N-2/A 1 d580508dn2a.htm PIMCO FLEXIBLE MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND PIMCO Flexible Municipal Income Fund
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2018

 

 

1933 Act File No. 333-221829        

1940 Act File No. 811-23314          

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM N-2

(Check appropriate box or boxes)

 

[X] REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
[X] Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1
[   ] Post-Effective Amendment No.

and

[X] REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
[X] Amendment No. 1

PIMCO Flexible Municipal Income Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

1633 Broadway

New York, New York 10019

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code)

(844) 312-2113

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

Joshua D. Ratner

c/o Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

1633 Broadway

New York, New York 10019

(Name and Address (Number, Street, City, State, Zip Code) of Agent for Service)

Copies of Communications to:

David C. Sullivan, Esq.

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02199

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box [ X ].

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

 

[   ] when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c).

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Title of Securities Being Registered

 

  Amount Being
Registered
  Proposed Maximum
  Offering Price Per Unit  
 

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Offering

Price(1)

  Amount of Registration
Fee(2)

Common Shares, par value $0.00001

          $1,000,000,000   $124,500.00

 

(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.

 

(2) A registration fee of $124.50 was previously paid in connection with the N-2 filed on November 30, 2017.

The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


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

Preliminary Prospectus, subject to completion dated May 2, 2018

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Prospectus

PIMCO FLEXIBLE MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Institutional Class Common Shares: PMFLX

PIMCO Flexible Municipal Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that continuously offers its shares (the “Common Shares”) and is operated as an “interval fund.” The Fund currently offers one class of Common Shares: Institutional Class.

Investment Objectives. The Fund seeks to provide high current income exempt from federal income tax. Capital appreciation is a secondary objective.

Investment Strategy. The Fund attempts to achieve these objectives by investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of municipal bonds and other municipal securities, the interest from which, in the opinion of bond counsel for the issuer at the time of issuance (or on the basis of other authority believed by PIMCO to be reliable), is exempt from federal income tax as described under “Portfolio Contents” below. To a lesser extent, the Fund also expects to invest in a full range of preferred securities with an emphasis on preferred securities that, at the time of issuance, are eligible to pay dividends that qualify for certain favorable federal income tax treatment.

Portfolio Contents. The Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of municipal bonds and other municipal securities, the interest from which, in the opinion of bond counsel for the issuer at the time of issuance (or on the basis of other authority believed by PIMCO to be reliable), is exempt from federal income tax. The Fund’s 80% policy is a fundamental policy, which may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares voting as a separate class.

The Fund may invest without limit in municipal bonds and other securities that are rated below investment grade (or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality). Bonds of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” The Fund may also invest without limit in investment grade securities. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in bonds of issuers in California and New York.

The Fund may invest the balance of its assets (i.e., not towards its 80% policy noted above) in securities and assets that produce taxable income. Such assets are normally expected to include preferred securities, with an emphasis on preferred securities that, at the time of issuance, are eligible to pay dividends that qualify for certain favorable federal income tax treatment, such as dividends that are treated as qualified dividend income and eligible for the dividends received deduction (in each instance, provided certain requirements and holding periods are satisfied).


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It is possible that the Fund could own no preferred securities at any given time, including, for example, if municipal securities are expected to produce a higher yield than preferred securities on an after-tax basis.

Subject to the Fund’s investment policies described above, the Fund may invest in other securities, including convertible and contingent convertible securities, commercial paper, securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and other privately placed securities, and other debt securities subject to federal income tax, including privately negotiated debt obligations with respect to which the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as specific securities, an index of securities or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets, such as indexes reflecting bonds. The rate of interest on an income-producing security may be fixed, floating or variable. The Fund may also engage in credit spread trades. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the prices or interest rates of two bonds or other securities, in which the value of the investment position is determined by changes in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities. The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis and may engage in short sales. The Fund may invest in trust certificates issued in tender option bond programs. In these programs, a trust typically issues two classes of certificates and uses the proceeds to purchase municipal securities having relatively long maturities and bearing interest at a fixed interest rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term tax-exempt rates. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in securities of other closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the Fund may invest directly.

The Fund may, but is not required to, invest in derivative instruments, such as options, futures or forward contracts or swap agreements. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% policy, the Fund values its derivative instruments based on their market value. The Fund may, without limitation, seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as buy backs or dollar rolls).

To the extent consistent with the applicable liquidity requirements for interval funds under Rule 23c-3 of the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities.

Interval Fund/Repurchase Offers. The Fund is an “interval fund,” a type of fund which, in order to provide liquidity to shareholders, has adopted a fundamental investment policy to make quarterly offers to repurchase between 5% and 25% of its outstanding Common Shares at net asset value, reduced by any applicable repurchase fee. Subject to applicable law and approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, for each quarterly repurchase offer, the Fund currently expects to offer to repurchase 10% of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares at net asset value.

