investment company; however, the Fund will recognize ordinary income, rather than capital gain, to the extent that the Fund’s allocable share of “unrealized receivables” (including any accrued but untaxed market discount) exceeds the shareholder’s share of the basis in those unrealized receivables.

Some amounts received by the Fund with respect to its investments in MLPs will likely be treated as a return of capital because of accelerated deductions available with respect to the activities of such MLPs. On the disposition of an investment in such an MLP, the Fund will likely realize taxable income in excess of economic gain with respect to that asset (or, if the Fund does not dispose of the MLP, the Fund likely will realize taxable income in excess of cash flow with respect to the MLP in a later period), and the Fund must take such income into account in determining whether the Fund has satisfied its distribution requirements. The Fund may have to borrow or liquidate securities to satisfy its distribution requirements and to meet its redemption requests, even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for the Fund to sell securities or borrow money at such time.

The Fund may invest in REITs. Such investments in REIT equity securities may require the Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. In order to generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. The Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes such amounts, such distribution could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.

The Fund might invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPS”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have not yet been issued (but may apply with retroactive effect) a portion of a Fund’s income from a REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a REMIC or a TMP (referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”) will be subject to federal income taxation in all events. This notice also provides, and the regulations are expected to provide, that excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as the Fund, will generally be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC or TMP residual interest directly.

In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions) and (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income. In addition, because the Code provides that excess inclusion income is ineligible for treaty benefits, a regulated investment company must withhold tax on excess inclusions attributable to its foreign shareholders at a 30% rate of withholding, regardless of any treaty benefits for which a shareholder is otherwise eligible.

Any investment in residual interests of a CMO that has elected to be treated as a REMIC can create complex tax problems, especially if the Fund has state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations as shareholders. Under current law, the Fund serves to block unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt shareholder will recognize UBTI by virtue of its investment in the Fund if shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 514(b). Furthermore, a tax-exempt shareholder may recognize UBTI if the Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income” derived from direct or indirect investments in REMIC residual interests or TMPs if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Fund’s investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund).

 

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In addition, special tax consequences apply to charitable remainder trusts (“CRTs”) that invest in regulated investment companies that invest directly or indirectly in residual interests in REMICs or in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, a CRT, as defined in section 664 of the Code, that realizes UBTI for a taxable year must pay an excise tax annually of an amount equal to such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI solely as a result of investing in a Fund that recognizes “excess inclusion income.” Rather, if at any time during any taxable year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the U.S., a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in a Fund that recognizes “excess inclusion income,” then the Fund will be subject to a tax on that portion of its “excess inclusion income” for the taxable year that is allocable to such shareholders at the highest federal corporate income tax rate. The extent to which this IRS guidance remains applicable in light of the December 2006 legislation is unclear. To the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, each Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder’s interest in the Fund. The Fund has not yet determined whether such an election will be made. CRTs are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of investing in the Fund.

If the Fund invests in PFICs, certain special tax consequences may apply. A PFIC is any foreign corporation in which (i) 75% or more of the gross income for the taxable year is passive income, or (ii) the average percentage of the assets (generally by value, but by adjusted tax basis in certain cases) that produce or are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%. Generally, passive income for this purpose means dividends, interest (including income equivalent to interest), royalties, rents, annuities, the excess of gains over losses from certain property transactions and commodities transactions, and foreign currency gains. Passive income for this purpose does not include rents and royalties received by the foreign corporation from active business and certain income received from related persons. The Fund’s investments in certain PFICs could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company. This tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. In addition, certain interest charges may be imposed on the Fund as a result of such distributions.

If the Fund is in a position to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”), the Fund will be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gain annually, regardless of whether it receives any distributions from the company. Alternately, the Fund may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings “to the market” as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gain and loss are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may have the effect of accelerating the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increasing the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections, therefore, may require the Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. A fund that invests indirectly in PFICs by virtue of the fund’s investment in other investment companies that qualify as “U.S. persons” within the meaning of the Code may not make such elections; rather, such underlying investment companies investing directly in the PFICs would decide whether to make such elections. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.”

The ability of the Fund to invest directly in commodities, and in certain commodity-related securities and other instruments, is subject to significant limitations in order to enable a Fund to maintain its status as a regulated investment company under the Code.

Investment in Other Funds

If the Fund invests in shares of other mutual funds, ETFs or other companies that are taxable as regulated investment companies, as well as certain investments in REITs (collectively, “underlying funds”), its distributable income and gains will normally consist, in part, of distributions from the underlying funds and gains and losses on the disposition of shares of the underlying funds. To the extent that an underlying fund realizes net losses on its investments for a given taxable year, the Fund will not be able to recognize its share of those losses (so as to offset distributions of net income or capital gains from other underlying funds) until it disposes of shares of the underlying fund. Moreover, even when the Fund does make such a disposition, a portion of its loss may be recognized as a long-term capital loss, which will not be treated as favorably for federal income tax purposes as a short-term capital loss or an ordinary deduction. In particular, the Fund will not be able to offset any capital losses from its dispositions of underlying fund shares against its ordinary income (including distributions of any net short-term capital gain realized by an underlying fund).

In addition, in certain circumstances, the “wash sale” rules under Section 1091 of the Code may apply to a Fund’s sales of underlying fund shares that have generated losses. A wash sale occurs if shares of an underlying fund are sold by the Fund at a loss and the Fund acquires substantially identical shares of that same underlying fund 30 days before or after the date of the sale. The wash-sale rules could defer losses in the Fund’s hands on sales of underlying fund shares (to the extent such sales are wash sales) for extended (and, in certain cases, potentially indefinite) periods of time.

As a result of the foregoing rules, and certain other special rules, the amount of net investment income and net capital gain that each Fund will be required to distribute to shareholders may be greater than what such amounts would have been had the Fund directly invested in the securities held by the underlying funds, rather than investing in shares of the underlying funds. For similar reasons, the character of distributions from the Fund (e.g., long-term capital gain, exempt interest, eligibility for dividends-received deduction, etc.) will not necessarily be the same as it would have been had the Fund invested directly in the securities held by the underlying funds.

 

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If the Fund received dividends from an underlying fund that qualifies as a regulated investment company, and the underlying fund designates such dividends as “qualified dividend income”, then the Fund is permitted in turn to designate a portion of its distributions as “qualified dividend income”, provided the Fund meets holding period and other requirements with respect to shares of the underlying fund.

Depending on the Fund’s percentage ownership in an underlying fund, both before and after a redemption, a redemption of shares of an underlying fund by a Fund may cause the Fund to be treated as receiving a Section 301 distribution taxable as a dividend to the extent of its allocable shares of earnings and profits, on the full amount of the distribution instead of receiving capital gain income on the shares of the underlying fund. Such a distribution may be treated as qualified dividend income and thus eligible to be taxed at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. If qualified dividend income treatment is not available, the distribution may be taxed as ordinary income. This could cause shareholders of the Fund to recognize higher amounts of ordinary income than if the shareholders had held the shares of the underlying funds directly.

For taxable years beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Fund cannot pass through to shareholders foreign tax credits borne in respect of foreign securities income or exempt interest dividends in respect of tax-exempt obligations, in each case, earned by an underlying fund. For taxable years beginning after December 22, 2010, the Fund may elect to pass through to shareholders foreign tax credits from an underlying fund and exempt-interest dividends from an underlying fund, provided that at least 50% of the Fund’s total assets are invested in other regulated investment companies at the end of each quarter of the taxable year.

Backup Withholding

The Fund generally is required to backup withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable dividends and other distributions paid to, and the proceeds of share sales, exchanges, or redemptions made by, any individual shareholder who fails to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to the Fund that he or she is not subject to backup withholding. The backup withholding rules may also apply to distributions that are properly designated as exempt-interest dividends. The backup withholding tax rate is 28%.

Foreign Shareholders

The Fund is not intended for foreign shareholders.

Distributions properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends and exempt-interest dividends generally will not be subject to withholding of federal income tax. However, exempt-interest dividends may be subject to backup withholding (as discussed above). In general, dividends other than Capital Gain Dividends and exempt-interest dividends paid by a Fund to a shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code (a “foreign person”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person directly, would not be subject to withholding. However, effective for taxable years of a Fund beginning before January 1, 2014 (or a later date if extended by the U.S. Congress as discussed below), the Fund will not be required to withhold any amounts (i) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to a foreign person (w) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (x) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign person is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (y) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (z) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign person and the foreign person is a controlled foreign corporation) from U.S.-source interest income of types similar to those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign person, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by the Fund (“interest-related dividends”), and (ii) with respect to distributions (other than (a) distributions to an individual foreign person who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (b) distributions subject to special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests (as described below) of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses to the extent such distributions are properly designated by the Fund (“short-term capital gain dividends”). Depending on the circumstances, a Fund may make designations of interest-related and/or short-term capital gain dividends with respect to all, some or none of its potentially eligible dividends and/or treat such dividends, in whole or in part, as ineligible for these exemptions from withholding. In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund makes a designation with respect to a payment. Foreign persons should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of these rules to their accounts. Absent legislation extending these exemptions for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, these special withholding exemptions for interest-related and short-term capital gain dividends will expire and these dividends generally will be subject to withholding as described above.

 

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A beneficial holder of shares who is a foreign person is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of the Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends or exempt-interest dividends unless (i) such gain or dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States or (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or the receipt of the Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met or (iii) the shares constitute “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”) or the Capital Gain Dividends are attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs in accordance with the rules set forth below.

Special rules apply to distributions to foreign shareholders from the Fund that is either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of the exceptions to the definition thereof described below. Additionally, special rules apply to the sale of shares in the Fund that is a USRPHC. Very generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds U.S. real property interests (“USRPIs”) — USRPIs are defined as any interest in U.S. real property or any equity interest in a USRPHC — the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USRPIs, interests in real property located outside the United States and other assets. The Fund that holds (directly or indirectly) significant interests in REITs may be a USRPHC. The special rules discussed in the next paragraph will also apply to distributions from the Fund that would be a USRPHC absent exclusions from USRPI treatment for interests in domestically controlled REITs or regulated investment companies and not-greater-than-5% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in REITs or regulated investment companies.

In the case of the Fund that is a USRPHC or would be a USRPHC but for the exceptions from the definition of USRPI (described immediately above), distributions by the Fund that are attributable to (a) gains realized on the disposition of USRPIs by the Fund and (b) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier regulated investment company or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands will retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of the Fund’s foreign shareholders. (However, absent legislation, after December 31, 2013, this “look-through” treatment for distributions by the Fund to foreign shareholders will apply only to such distributions that, in turn, are attributable to distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier REIT and required to be treated as USRPI gain in the Fund’s hands.) If the foreign shareholder holds (or has held in the prior year) more than a 5% interest in the Fund, such distributions will be treated as gains “effectively connected” with the conduct of a “U.S. trade or business,” and subject to tax at graduated rates. Moreover, such shareholders will be required to file a U.S. income tax return for the year in which the gain was recognized and the Fund will be required to withhold 35% of the amount of such distribution. In the case of all other foreign shareholders (i.e., those whose interest in the Fund did not exceed 5% at any time during the prior year), the USRPI distribution will be treated as ordinary income (regardless of any designation by the Fund that such distribution is a short-term capital gain dividend or a Capital Gain Dividend), and the Fund must withhold 30% (or a lower applicable treaty rate) of the amount of the distribution paid to such foreign shareholder. Foreign shareholders of a Fund are also subject to “wash sale” rules to prevent the avoidance of the tax-filing and -payment obligations discussed above through the sale and repurchase of Fund shares.

In addition, if the Fund is a USRPHC, it must typically withhold 10% of the amount realized in a redemption by a greater-than-5% foreign shareholder, and that shareholder must file a U.S. income tax return for the year of the disposition of the USRPI and pay any additional tax due on the gain. On or before December 31, 2013, no withholding is generally required with respect to amounts paid in redemption of shares of the Fund if the Fund is a domestically controlled USRPHC or, in certain limited cases, if the Fund (whether or not domestically controlled) holds substantial investments in regulated investment companies that are domestically controlled USRPHCs. Absent legislation extending this exemption from withholding beyond December 31, 2013, it will expire at that time and any previously exempt Fund will be required to withhold with respect to amounts paid in redemption of its shares as described above.

In order to qualify for any exemptions from withholding described above or for lower withholding tax rates under income tax treaties, or to establish an exemption from backup withholding, the foreign investor must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to its non-US status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN or substitute form). Foreign investors in the Fund should consult their tax advisers in this regard.

If a shareholder is eligible for the benefits of a tax treaty, any effectively connected income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the shareholder in the United States.

A beneficial holder of shares who is a foreign person may be subject to state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the federal tax on income referred to above. Foreign shareholders in a Fund should consult their tax advisors with respect to the potential application of the above rules.

Effective July 1, 2014, the Fund will be required to withhold U.S. tax (at a 30% rate) on payments of taxable dividends and (effective January 1, 2017) redemption proceeds made to certain non-U.S. entities that fail to comply (or be deemed compliant) with extensive new reporting and withholding requirements designed to inform the U.S. Department of the Treasury of U.S.-owned foreign investment accounts. Shareholders may be requested to provide additional information to a Fund to enable the Fund to determine whether withholding is required.

 

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Foreign Taxes

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gain) received from sources within foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes. If more than 50% of the Fund’s assets at year end consists of the securities of foreign corporations, the Fund may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries in respect of foreign securities the Fund has held for at least the minimum period specified in the Code. In such a case, shareholders will include in gross income from foreign sources their pro rata shares of such taxes. A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code and the Treasury Regulations issued thereunder, as a result of which a shareholder may not get a full credit or deduction for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes.

If the Fund does not make the above election or if more than 50% of its assets at the end of the year do not consist of securities of foreign corporations, the Fund’s net income will be reduced by the foreign taxes paid or withheld. In such cases, shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes.

The foregoing is only a general description of the treatment of foreign source income or foreign taxes under the U.S. federal income tax laws. Because the availability of a credit or deduction depends on the particular circumstances of each shareholder, shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors.

Exempt-Interest Dividends

The Fund intends to qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends to their respective shareholders. In order to qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must consist of tax-exempt municipal bonds at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year. An exempt-interest dividend is that part of a dividend that is properly designated as an exempt-interest dividend and that consists of interest received by the Fund on such tax-exempt securities. Shareholders of the Fund that pays exempt-interest dividends would not incur any regular federal income tax on the amount of exempt-interest dividends received by them from a Fund, but an investment in such a Fund may result in liability for federal and state alternative minimum taxation and may be subject to state and local taxes.

Interest on indebtedness incurred or continued by a shareholder, whether a corporation or an individual, to purchase or carry shares of the Fund is not deductible to the extent it relates to exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder from the Fund. Any loss incurred on the sale or redemption of the Fund’s shares held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of exempt-interest dividends received with respect to such shares.

Interest on certain tax-exempt bonds that are private activity bonds within the meaning of the Code is treated as a tax preference item for purposes of the alternative minimum tax, and any such interest received by the Fund and distributed to shareholders will be so treated for purposes of any alternative minimum tax liability of shareholders to the extent of the dividend’s proportionate share of the Fund’s income consisting of such interest. All exempt-interest dividends are subject to the corporate alternative minimum tax.

The exemption from federal income tax for exempt-interest dividends does not necessarily result in exemption for such dividends under the income or other tax laws of any state or local authority. Shareholders that receive social security or railroad retirement benefits should consult their tax advisors to determine what effect, if any, an investment in the Fund may have on the federal taxation of their benefits.

From time to time legislation may be introduced or litigation may arise that would change the tax treatment of exempt-interest dividends. Such legislation or litigation may have the effect of raising the state or other taxes payable by shareholders on such dividends. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors for the current federal, state and local law on exempt-interest dividends.

Creation Units

As a result of U.S. federal income tax requirements, the Trust on behalf of the Fund, has the right to reject an order for a creation of Shares if the creator (or group of creators) would, upon obtaining the Shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding Shares of the Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Code, the Fund would have a basis in the Deposit Securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination. See “Creation and Redemption of Creation Units—Procedures for Creation of Creation Units.”

 

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State and Local Tax Matters

Depending on the residence of the shareholders for tax purposes, distributions may also be subject to state and local taxation. Rules of state and local taxation regarding qualified dividend income, ordinary income dividends and capital gain dividends from regulated investment companies may differ from the rules of U.S. federal income tax in many respects. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Fund.