Leverage. The Fund currently intends, subject to favorable market conditions, to add leverage to its portfolio through the use of tender option bonds and, within its first year of operations, by issuing preferred shares. The Fund may also choose to add leverage through the use of reverse repurchase agreements, credit default swaps, dollar rolls or borrowings, such as through bank loans or commercial paper and/or other credit facilities. The Fund may also enter into transactions other than those noted above that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions. The Fund intends to issue preferred shares and utilize tender option bonds and other forms of leverage opportunistically and may choose to increase or decrease, or eliminate entirely, its use of leverage over time and from time to time based on PIMCO’s assessment of the yield curve environment, interest rate trends, market conditions and other factors. By using leverage, the Fund seeks to obtain a higher return for holders of Common Shares than if the Fund did not use leverage. Leveraging is a speculative technique and there are special risks and costs involved. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be used or that it will be successful during any period in which it is employed.


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Investment Manager. The Fund’s investment manager is Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO” or the “Investment Manager”). As of March 31, 2018, PIMCO had approximately $1.77 trillion in assets under management.

 

    The Fund’s Common Shares are not listed for trading on any national securities exchange. The Fund’s Common Shares have no trading market and no market is expected to develop.
    An investment in the Fund is not suitable for investors who need certainty about their ability to access all of the money they invest in the short term.
    Even though the Fund will make periodic repurchase offers for its outstanding Common Shares, subject to the limitations described herein, investors should consider Common Shares of the Fund to be an illiquid investment.
    There is no guarantee that you will be able to sell your Common Shares at any given time or in the quantity that you desire.
    There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to make any distributions or maintain a certain level of distributions to Common Shareholders.

Only certain investors are eligible to purchase Institutional Class Common Shares. See “Plan of Distribution – Institutional Class.” The minimum initial investment amount for Institutional Class Common Shares is $1 million per account, except that the minimum investment amount may be modified for certain financial firms that submit orders on behalf of their customers, the Trustees and certain employees and their extended family members of PIMCO and its affiliates. There is no minimum subsequent investment amount for Institutional Class Common Shares. See “Plan of Distribution - Purchasing Shares.”

Investors should carefully consider the Fund’s risks and investment objectives, as an investment in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors and is not designed to be a complete investment program. No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. Before buying any of the Funds Common Shares, you should read the discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Fund in Principal Risks of the Fund beginning on page 46 of this prospectus.

 

     Price to public         Sales load         Proceeds to Fund

Per Institutional Class Common Share

   $10.00         None         $10.00

Total

   $10.00         None         $  1,000,000,000

 

(1) Expenses of issuance and distribution include $124,500 in registration fees, $90,000 in estimated printing and engraving expenses, $550,000 in estimated legal fees, and $17,500 in estimated accounting expenses. Organizational expenses to be paid by the Fund include registration fees and legal fees and are estimated to be approximately 0.78% of the Fund’s net assets attributable to Common Shares. PIMCO has contractually agreed, through July 31, 2019, to waive its management fee, or reimburse the Fund, to the extent that organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees exceed 0.10% of the Fund’s net assets (the “Expense Limit”). Under an expense limitation agreement, in any month in which the investment management agreement is in effect, PIMCO is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of any portion of the management fee reduced as set forth above (the “Reimbursement Amount”) during the previous thirty-six months, provided that such amount paid to PIMCO will not (1) together with any recoupment of organizational expenses and pro rata trustee fees or management fees exceed 0.10% of average net assets; (2) exceed the total Reimbursement Amount; or (3) include any amounts previously reimbursed to PIMCO. For the avoidance of doubt, any reimbursement of PIMCO’s management fee pursuant to the expense limitation agreement plus any recoupment of organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees will not exceed the lesser of (i) the expense limit in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement and (ii) the expense limit in effect at the time of recoupment.

Please read this prospectus carefully before deciding whether to invest and retain it for future reference. It sets forth concisely the information about the Fund that a prospective investor ought to know before investing in the Fund. The Fund has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Statement of Additional Information dated [            ], 2018 containing additional information about the Fund (the “Statement of Additional Information”). The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which means it is part of this prospectus for legal purposes. The Fund will also produce both annual and semi-annual reports that will contain important information about the Fund. Copies of the Statement of Additional Information and the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports, when available, may be


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obtained upon request, without charge, by calling 844.312.2113 or by writing to the Fund at Regulatory Document Request, 650 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660. You may also call this toll-free telephone number to request other information about the Fund or to make shareholder inquiries. The Statement of Additional Information is, and the annual reports and the semi-annual reports will be, made available free of charge on the Fund’s website at www.pimco.com. Information on, or accessible through, the Fund’s website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus. You may review and copy information about the Fund, including the Statement of Additional Information, at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may call the SEC at 1-202-551-8090 for information about the operation of the Public Reference Room. You may also access reports and other information about the Fund on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. You may get copies of this information, with payment of a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public Reference Section of the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. The table of contents for the Statement of Additional Information appears on page 87 of this prospectus.