Most states provide that a regulated investment company may pass through (without restriction) to its shareholders state and local income tax exemptions available to direct owners of certain types of U.S. government securities (such as U.S. Treasury obligations). Thus, for residents of these states, distributions derived from the Fund’s investment in certain types of U.S. government securities should be free from state and local income taxation to the extent that the interest income from such investments would have been exempt from state and local taxes if such securities had been held directly by the respective shareholders. Certain states, however, do not allow a regulated investment company to pass through to its shareholders the state and local income tax exemptions available to direct owners of certain types of U.S. government securities unless the Fund holds at least a required amount of U.S. government securities. Accordingly, for residents of these states, distributions derived from the Fund’s investment in certain types of U.S. government securities may not be entitled to the exemptions from state and local income taxes that would be available if the shareholders had purchased U.S. government securities directly. The exemption from state and local income taxes does not preclude states from asserting other taxes on the ownership of U.S. government securities. To the extent that the Fund invests to a substantial degree in U.S. government securities which are subject to favorable state and local tax treatment, shareholders of the Fund will be notified as to the extent to which distributions from the Fund are attributable to interest on such securities.

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations

If a shareholder realizes a loss on disposition of the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

General Considerations

The federal income tax discussion set forth above is for general information only. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the specific federal tax consequences of purchasing, holding, and disposing of shares of the Fund, as well as the effects of state, local and foreign tax law and any proposed tax law changes.

TRUSTEES

The names of the Trustees of the Trust, together with information regarding their year of birth, the year each Trustee became a Board member of the Trust, the year each Trustee first became a Board member of any of the heritage J.P. Morgan Funds or heritage One Group Mutual Funds, principal occupations and other board memberships, including those in any company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Securities Exchange Act”) or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act or any company registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, are shown below. The contact address for each of the Trustees is 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

 

Name (Year of Birth; Positions with

the Funds since)

  

Principal Occupation

During Past 5 Years

  

Number of Funds

in Fund Complex

Overseen by

Trustee(1)

  

Other Directorships Held

During the Past 5 Years

Independent Trustees

        

[To be added by amendment]

        

 

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Name (Year of Birth; Positions with

the Funds since)

  

Principal Occupation

During Past 5 Years

  

Number of Funds

in Fund Complex

Overseen by

Trustee(1)

  

Other Directorships Held

During the Past 5 Years

Initial Trustee

        

George C. W. Gatch

        

 

(1) A Fund Complex means two or more registered investment companies that hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services or have a common investment adviser or have an investment adviser that is an affiliated person of the investment adviser of any of the other registered investment companies. The Global Equity ETF is currently the only series of the Trust.

The Trustees serve for an indefinite term, subject to the Trust’s current retirement policy, which is             . The Board of Trustees decides upon general policies and is responsible for overseeing the business affairs of the Trust.

 

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Board Leadership Structure and Oversight

[To be added by amendment]

Standing Committees

The Board of Trustees has              standing committees: the              Committee, and the              Committee. The members of each Committee are set forth below:

 

Name of Committee

  

Members

  

Committee Chair

[To be added by amendment.]

For details of the number of times each of the              standing committees met during the most recent fiscal year, see “TRUSTEES — Standing Committees” in Part I of this SAI.

For details of the dollar range of equity securities owned by each Trustee in the Fund, see “TRUSTEES — Ownership of Securities” in Part I of this SAI.

Trustee Compensation

[To be added by amendment.]

The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust, unless, as to liability to the Trust or its shareholders, it is finally adjudicated that they engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in their offices or with respect to any matter unless it is finally adjudicated that they did not act in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interest of the Trust. In the case of settlement, such indemnification will not be provided unless it has been determined by a court or other body approving the settlement or disposition, or by a reasonable determination based upon a review of readily available facts, by vote of a majority of disinterested Trustees or in a written opinion of independent counsel, that such officers or Trustees have not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their duties.

For details of Trustee compensation paid by the Fund, including deferred compensation, see “TRUSTEES — Trustee Compensation” in Part I of this SAI.

 

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OFFICERS

The Trust’s executive officers (listed below) generally are employees of the Adviser or one of its affiliates. The officers conduct and supervise the business operations of the Trust. The officers hold office until a successor has been elected and duly qualified. The Trust has no employees. The names of the officers of the Fund, together with their year of birth, information regarding their positions held with the Trust and principal occupations are shown below. The contact address for each of the officers, unless otherwise noted, is 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

 

Name (Year of Birth),

Positions Held with

the Trusts (Since)

  

Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years

George C.W. Gatch,

President and Treasurer

   [To be added by amendment.]

For details of the percentage of shares of the Fund owned by the officers and Trustees, as a group, see “SHARE OWNERSHIP — Trustees and Officers” in Part I of this SAI.

INVESTMENT ADVISER

Pursuant to investment advisory agreements, JPMIM serves as investment adviser to the Fund.

The Trust’s Shares are not sponsored, endorsed or guaranteed by, and do not constitute obligations or deposits of JPMorgan Chase, any bank affiliate of JPMIM or any other bank, and are not insured by the FDIC or issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies.

For details of the investment advisory fees paid under an applicable advisory agreement, see “INVESTMENT ADVISERS — Investment Advisory Fees” in Part I of the SAI for the Fund.

For details of the dollar range of shares of the Fund beneficially owned by the portfolio managers who serve on a team that manages the Fund, see “PORTFOLIO MANAGERS — Portfolio Managers’ Other Accounts Managed” in Part I of this SAI.

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc (“JPMIM”). JPMIM serves as investment adviser to the Fund pursuant to the investment advisory agreements between JPMIM and the Trust (the “JPMIM Advisory Agreements”). JPMIM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Asset Management Holdings Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (“JPMorgan Chase”).

JPMIM is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. JPMIM is located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

 

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Under the JPMIM Advisory Agreements, JPMIM provides investment advisory services to the Fund, which include managing the purchase, retention and disposition of the Fund’s investments. JPMIM may delegate its responsibilities to a sub-adviser. Any subadvisory agreements must be approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees and the Fund’s shareholders, as required by the 1940 Act.

Under separate agreements, JPMorgan Chase Bank, JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc. (“JPMFM”), and the Distributor provides certain custodial, fund accounting, recordkeeping and administrative services to the Trust and the Fund and shareholder services for the Trust. JPMorgan Chase Bank and JPMFM are each an affiliate of JPMIM. See the “Custodian,” “Administrator,” and “Distributor” sections.

Under the terms of the JPMIM Advisory Agreement, the investment advisory services JPMIM provides to the Fund are not exclusive. JPMIM is free to and does render similar investment advisory services to others. JPMIM serves as investment adviser to personal investors and other investment companies and acts as fiduciary for trusts, estates and employee benefit plans. Certain of the assets of trusts and estates under management are invested in common trust funds for which JPMIM serves as trustee. The accounts which are managed or advised by JPMIM have varying investment objectives, and JPMIM invests assets of such accounts in investments substantially similar to, or the same as, those which are expected to constitute the principal investments of the Fund. Such accounts are supervised by employees of JPMIM who may also be acting in similar capacities for the Fund. See “Portfolio Transactions.”

The Fund is managed by employees of JPMIM who, in acting for their customers, including the Fund, do not discuss their investment decisions with any personnel of JPMorgan Chase or any personnel of other divisions of JPMIM or with any of their affiliated persons, with the exception of certain other investment management affiliates of JPMorgan Chase which execute transactions on behalf of the Fund.

As compensation for the services rendered and related expenses, such as salaries of advisory personnel borne by JPMIM under the JPMIM Advisory Agreement, the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has agreed to pay JPMIM a fee, which is computed daily and may be paid monthly, equal to the annual rate of the Fund’s average daily net assets as described in the Fund’s Prospectus.

The JPMIM Advisory Agreement continues in effect for annual periods beyond              of each year only if specifically approved thereafter annually in the same manner as the Distribution Agreement; except that for new funds, the initial approval will continue for up to two years, after which annual approvals are required. See the “Distributor” section. The JPMIM Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically if assigned and is terminable at any time without penalty by a vote of a majority of the Trustees, or by a vote of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act), on 60 days’ written notice to JPMIM and by JPMIM on 90 days’ written notice to the Trust

The JPMIM Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the performance of the respective investment advisory agreement, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence on the part of the Adviser in the performance of its duties, or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder, or, a loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services.

Subject to the supervision of the Trust’s Board of Trustees, JPMIM provides or will cause to be provided a continuous investment program for the Fund, including investment research and management with respect to all securities and investments and cash equivalents. JPMIM may delegate its responsibilities to a sub-adviser. Any subadvisory agreement must be approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees and the Fund’s shareholders, as required by the 1940 Act.

JPMorgan Chase Bank and JPMFM are each subsidiaries of JPMorgan Chase and affiliates of JPMIM. See the “Custodian,” “Administrator,” sections.

POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The chart in Part I of this SAI entitled “Portfolio Managers’ Other Accounts Managed” shows the number, type and market value as of a specified date of the accounts other than the Fund that is managed by the Fund’s portfolio managers. The potential for conflicts of interest exists when portfolio managers manage other accounts with similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund (“Similar Accounts”). Potential conflicts may include, for example, conflicts between investment strategies and conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities.

Responsibility for managing the Adviser’s and its affiliates’ clients’ portfolios is organized according to investment strategies within asset classes. Generally, client portfolios with similar strategies are managed by portfolio managers in the same portfolio management group using the same objectives, approach and philosophy. Underlying sectors or strategy allocations within a larger portfolio are likewise managed by portfolio managers who use the same approach and philosophy as similarly managed portfolios. Therefore, portfolio holdings, relative position sizes and industry and sector exposures tend to be similar across similar portfolios and strategies, which minimize the potential for conflicts of interest.

 

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The Adviser and/or its affiliates may receive more compensation with respect to certain Similar Accounts than that received with respect to the Fund or may receive compensation based in part on the performance of certain Similar Accounts. This may create a potential conflict of interest for the Adviser and its affiliates or the portfolio managers by providing an incentive to favor these Similar Accounts when, for example, placing securities transactions. In addition, the Adviser or its affiliates could be viewed as having a conflict of interest to the extent that the Adviser or an affiliate has a proprietary investment in Similar Accounts, the portfolio managers have personal investments in Similar Accounts or the Similar Accounts are investment options in the Adviser’s or its affiliates’ employee benefit plans. Potential conflicts of interest may arise with both the aggregation and allocation of securities transactions and allocation of investment opportunities because of market factors or investment restrictions imposed upon the Adviser and its affiliates by law, regulation, contract or internal policies. Allocations of aggregated trades, particularly trade orders that were only partially completed due to limited availability and allocation of investment opportunities generally, could raise a potential conflict of interest, as the Adviser or its affiliates may have an incentive to allocate securities that are expected to increase in value to favored accounts. Initial public offerings, in particular, are frequently of very limited availability. The Adviser and its affiliates may be perceived as causing accounts they manage to participate in an offering to increase the Adviser’s and its affiliates’ overall allocation of securities in that offering. A potential conflict of interest also may be perceived to arise if transactions in one account closely follow related transactions in a different account, such as when a purchase increases the value of securities previously purchased by another account, or when a sale in one account lowers the sale price received in a sale by a second account. If the Adviser or its affiliates manage accounts that engage in short sales of securities of the type in which the Fund invests, the Adviser or its affiliates could be seen as harming the performance of the Fund for the benefit of the accounts engaging in short sales if the short sales cause the market value of the securities to fall.

As an internal policy matter, the Adviser or its affiliates may from time to time maintain certain overall investment limitations on the securities positions or positions in other financial instruments the Adviser or its affiliates will take on behalf of its various clients due to, among other things, liquidity concerns and regulatory restrictions. Such policies may preclude the Fund from purchasing particular securities or financial instruments, even if such securities or financial instruments would otherwise meet the Fund’s objective.

The Adviser and/or its affiliates serve as adviser to the Fund, as well as certain funds of funds. The funds of funds may invest in shares of the Fund. Because the Adviser and/or its affiliates is the adviser to the Fund and it or its affiliates is adviser to the funds of funds, it may be subject to certain potential conflicts of interest when allocating the assets of the funds of funds to the Fund. Purchases and redemptions of Fund shares by a fund of funds due to reallocations or rebalancings may result in the Fund having to sell securities or invest cash when it otherwise would not do so. Such transactions could accelerate the realization of taxable income if sales of securities resulted in gains and could also increase the Fund’s transaction costs. Large redemptions by an affiliated fund of funds may cause the Fund’s expense ratio to increase due to a resulting smaller asset base. To the extent that the portfolio managers for the funds of funds also serve as portfolio managers for the Fund, the portfolio managers may have regular and continuous access to the holdings of the Fund. In addition, the portfolio managers of the funds of funds may have access to the holdings of the Fund, as well as knowledge of and a potential impact on investment strategies and techniques of the Fund.

The goal of the Adviser and its affiliates is to meet their fiduciary obligation with respect to all clients. The Adviser and its affiliates have policies and procedures that seek to manage conflicts. The Adviser and its affiliates monitor a variety of areas, including compliance with fund guidelines, review of allocation decisions and compliance with the Advisers’ Codes of Ethics and JPMorgan Chase and Co.’s Code of Conduct. With respect to the allocation of investment opportunities, the Adviser and its affiliates also have certain policies designed to achieve fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities among its clients over time. For example:

Orders for the same equity security traded through a single trading desk or system are aggregated on a continual basis throughout each trading day consistent with the Adviser’s and its affiliates’ duty of best execution for its clients. If aggregated trades are fully executed, accounts participating in the trade will be allocated their pro rata share on an average price basis. Partially completed orders generally will be allocated among the participating accounts on a pro-rata average price basis, subject to certain limited exceptions. For example, accounts that would receive a de minimis allocation relative to their size may be excluded from the order. Another exception may occur when thin markets or price volatility require that an aggregated order be completed in multiple executions over several days. If partial completion of the order would result in an uneconomic allocation to an account due to fixed transaction or custody costs, the Adviser and its affiliates may exclude small orders until 50% of the total order is completed. Then the small orders will be executed. Following this procedure, small orders will lag in the early execution of the order, but will be completed before completion of the total order.

Purchases of money market instruments and fixed income securities cannot always be allocated pro-rata across the accounts with the same investment strategy and objective. However, the Adviser and its affiliates attempt to mitigate any potential unfairness by basing non-pro rata allocations traded through a single trading desk or system upon objective predetermined criteria for the selection of investments and a disciplined process for allocating securities with similar duration, credit quality and liquidity in the good faith judgment of the Adviser or its affiliates so that fair and equitable allocation will occur over time.

For details of the dollar range of shares of the Fund beneficially owned by the portfolio managers, see “PORTFOLIO MANAGERS — Ownership of Securities” in Part I of this SAI.

 

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PORTFOLIO MANAGER COMPENSATION

The Adviser’s portfolio managers participate in a competitive compensation program that is designed to attract and retain outstanding people and closely link the performance of investment professionals to client investment objectives. The total compensation program includes a base salary fixed from year to year and a variable performance bonus consisting of cash incentives and restricted stock and may include mandatory notional investments (as described below) in selected mutual funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates. These elements reflect individual performance and the performance of the Adviser’s business as a whole.

Each portfolio manager’s performance is formally evaluated annually based on a variety of factors including the aggregate size and blended performance of the portfolios such portfolio manager manages. Individual contribution relative to client goals carries the highest impact. Portfolio manager compensation is primarily driven by meeting or exceeding clients’ risk and return objectives, relative performance to competitors or competitive indices and compliance with firm policies and regulatory requirements. In evaluating each portfolio manager’s performance with respect to the mutual funds he or she manages, the Fund’s pre-tax performance is compared to the appropriate market peer group and to the Fund’s benchmark index listed in the Fund’s prospectus over one, three and five year periods (or such shorter time as the portfolio manager has managed the Fund). Investment performance is generally more heavily weighted to the long-term.

Awards of restricted stock are granted as part of an employee’s annual performance bonus and comprise from 0% to 40% of a portfolio manager’s total bonus. As the level of incentive compensation increases, the percentage of compensation awarded in restricted stock also increases. Up to 50% of the restricted stock portion of a portfolio manager’s bonus may instead be subject to mandatory notional investment in selected mutual funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates. When these awards vest over time, the portfolio manager receives cash equal to the market value of the notional investment in the selected mutual funds.

CODES OF ETHICS

The Trust the Adviser and the Distributor have each adopted codes of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act (and pursuant to Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act with respect to the Advisers).

The Trust’s code of ethics includes policies which require “access persons” (as defined in Rule 17j-1) to: (i) place the interest of Trust shareholders first; (ii) conduct personal securities transactions in a manner that avoids any actual or potential conflict of interest or any abuse of a position of trust and responsibility; and (iii) refrain from taking inappropriate advantage of his or her position with the Trust or the Fund. The Trust’s code of ethics prohibits any access person from: (i) employing any device, scheme or artifice to defraud the Trust or the Fund; (ii) making to the Trust or the Fund any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state to the Trust or the Fund a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; (iii) engaging in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the Trust or the Fund; or (iv) engaging in any manipulative practice with respect to the Trust or the Fund. The Trust’s code of ethics permits personnel subject to the code to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund so long as such investment transactions are not in contravention of the above noted policies and prohibitions.