The Fund’s Common Shares do not represent a deposit or obligation of, and are not guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The Fund has not authorized anyone to provide you with inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with inconsistent information, you should not assume that the Fund has authorized or verified it. The Fund is not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus. The Fund’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Summary

     1

Summary of Fund Expenses

     25

Financial Highlights

     26

The Fund

     26

Use of Proceeds

     26

The Fund’s Investment Objectives and Strategies

     27

Leverage

     44

Principal Risks of the Fund

     46

How the Fund Manages Risk

     63

Management of the Fund

     64

Plan of Distribution

     68

Periodic Repurchase Offers

     74

Net Asset Value

     77

Distributions

     78

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     80

Description of Capital Structure and Shares

     81

Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust

     83

Tax Matters

     84

Custodian and Transfer Agent

     85

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     86

Legal Matters

     86

Table of Contents for the Statement of Additional Information

     87

Appendix A Description of Securities Ratings

     A-1


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Prospectus Summary

This is only a summary. This summary may not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in Common Shares of the Fund. You should review the more detailed information contained in this prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information. In particular, you should carefully read the risks of investing in the Fund’s Common Shares, as discussed under “Principal Risks of the Fund.”

THE FUND

PIMCO Flexible Municipal Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that continuously offers its shares (the “Common Shares”). The Fund is operated as an “interval fund” (as defined below). The Fund currently offers one class of Common Shares: Institutional Class.

THE OFFERING

The Fund’s Common Shares are being offered initially at an offering price of $ 10 per share. The minimum initial investment amount for Institutional Class Common Shares is $1 million per account, respectively, except that the minimum investment amount may be modified for certain financial firms that submit orders on behalf of their customers, the Trustees and certain employees and their extended family members of PIMCO and its affiliates. There is no minimum subsequent investment amount for Institutional Class Common Shares. Following this initial offering, Institutional Class Common Shares are expected to be offered on a continuous basis at net asset value (“NAV”) per share. Proceeds from the offering will be held by the Fund’s custodian.

Common Shares of the Fund are being offered initially through PIMCO Investments LLC (the “Distributor”), on a best efforts basis. For additional information regarding Institutional Class Common Shares please see “Plan of Distribution – Institutional Class” in this prospectus. The Fund reserves the right to reject a purchase order for any reason. Shareholders will not have the right to redeem their Common Shares. However, as described below, in order to provide some liquidity to shareholders, the Fund will conduct periodic repurchase offers for a portion of its outstanding Common Shares.

PERIODIC REPURCHASE OFFERS

The Fund is an “interval fund,” a type of fund which, in order to provide liquidity to shareholders, will adopt a fundamental investment policy to make quarterly offers to repurchase between 5% and 25% of its outstanding Common Shares at NAV, reduced by any applicable repurchase fee. Subject to applicable law and approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board” or “Board of Trustees”), for each quarterly repurchase offer, the Fund currently expects to offer to repurchase 10% of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares at NAV. Written notification of each quarterly repurchase offer (the “Repurchase Offer Notice”) will be sent to shareholders at least 21 calendar days before the repurchase request deadline (i.e., the date by which shareholders can tender their Common Shares in response to a repurchase offer) (the “Repurchase Request Deadline”). The Fund’s Common Shares are not listed on any securities exchange, and the Fund anticipates that no secondary market will develop for its Common Shares. Accordingly, you may not be able to sell Common Shares when and/or in the amount that you desire. Investors should consider Common Shares of the Fund to be an illiquid investment. Thus, the Common Shares are appropriate only as a long-term investment. In addition, the Fund’s repurchase offers may subject the Fund and shareholders to special risks. See “Principal Risks of the Fund — Repurchase Offers Risk.”

The Fund does not currently expect to charge a repurchase fee. However, the Fund may charge a repurchase fee of up to 2.00%, which the Fund would retain to help offset non-de minimis estimated costs related to the repurchase incurred by the Fund, directly or indirectly, as a result of repurchasing Common Shares, thus allocating estimated transaction costs to the shareholder whose Common Shares are being repurchased. The Fund may introduce, or modify the amount of, a repurchase fee at any time. The Fund may also waive or reduce the repurchase fee if PIMCO determines that the repurchase is offset by a corresponding purchase or if for other reasons the Fund will not incur transaction costs or will incur reduced transaction costs.

 

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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to provide high current income exempt from federal income tax. Capital appreciation is a secondary objective.

The Fund attempts to achieve these objectives by investing at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of municipal bonds and other municipal securities, the interest from which, in the opinion of bond counsel for the issuer at the time of issuance (or on the basis of other authority believed by PIMCO to be reliable), is exempt from federal income tax as described under “Portfolio Contents” below. In pursuing its investment objectives, the Fund may invest without limit in investment grade securities and may invest without limit in below investment grade securities.