The code of ethics adopted by the Adviser requires that all employees must: (i) place the interest of the accounts which are managed by the Adviser first; (ii) conduct all personal securities transactions in a manner that is consistent with the code of ethics and the individual employee’s position of trust and responsibility; and (iii) refrain from taking inappropriate advantage of their position. Employees of the Adviser are also prohibited from certain mutual fund trading activity including excessive trading of shares of a mutual fund as described in the Fund’s Prospectus or SAI and effecting or facilitating a mutual fund transaction to engage in market timing. The Adviser’s code of ethics permits personnel subject to the code to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund subject to certain restrictions. However, all employees are required to preclear securities trades (except for certain types of securities such as non-proprietary mutual fund shares and U.S. government securities).

[The Distributor’s code of ethics requires that all employees of the Distributor must: (i) place the interest of the accounts which are managed by affiliates of the Distributor first; (ii) conduct all personal securities transactions in a manner that is consistent with the code of ethics and the individual employee’s position of trust and responsibility; and (iii) refrain from taking inappropriate advantage of their positions. Employees of the Distributor are also prohibited from certain mutual fund trading activity, including excessive trading of shares of a mutual fund as such term is defined in the Fund’s Prospectus or SAI, or effecting or facilitating a mutual fund transaction to engage in market timing. The Distributor’s code of ethics permits personnel subject to the code to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund subject to the policies and restrictions in such code of ethics.]

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

Investment Decisions and Portfolio Transactions. Pursuant to the JPMIM Advisory Agreement, the Adviser determines, subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Trust and in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and restrictions, which securities are to be purchased and sold by the Fund and which brokers are to be eligible to execute its portfolio transactions. The Adviser operates independently in providing services to their respective clients. Investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular client involved. Thus, for example, a particular security may be

 

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bought or sold for certain clients even though it could have been bought or sold for other clients at the same time. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. In some instances, one client may sell a particular security to another client. It also happens that two or more clients may simultaneously buy or sell the same security, in which event each day’s transactions in such security are, insofar as possible, averaged as to price and allocated between such clients in a manner which in the opinion of the Adviser is equitable to each and in accordance with the amount being purchased or sold by each. There may be circumstances when purchases or sales of portfolio securities for one or more clients will have an adverse effect on other clients.

Brokerage and Research Services. On behalf of the Fund, the Adviser places orders for all purchases and sales of portfolio securities, enters into repurchase agreements, and may enter into reverse repurchase agreements and execute loans of portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund unless otherwise prohibited. See “Investment Strategies and Policies.”

Fixed income and debt securities and municipal bonds and notes are generally traded at a net price with dealers acting as principal for their own accounts without a stated commission. The price of the security usually includes profit to the dealers. In underwritten offerings, securities are purchased at a fixed price, which includes an amount of compensation to the underwriter, generally referred to as the underwriter’s concession or discount. Transactions on stock exchanges (other than foreign stock exchanges) involve the payment of negotiated brokerage commissions. Such commissions vary among different brokers. Also, a particular broker may charge different commissions according to such factors as the difficulty and size of the transaction. Transactions in foreign securities generally involve payment of fixed brokerage commissions, which are generally higher than those in the U.S. On occasion, certain securities may be purchased directly from an issuer, in which case no commissions or discounts are paid.

In connection with portfolio transactions, the overriding objective is to obtain the best execution of purchase and sales orders. In making this determination, the Adviser considers a number of factors including, but not limited to: the price per unit of the security, the broker’s execution capabilities, the commissions charged, the broker’s reliability for prompt, accurate confirmations and on-time delivery of securities, the broker-dealer firm’s financial condition, the broker’s ability to provide access to public offerings, as well as the quality of research services provided. As permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act, the Adviser may cause the Fund to pay a broker-dealer which provides brokerage and research services to the Adviser, or the Fund and/or other accounts for which the Adviser exercises investment discretion an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction for a Fund in excess of the amount other broker-dealers would have charged for the transaction if the Adviser determines in good faith that the greater commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the executing broker-dealer viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities to accounts over which it exercises investment discretion. Not all such services are useful or of value in advising the Fund. The Adviser reports to the Board of Trustees regarding overall commissions paid by the Fund and their reasonableness in relation to the benefits to the Fund. In accordance with Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act and consistent with applicable SEC guidance and interpretation, the term “brokerage and research services” includes (i) advice as to the value of securities; (ii) the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities; (iii) the availability of securities or of purchasers or sellers of securities; (iv) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issues, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy and the performance of accounts; and (v) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody) or required by rule or regulation in connection with such transactions.

Brokerage and research services received from such broker-dealers will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by an Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. The fees that the Fund pays to the Adviser are not reduced as a consequence of the Adviser’s receipt of brokerage and research services. To the extent the Fund’s portfolio transactions are used to obtain such services, the brokerage commissions paid by the Fund may exceed those that might otherwise be paid by an amount that cannot be presently determined. Such services generally would be useful and of value to the Adviser in serving one or more of its other clients and, conversely, such services obtained by the placement of brokerage business of other clients generally would be useful to the Adviser in carrying out its obligations to the Fund. While such services are not expected to reduce the expenses of the Adviser, the Adviser would, through use of the services, avoid the additional expenses that would be incurred if it should attempt to develop comparable information through its own staff.

Subject to the overriding objective of obtaining the best execution of orders, the Adviser may allocate a portion of the Fund’s brokerage transactions to affiliates of the Adviser. Under the 1940 Act, persons affiliated with the Fund and persons who are affiliated with such persons are prohibited from dealing with the Fund as principal in the purchase and sale of securities unless an exemptive order allowing such transactions is obtained from the SEC. The SEC has granted exemptive orders permitting the Fund to engage in principal transactions with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, an affiliated broker, involving [taxable and tax exempt] money market instruments (including commercial paper, banker acceptances and medium term notes) and repurchase agreements. The orders are subject to certain conditions. An affiliated person of a Fund may serve as its broker in listed or over-the-counter transactions conducted on an agency basis provided that, among other things, the fee or commission received by such affiliated broker is reasonable and fair compared to the fee or commission received by non-affiliated brokers in connection with comparable transactions.

 

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In addition, the Fund may not purchase securities during the existence of any underwriting syndicate for such securities of which JPMorgan Chase Bank or an affiliate is a member or in a private placement in which JPMorgan Chase Bank or an affiliate serves as placement agent, except pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees that either comply with rules adopted by the SEC or with interpretations of the SEC’s staff. The Fund expects to purchase securities from underwriting syndicates of which certain affiliates of JPMorgan Chase act as a member or manager. Such purchases will be effected in accordance with the conditions set forth in Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act and related procedures adopted by the Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund. Among the conditions are that the issuer of any purchased securities will have been in operation for at least three years, that not more than 25% of the underwriting will be purchased by the Fund and all other accounts over which the same investment adviser has discretion, and that no shares will be purchased from any of the Adviser’s affiliates.

On those occasions when the Adviser deems the purchase or sale of a security to be in the best interests of the Fund as well as other customers, including other funds, the Adviser, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, may, but is not obligated to, aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for other customers in order to obtain best execution, including lower brokerage commissions if appropriate. In such event, allocation of the securities so purchased or sold as well as any expenses incurred in the transaction will be made by the Adviser in the manner it considers to be most equitable and consistent with its fiduciary obligations to its customers, including the Fund. In some instances, the allocation procedure might not permit the Fund to participate in the benefits of the aggregated trade.

If the Fund that writes options effects a closing purchase transaction with respect to an option written by it, normally such transaction will be executed by the same broker-dealer who executed the sale of the option. The writing of options by the Fund will be subject to limitations established by each of the exchanges governing the maximum number of options in each class which may be written by a single investor or group of investors acting in concert, regardless of whether the options are written on the same or different exchanges or are held or written in one or more accounts or through one or more brokers. The number of options that the Fund may write may be affected by options written by the Adviser for other investment advisory clients. An exchange may order the liquidation of positions found to be in excess of these limits, and it may impose certain other sanctions.

Allocation of transactions, including their frequency, to various broker-dealers is determined by the Fund’s Adviser based on its best judgment and in a manner deemed fair and reasonable to Shareholders and consistent with the Adviser’s obligation to obtain the best execution of purchase and sales orders. In making this determination, the Adviser considers the same factors for the best execution of purchase and sales orders listed above. Accordingly, in selecting broker-dealers to execute a particular transaction, and in evaluating the best overall terms available, the Fund’s Adviser is authorized to consider the brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act) provided to the Fund and/or other accounts over which the Fund’s Adviser exercises investment discretion. The Adviser may cause a Fund to pay a broker-dealer that furnishes brokerage and research services a higher commission than that which might be charged by another broker-dealer for effecting the same transaction, provided that the Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by such broker-dealer, viewed in terms of either the particular transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Adviser to the Fund. To the extent such services are permissible under the safe harbor requirements of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act and consistent with applicable SEC guidance and interpretation, such brokerage and research services might consist of advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities, the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts, market data, stock quotes, last sale prices, and trading volumes. Shareholders of the Fund should understand that the services provided by such brokers may be useful to the Adviser in connection with its services to other clients and not all the services may be used by the Adviser in connection with the Fund.

Under the policy for JPMIM, “soft dollar” services refer to arrangements that fall within the safe harbor requirements of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, which allow JPMIM to allocate client brokerage transactions to a broker-dealer in exchange for products or services that are research and brokerage-related and provide lawful and appropriate assistance in the performance of the investment decision-making process. These services include third party research, market data services, and proprietary broker-dealer research. The Fund receives proprietary research where broker-dealers typically incorporate the cost of such research into their commission structure. Many brokers do not assign a hard dollar value to the research they provide, but rather bundle the cost of such research into their commission structure. It is noted in this regard that some research that is available only under a bundled commission structure is particularly important to the investment process. However, the Fund does not participate in soft dollar arrangements for market data services and third-party research.

Investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those for any other investment company or account managed by the Adviser. Any such other investment company or account may also invest in the same securities as the Trust. When a purchase or sale of the same security is made at substantially the same time on behalf of the Fund and another investment company or account, the transaction will be averaged as to price, and available investments allocated as to amount, in a manner which the Adviser of the Fund believes to be equitable to the Fund and such other investment company or account. In some instances, this procedure may adversely affect the price paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtained by the Fund. To the extent permitted by law, the Adviser may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased by it for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased by it for other investment companies or accounts in order to obtain best execution. In making investment recommendations for the Trust, the Adviser will not inquire or take into consideration whether an issuer of securities proposed for purchase or sale by the Trust is a customer of the Adviser or their parents or subsidiaries or affiliates and in dealing with its commercial customers, the Adviser and their respective parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates will not inquire or take into consideration whether securities of such customers are held by the Trust.

 

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For details of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund, see “BROKERAGE AND RESEARCH SERVICES — Brokerage Commissions” in Part I of this SAI.

For details of the Fund’s ownership of securities of the Fund’s regular broker dealers, see “BROKERAGE AND RESEARCH SERVICES — Securities of Regular Broker-Dealers” in Part I of this SAI.

OVERVIEW OF SERVICE PROVIDER AGREEMENTS

ADMINISTRATOR

JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc. (“JPMFM” or the “Administrator”) serves as the administrator to the Fund, pursuant to an Administration Agreement dated              (the “Administration Agreement”), between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and JPMFM. JPMFM is an affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase; it has its principal place of business at 460 Polaris Parkway, Westerville, OH 43082.

Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, JPMFM performs or supervises all operations of the Fund for which it serves (other than those performed under the advisory agreement, the custodian agreement, and the transfer agency agreement for the Fund). Under the Administration Agreement, JPMFM has agreed to maintain the necessary office space for the Fund, and to furnish certain other services required by the Fund with respect to the Fund. The Administrator prepares annual and semi-annual reports to the SEC, prepares federal and state tax returns and generally assists in all aspects of the Fund’s operations other than those performed under the advisory agreement, any sub-advisory agreements, the custodian agreement, and the transfer agency agreement. JPMFM may, at its expense, subcontract with any entity or person concerning the provision of services under the Administration Agreement.              serves as the Fund’s sub-administrator (the “Sub-administrator”). The Administrator pays              a fee for its services as the Fund’s Sub-administrator.

If not terminated, the Administration Agreement continue in effect for annual periods beyond              of each year, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of those members of the Board of Trustees who are not parties to the Administration Agreement or interested persons of any such party. The Administration Agreement may be terminated without penalty, on not less than 60 days’ prior written notice, by the Board of Trustees of the Trust or by JPMFM.

The Administration Agreement provide that JPMFM shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties, or from the reckless disregard by it of its obligations and duties thereunder.

In consideration of the services to be provided by JPMFM pursuant to the Administration Agreement, JPMFM receives from the Fund a pro rata portion of a fee computed daily and paid monthly at an annual rate equal to             % of the first $25 billion of average daily net assets.

For details of the administration and administrative services fees paid or accrued, see “ADMINISTRATOR — Administration Fees” in Part I of this SAI.

DISTRIBUTOR [TBD]

Fund Shares in less than Creation Unit Aggregations are not distributed by the Distributor. The Distributor will deliver the Prospectus and, upon request, this SAI to persons purchasing Creation Unit Aggregations and will maintain records of both orders placed with it and confirmations of acceptance furnished by it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

The Distribution Agreement for the Fund provides that it may be terminated as to the Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, on at least 60 days written notice by the Trust to the Distributor (i) by vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees or (ii) by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined in the 1940 Act).

 

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The Distributor may also enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Unit Aggregations of Fund Shares. Such Soliciting Dealers may also be Participating Parties (as defined in “Procedures for Creation of Creation Unit Aggregations” below) and DTC Participants (as defined in “DTC Acts as Securities Depository” below).

For details of the compensation paid to the principal underwriter, JPMDS, see “DISTRIBUTOR —Compensation paid to JPMDS” in Part I of this SAI.

CUSTODIAN [TBD]

Pursuant to the Global Custody Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 (the “JPMorgan Custody Agreement”), JPMorgan Chase Bank serves as the custodian and fund accounting agent for the Fund. Pursuant to the JPMorgan Custody Agreement, JPMorgan Chase Bank is responsible for holding portfolio securities and cash and maintaining the books of account and records of portfolio transactions. JPMorgan Chase Bank is an affiliate of the Advisers.

CUSTODY FEES AND EXPENSES [TBD]

[to be added by amendment]

TRANSFER AGENT [TBD]

JPMorgan Chase Bank also serves as the Fund’s transfer agent. As transfer agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank is also responsible for maintaining account records, detailing the ownership of Fund shares and for crediting income, capital gains and other changes in share ownership to shareholder accounts.

EXPENSES

The Fund pays the expenses incurred in their operations, including their pro-rata share of expenses of the Trust. These expenses include: investment advisory and administrative fees; the compensation of the Trustees; registration fees; interest charges; taxes; expenses connected with the execution, recording and settlement of security transactions; fees and expenses of the Fund’s custodian for all services to the Fund, including safekeeping of funds and securities and maintaining required books and accounts; expenses of preparing and mailing reports to investors and to government offices and commissions; expenses of meetings of investors; fees and expenses of independent accountants, legal counsel and any transfer agent, registrar or dividend disbursing agent of the Trust; insurance premiums; and expenses of calculating the NAV of, and the net income on, shares of the Fund. Service providers to the Fund may, from time to time, voluntarily waive all or a portion of any fees to which they are entitled.

[The Fund’s service providers have agreed that they will waive fees or reimburse the Fund as described in the Prospectus.]

 

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TRUST COUNSEL

The law firm of Dechert LLP, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036-6797, is counsel to the Trusts.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The independent registered public accounting firm for the Trust and the Fund is             .              conducts an annual audit of the financial statements of the Fund and will assist in the preparation and/or review of the Fund’s federal and state income tax returns.

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund declares and pays dividends and distributions as described under “Distribution and Tax Matters” in the Prospectus.

NET ASSET VALUE

The NAV per share of the Fund is equal to the value of all the assets attributable to that class, minus the liabilities, divided by the number of outstanding shares. The following is a discussion of the procedures used by the Fund in valuing its assets.