Portfolio Management Strategies

Flexible allocation strategy. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by utilizing a flexible, multi-sector tax-efficient approach to investing, under normal circumstances, primarily in municipal bonds and other municipal securities that carry interest payments that are exempt from federal income tax. The principal issuers of these securities are state and local governments and their agencies located in any of the fifty states, as well as in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories and possessions. To a lesser extent, the Fund also expects to invest in a full range of preferred securities with an emphasis on preferred securities that, at the time of issuance, are eligible to pay dividends that qualify for certain favorable federal income tax treatment. With PIMCO’s macroeconomic analysis as the basis for top-down investment decisions, the Fund seeks to offer investors an actively-managed municipal bond portfolio that aims to capitalize on what PIMCO believes are attractive opportunities across states and sectors within the U.S. municipal market.

Investment selection strategies. In selecting securities for the Fund, PIMCO develops an outlook for interest rates and the economy, analyzes credit and call risks, and uses other security selection techniques. The proportion of the Fund’s assets committed to investment in securities with particular characteristics (such as quality, sector, interest rate or maturity) varies based on PIMCO’s outlook for the U.S. economy.

PIMCO attempts to preserve and enhance the value of the Fund’s holdings relative to the municipal bond market, generally, using proprietary analytical models that test and evaluate the sensitivity of those holdings to changes in interest rates and yield relationships. There is no guarantee that PIMCO’s investment selection techniques will produce the desired results.

Credit quality. The Fund may invest without limit in municipal bonds and other securities of any credit quality, including without limitation, in securities that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade (below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or below BBB- by either S&P Global Ratings, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”)), or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. Bonds of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Bonds in the lowest investment grade category may also be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain rating agencies. The Fund may also invest without limit in investment grade securities. The Fund generally expects to invest approximately 60% of its total assets in above investment grade securities and 40% of its total assets in below investment grade securities, but may determine to allocate more heavily or exclusively to either category at any time and from time to time based on PIMCO’s economic outlook, market conditions, and other factors.

Independent credit analysis. PIMCO relies primarily on its own analysis of the credit quality and risks associated with individual municipal bonds considered for the Fund, rather than relying exclusively on rating agencies or third-party research. The Fund’s portfolio managers utilize this information in an attempt to minimize credit risk and to identify investments that are undervalued or that offer attractive yields relative to PIMCO’s assessment of their credit characteristics. This aspect of PIMCO’s capabilities will be particularly important to the extent that the Fund invests in high yield municipal bonds or other securities.

 

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Duration management. The Fund does not target a specific duration or maturity for the municipal bonds and other securities in which it invests, and the Fund’s average portfolio duration, as calculated by PIMCO may vary significantly depending on market conditions and other factors. There is no limit on the maturity or duration of any individual security in which the Fund may invest. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. The portfolio manager focuses on municipal bonds with the potential to offer attractive current income, typically looking for bonds that can provide consistently attractive current yields or that are trading at competitive market prices. Capital appreciation, if any, generally arises from decreases in interest rates or improving credit fundamentals for a particular state, municipality or issuer.

PORTFOLIO CONTENTS

The Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of municipal bonds and other municipal securities, the interest from which, in the opinion of bond counsel for the issuer at the time of issuance (or on the basis of other authority believed by PIMCO to be reliable), is exempt from federal income tax. The Fund’s 80% policy is a fundamental policy, which may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares voting as a separate class.

The Fund may invest without limit in municipal bonds and other securities that are rated below investment grade (or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality). Bonds of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” The Fund may also invest without limit in investment grade securities. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in bonds of issuers in California and New York.

The Fund may invest the balance of its assets (i.e., not towards its 80% policy noted above) in securities and assets that produce taxable income. Such assets are normally expected to include preferred securities, with an emphasis on preferred securities that, at the time of issuance, are eligible to pay dividends that qualify for certain favorable federal income tax treatment, such as dividends that are treated as qualified dividend income and eligible for the dividends received deduction (in each instance, provided certain requirements and holding periods are satisfied). See “Tax Matters.” It is possible that the Fund could own no preferred securities at any given time, including, for example, if municipal securities are expected to produce a higher yield than preferred securities on an after-tax basis.

Subject to the Fund’s investment policies described above, the Fund may invest in other securities, including convertible and contingent convertible securities, commercial paper, securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and other privately placed securities, and other debt securities subject to federal income tax, including privately negotiated debt obligations with respect to which the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as specific securities, an index of securities or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets, such as indexes reflecting bonds. The rate of interest on an income-producing security may be fixed, floating or variable. The Fund may also engage in credit spread trades. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the prices or interest rates of two bonds or other securities, in which the value of the investment position is determined by changes in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities. The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis and may engage in short sales. The Fund may invest in trust certificates issued in tender option bond programs. In these programs, a trust typically issues two classes of certificates and uses the proceeds to purchase municipal securities having relatively long maturities and bearing interest at a fixed interest rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term tax-exempt rates. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in securities of other closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the Fund may invest directly.

 

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The Fund may, but is not required to, invest in derivative instruments, such as options, futures or forward contracts or swap agreements For purposes of the Fund’s 80% policy, the Fund values its derivative instruments based on their market value. The Fund may, without limitation, seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as buy backs or dollar rolls).