Securities for which market quotations are readily available are generally valued at their current market value. Other securities and assets, including securities for which market quotations are not readily available; market quotations are determined not to be reliable; or, their value has been materially affected by events occurring after the close of trading on the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (for example, a natural disaster affecting an entire country or region, or an event that affects an individual company) but before the Fund’s NAV is calculated, may be valued at its fair value in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. Fair value represents a good faith determination of the value of a security or other asset based upon specifically applied procedures. Fair valuation determinations may require subjective determinations. There can be no assurance that the fair value of an asset is the price at which the asset could have been sold during the period in which the particular fair value was used in determining the Fund’s NAV.

Equity securities listed on a North American, Central American, South American or Caribbean (“Americas”) securities exchange are generally valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which the security is principally traded that is reported before the time when the net assets of the Fund are valued. The value of securities listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. is generally the NASDAQ official closing price.

Generally, trading of foreign securities on most foreign markets is completed before the close in trading in U.S. markets. The Fund has implemented fair value pricing on a daily basis for all equity securities other than Americas equity securities. The fair value pricing utilizes the quotations of an independent pricing service. Trading on foreign markets may also take place on days on which the U.S. markets and the Fund are closed.

Shares of open-end investment companies are valued at their NAVs.

Fixed income securities with a remaining maturity of 61 days or more are valued using market quotations supplied by approved independent third party pricing services, affiliated pricing services or broker/dealers. In determining security prices, pricing services and broker/dealers may consider a variety of inputs and factors, including, but not limited to proprietary models that may take into account market transactions in securities with comparable characteristics, yield curves, option-adjusted spreads, credit spreads, estimated default rates, coupon rates, underlying collateral and estimated cash flows.

Generally, short-term securities which mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost if their maturity at acquisition was 60 days or less, or by amortizing their value on the 61st day prior to maturity, if their maturity when acquired by a Fund was more than 60 days.

Assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies will be converted into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates from an approved independent pricing service as of 4:00 PM ET.

Options (e.g., on stock indices or equity securities) traded on U.S. equity securities exchanges are valued at the composite mean price, using the National Best Bid and Offer quotes at the close of options trading on such exchanges.

Options traded on foreign exchanges or U.S. commodities exchanges are valued at the settled price, or if no settled price is available, at the last sale price available prior to the calculation of a Fund’s NAV.

Exchange traded futures (e.g., on stock indices, debt securities or commodities) are valued at the settled price, or if no settled price is available, at the last sale price as of the close of the exchanges on which they trade.

Non-listed over-the-counter options and futures are valued at the evaluated price provided by a counterparty or broker/dealer.

 

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Swaps and structured notes are priced generally by an approved independent third party or affiliated pricing service or at an evaluated price provided by a counterparty or broker/dealer.

Certain fixed income securities and swaps may be valued using market quotations or valuations provided by pricing services affiliated with the Adviser. Valuations received by the Fund from affiliated pricing services are the same as those provided to other affiliated and unaffiliated entities by these affiliated pricing services.

Securities or other assets for which market quotations are not readily available or for which market quotations do not represent the value at the time of pricing (including certain illiquid securities) are fair valued in accordance with procedures established by and under the supervision and responsibility of the Trustees. [The Board of Trustees has established an              Committee to assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight of the valuation of the Fund’s securities. The Fund’s Administrator has established a Valuation Committee (“VC”) to (1) make fair value determinations in certain predetermined situations as outlined in the procedures approved by the Board of Trustees and (2) provide recommendations to the Board of Trustee’s              Committee in other situations. The VC includes senior representatives from the Fund’s management as well as the Fund’s investment adviser. Fair value situations could include, but are not limited to: (1) a significant event that affects the value of a Fund’s securities (e.g., news relating to natural disasters affecting an issuer’s operations or earnings announcements); (2) illiquid securities; (3) securities that may be defaulted or de-listed from an exchange and are no longer trading; or (4) any other circumstance in which the VC believes that market quotations do not accurately reflect the value of a security.]

From time to time, there may be errors in the calculation of the NAV of the Fund or the processing of purchases and redemptions. Shareholders will generally not be notified of the occurrence of an error or the resolution thereof.

DELAWARE TRUST

The new Trust was formed as a Delaware statutory trust on February __, 2010 pursuant to a Declaration of Trust.

Under Delaware law, shareholders of a statutory trust shall have the same limitation of personal liability that is extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under Delaware law, unless otherwise provided in the trust’s governing trust instrument. The Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides that shareholders of the Trust shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust or any series thereof. In addition, the Declaration of Trust provides that neither the Trust, nor the Trustees, officers, employees, nor agents thereof shall have any power to bind personally any shareholders nor to call upon any shareholder for payment of any sum of money or assessment other than such as the shareholder may personally agree to pay. Moreover, the Trust’s Declaration of Trust expressly provides that the shareholders shall have the same limitation of personal liability that is extended to shareholders of a private corporation for profit incorporated in the State of Delaware.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides for the indemnification out of the assets held with respect to a particular series of shares of any shareholder or former shareholder held personally liable solely by reason of a claim or demand relating to the person being or having been a shareholder and not because of the shareholder’s acts or omissions. The Trust’s Declaration of Trust also provides that The Trust, on behalf of the applicable series, may, at its option with prior written notice, assume the defense of any claim made against a shareholder.

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with any proceeding in which they may be involved because of their offices the Trust, unless, as to liability to the Trust or the shareholders thereof, the Trustees engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of their offices. In addition, the Declaration of Trust provides that any Trustee who has been determined to be an “audit committee financial expert” shall not be subject to a greater liability or duty of care because of such determination.

The Trust shall continue without limitation of time subject to the provisions in the Declaration of Trust concerning termination by action of the shareholders or by action of the Trustees upon written notice to the shareholders.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

The Trust is an open-end, management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust. The Fund represents a separate series of shares of beneficial interest. See “Delaware Trust.”

The Trust’s Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares ($0.0001 par value) of one or more series and classes within any series and to divide or combine the shares of any series or class without materially changing the proportionate beneficial interest of such shares of such series or class in the assets held with respect to that series. Each share represents an equal beneficial interest in the net assets of the Fund with each other share of that Fund. The Trustees of the Trust may authorize the issuance of shares of additional series and the creation of classes of shares within any series with such preferences, voting powers, rights, duties and privileges as the Trustees may determine; however, the Trustees may not classify or change outstanding shares in a manner materially adverse to shareholders of each share. Upon liquidation of the Fund, shareholders are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of the Fund available for distribution to such shareholders. The rights of redemption and exchange are described in the Prospectus and elsewhere in this SAI.

 

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The shareholders of the Fund are entitled to one vote for each dollar of NAV (or a proportionate fractional vote with respect to the remainder of the NAV of shares, if any), on matters on which shares of the Fund shall be entitled to vote. Subject to the 1940 Act, the Trustees themselves have the power to alter the number and the terms of office of the Trustees, to lengthen their own terms, or to make their terms of unlimited duration subject to certain removal procedures, and appoint their own successors, provided, however, that immediately after such appointment the requisite majority of the Trustees have been elected by the shareholders. The voting rights of shareholders are not cumulative with respect to the election of Trustees. It is the intention of the Trust not to hold meetings of shareholders annually. The Trustees may call meetings of shareholders for action by shareholder vote as may be required by either the 1940 Act or the Declaration of Trust of the Trust.

Each share of a series represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets in that series with each other share of that series. The shares of each series participate equally in the earnings, dividends and assets of the particular series. Expenses of the Trust which are not attributable to a specific series are allocated among all of their series in a manner deemed by the Trustees to be fair and equitable. Shares have no pre-emptive or conversion rights, and when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable. Shares of each series generally vote together, except when required under federal securities laws to vote separately on matters that may affect a particular class, such as the approval of distribution plans for a particular class.

The Trustees of the Trust may, without shareholder approval (unless otherwise required by applicable law): (i) cause the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into one or more trusts (or series thereof to the extent permitted by law, partnerships, associations, corporations or other business entities (including trusts, partnerships, associations, corporations, or other business entities created by the Trustees to accomplish such merger or consolidation) so long as the surviving or resulting entity is an investment company as defined in the 1940 Act, or is a series thereof, that will succeed to or assume the Trust’s registration under the 1940 Act and that is formed, organized, or existing under the laws of the U.S. or of a state, commonwealth, possession or territory of the U.S., unless otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act; (ii) cause any one or more series or classes of the Trust to merge or consolidate with or into any one or more other series or classes of the Trust, one or more trusts (or series or classes thereof to the extent permitted by law), partnerships, associations, corporations; (iii) cause the shares to be exchanged under or pursuant to any state or federal statute to the extent permitted by law; or (iv) cause the Trust to reorganize as a corporation, limited liability company or limited liability partnership under the laws of Delaware or any other state or jurisdiction. However, the exercise of such authority may be subject to certain restrictions under the 1940 Act.

The Trustees may, without shareholder vote, generally restate, amend or otherwise supplement the Trust’s governing instruments, including the Declaration of Trust and the By-Laws, without the approval of shareholders, subject to limited exceptions, such as the right to elect Trustees.

The Trustees, without obtaining any authorization or vote of shareholders, may change the name of any series or dissolve or terminate any series.

Shares have no subscription or preemptive rights and only such conversion or exchange rights as the Board may grant in its discretion. When issued for payment as described in the Prospectus and this SAI, Shares will be fully paid and non-assessable. In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Trust, Shares of the Fund are entitled to receive the assets available for distribution belonging to the Fund, and a proportionate distribution, based upon the relative asset values of the Fund, of any general assets not belonging to any particular Fund which are available for distribution.

Rule 18f-2 under the 1940 Act provides that any matter required to be submitted to the holders of the outstanding voting securities of an investment company such as the Trust shall not be deemed to have been effectively acted upon unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares of the Fund affected by the matter. For purposes of determining whether the approval of a majority of the outstanding Shares of the Fund will be required in connection with a matter, the Fund will be deemed to be affected by a matter unless it is clear that the interests of the Fund in the matter are identical, or that the matter does not affect any interest of the Fund. Under Rule 18f-2, the approval of an investment advisory agreement or any change in investment policy would be effectively acted upon with respect to the Fund only if approved by a majority of the outstanding Shares of the Fund. However, Rule 18f-2 also provides that the ratification of independent public accountants, the approval of principal underwriting contracts, and the election of Trustees may be effectively acted upon by Shareholders of the Trust voting without regard to series.

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE

The Trust has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Trust’s portfolio holdings. The Fund and its service providers may not receive compensation or any other consideration (which includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Adviser or any affiliated person of the Adviser) in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information of the Fund. The Trust’s policy is implemented and overseen by the [Chief Compliance Officer of the Trust], subject to the oversight of the Board of Trustees. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to the Board of Trustees of the Trust. The Board of Trustees of the Trust must approve all material amendments to this policy. The Fund’s complete portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business through financial

 

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reporting and news services, including publicly accessible Internet web sites. In addition, a basket composition file, which includes the security names and share quantities to deliver in exchange for Fund shares, together with estimates and actual cash components, is publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the              via the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”). The basket represents one Creation Unit of the Fund. The Trust, the Adviser and the Distributor will not disseminate non-public information concerning the Trust.

PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES

The Board of Trustees has delegated to the Adviser and its affiliated advisers, proxy voting authority with respect to the Fund’s portfolio securities. To ensure that the proxies of portfolio companies are voted in the best interests of the Fund, the Fund’s Board of Trustees has adopted the Adviser’s detailed proxy voting procedures (the “Procedures”) that incorporate guidelines (“Guidelines”) for voting proxies on specific types of issues.

The Adviser and its affiliated advisers are part of a global asset management organization with the capability to invest in securities of issuers located around the globe. Because the regulatory framework and the business cultures and practices vary from region to region, the Guidelines are customized for each region to take into account such variations. Separate Guidelines cover the regions of (1) North America, (2) Europe, Middle East, Africa, Central America and South America, (3) Asia (ex-Japan) and (4) Japan, respectively.

Notwithstanding the variations among the Guidelines, all of the Guidelines have been designed with the uniform objective of encouraging corporate action that enhances shareholder value. As a general rule, in voting proxies of a particular security, the Adviser and its affiliated advisers will apply the Guidelines of the region in which the issuer of such security is organized. Except as noted below, proxy voting decisions will be made in accordance with the Guidelines covering a multitude of both routine and non-routine matters that the Adviser and its affiliated advisers have encountered globally, based on many years of collective investment management experience.

To oversee and monitor the proxy-voting process, the Adviser has established a proxy committee and appointed a proxy administrator in each global location where proxies are voted. The primary function of each proxy committee is to review periodically general proxy-voting matters, review and approve the Guidelines annually, and provide advice and recommendations on general proxy-voting matters as well as on specific voting issues. The procedures permit an independent voting service to perform certain services otherwise carried out or coordinated by the proxy administrator.

Although for many matters the Guidelines specify the votes to be cast, for many others, the Guidelines contemplate case-by-case determinations. In addition, there will undoubtedly be proxy matters that are not contemplated by the Guidelines. For both of these categories of matters and to override the Guidelines, the Procedures require a certification and review process to be completed before the vote is cast. That process is designed to identify actual or potential material conflicts of interest (between the Fund on the one hand, and the Fund’s Adviser, principal underwriter or an affiliate of any of the foregoing, on the other hand) and ensure that the proxy vote is cast in the best interests of the Fund. A conflict is deemed to exist when the proxy is for JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock or for the Fund, or when the proxy administrator has actual knowledge indicating that a JPMorgan affiliate is an investment banker or rendered a fairness opinion with respect to the matter that is the subject of the proxy vote. When such conflicts are identified, the proxy will be voted by an independent third party either in accordance with JPMorgan proxy voting guidelines or by the third party using its own guidelines.

When other types of potential material conflicts of interest are identified, the proxy administrator and JPMAM’s Chief Fiduciary Officer will evaluate the potential conflict of interest and determine whether such conflict actually exists, and if so, will recommend how the Adviser will vote the proxy. In addressing any material conflict, the Adviser may take one or more of the following measures (or other appropriate action): removing or “walling off” from the proxy voting process certain Adviser personnel with knowledge of the conflict, voting in accordance with any applicable Guideline if the application of the Guideline would objectively result in the casting of a proxy vote in a predetermined manner, or deferring the vote to or obtaining a recommendation from an third independent party, in which case the proxy will be voted by, or in accordance with the recommendation of, the independent third party.

The following summarizes some of the more noteworthy types of proxy voting policies of the non-U.S. Guidelines:

 

    Corporate governance procedures differ among the countries. Because of time constraints and local customs, it is not always possible for the Adviser to receive and review all proxy materials in connection with each item submitted for a vote. Many proxy statements are in foreign languages. Proxy materials are generally mailed by the issuer to the sub-custodian which holds the securities for the client in the country where the portfolio company is organized, and there may not be sufficient time for such materials to be transmitted to the Adviser in time for a vote to be cast. In some countries, proxy statements are not mailed at all, and in some locations, the deadline for voting is two to four days after the initial announcement that a vote is to be solicited and it may not always be possible to obtain sufficient information to make an informed decision in good time to vote.

 

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    Certain markets require that shares being tendered for voting purposes are temporarily immobilized from trading until after the shareholder meeting has taken place. Elsewhere, notably emerging markets, it may not always be possible to obtain sufficient information to make an informed decision in good time to vote. Some markets require a local representative to be hired in order to attend the meeting and vote in person on our behalf, which can result in considerable cost. The Adviser also considers the cost of voting in light of the expected benefit of the vote. In certain instances, it may sometimes be in the Fund’s best interests to intentionally refrain from voting in certain overseas markets from time to time.

 

    Where proxy issues concern corporate governance, takeover defense measures, compensation plans, capital structure changes and so forth, the Adviser pays particular attention to management’s arguments for promoting the prospective change. The Adviser’s sole criterion in determining its voting stance is whether such changes will be to the economic benefit of the beneficial owners of the shares.

 

    The Adviser is in favor of a unitary board structure of the type found in the United Kingdom as opposed to tiered board structures. Thus, the Adviser will generally vote to encourage the gradual phasing out of tiered board structures, in favor of unitary boards. However, since tiered boards are still very prevalent in markets outside of the United Kingdom, local market practice will always be taken into account.

 

    The Adviser will use its voting powers to encourage appropriate levels of board independence, taking into account local market practice.

 

    The Adviser will usually vote against discharging the board from responsibility in cases of pending litigation, or if there is evidence of wrongdoing for which the board must be held accountable.

 

    The Adviser will vote in favor of increases in capital which enhance a company’s long-term prospects. The Adviser will also vote in favor of the partial suspension of preemptive rights if they are for purely technical reasons (e.g., rights offers which may not be legally offered to shareholders in certain jurisdictions). However, the Adviser will vote against increases in capital which would allow the company to adopt “poison pill” takeover defense tactics, or where the increase in authorized capital would dilute shareholder value in the long term.