To the extent consistent with the applicable liquidity requirements for interval funds under Rule 23c-3 of the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities.

LEVERAGE

The Fund currently intends, subject to favorable market conditions, to add leverage to its portfolio through the use of tender option bonds and, within its first year of operations, by issuing preferred shares. The Fund may also choose to add leverage through the use of reverse repurchase agreements, credit default swaps, dollar rolls or borrowings, such as through bank loans or commercial paper and/or other credit facilities. The Fund may also enter into transactions other than those noted above that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions. The Fund intends to issue preferred shares and utilize tender option bonds and other forms of leverage opportunistically and may choose to increase or decrease, or eliminate entirely, its use of leverage over time and from time to time based on PIMCO’s assessment of the yield curve environment, interest rate trends, market conditions and other factors. The net proceeds the Fund obtains from the issuance of preferred shares or the use of tender option bonds or other forms of leverage will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as described in this prospectus. So long as the rate of return, net of applicable Fund expenses, on the debt obligations and other investments purchased by the Fund exceeds the costs to the Fund of the leverage it utilizes, the investment of the Fund’s assets attributable to leverage will generate more income than will be needed to pay the costs of the leverage. If so, and all other things being equal, the excess may be used to pay higher dividends to holders of Common Shares (“Common Shareholders”) than if the Fund were not so leveraged.

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue preferred shares unless, immediately after such issuance, the value of the Fund’s total net assets (as defined below) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of any outstanding preferred shares and the newly issued preferred shares plus the aggregate amount of any senior securities of the Fund representing indebtedness (i.e., such liquidation value plus the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness may not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total net assets). In addition, should preferred shares be issued, the Fund would not be permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s total net assets satisfies the above-referenced 200% coverage requirement.

The 1940 Act also generally prohibits the Fund from engaging in most forms of leverage representing indebtedness other than preferred shares (including the use of tender option bonds, to the extent that these instruments are not covered as described below) unless immediately after the issuance of the leverage the Fund has satisfied the asset coverage test with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness prescribed by the 1940 Act; that is, the value of the Fund’s total assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (for these purposes, “total net assets”) is at least 300% of the senior securities representing indebtedness (effectively limiting the use of leverage through senior securities representing indebtedness to 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total net assets, including assets attributable to such leverage). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, this asset coverage test is satisfied. The Fund may (but is not required to) cover its commitments under tender option bonds or other derivatives instruments by the segregation of liquid assets, or by entering into offsetting transactions or owning positions covering its obligations. To the extent that certain of these instruments are so covered, they will not be considered “senior securities” under the 1940 Act and therefore will not be subject to the 1940 Act 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to forms of senior securities representing indebtedness used by the

 

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Fund. However, such instruments, even if covered, represent a form of economic leverage and create special risks. The use of these forms of leverage increases the volatility of the Fund’s investment portfolio and could result in larger losses to Common Shareholders than if these strategies were not used. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.”

Leveraging is a speculative technique and there are special risks and costs involved. There is no assurance that the Fund will issue preferred shares or utilize other forms of leverage (such as tender option bonds). If used, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful or result in a higher yield on your Common Shares. When leverage is used, the net asset value of the Common Shares and the yield to Common Shareholders will be more volatile. In addition, dividends paid on preferred shares and interest and other expenses borne by the Fund with respect to its use of tender option bonds or other forms of leverage are borne by the Common Shareholders and result in a reduction of the net asset value of the Common Shares. In addition, because the fees received by the Investment Manager are based on the total managed assets of the Fund (including any assets attributable to any preferred shares, tender option bonds and borrowings that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager has a financial incentive for the Fund to use certain forms of leverage (e.g., preferred shares and tender option bonds), which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has issued a proposed rule relating to a registered investment company’s use of derivatives and related instruments that, if adopted, could potentially require the Fund to reduce its use of leverage and/or observe more stringent asset coverage and related requirements than are currently imposed by the 1940 Act, which could adversely affect the value or performance of the Fund and the Common Shares.

The Fund’s ability to utilize leverage may also be limited by asset coverage requirements and other guidelines imposed by rating agencies that provide ratings for preferred shares, which may be more restrictive than the limitations imposed by the 1940 Act noted above.

Please see “Leverage,” “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk” for additional information regarding leverage and related risks.

INVESTMENT MANAGER

PIMCO serves as the Investment Manager for the Fund. Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, PIMCO is responsible for managing the investment activities of the Fund and the Fund’s business affairs and other administrative matters. David Hammer and Rachel Betton are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

PIMCO is located at 650 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Organized in 1971, PIMCO provides investment management and advisory services to private accounts of institutional and individual clients and to registered investment companies. PIMCO is a majority-owned indirect subsidiary of Allianz SE, a publicly traded European insurance and financial services company. As of March 31, 2018, PIMCO had approximately $1.77 trillion in assets under management.