 

    The Adviser will vote in favor of proposals which will enhance a company’s long-term prospects. The Adviser will vote against an increase in bank borrowing powers which would result in the company reaching an unacceptable level of financial leverage, where such borrowing is expressly intended as part of a takeover defense, or where there is a material reduction in shareholder value.

 

    The Adviser will generally vote against anti-takeover devices.

 

    Where social or environmental issues are the subject of a proxy vote, the Adviser will consider the issue on a case-by-case basis, keeping in mind at all times the best economic interests of its clients.

The following summarizes some of the more noteworthy types of proxy voting policies of the U.S. Guidelines:

 

    The Adviser considers votes on director nominees on a case-by-case basis. Votes generally will be withheld from directors who: (a) attend less than 75% of board and committee meetings without a valid excuse; (b) implement or renew a dead-hand poison pill; (c) are affiliated directors who serve on audit, compensation or nominating committees or are affiliated directors and the full board serves on such committees or the company does not have such committees; or (d) ignore a shareholder proposal that is approved for two consecutive years by a majority of either the shares outstanding or the votes cast.

 

    The Adviser votes proposals to classify boards on a case-by-case basis, but normally will vote in favor of such proposal if the issuer’s governing documents contain each of eight enumerated safeguards (for example, a majority of the board is composed of independent directors and the nominating committee is composed solely of such directors).

 

    The Adviser also considers management poison pill proposals on a case-by-case basis, looking for shareholder-friendly provisions before voting in favor.

 

    The Adviser votes against proposals for a super-majority vote to approve a merger.

 

    The Adviser considers proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as part of a debt restructuring plan on a case-by-case basis, taking into account such factors as the extent of dilution and whether the transaction will result in a change in control.

 

    The Adviser votes proposals on a stock option plan based primarily on a detailed, quantitative analysis that takes into account factors such as estimated dilution to shareholders’ equity and dilution to voting power. The Adviser generally considers other management compensation proposals on a case-by-case basis.

 

    The Adviser also considers on a case-by-case basis proposals to change an issuer’s state of incorporation, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate restructuring proposals and certain social and environmental issue proposals.

 

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    The Adviser reviews Say on Pay proposals on a case by case basis with additional review of proposals where the issuer’s previous year’s proposal received a low level of support.

In accordance with regulations of the SEC, the Fund’s proxy voting records for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 are on file with the SEC and are available on the              website at              and are on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Trust is not required to hold a meeting of Shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees except that (i) the Trust is required to hold a Shareholders’ meeting for the election of Trustees at such time as less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by Shareholders and (ii) if, as a result of a vacancy on the Board of Trustees, less than two-thirds of the Trustees holding office have been elected by the Shareholders, that vacancy may only be filled by a vote of the Shareholders. In addition, Trustees may be removed from office by a written consent signed by the holders of Shares representing two-thirds of the outstanding Shares of a Trust at a meeting duly called for the purpose, which meeting shall be called and held in accordance with the bylaws of the Trust. Except as set forth above, the Trustees may continue to hold office and may appoint successor Trustees.

As used in the Trust’s Prospectus and in this SAI, “assets belonging to a Fund” means the consideration received by the Trust upon the issuance or sale of Shares in the Fund, together with all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds derived from the investment thereof, including any proceeds from the sale, exchange, or liquidation of such investments, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, and any general assets of the Trust not readily identified as belonging to the Fund that are allocated to that Fund by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees may allocate such general assets in any manner it deems fair and equitable. It is anticipated that the factor that will be used by the Board of Trustees in making allocations of general assets to the Fund will be the relative net asset values of the Fund at the time of allocation. Assets belonging to the Fund are charged with the direct liabilities and expenses in respect of that Fund, and with a share of the general liabilities and expenses of the Trust not readily identified as belonging to the Fund that are allocated to that Fund in proportion to the relative net asset values of the Fund at the time of allocation. The timing of allocations of general assets and general liabilities and expenses of a Trust to the Fund will be determined by the Board of Trustees of the Trust and will be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Determinations by the Board of Trustees of the Trust as to the timing of the allocation of general liabilities and expenses and as to the timing and allocable portion of any general assets with respect to the Fund are conclusive.

As used in this SAI and the Prospectus, the term “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Trust, the Fund or a particular class of the Fund means the following when the 1940 Act governs the required approval: the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust, such Fund or such class of such Fund, or (b) 67% or more of the shares of the Trust, such Fund or such class of such Fund present at a meeting at which the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Trust, such Fund or such class of such Fund are represented in person or by proxy. Otherwise, the declaration of trust, articles of incorporation or by-laws usually govern the needed approval and generally require that if a quorum is present at a meeting, the vote of a majority of the shares of the Trust, such Fund or such class of such Fund, as applicable, shall decide the question.

Telephone calls to the Fund, the Fund’s service providers or a Financial Intermediary as Financial Intermediary may be recorded. With respect to the securities offered hereby, this SAI and the Prospectus do not contain all the information included in the Registration Statements of the Trust filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act. Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, certain portions have been omitted. The Registration Statement, including the exhibits filed therewith, may be examined at the office of the SEC in Washington, D.C.

Statements contained in this SAI and the Prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statements of the Trusts. Each such statement is qualified in all respects by such reference.

No dealer, salesman or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than those contained in the Prospectus and this SAI, in connection with the offer contained therein and, if given or made, such other information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Trust, the Fund or the Distributor. The Prospectus and this SAI do not constitute an offer by the Fund or by the Distributor to sell or solicit any offer to buy any of the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful for the Fund or the Distributor to make such offer in such jurisdictions.

 

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APPENDIX A — PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS

BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Fund’s Prospectus entitled “Purchase and Redemption of Creation Units.”

The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) acts as securities depositary for the Shares. Shares of the Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Certificates will not be issued for Shares.

DTC, a limited-purpose trust company, was created to hold securities of its participants (the “DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (the “Indirect Participants”).

Beneficial ownership of Shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in Shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of Shares.

Conveyance of all notices, statements and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. Pursuant to the Depositary Agreement between the Trust and DTC, DTC is required to make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee to be charged to the Trust a listing of the Shares holdings of each DTC Participant. The Trust shall inquire of each such DTC Participant as to the number of Beneficial Owners holding Shares, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all Shares. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in Shares as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of Shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspects of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such Shares, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.

DTC may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to the Shares at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Trust and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Trust shall take action either to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such a replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of Shares, unless the Trust makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Exchange.

 

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CREATION AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS

General

The Trust issues and sells Shares of the Fund only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without an initial sales load, at their NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day (as defined herein), of an order in proper form. An Authorized Participant (defined below) that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, will not be able to receive, as part of a redemption, restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A.

A “Business Day” with respect to the Fund is any day on which the Exchange is open for business. As of the date of this SAI, the Exchange observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President’s Day , Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Continuous Offering

The method by which Creation Units are created and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units are issued and sold by the Fund on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the 1933 Act, may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner that could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the prospectus delivery requirement and liability provisions of the 1933 Act.

For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Distributor, breaks them down into constituent shares and sells such shares directly to customers or if it chooses to couple the creation of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the 1933 Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to a categorization as an underwriter.

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in Shares, whether or not participating in the distribution of Shares, generally are required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(3) of the 1933 Act is not available in respect of such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to Shares of the Fund are reminded that, pursuant to Rule 153 under the 1933 Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the 1933 Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the prospectus is available at the Exchange upon request. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is available only with respect to transactions on an exchange.

Portfolio Deposit

The consideration for a purchase of Creation Units generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Instruments”) and an amount of cash computed as described below (the “Cash Amount”). The Cash Amount together with the Deposit Instruments, as applicable, are referred to as the “Portfolio Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of the Fund.

In the event the Fund requires Deposit Instruments in consideration for purchasing a Creation Unit, the portfolio of securities required may, in certain limited circumstances (such as in connection with pending changes to the Fund’s Underlying Index), be different than the portfolio of securities the Fund will deliver upon redemption of Fund Shares.

In the event the Fund requires Deposit Instruments and a Cash Amount in consideration for purchasing a Creation Unit, the function of the Cash Amount is to compensate for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the Deposit Amount (as defined below). The Cash Amount would be an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Shares (per Creation Unit) and the “Deposit Amount,” which is an amount equal to the aggregate market value of the Deposit Instruments. If the Cash Amount is a positive number (the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will deliver the Cash Amount. If the Cash Amount is a negative number (the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the Deposit Amount), the Authorized Participant will receive the Cash Amount. Computation of the Cash Amount excludes any stamp duty or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Instruments, which shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant.

The Administrator, through the NSCC, makes available on each Business Day, immediately prior to the opening of business on                  (currently 9:30 a.m. Eastern time), the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Instrument to be included in the current Portfolio Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day), as well as information regarding the Cash Amount for the Fund. Such Portfolio Deposit is applicable, subject to any adjustments as described below, in order to effect creations of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced Portfolio Deposit composition is made available.

 

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The identity and number of the Deposit Instruments and Cash Amount required for the Portfolio Deposit for the Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Adviser with a view to the investment objective of the Fund. The composition of the Deposit Instruments and the amount of the Cash Amount may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of the Fund’s Index.

In addition, the Trust reserves the right to accept a basket of securities or cash that differs from Deposit Instruments or to permit the substitution of an amount of cash (i.e., a “cash in lieu” amount) to be added to the Cash Amount to replace any Deposit Instrument which may, among other reasons, not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery, not be permitted to be re-registered in the name of the Trust as a result of an in-kind creation order pursuant to local law or market convention or which may not be eligible for transfer through the Clearing Process (described below), or which may not be eligible for trading by a Participating Party (defined below). In light of the foregoing, in order to seek to replicate the in-kind creation order process, the Trust expects to purchase the Deposit Instruments represented by the cash in lieu amount in the secondary market (“Market Purchases”). In such cases where the Trust makes Market Purchases because a Deposit Instrument may not be permitted to be re-registered in the name of the Trust as a result of an in-kind creation order pursuant to local law or market convention, or for other reasons, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities were purchased by the Trust and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at the Adviser’s discretion, may be capped), applicable registration fees and taxes. Brokerage commissions incurred in connection with the Trust’s acquisition of Deposit Instruments will be at the expense of the Fund and will affect the value of all Shares of the Fund; but the Adviser may adjust the transaction fee to the extent the composition of the Deposit Instruments changes or cash in lieu is added to the Cash Amount to protect ongoing shareholders. The adjustments described above will reflect changes, known to the Adviser on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of the Portfolio Deposit, in the composition of the Index or resulting from stock splits and other corporate actions.

In addition to the list of names and numbers of securities constituting the current Deposit Instruments of a Portfolio Deposit, the Administrator, through the NSCC, also makes available on each Business Day, the estimated Cash Component adjusted through the close of the trading day. In addition, on a continuous basis throughout the day, the intra-day indicative value will be calculated and disseminated in accordance with the Fund’s relevant listing standards.

Procedures for Creation of Creation Units

To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor to create Creation Units of the Fund, an entity or person either must be (1) a “Participating Party,” i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) (the “NSCC Clearing Process”); or (2) a DTC Participant (see “Book Entry Only System”); which, in either case, must have executed an agreement with the Distributor (as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms) (“Participant Agreement”) (discussed below). A Participating Party and DTC Participant are collectively referred to as an “Authorized Participant.” All Creation Units of the Fund, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of Cede & Co. for the account of a DTC Participant.

All orders to create Creation Units must be placed in multiples of a certain number of Shares of the Fund, as disclosed under “PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS” in Part I of this SAI. Except as described below, and in all cases subject to the terms of the applicable Participant Agreement, all orders to create Creation Units, whether through the NSCC Clearing Process or outside the NSCC Clearing Process through DTC or otherwise, must be received by the Distributor no later than the closing time of the regular trading session on the Exchange (“Closing Time”) (ordinarily 4:00 p.m. Eastern time), in each case on the date such order is placed in order for creation of Creation Units to be effected based on the NAV of the Fund as determined on such date. A “Custom Order” may be placed by an Authorized Participant in the event that the Trust permits the substitution of an amount of cash to be added to the Cash Amount to replace any Deposit Instrument which may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or which may not be eligible for trading by such Authorized Participant or the investor for which it is acting, or other relevant reason. The Business Day on which a creation order (or order to redeem as discussed below) is placed is herein referred to as the “Transmittal Date.” Orders must be transmitted by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, as described below (see “Placement of Creation Orders Using Clearing Process”). Severe economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure, may impede the ability to reach the Distributor, a Participating Party or a DTC Participant. Creation Units may be created in advance of the receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the Portfolio Deposit. In such cases, the Authorized Participant will remain liable for the full deposit of the missing portion(s) of the Portfolio Deposit and will be required to post collateral with the Trust consisting of cash at least equal to a percentage of the marked-to-market value of such missing portion(s) that is specified in the Participant Agreement. The Trust may use such collateral to buy the missing portion(s) of the Portfolio Deposit at any time and will subject such Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Trust of purchasing such securities and the value of such collateral. The Trust will have no liability for any such shortfall. The Trust will return any unused portion of the collateral to the Authorized Participant once the entire Fund Deposit has been properly received by the Distributor and deposited into the Trust.

 

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Orders to create Creation Units of the Fund shall be placed with a Participating Party or DTC Participant, as applicable, in the form required by such Participating Party or DTC Participant. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement, and that, therefore, orders to create Creation Units of the Fund may have to be placed by the investor’s broker through a Participating Party or a DTC Participant who has executed a Participant Agreement. At any given time there may be only a limited number of broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement. Those placing orders to create Creation Units of the Fund through the NSCC Clearing Process should afford sufficient time to permit proper submission of the order to the Distributor prior to the Closing Time on the Transmittal Date.

Orders for creation that are effected outside the NSCC Clearing Process are likely to require transmittal by the DTC Participant earlier on the Transmittal Date than orders effected using the NSCC Clearing Process. Those persons placing orders outside the NSCC Clearing Process should ascertain the deadlines applicable to DTC and the Federal Reserve Bank wire system by contacting the operations department of the broker or depository institution effectuating such transfer of Deposit Instruments and Cash Amount.

Orders to create Creation Units of the Fund may be placed through the Clearing Process utilizing procedures applicable to domestic funds for domestic securities (“Domestic Funds”) (see “Placement of Creation Orders Using NSCC Clearing Process”) or outside the NSCC Clearing Process utilizing the procedures applicable to either Domestic Funds or Foreign Funds for foreign securities (“Foreign Funds”) (see “ Placement of Creation Orders Outside NSCC Clearing Process—Domestic Funds” and “Placement of Creation Orders Outside NSCC Clearing Process—Foreign Funds”). In the event that the Fund includes both domestic and foreign securities, the time for submitting orders is as stated in the “Placement of Creation Orders Outside NSCC Clearing Process—Foreign Funds” and “Placement of Redemption Orders Outside NSCC Clearing Process—Foreign Funds” sections below shall operate.

Placement of Creation Orders Using NSCC Clearing Process

Portfolio Deposits created through the NSCC Clearing Process, if available, must be delivered through a Participating Party that has executed a Participant Agreement.

The Participant Agreement authorizes the Distributor to transmit to the NSCC on behalf of the Participating Party such trade instructions as are necessary to effect the Participating Party’s creation order. Pursuant to such trade instructions from the Distributor to the NSCC, the Participating Party agrees to transfer the requisite Deposit Instruments (or contracts to purchase such Deposit Instruments that are expected to be delivered in a “regular way” manner by the third (3rd) Business Day) and the Cash Amount to the Trust, together with such additional information as may be required by the Distributor. An order to create Creation Units of a Fund through the NSCC Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor not later than the Closing Time on such Transmittal Date and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.

Placement of Creation Orders Outside NSCC Clearing Process—Domestic Funds

Portfolio Deposits created outside the NSCC Clearing Process must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order creating Creation Units of the Fund to be effected outside the NSCC Clearing Process need not be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the NSCC Clearing Process and that the creation of Creation Units will instead be effected through a transfer of securities and cash. The Portfolio Deposit transfer must be ordered by the DTC Participant in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Instruments through DTC to the account of the Trust by no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, of the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. All questions as to the number of Deposit Instruments to be delivered, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. The cash equal to the Cash Component must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve wire system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern time, on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. An order to create Creation Units of the Fund outside the NSCC Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor not later than the Closing Time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. However, if the Distributor does not receive both the requisite Deposit Instruments and the Cash Amount in a timely fashion on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date, such order may be cancelled. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such cancelled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using the Portfolio Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the current NAV of the applicable Fund. The delivery of Creation Units so created will occur no later than the third (3rd) Business Day following the day on which the creation order is deemed received by the Distributor.

 

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Additional transaction fees may be imposed with respect to transactions effected outside the NSCC Clearing Process (through a DTC Participant) and in circumstances in which any cash can be used in lieu of Deposit Instruments to create Creation Units. (See “Creation Transaction Fee” section below.)

Placement of Creation Orders Outside NSCC Clearing Process—Foreign Funds

The Distributor will inform the Transfer Agent, the Adviser and the Custodian upon receipt of a Creation Order. The Custodian will then provide such information to the appropriate subcustodian. For each Fund, the Custodian will cause the subcustodian of such Fund to maintain an account into which the Deposit Instruments (or the cash value of all or part of such securities, in the case of a permitted cash purchase or “cash in lieu” amount) will be delivered. Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local custodian. The Trust must also receive, on or before the contractual settlement date, immediately available or same day funds estimated by the Custodian to be sufficient to pay the Cash Amount next determined after receipt in proper form of the purchase order, together with the creation transaction fee described below.

Once the Transfer Agent has accepted a creation order, the Transfer Agent will confirm the issuance of a Creation Unit of the Fund against receipt of payment, at such NAV as will have been calculated after receipt in proper form of such order. The Transfer Agent will then transmit a confirmation of acceptance of such order.

Creation Units will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the Trust of the Deposit Securities and the payment of the Cash Component have been completed. When the subcustodian has delivered to the account of the relevant subcustodian, the Distributor and the Adviser will be notified of such delivery and the Transfer Agent will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Units.

Acceptance of Creation Orders

The Trust and the Distributor reserve the absolute right to reject or revoke acceptance of a creation order transmitted to it in respect of the Fund, for example, if (a) the order is not in proper form; (b) the purchaser or group of related purchasers, upon obtaining the Creation Units of Shares, would own 80% or more of the outstanding Shares of such Fund; (c) the acceptance of the Portfolio Deposit would have certain adverse tax consequences, such as causing the Fund no longer to meet RIC status under the Code for federal tax purposes; (d) the acceptance of the Portfolio Deposit would, in the opinion of the Fund, be unlawful, as in the case of a purchaser who was banned from trading in securities (e) the acceptance of the Portfolio Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Fund, the Adviser and/or sub-advisers, have an adverse effect on the Fund or on the rights of the Fund’s beneficial owners; or; or (f) there exist circumstances outside the control of the Fund that make it impossible to process purchases of Creation Units of Shares for all practical purposes. Examples of such circumstances include: acts of God or public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outage resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Funds, the Adviser, any sub-adviser, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC or any other participant in the purchase process; and similar extraordinary events. The Transfer Agent will notify a prospective creator of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, the Custodian, any subcustodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits to Authorized Participants nor shall either of them incur any liability to Authorized Participants for the failure to give any such notification. All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Instruments and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Trust, and the Trust’s determination shall be final and binding.

Creation Transaction Fee

A fixed creation transaction fee is imposed on each creation transaction regardless of the number of Creation Units purchased in the transaction. The amount of the creation transaction fee for the Fund is disclosed under “PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS” in Part I of this SAI. In addition, a variable charge for cash creations or for creations outside the NSCC Clearing Process currently of up to four times the basic creation transaction fee will be imposed. In the case of cash creations or where the Trust permits a creator to substitute cash in lieu of depositing a portion of the Deposit Instruments, the creator may be assessed an additional variable charge to compensate a Fund for the costs associated with purchasing the applicable securities. (See “Portfolio Deposit” section above.) As a result, in order to seek to replicate the in-kind creation order process, the Trust expects to purchase, in the secondary market or otherwise gain exposure to, the portfolio securities that could have been delivered as a result of an in-kind creation order pursuant to local law or market convention, or for other reasons (“Market Purchases”). In such cases where the Trust

 

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makes Market Purchases, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were purchased by the Trust and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at the Adviser’s discretion, may be capped), applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes. The Adviser may adjust the transaction fee to the extent the composition of the creation securities changes or cash in lieu is added to the Cash Amount to protect ongoing shareholders. Creators of Creation Units are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Instruments to the account of the Trust.

Redemption of Creation Units

Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Distributor, only on a Business Day and only through a Participating Party or DTC Participant who has executed a Participant Agreement. The Trust will not redeem Shares in amounts less than Creation Units. Beneficial owners also may sell Shares in the secondary market, but must accumulate enough Shares to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such Shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of Shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit. See with respect to the Fund the section entitled “Summary Information— The Fund’s Main Risks” and “More About the Fund—Investment Risks” in the applicable Prospectus.

The Administrator, through NSCC, makes available immediately prior to the opening of business on the [    ] (currently 9:30 a.m. Eastern time) on each day that the Exchange is open for business, the identity of the Fund’s securities and/or an amount of cash that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day. A Fund’s securities received on redemption will generally correspond pro rata, to the extent practicable, to such Fund’s securities. A Fund’s securities received on redemption (“Redemption Instruments”) may include, with respect to a Fund, securities in different proportions than securities of the Underlying Index or may include securities not currently represented in the Underlying Index. Redemption Instruments received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Instruments that are applicable to creations of Creation Units. If the Trust determines, based on information available to the Trust when a redemption request is submitted by an Authorized Participant, that (i) the short interest of a Fund in the marketplace is greater than or equal to 100% and (ii) the orders in the aggregate from all Authorized Participants redeeming Fund Shares on a Business Day represent 25% or more of the outstanding Shares of a Fund, such Authorized Participant will be required to verify to the Trust the accuracy of its representations that are deemed to have been made by submitting a request for redemption. If, after receiving notice of the verification requirement, the Authorized Participant does not verify the accuracy of its representations that are deemed to have been made by submitting a request for redemption in accordance with this requirement, its redemption request will be considered not to have been received in proper form. Unless cash redemptions are permitted for a Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit generally consist of Redemption Instruments as announced by the Administrator on the Business Day of the request for redemption, plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the Shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Redemption Instruments, less the redemption transaction fee and variable fees described below. Should the Redemption Instruments have a value greater than the NAV of the Shares being redeemed, a compensating cash payment to the Trust equal to the differential plus the applicable redemption transaction fee will be required to be arranged for by or on behalf of the redeeming shareholder. Each Fund reserves the right to honor a redemption request by delivering a basket of securities or cash that differs from the Redemption Instruments.

Redemption Transaction Fee

The basic redemption transaction fee of $                 is the same no matter how many Creation Units are being redeemed pursuant to any one redemption request. An additional charge up to four times the redemption transaction fee will be charged with respect to cash redemptions or redemptions outside of the NSCC Clearing Process. An additional variable charge for cash redemptions or partial cash redemptions (when cash redemptions are permitted for the Fund) may also be imposed to compensate each applicable Fund for the costs associated with selling the applicable securities. As a result, in order to seek to replicate the in-kind redemption order process, the Trust expects to sell, in the secondary market, the portfolio securities or settle any financial instruments that may not be permitted to be re-registered in the name of the Participating Party as a result of an in-kind redemption order pursuant to local law or market convention, or for other reasons (“Market Sales”). In such cases where the Trust makes Market Sales, the Authorized Participant will reimburse the Trust for, among other things, any difference between the market value at which the securities and/or financial instruments were sold or settled by the Trust and the cash in lieu amount (which amount, at the Adviser’s discretion, may be capped), applicable registration fees, brokerage commissions and certain taxes (“Transaction Costs”). The Adviser may adjust the transaction fee to the extent the composition of the redemption securities changes or cash in lieu is added to the Cash Amount to protect ongoing shareholders. In no event will transaction fees charged by the Fund in connection with a redemption exceed 2% of the value of each Creation Unit. Investors who use the services of a broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such

 

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services. To the extent the Fund cannot recoup the amount of Transaction Costs incurred in connection with a redemption from the redeeming shareholder because of the 2% cap or otherwise, those Transaction Costs will be borne by the Fund’s remaining shareholders and negatively affect the Fund’s performance.

Placement of Redemption Orders Using NSCC Clearing Process

Orders to redeem Creation Units of the Fund through the NSCC Clearing Process, if available, must be delivered through a Participating Party that has executed the Participant Agreement. An order to redeem Creation Units of the Fund using the Clearing Process is deemed received on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor not later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on such Transmittal Date; and (ii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed; such order will be effected based on the NAV of the Fund as next determined. An order to redeem Creation Units of the Fund using the NSCC Clearing Process made in proper form but received by the Fund after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, will be deemed received on the next Business Day immediately following the Transmittal Date. The requisite Fund Securities (or contracts to purchase such Fund Securities which are expected to be delivered in a “regular way” manner) and the applicable cash payment will be transferred by the third (3rd) Business Day following the date on which such request for redemption is deemed received.

Placement of Redemption Orders Outside NSCC Clearing Process—Domestic Funds

Orders to redeem Creation Units of the Fund outside the NSCC Clearing Process must be delivered through a DTC Participant that has executed the Participant Agreement. A DTC Participant who wishes to place an order for redemption of Creation Units of the Fund to be effected outside the NSCC Clearing Process need not be a Participating Party, but such orders must state that the DTC Participant is not using the Clearing Process and that redemption of Creation Units of the Fund will instead be effected through transfer of Creation Units of the Fund directly through DTC. An order to redeem Creation Units of the Fund outside the Clearing Process is deemed received by the Distributor on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received by the Distributor not later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on such Transmittal Date; (ii) such order is preceded or accompanied by the requisite number of Shares of Creation Units specified in such order, which delivery must be made through DTC to the Custodian no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, on such Transmittal Date (the “DTC Cut-Off-Time”); and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.

After the Distributor has deemed an order for redemption outside the NSCC Clearing Process received, the Custodian will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Redemption Instruments (or contracts to purchase such Redemption Instruments) which are expected to be delivered within three Business Days and the cash redemption payment to the redeeming Beneficial Owner by the third Business Day following the Transmittal Date on which such redemption order is deemed received by the Custodian. An additional variable redemption transaction fee of up to four times the basic transaction fee is applicable to redemptions outside the NSCC Clearing Process.

Placement of Redemption Orders Outside NSCC Clearing Process—Foreign Funds

Arrangements satisfactory to the Trust must be in place for the Participating Party to transfer the Creation Units through DTC on or before the settlement date. Redemptions of Shares for Redemption Instruments will be subject to compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and the Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Fund could not lawfully deliver specific Redemption Instruments upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Deposit Securities under such laws.

In connection with taking delivery of Shares for Redemption Instruments upon redemption of Creation Units, a redeeming shareholder or entity acting on behalf of a redeeming shareholder must maintain appropriate custody arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody providers in each jurisdiction in which any of the Redemption Instruments are customarily traded, to which account such Redemption Instruments will be delivered. If neither the redeeming shareholder nor the entity acting on behalf of a redeeming shareholder has appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Redemption Instruments in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Redemption Instruments in such jurisdictions, the Trust may, in its discretion, exercise its option to redeem such Shares in cash, and the redeeming shareholder will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash.

Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within three business days. Due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries or for other reasons, however, the delivery of redemption proceeds may take longer than three business days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. In such cases, the local market settlement procedures will not commence until the end of the local holiday periods.

 

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The holidays applicable to the Foreign Funds (including the Fund) are listed below. The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays” (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays or changes in local securities delivery practices, could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future. The dates in calendar year 2014 in which the regular holidays affect the relevant securities markets are as follows (the following holiday schedule is subject to potential changes in the securities market):

2014

 

AUSTRALIA

       

January 1

  April 18   May 19   August 13   December 25

January 27

  April 21   June 2   September 29   December 26

March 3

  April 25   June 9   October 6  

March 10

  May 5   August 4   November 4  

CANADA

       

January 1

  May 19   September 1   December 26  

January 2

  June 24   October 13    

February 17

  July 1   November 11    

April 18

  August 4   December 25    

GERMANY

       

April 6

  December 26      

April 9

       

May 1

       

December 25

       

GREECE

       

January 1

  April 18   August 15    

January 6

  April 21   October 28    

March 3

  May 1   December 25    

March 25

  June 9   December 26    

HONG KONG

       

January 1

  April 21   July 1   December 24  

January 30

  May 1   September 9   December 25  

January 31

  May 6   October 1   December 26  

April 18

  June 2   October 2   December 31  

IRELAND

       

January 1

  May 1   October 27   December 29  

March 17

  May 5   December 24    

April 18

  June 2   December 25    

April 21

  August 4   December 26    

ITALY

       

January 1

  May 1   December 24    

January 6

  June 2   December 25    

April 18

  August 15   December 26    

April 25

  December 8      

JAPAN

       

January 1

  February 11   July 21   November 3  

January 2

  March 21   September 15   November 24  

January 3

  April 29   September 23   December 23  

January 13

  May 5   October 13   December 31  

MALAYSIA

       

January 1

  February 3   June 7   October 6  

January 14

  May 1   July 28   October 22  

January 30

  May 13   July 29   October 23  

January 31

  May 15   July 30   October 25  

February 1

  May 30   September 1   December 25  

 

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2014 (continued)

 

NEW ZEALAND

       

January 1

  February 6   June 2    

January 2

  April 18   October 27    

January 20

  April 21   December 25    

January 27

  April 25   December 26    

SINGAPORE

       

January 1

  May 1   August 9   December 25  

January 31

  May 13   October 6    

February 1

  May 15   October 22    

April 18

  July 28   October 23    

SOUTH AFRICA

       

January 1

  April 28   December 16    

March 21

  May 1   December 25    

April 18

  June 16   December 26    

April 21

  September 24      

SOUTH KOREA

       

January 1

  March 1   August 15   October 3  

January 30

  May 5   September 7   December 24  

January 31

  May 6   September 8    

February 1

  June 6   September 9    

SWEDEN

       

January 1

  May 1   December 24    

January 6

  May 29   December 25    

April 18

  June 6   December 26    

April 21

  June 20   December 31    

SWITZERLAND

       

January 1

  April 21   August 1   December 25  

January 2

  May 1   August 15   December 26  

January 6

  May 29   September 11   December 31  

March 19

  June 9   December 8    

April 18

  June 19   December 24    

UNITED KINGDOM

       

January 1

  May 5   December 26    

April 18

  August 25      

April 21

  December 25      

The longest redemption cycle for Foreign Funds is a function of the longest redemption cycle in among countries whose securities comprise the Funds. In the calendar year 2014, the dates of regular holidays affecting the following securities markets present the worst-case (longest) redemption cycle* for Foreign Funds as follows:

SETTLEMENT PERIODS GREATER THAN SEVEN DAYS FOR YEAR 2014

 

     Beginning of Settlement Period      End of Settlement
Period
     Number of Days in
Settlement Period
 

Ireland

     12/19/14         12/30/14         11   
     12/22/14         12/31/14         9   
     12/23/14         01/02/15         10   

Italy

     12/19/14         12/29/14         10   
     12/22/14         12/30/14         8   
     12/23/14         01/02/15         10   

Japan

     12/26/14         01/05/15         10   
     12/29/14         01/06/15         8   
     12/30/14         01/07/15         8   

Malaysia

     01/27/14         02/04/14         8   
     01/28/14         02/05/14         8   
     01/29/14         02/06/14         8   
     07/23/14         07/31/14         8   
     07/24/14         08/01/14         8   

 

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     Beginning of Settlement Period      End of Settlement
Period
     Number of Days in
Settlement Period
 
     07/25/14         08/04/14         10   

South Africa

     03/14/14         03/24/14         10   
     03/17/14         03/25/14         8   
     03/18/14         03/26/14         8   
     03/19/14         03/27/14         8   
     03/20/14         03/28/14         8   
     04/11/14         04/20/14         9   
     04/14/14         04/23/14         9   
     04/15/14         04/24/14         9   
     04/16/14         04/25/14         9   
     04/17/14         04/29/14         12   
     04/22/14         04/30/14         8   
     04/23/14         05/02/14         9   
     04/24/14         05/05/14         11   
     04/25/14         05/06/14         11   
     04/29/14         05/07/14         8   
     04/30/14         05/08/14         8   
     06/09/14         06/17/14         8   
     06/10/14         06/18/14         8   
     06/11/14         06/19/14         8   
     06/12/14         06/20/14         8   
     06/13/14         06/23/14         10   
     09/17/14         09/25/14         8   
     09/18/14         09/26/14         8   
     09/19/14         09/29/14         10   
     09/22/14         09/30/14         8   
     09/23/14         10/01/14         8   
     12/09/14         12/17/14         8   
     12/10/14         12/18/14         8   
     12/11/14         12/19/14         8   
     12/12/14         12/22/14         10   
     12/15/14         12/23/14         8   
     12/18/14         12/29/14         11   
     12/19/14         12/30/14         11   
     12/22/14         12/31/14         9   
     12/23/14         01/02/15         10   
     12/24/14         01/05/15         12   
     12/29/14         01/06/15         8   
     12/30/14         01/07/15         8   
     12/31/14         01/08/15         8   

Sweden

     12/19/14         12/29/14         10   
     12/22/14         12/30/14         8   
     12/23/14         01/02/15         10   

 

* These worst-case redemption cycles are based on information regarding regular holidays, which may be out of date. Based on changes in holidays, longer (worse) redemption cycles are possible.