DISTRIBUTIONS

The Fund currently intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income to shareholders in the form of dividends. The Fund intends to declare income dividends daily and distribute them quarterly to shareholders of record. At least annually, the Fund also intends to distribute to you your pro rata share of any available net capital gain and taxable ordinary income, if any. Net short-term capital gains may be paid more frequently. The dividends that the Fund pays will depend on a number of factors, including dividends payable on any preferred shares issued by the Fund, including the Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up (as described below) (and expenses associated with other forms of leverage).

 

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Although it does not now intend to do so, the Board of Trustees may change the Fund’s dividend policy and the amount or timing of Fund distributions, based on a number of factors, including the amount of the Fund’s undistributed net investment income and historical and projected investment income and the amount of the expenses and dividend rates on any outstanding preferred shares (and other forms of leverage). Unless shareholders specify otherwise, dividends will be reinvested in Common Shares of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. The Fund may pay distributions from sources that may not be available in the future and that are unrelated to the Fund’s performance, such as from offering proceeds and/or borrowings. See “Distributions” and “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

The Fund intends to issue preferred shares that will pay dividend distributions at a stated rate, which rate will be based on the assumption that such dividend distributions will consist entirely of “exempt-interest dividends” (as defined below under “Taxes on Portfolio Distributions”). The terms of such preferred shares will provide further that, in the event less than the entire amount of any particular dividend distribution paid pursuant to the stated rate were to consist of “exempt-interest dividends”, the amount of such dividend would increase by an amount (the “Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up”) such that the after-tax amount of such increased dividend would equal the total amount the holder of such preferred shares would have received if the dividend at the stated rate had consisted entirely of “exempt-interest dividends.” Any Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up would reduce the amount that would otherwise be distributable to Common Shareholders.

While not currently anticipated, if the Fund makes total distributions during a given calendar year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s net investment income and net capital gain for that calendar year, the excess would generally be treated by Common Shareholders as a return of capital for tax purposes. A return of capital reduces a shareholder’s tax basis, which could result in higher taxes when the shareholder sells his or her shares. For taxable shareholders, such a distribution may result in higher taxes when the shares are ultimately sold because it may result in a larger gain or a smaller loss on the sale. In the event of a distribution of paid-in capital, shareholders will be receiving their own capital back, net of the Fund’s fees and expenses.

The Fund might not distribute all or a portion of any net capital gain for a taxable year. If the Fund does not distribute all of its net capital gain for a taxable year, it will pay federal income tax on the retained gain. Each Common Shareholder of record as of the end of the Fund’s taxable year will include in income for federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, his or her share of the retained gain, will be deemed to have paid his or her proportionate share of the tax paid by the Fund on such retained gain, and will be entitled to an income tax credit or refund for that share of the tax. The Fund will treat the retained capital gain amount as a substitute for equivalent cash distributions. The Fund will send shareholders detailed tax information with respect to the Fund’s distributions annually. See “Tax Matters.”

DISTRIBUTOR, CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT

PIMCO Investments LLC, an affiliate of PIMCO, will serve as the Fund’s principal underwriter and distributor. State Street Bank and Trust Company will serve as the primary custodian of the Fund’s assets and will also provide certain fund accounting, sub-administrative and compliance services to the Investment Manager on behalf of the Fund. UMB Bank, n.a. will serve as a custodian of the Fund for the purpose of processing investor subscriptions and repurchases. DST Systems, Inc. will serve as the Fund’s transfer agent and dividend disbursement agent. See “Distributor, Custodian and Transfer Agent.”

UNLISTED CLOSED-END FUND STRUCTURE; LIMITED LIQUIDITY

The Fund will not list its Common Shares for trading on any securities exchange. There is currently no secondary market for its Common Shares and the Fund does not expect any secondary market to develop for its Common Shares. Shareholders of the Fund are not able to have their Common Shares redeemed or otherwise sell their Common Shares on a daily basis because the Fund is an unlisted closed-end fund. In order to provide liquidity to shareholders, the Fund is structured as an “interval fund” and conducts periodic repurchase offers for a portion of its outstanding Common Shares, as described herein. Investors should consider Common Shares of the Fund to be an illiquid investment. An investment in the Fund is suitable only for long-term investors who can bear the risks associated with the limited liquidity of the Common Shares. Investors should consider their investment goals, time horizons and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund.

 

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INVESTOR SUITABILITY

An investment in the Fund involves a considerable amount of risk. It is possible that you will lose money. An investment in the Fund is suitable only for investors who can bear the risks associated with the limited liquidity of the Common Shares and should be viewed as a long-term investment. Before making your investment decision, you should (i) consider the suitability of this investment with respect to your investment objectives and personal financial situation and (ii) consider factors such as your personal net worth, income, age, risk tolerance and liquidity needs. An investment in the Fund should not be viewed as a complete investment program.

PRINCIPAL RISKS OF THE FUND

No Prior History

The Fund is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company with no history of operations and is designed for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle.