 

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APPENDIX B — DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

The following is a summary of published ratings by major credit rating agencies. Credit ratings evaluate only the safety of principal and interest payments, not the market value risk of lower quality securities. Credit rating agencies may fail to change credit ratings to reflect subsequent events on a timely basis. Although the investment adviser considers security ratings when making investment decisions, it also performs its own investment analysis and does not rely solely on the ratings assigned by credit agencies.

Unrated securities will be treated as non-investment grade securities unless the investment adviser determines that such securities are the equivalent of investment grade securities. Securities that have received different ratings from more than one agency are considered investment grade if at least one agency has rated the security investment grade, unless otherwise indicated in a Fund’s prospectus or SAI.

DESCRIPTION OF SHORT-TERM CREDIT RATINGS

Standard & Poor’s Corporation (“S&P”)

A S&P’s issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

Issuer credit ratings can be either long term or short term. Short-term ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market. In the U.S., for example, that means obligations with an original maturity of no more than 365 days–including commercial paper. Short-term ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. The result is a dual rating, in which the short-term rating addresses the put feature, in addition to the usual long-term rating. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

A-1    A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by Standard & Poor’s. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.
A-2    A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.
A-3    A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B    A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of ‘B-1’, ‘B-2’, and ‘B-3’ may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the ‘B’ category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B-1    A short-term obligation rated ‘B-1’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
B-2    A short-term obligation rated ‘B-2’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
B-3    A short-term obligation rated ‘B-3’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.
C    A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
D    A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation, including a regulatory capital instrument, are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

 

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Dual Ratings

S&P assigns “dual” ratings to all debt issues that have a put option or demand feature as part of their structure. The first rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second rating addresses only the demand feature. The long-term rating symbols are used for bonds to denote the long-term maturity and the short-term rating symbols for the put option (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, note rating symbols are used with the short-term issue credit rating symbols (for example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).

Active Qualifiers (Currently applied and/or outstanding)

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

Inactive Qualifiers (No longer applied or outstanding)

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

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

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

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

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

Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”)

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

 

F1    HIGHEST SHORT-TERM CREDIT QUALITY. Indicates the strongest capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2    GOOD SHORT-TERM CREDIT QUALITY. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial obligations.
F3    FAIR SHORT-TERM CREDIT QUALITY. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.
B    SPECULATIVE SHORT-TERM CREDIT QUALITY. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C    HIGH SHORT-TERM DEFAULT RISK. Default is a real possibility.
RD    RESTRICTED DEFAULT. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other obligations. Applicable to entity ratings only.
D    Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a specific short-term obligation.

Limitations of the Short-Term Ratings Scale

Specific limitations relevant to the Short-Term Ratings scale include:

 

    The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an obligation default.

 

    The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer or transaction’s profile other that the agency’s opinion on the relative vulnerability to default of the rated issuer or obligation.

 

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Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)

Moody’s short-term ratings are opinions of the ability of issuers to honor short-term financial obligations. Ratings may be assigned to issuers, short-term programs or to individual short-term debt instruments. Such obligations generally have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months, unless explicitly noted.

Moody’s employs the following designations to indicate the relative repayment ability of rated issuers:

 

P-1    Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
P-2    Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.
P-3    Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.
NP    Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.
Note:    Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long term rating of the issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.

Dominion Bond Rating Service (“DBRS”)

The DBRS short-term debt rating scale provides an opinion on the risk that an issuer will not meet its short-term financial obligations in a timely manner. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer and the relative ranking of claims. The R-1 and R-2 rating categories are further denoted by the subcategories “(high)”, “(middle)”, and “(low)”.

 

R-1 (high)    Highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is exceptionally high. Unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.
R-1 (middle)    Superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is very high. Differs from R-1 (high) by a relatively modest degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.
R-1 (low)    Good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is substantial. Overall strength is not as favorable as higher rating categories. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.
R-2 (high)    Upper end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.
R-2 (middle)    Adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events or may be exposed to other factors that could reduce credit quality.
R-2 (low)    Lower end of adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events. A number of challenges are present that could affect the issuer’s ability to meet such obligations.
R-3    Lowest end of adequate credit quality. There is a capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due. May be vulnerable to future events and the certainty of meeting such obligations could be impacted by a variety of developments.
R-4    Speculative credit quality. The capacity for the payment of short-term financial obligations as they fall due is uncertain.
R-5    Highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet short-term financial obligations as they fall due.
D    A financial obligation has not been met or it is clear that a financial obligation will not be met in the near future, or a debt instrument has been subject to a distressed exchange. A downgrade to D may not immediately follow an insolvency or restructuring filing as grace periods, other procedural considerations, or extenuating circumstance may exist.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF BANK RATINGS

Moody’s

Moody’s Bank Financial Strength Ratings (BFSRs) represent Moody’s opinion of a bank’s intrinsic safety and soundness and, as such, exclude certain external credit risks and credit support elements that are addressed by Moody’s Bank Deposit Ratings. In addition to commercial banks, Moody’s BFSRs may also be assigned to other types of financial institutions such as multilateral development banks, government-sponsored financial institutions and national development financial institutions.

Unlike Moody’s Bank Deposit Ratings, BSFRs do not address the probability of timely payment. Instead, BSFRs are a measure of the likelihood that a bank will require assistance from third parties such as its owners, its industry group, or official institutions.

BSFRs do not take into account the probability that the bank will receive such external support, nor do they address risks arising from sovereign actions that may interfere with a bank’s ability to honor its domestic or foreign currency obligations.

Factors considered in the assignment of BSFRs include bank-specific elements such as financial fundamentals, franchise value, and business and asset diversification. Although BSFRs exclude the external factors specified above, they do take into account other risk factors in the bank’s operating environment, including the strength and prospective performance of the economy, as well as the structure and relative fragility of the financial system, and the quality of banking regulation and supervision.

 

A    Banks rated A possess superior intrinsic financial strength. Typically, they will be institutions with highly valuable and defensible business franchises, strong financial fundamentals, and a very predictable and stable operating environment.
B    Banks rated B possess strong intrinsic financial strength. Typically, they will be institutions with valuable and defensible business franchises, good financial fundamentals, and a predictable and stable operating environment.
C    Banks rated C possess adequate intrinsic financial strength. Typically, they will be institutions with more limited but still valuable business franchises. These banks will display either acceptable financial fundamentals within a predictable and stable operating environment, or good financial fundamentals within a less predictable and stable operating environment.
D    Banks rated D display modest intrinsic financial strength, potentially requiring some outside support at times. Such institutions may be limited by one or more of the following factors: a weak business franchise; financial fundamentals that are deficient in one or more respects; or an unpredictable and unstable operating environment.
E    Banks rated E display very modest intrinsic financial strength, with a higher likelihood of periodic outside support or an eventual need for outside assistance. Such institutions may be limited by one or more of the following factors: a weak and limited business franchise; financial fundamentals that are materially deficient in one or more respects; or a highly unpredictable or unstable operating environment.

Where appropriate, a “+” modifier will be appended to ratings below the “A” category and a “-” modifier will be appended to ratings above the “E” category to distinguish those banks that fall in the higher and lower ends, respectively, of the generic rating category.

DESCRIPTION OF LONG-TERM CREDIT RATINGS

S&P

Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on Standard & Poor’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

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

 

    Nature of and provisions of the obligation;

 

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

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

 

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

 

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AA    An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.
A    An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.
BBB    An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

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

 

BB    An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
B    An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CCC    An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.
CC    An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.
C    A ‘C’ rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the ‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.
D    An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation, including a regulatory capital instrument, are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

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

 

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

Moody’s

Long-Term Obligation Ratings

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

 

Aaa    Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.
Aa    Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.
A    Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

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Baa    Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.
Ba    Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.
B    Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.
Caa    Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.
Ca    Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.
C    Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

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

Fitch

Rated entities in a number of sectors, including financial and non-financial corporations, sovereigns and insurance companies, are generally assigned Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs). IDRs opine on an entity’s relative vulnerability to default on financial obligations. The “threshold” default risk addressed by the IDR is generally that of the financial obligations whose non-payment would best reflect the uncured failure of that entity. As such, IDRs also address relative vulnerability to bankruptcy, administrative receivership or similar concepts, although the agency recognizes that issuers may also make pre-emptive and therefore voluntary use of such mechanisms.

In aggregate, IDRs provide an ordinal ranking of issuers based on the agency’s view of their relative vulnerability to default, rather than a prediction of a specific percentage likelihood of default.

 

AAA    HIGHEST CREDIT QUALITY. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA    VERY HIGH CREDIT QUALITY. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A    HIGH CREDIT QUALITY. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB    GOOD CREDIT QUALITY. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.
BB    SPECULATIVE. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.
B    HIGHLY SPECULATIVE. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.
CCC    SUBSTANTIAL CREDIT RISK. Default is a real possibility.
CC    VERY HIGH LEVELS OF CREDIT RISK. Default of some kind appears probable.
C    EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH LEVELS OF CREDIT RISK. Default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a ‘C’ category rating for an issuer include:

 

    the issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following non-payment of a material financial obligation;

 

    the issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or

 

    Fitch otherwise believes a condition of ‘RD’ or ‘D’ to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a coercive debt exchange.

 

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RD    RESTRICTED DEFAULT. ‘RD’ ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch’s opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding-up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased business. This would include:

 

    the selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;

 

    the uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;

 

    the extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or

 

    execution of a coercive debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.

 

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

Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, non-payment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a coercive debt exchange.

“Imminent” default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a coercive debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future.

In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency’s opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer’s financial obligations or local commercial practice.

Note:

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

Limitations of the Issuer Credit Rating Scale:

Specific limitations relevant to the issuer credit rating scale include:

 

    The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of default likelihood over any given time period.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the possible loss severity on an obligation should an issuer default.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the suitability of an issuer as a counterparty to trade credit.

 

    The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer’s business, operational or financial profile other than the agency’s opinion on its relative vulnerability to default.

DBRS

Long-Term Obligations

The DBRS long-term rating scale provides an opinion on the risk of default. That is, the risk that an issuer will fail to satisfy its financial obligations in accordance with the terms under which an obligations has been issued. Ratings are based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the issuer, and the relative ranking of claims. All rating categories other than AAA and D also contain subcategories “(high)” and “(low)”. The absence of either a “(high)” or “(low)” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category.

 

AAA    Highest credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is exceptionally high and unlikely to be adversely affected by future events.
AA    Superior credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered high. Credit quality differs from AAA only to a small degree. Unlikely to be significantly vulnerable to future events.

 

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A    Good credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is substantial, but of lesser credit quality than AA. May be vulnerable to future events, but qualifying negative factors are considered manageable.
BBB    Adequate credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is considered acceptable. May be vulnerable to future events.
BB    Speculative, non investment-grade credit quality. The capacity for the payment of financial obligations is uncertain. Vulnerable to future events.
B    Highly speculative credit quality. There is a high level of uncertainty as to the capacity to meet financial obligations.
CCC/CC/C    Very highly speculative credit quality. In danger of defaulting on financial obligations. There is little difference between these three categories, although CC and C ratings are normally applied to obligations that are seen as highly likely to default, or subordinated to obligations rated in the CCC to B range. Obligations in respect of which default has not technically taken place but is considered inevitable may be rated in the C category.
D    A financial obligation has not been met or it is clear that a financial obligation will not be met in the near future or a debt instrument has been subject to a distressed exchange. A downgrade to D may not immediately follow an insolvency or restructuring filing as grace periods or extenuating circumstances may exist.

DESCRIPTION OF INSURANCE RATINGS

Moody’s

Insurance Financial Strength Ratings

Moody’s Insurance Financial Strength Ratings are opinions of the ability of insurance companies to repay punctually senior policyholder claims and obligations. Specific obligations are considered unrated unless they are individually rated because the standing of a particular insurance obligation would depend on an assessment of its relative standing under those laws governing both the obligation and the insurance company.

Insurance Financial Strength Ratings, shown in connection with property/casualty groups, represent the ratings of individual companies within those groups, as displayed in Moody’s insurance industry ratings list. The rating of an individual property/casualty company may be based on the benefit of its participation in an intercompany pooling agreement. Pooling agreements may or may not provide for continuation of in-force policyholder obligations by pool members in the event that the property/casualty insurer is sold to a third party or otherwise removed from the pooling agreement.

Moody’s assumes in these ratings that the pooling agreement will not be modified by the members of the pool to reduce the benefits of pool participation, and that the insurer will remain in the pool. Moody’s makes no representation or warranty that such pooling agreement will not be modified over time, nor does Moody’s opine on the probability that the rated entity may be sold or otherwise removed from the pooling agreement.

Long-Term Insurance Financial Strength Ratings

Moody’s rating symbols for Insurance Financial Strength Ratings are identical to those used to indicate the credit quality of long-term obligations. These rating gradations provide investors with a system for measuring an insurance company’s ability to meet its senior policyholder claims and obligations.

 

Aaa    Insurance companies rated in this category offer exceptional financial security. While the credit profile of these companies is likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair their fundamentally strong position.
Aa    Insurance companies rated Aa offer excellent financial security. Together with the Aaa group, they constitute what are generally known as high-grade companies. They are rated lower than Aaa companies because long-term risks appear somewhat larger.
A    Insurance companies rated A offer good financial security. However, elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa    Insurance companies rated Baa offer adequate financial security. However, certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time.
Ba    Insurance companies rated Ba offer questionable financial security. Often the ability of these companies to meet policyholder obligations may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded in the future.
B    Insurance companies rated B offer poor financial security. Assurance of punctual payment of policyholder obligations over any long period of time is small.

 

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Caa    Insurance companies rated Caa offer very poor financial security. They may be in default on their policyholder obligations or there may be present elements of danger with respect to punctual payment of policyholder obligations and claims.
Ca    Insurance companies rated Ca offer extremely poor financial security. Such companies are often in default on their policyholder obligations or have other marked shortcomings.
C    Insurance companies rated C are the lowest-rated class of insurance company and can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever offering financial security.

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

Short-Term Insurance Financial Strength Ratings

Short-Term Insurance Financial Strength Ratings are opinions of the ability of the insurance company to repay punctually its short-term senior policyholder claims and obligations. The ratings apply to senior policyholder obligations that mature or are payable within one year or less.

Specific obligations are considered unrated unless individually rated because the standing of a particular insurance obligation would depend on an assessment of its relative standing under those laws governing both the obligation and the insurance company.

 

P-1    Insurers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability for repayment of senior short-term policyholder claims and obligations.
P-2    Insurers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability for repayment of senior short-term policyholder claims and obligations.
P-3    Insurers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability for repayment of senior short-term policyholder claims and obligations.
NP    Insurers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime (NP) do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

When ratings are supported by the credit of another entity or entities, then the name or names of such supporting entity or entities are listed within parenthesis beneath the name of the insurer, or there is a footnote referring to the name or names of the supporting entity or entities.

In assigning ratings to such insurers, Moody’s evaluates the financial strength of the affiliated insurance companies, commercial banks, corporations, foreign governments, or other entities, but only as one factor in the total rating assessment. Moody’s makes no representation and gives no opinion on the legal validity or enforceability of any support arrangement.

S&P

Insurer Financial Strength Rating Definitions

A S&P’s insurer financial strength rating is a forward-looking opinion about the financial security characteristics of an insurance organization with respect to its ability to pay under its insurance policies and contracts in accordance with their terms. Insurer financial strength ratings are also assigned to health maintenance organizations and similar health plans with respect to their ability to pay under their policies and contracts in accordance with their terms.

This opinion is not specific to any particular policy or contract, nor does it address the suitability of a particular policy or contract for a specific purpose or purchaser. Furthermore, the opinion does not take into account deductibles, surrender or cancellation penalties, timeliness of payment, nor the likelihood of the use of a defense such as fraud to deny claims. For organizations with cross-border or multinational operations, including those conducted by subsidiaries or branch offices, the ratings do not take into account potential that may exist for foreign exchange restrictions to prevent financial obligations from being met.

Insurer financial strength ratings do not refer to an organization’s ability to meet nonpolicy (i.e. debt) obligations. Assignment of ratings to debt issued by insurers or to debt issues that are fully or partially supported by insurance policies, contracts, or guarantees is a separate process from the determination of insurer financial strength ratings, and follows procedures consistent with issue credit rating definitions and practices. An insurer financial strength rating is not a recommendation to purchase or discontinue any policy or contract issued by an insurer.