New/Small Fund Risk

A new or smaller fund’s performance may not represent how the fund is expected to or may perform in the long term if and when it becomes larger and has fully implemented its investment strategies. Investment positions may have a disproportionate impact (negative or positive) on performance in a new and smaller fund, such as the Fund. New and smaller funds may also require a period of time before they are invested in securities that meet their investment objectives and policies and achieve a representative portfolio composition. Fund performance may be lower or higher during this “ramp-up” period, and may also be more volatile, than would be the case after the fund is fully invested. Similarly, a new or smaller fund’s investment strategy may require a longer period of time to show returns that are representative of the strategy. New funds have limited performance histories for investors to evaluate and new and smaller funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. If a new or smaller fund were to fail to successfully implement its investment strategies or achieve its investment objective, performance may

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that the municipal bonds and other securities in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because of a change in interest rates. As nominal interest rates rise, the value of certain fixed income securities held by the Fund is likely to decrease. A nominal interest rate can be described as the sum of a real interest rate and an expected inflation rate. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable, and the Fund may lose money as a result of movements in interest rates. The Fund may not be able to hedge against changes in interest rates or may choose not to do so for cost or other reasons. In addition, any hedges may not work as intended.

A wide variety of factors can cause interest rates to rise (e.g., central bank monetary policies, inflation rates, general economic conditions). This risk may be particularly acute in the current market environment because market interest rates are currently near historically low levels. This, combined with recent economic recovery, the Federal Reserve Board’s conclusion of its quantitative easing program, and increases in federal funds interest rates in 2015, 2016 and 2017, which had not occurred since 2006, could potentially increase the probability of an upward interest rate environment in the near future. To the extent the Federal Reserve Board continues to raise interest rates, there is a risk that rates across the financial system may rise.

Fixed income securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, usually making them more volatile than securities with shorter durations. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates that incorporates a security’s yield, coupon, final maturity and call

 

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features, among other characteristics. Duration is useful primarily as a measure of the sensitivity of a fixed income security’s market price to interest rate (i.e., yield) movements. All other things remaining equal, for each one percentage point increase in interest rates, the value of a portfolio of fixed income investments would generally be expected to decline by one percent for every year of the portfolio’s average duration above zero. For example, the value of a portfolio of fixed income securities with an average duration of eight years would generally be expected to decline by approximately 8% if interest rates rose by one percentage point.

Variable and floating rate securities generally are less sensitive to interest rate changes but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general. Conversely, floating rate securities will not generally increase in value if interest rates decline. Inverse floating rate securities may decrease in value if interest rates increase. Inverse floating rate securities may also exhibit greater price volatility than a fixed rate obligation with similar credit quality. When the Fund holds variable or floating rate securities, a decrease (or, in the case of inverse floating rate securities, an increase) in market interest rates will adversely affect the income received from such securities and the NAV of the Fund’s shares.

During periods of very low or negative interest rates, the Fund may be unable to maintain positive returns. Interest rates in the United States are at or near historically low levels. Very low or negative interest rates may magnify interest rate risk. Changing interest rates, including rates that fall below zero, may have unpredictable effects on markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance to the extent the Fund is exposed to such interest rates.

Measures such as average duration may not accurately reflect the true interest rate sensitivity of the Fund. This is especially the case if the Fund consists of securities with widely varying durations. Therefore, if the Fund has an average duration that suggests a certain level of interest rate risk, the Fund may in fact be subject to greater interest rate risk than the average would suggest. This risk is greater to the extent the Fund uses leverage or derivatives in connection with the management of the Fund.

Convexity is an additional measure used to understand a security’s or Fund’s interest rate sensitivity. Convexity measures the rate of change of duration in response to changes in interest rates. With respect to a security’s price, a larger convexity (positive or negative) may imply more dramatic price changes in response to changing interest rates. Convexity may be positive or negative. Negative convexity implies that interest rate increases result in increased duration, meaning increased sensitivity in prices in response to rising interest rates. Thus, securities with negative convexity, which may include bonds with traditional call features and certain mortgage-backed securities, may experience greater losses in periods of rising interest rates. Accordingly, if the Fund holds such securities, the Fund may be subject to a greater risk of losses in periods of rising interest rates.

Rising interest rates may result in a decline in value of the Fund’s municipal bond investments and in periods of volatility. Further, while U.S. municipal bond markets have steadily grown over the past three decades, dealer “market making” ability has remained relatively stagnant. As a result, dealer inventories of certain types of bonds and similar instruments, which provide a core indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to “make markets,” are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. Because market makers provide stability to a market through their intermediary services, the significant reduction in dealer inventories could potentially lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Such issues may be exacerbated during periods of economic uncertainty. All of these factors, collectively and/or individually, could cause the Fund to lose value

Municipal Bond Risk

Investing in the municipal bond market involves the risks of investing in debt securities generally and certain other risks. The amount of public information available about the municipal bonds in which the Fund may invest is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Fund’s investment in municipal bonds may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of PIMCO than its investments in taxable bonds. The secondary market for municipal bonds also tends to be less well developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell municipal bonds at attractive prices.