 

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Long-Term Insurer Financial Strength Ratings

An insurer rated ‘BBB’ or higher is regarded as having financial security characteristics that outweigh any vulnerabilities, and is highly likely to have the ability to meet financial commitments.

 

AAA    An insurer rated ‘AAA’ has extremely strong financial security characteristics. ‘AAA’ is the highest insurer financial strength rating assigned by S&P.
AA    An insurer rated ‘AA’ has very strong financial security characteristics, differing only slightly from those rated higher.
A    An insurer rated ‘A’ has strong financial security characteristics, but is somewhat more likely to be affected by adverse business conditions than are insurers with higher ratings.
BBB    An insurer rated ‘BBB’ has good financial security characteristics, but is more likely to be affected by adverse business conditions than are higher-rated insurers.

An insurer rated ‘BB’ or lower is regarded as having vulnerable characteristics that may outweigh its strengths; ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of vulnerability within the range; ‘CC’ the highest.

 

BB    An insurer rated ‘BB’ has marginal financial security characteristics. Positive attributes exist, but adverse business conditions could lead to insufficient ability to meet financial commitments.
B    An insurer rated ‘B’ has weak financial security characteristics. Adverse business conditions will likely impair its ability to meet financial commitments.
CCC    An insurer rated ‘CCC’ has very weak financial security characteristics, and is dependent on favorable business conditions to meet financial commitments.
CC    An insurer rated ‘CC’ has extremely weak financial security characteristics and is likely not to meet some of its financial commitments.
R    An insurer rated ‘R’ is under regulatory supervision owing to its financial condition. During the pendency of the regulatory supervision, the regulators may have the power to favor one class of obligations over others or pay some obligations and not others. The rating does not apply to insurers subject only to nonfinancial actions such as market conduct violations.
NR    An insurer designated ‘NR’ is not rated, which implies no opinion about the insurer’s financial security.

Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

Fitch

Insurer Financial Strength Ratings

The Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) Rating provides an assessment of the financial strength of an insurance organization. The IFS Rating is assigned to the insurance company’s policyholder obligations, including assumed reinsurance obligations and contract holder obligations, such as guaranteed investment contracts. The IFS Rating reflects both the ability of the insurer to meet these obligations on a timely basis, and expected recoveries received by claimants in the event the insurer stops making payments or payments are interrupted, due to either the failure of the insurer or some form of regulatory intervention. In the context of the IFS Rating, the timeliness of payments is considered relative to both contract and/or policy terms but also recognizes the possibility of reasonable delays caused by circumstances common to the insurance industry, including claims reviews, fraud investigations and coverage disputes.

The IFS Rating does not encompass policyholder obligations residing in separate accounts, unit-linked products or segregated funds, for which the policyholder bears investment or other risks. However, any guarantees provided to the policyholder with respect to such obligations are included in the IFS Rating.

Expected recoveries are based on the agency’s assessments of the sufficiency of an insurance company’s assets to fund policyholder obligations, in a scenario in which payments have ceased or been interrupted. Accordingly, expected recoveries exclude the impact of recoveries obtained from any government sponsored guaranty or policyholder protection funds. Expected recoveries also exclude the impact of collateralization or security, such as letters of credit or trusteed assets, supporting select reinsurance obligations.

IFS Ratings can be assigned to insurance and reinsurance companies in any insurance sector, including the life & annuity, non-life, property/casualty, health, mortgage, financial guaranty, residual value and title insurance sectors, as well as to managed care companies such as health maintenance organizations.

The IFS Rating does not address the quality of an insurer’s claims handling services or the relative value of products sold.

 

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The IFS Rating uses the same symbols used by the agency for its International and National credit ratings of long-term or short-term debt issues. However, the definitions associated with the ratings reflect the unique aspects of the IFS Rating within an insurance industry context.

Obligations for which a payment interruption has occurred due to either the insolvency or failure of the insurer or some form of regulatory intervention will generally be rated between ‘B’ and ‘C’ on the Long-Term IFS Rating scales (both International and National). International Short-Term IFS Ratings assigned under the same circumstances will align with the insurer’s International Long-Term IFS Rating.

Long-Term International IFS Ratings

The following rating scale applies to foreign currency and local currency ratings. Ratings of ‘BBB-’ and higher are considered to be “secure”, and those of ‘BB+’ and lower are considered to be “vulnerable”.

 

AAA    EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG. ‘AAA’ IFS Ratings denote the lowest expectation of ceased or interrupted payments. They are assigned only in the case of exceptionally strong capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA    VERY STRONG. ‘AA’ IFS Ratings denote a very low expectation of ceased or interrupted payments. They indicate very strong capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A    STRONG. ‘A’ IFS Ratings denote a low expectation of ceased or interrupted payments. They indicate strong capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations. This capacity may, nonetheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB    GOOD. ‘BBB’ IFS Ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of ceased or interrupted payments. The capacity to meet policyholder and contract obligations on a timely basis is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to impact this capacity.
BB    MODERATELY WEAK. ‘BB’ IFS Ratings indicate that there is an elevated vulnerability to ceased or interrupted payments, particularly as the result of adverse economic or market changes over time. However, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow for policyholder and contract obligations to be met in a timely manner.
B    WEAK. ‘B’ IFS Ratings indicate two possible conditions. If obligations are still being met on a timely basis, there is significant risk that ceased or interrupted payments could occur in the future, but a limited margin of safety remains. Capacity for continued timely payments is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment, and favorable market conditions. Alternatively, a ‘B’ IFS Rating is assigned to obligations that have experienced ceased or interrupted payments, but with the potential for extremely high recoveries. Such obligations would possess a recovery assessment of ‘RR1’ (Outstanding).
CCC    VERY WEAK. ‘CCC’ IFS Ratings indicate two possible conditions. If obligations are still being met on a timely basis, there is a real possibility that ceased or interrupted payments could occur in the future. Capacity for continued timely payments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment, and favorable market conditions. Alternatively, a ‘CCC’ IFS Rating is assigned to obligations that have experienced ceased or interrupted payments, and with the potential for average to superior recoveries. Such obligations would possess a recovery assessment of ‘RR2’ (Superior), ‘RR3’ (Good), and ‘RR4’ (Average).
CC    EXTREMELY WEAK. ‘CC’ IFS Ratings indicate two possible conditions. If obligations are still being met on a timely basis, it is probable that ceased or interrupted payments will occur in the future. Alternatively, a ‘CC’ IFS Rating is assigned to obligations that have experienced ceased or interrupted payments, with the potential for average to below-average recoveries. Such obligations would possess a recovery assessment of ‘RR4’ (Average) or ‘RR5’ (Below Average).
C    DISTRESSED. ‘C’ IFS Ratings indicate two possible conditions. If obligations are still being met on a timely basis, ceased or interrupted payments are imminent. Alternatively, a ‘C’ IFS Rating is assigned to obligations that have experienced ceased or interrupted payments, and with the potential for below average to poor recoveries. Such obligations would possess a recovery assessment of ‘RR5’ (Below Average) or ‘RR6’ (Poor).

“+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to indicate the relative position of a credit within the rating category. Such suffixes are not added to ratings in the ‘AAA’ category or to ratings below the ‘B’ category.

 

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Short-Term IFS Ratings

A Short-Term Insurer Financial Strength Rating (ST-IFS Rating) provides an assessment of the near-term financial health of an insurance organization, and its capacity to meet senior obligations to policyholders and contract-holders that would be expected to be due within one year. The analysis supporting the ST-IFS Rating encompasses all of the factors considered within the context of the IFS Rating, but with greater weighting given to an insurer’s near-term liquidity, financial flexibility and regulatory solvency characteristics, and less weight given to longer-term issues such as competitiveness and earnings trends.

The agency will only assign a ST-IFS Rating to insurers that also have been assigned an IFS Rating. Currently, ST-IFS Ratings are used primarily by U.S. life insurance companies that sell short-term funding agreements.

The ST-IFS Rating uses the same international ratings scale used by the agency for short-term debt and issuer ratings.

 

F1    Insurers are viewed as having a strong capacity to meet their near-term obligations. When an insurer rated in this rating category is designated with a (+) sign, it is viewed as having a very strong capacity to meet near-term obligations.
F2    Insurers are viewed as having a moderately strong capacity to meet their near-term obligations.
F3    Insurers are viewed as having an adequate capacity to meet their near-term obligations.
B    Insurers are viewed as having a weak capacity to meet their near-term obligations.
C    Insurers are viewed as having a very weak capacity to meet their near-term obligations.

Recovery Ratings

Recovery Ratings are assigned to selected individual securities and obligations. These currently are published for most individual obligations of corporate issuers with IDRs in the ‘B’ rating category and below, and for most distressed or defaulted structured finance obligations rated “CCC” or below.

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

The Recovery Rating scale is based upon the expected relative recovery characteristics of an obligation upon the curing of a default, emergence from insolvency or following the liquidation or termination of the obligor or its associated collateral. For structured finance, Recovery Ratings are designed to estimate recoveries on a forward-looking basis while taking into account the time value of money.

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

 

RR1    OUTSTANDING RECOVERY PROSPECTS GIVEN DEFAULT. ‘RR1’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 91%–100% of current principal and related interest.
RR2    SUPERIOR RECOVERY PROSPECTS GIVEN DEFAULT. ‘RR2’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 71%–90% of current principal and related interest.
RR3    GOOD RECOVERY PROSPECTS GIVEN DEFAULT. ‘RR3’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 51%–70% of current principal and related interest.
RR4    AVERAGE RECOVERY PROSPECTS GIVEN DEFAULT. ‘RR4’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 31%–50% of current principal and related interest.
RR5    BELOW AVERAGE RECOVERY PROSPECTS GIVEN DEFAULT. ‘RR5’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 11%–30% of current principal and related interest.
RR6    POOR RECOVERY PROSPECTS GIVEN DEFAULT. ‘RR6’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 0%–10% of current principal and related interest.

Limitations of the Recovery Ratings Scale

Specific limitations relevant to the Recovery Ratings scale include:

 

    The ratings do not predict a specific percentage of recovery should a default occur.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the market value of any issuer’s securities or stock, or the likelihood that this value may change.

 

    The ratings do not opine on the liquidity of the issuer’s securities or stock.

 

    The ratings do not opine on any quality related to an issuer or transaction’s profile other than the agency’s opinion on the relative loss severity of the rated obligation should the obligation default.

 

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Recovery Ratings, in particular, reflect a fundamental analysis of the underlying relationship between financial claims on an entity or transaction and potential sources to meet those claims. The size of such sources and claims is subject to a wide variety of dynamic factors outside the agency’s analysis, which will influence actual recovery rates.

DESCRIPTION OF SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND RATINGS

Moody’s

Short-Term Obligation Ratings

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

 

MIG 1    This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.
MIG 2    This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample although not so large as in the preceding group.
MIG 3    This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.
SG    This designation denotes speculative-quality credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

Demand Obligation Ratings

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

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

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

 

VMIG 1    This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 2    This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
VMIG 3    This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.
SG    This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

S&P

Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

A S&P’s U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

    Amortization schedule — the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

    Source of payment — the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

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Note rating symbols are as follows:

 

SP-1    Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.
SP-2    Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.
SP-3    Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK RATINGS

DBRS

Preferred Share Rating Scale

The DBRS preferred share rating scale is used in the Canadian securities market and is meant to give an indication of the risk that a borrower will not fulfill its full obligations in a timely manner, with respect to both dividend and principal commitments. Every DBRS rating is based on quantitative and qualitative considerations relevant to the borrowing entity. Each rating category is denoted by the subcategories “high” and “low”. The absence of either a “high” or “low” designation indicates the rating is in the middle of the category. This scale may also apply to certain hybrid securities, in which case references to dividend throughout will reflect interest commitments of the hybrid security.

 

Pfd-1    Preferred shares rated Pfd-1 are of superior credit quality, and are supported by entities with strong earnings and balance sheet characteristics. Pfd-1 securities generally correspond with companies whose senior bonds are rated in the AAA or AA categories. As is the case with all rating categories, the relationship between senior debt ratings and preferred share ratings should be understood as one where the senior debt rating effectively sets a ceiling for the preferred shares issued by the entity. However, there are cases where the preferred share rating could be lower than the normal relationship with the issuer’s senior debt rating.
Pfd-2    Preferred shares rated Pfd-2 are of satisfactory credit quality. Protection of dividends and principal is still substantial, but earnings, the balance sheet, and coverage ratios are not as strong as Pfd-1 rated companies. Generally, Pfd-2 ratings correspond with companies whose senior bonds are rated in the “A” category.
Pfd-3    Preferred shares rated Pfd-3 are of adequate credit quality. While protection of dividends and principal is still considered acceptable, the issuing entity is more susceptible to adverse changes in financial and economic conditions, and there may be other adverse conditions present which detract from debt protection. Pfd-3 ratings generally correspond with companies whose senior bonds are rated in the higher end of the BBB category.
Pfd-4    Preferred shares rated Pfd-4 are speculative, where the degree of protection afforded to dividends and principal is uncertain, particularly during periods of economic adversity. Companies with preferred shares rated Pfd-4 generally coincide with entities that have senior bond ratings ranging from the lower end of the BBB category through the BB category.
Pfd-5    Preferred shares rated Pfd-5 are highly speculative and the ability of the entity to maintain timely dividend and principal payments in the future is highly uncertain. Entities with a Pfd-5 rating generally have senior bond ratings of B or lower. Preferred shares rated Pfd-5 often have characteristics that, if not remedied, may lead to default.
D    A security rated D implies the dividend or principal payment is in default per the legal documents, the issuer has made it clear that this will be the case in the near future or in certain cases, that there has been a distressed exchange. As such, the non payment of a dividend does not necessarily give rise to the assignment of a D rating. In some cases, DBRS may not assign a D rating under a bankruptcy announcement scenario, as allowances for grace periods may exist in the underlying legal documentation. Once assigned, the D rating will continue until such time as the rating is discontinued or reinstated by DBRS.

 

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PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28. Exhibits

 

(a)(1)    Certificate of Trust dated February 25, 2010. Filed herewith.
(a)(2)    Declaration of Trust. To be filed by amendment.
(b)    By-Laws. To be filed by amendment.
(c)    Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders. To be filed by amendment.
(d)(1)    Investment Advisory Agreement. To be filed by amendment.
(e)(1)    Distribution Agreement. To be filed by amendment.
(f)    Not applicable.
(g)(1)    Global Custody Agreement. To be filed by amendment.
(h)(1)    Administration Agreement. To be filed by amendment.
(h)(2)    Transfer Agency Agreement. To be filed by amendment.
(h)(3)    Fee Waiver Agreement. To be filed by amendment.
(i)    Opinion and consent of counsel. To be filed by amendment.
(j)    Consent of independent registered public accounting firm. To be filed by amendment.
(k)    Not applicable.
(l)    Certificate of Sole Shareholder. To be filed by amendment.
(m)    Not applicable.
(n)    Not applicable.
(o)    Reserved.
(p)(1)    Codes of Ethics of the Trust. To be filed by amendment.
(p)(2)    Codes of Ethics of the Investment Adviser. To be filed by amendment.
(p)(3)    Codes of Ethics of the Distributor. To be filed by amendment.

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Fund

Not applicable.

Item 30. Indemnification

To be filed by amendment.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of the Investment Adviser

See “Management of the Trust” in Part B. The business or other connections of each director and officer of J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. is currently listed in the investment advisor registration on Form ADV for J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (File No. 801-21011) and is incorporated herein by reference.


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Item 32. Principal Underwriters

To be filed by amendment.

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

All accounts, books, records and documents required pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained at the offices of:

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., the Registrant’s investment adviser, at 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (records relating to its functions as investment adviser).

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. at 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (records relating to its functions as shareholder servicing agent, custodian and administrative services agent).

JPMorgan Funds Management, Inc., the Registrant’s administrator, at 460 Polaris Parkway, Westerville, Ohio 43082 (relating to its functions as administrator).

Item 34. Management Services

Not applicable.

Item 35. Undertakings

Not applicable.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Trust has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York on the 21st day of October, 2013.

 

J.P. Morgan Exchange-Traded Fund Trust,

on behalf of JPMorgan Global Equity ETF

By:

 

/s/ George C.W. Gatch

  Name:   George C.W. Gatch
  Title:   President and Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date(s) indicated.

 

/s/ George C.W. Gatch

George C.W. Gatch

Initial Trustee, Treasurer, President, Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer


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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

(a)(1)   Certificate of Trust dated February 25, 2010.