 

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The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns, by litigation, legislation or political events, or by the bankruptcy of the issuer. Laws, referenda, ordinances or regulations enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or the applicable governmental entity could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipal issuers to levy taxes. Issuers of municipal securities also might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, the Fund could experience delays in collecting principal and interest and the Fund may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both, the Fund may take possession of and manage the assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities, which may increase the Fund’s operating expenses. Adverse economic, business, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of the Fund’s municipal bonds in the same manner. The Fund will be particularly subject to these risks to the extent that it focuses its investments in municipal bonds in a particular state or geographic region.

The Fund may invest in trust certificates issued in tender option bond programs. In these programs, a trust typically issues two classes of certificates and uses the proceeds to purchase municipal securities having relatively long maturities and bearing interest at a fixed interest rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term tax-exempt rates. There is a risk that the Fund will not be considered the owner of a tender option bond for federal income tax purposes, and thus will not be entitled to treat such interest as exempt from federal income tax. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid or may become illiquid as a result of, among other things, a credit rating downgrade, a payment default or a disqualification from tax-exempt status. The Fund’s investment in the securities issued by a tender option bond trust may involve greater risk and volatility than an investment in a fixed rate bond, and the value of such securities may decrease significantly when market interest rates increase. Tender option bond trusts could be terminated due to market, credit or other events beyond the Fund’s control, which could require the Fund to dispose of portfolio investments at inopportune times and prices. The Fund may use a tender option bond program as a way of achieving leverage in its portfolio, in which case the Fund will be subject to leverage risk.

The Fund may invest in revenue bonds, which are typically issued to fund a wide variety of capital projects including electric, gas, water and sewer systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and universities; and hospitals. Because the principal security for a revenue bond is generally the net revenues derived from a particular facility or group of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source, there is no guarantee that the particular project will generate enough revenue to pay its obligations, in which case the Fund’s performance may be adversely affected.

The Fund may invest in taxable municipal bonds, such as Build America Bonds. Build America Bonds are tax credit bonds created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which authorized state and local governments to issue Build America Bonds as taxable bonds in 2009 and 2010, without volume limitations, to finance any capital expenditures for which such issuers could otherwise issue traditional tax-exempt bonds. The Fund’s investments in Build America Bonds or similar taxable municipal bonds will result in taxable income and the Fund may elect to pass through to Common Shareholders the corresponding tax credits. The tax credits can generally be used to offset federal income taxes and the alternative minimum tax, but such credits are generally not refundable. Taxable municipal bonds involve similar risks as tax-exempt municipal bonds, including credit and market risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Credit Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Market Risk.”

Municipal securities are also subject to interest rate, credit, and liquidity risk, which are discussed generally elsewhere in this section, and elaborated upon below with respect to municipal bonds.

Interest Rate Risk. The value of municipal securities, similar to other fixed income securities, will likely drop as interest rates rise in the general market. Conversely, when rates decline, bond prices generally rise.

Credit Risk. The risk that a borrower may be unable to make interest or principal payments when they are due. Funds that invest in municipal securities rely on the ability of the issuer to service its debt. This subjects the Fund to credit risk in that the municipal issuer may be fiscally unstable or exposed to large

 

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liabilities that could impair its ability to honor its obligations. Municipal issuers with significant debt service requirements, in the near-to mid-term; unrated issuers and those with less capital and liquidity to absorb additional expenses may be most at risk. To the extent the Fund invests in lower quality or high yield municipal securities, it may be more sensitive to the adverse credit events in the municipal market. The treatment of municipalities in bankruptcy is more uncertain, and potentially more adverse to debt holders, than for corporate issues.

Liquidity Risk. The risk that investors may have difficulty finding a buyer when they seek to sell, and therefore, may be forced to sell at a discount to the market value. Liquidity may sometimes be impaired in the municipal market and because the Fund primarily invests in municipal securities, it may find it difficult to purchase or sell such securities at opportune times. Liquidity can be impaired due to interest rate concerns, credit events, or general supply and demand imbalances. Depending on the particular issuer and current economic conditions, municipal securities could be deemed more volatile investments.

In addition to general municipal market risks, different municipal sectors may face different risks. For instance, general obligation bonds are secured by the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the municipality issuing the obligation. As such, timely payment depends on the municipality’s ability to raise tax revenue and maintain a fiscally sound budget. The timely payments may also be influenced by any unfunded pension liabilities or other post-employee benefit plan (OPEB) liabilities.

Revenue bonds are secured by special tax revenues or other revenue sources. If the specified revenues do not materialize, then the bonds may not be repaid.

Private activity bonds are yet another type of municipal security. Municipalities use private activity bonds to finance the development of industrial facilities for use by private enterprise. Principal and interest payments are to be made by the private enterprise benefitting from the development, which means that the holder of the bond is exposed to the risk that the private issuer may default on the bond.

Moral obligation bonds are usually issued by special purpose public entities. If the public entity defaults, repayment becomes a “moral obligation” instead of a legal one. The lack of a legally enforceable right to payment in the event of default poses a special risk for a holder of the bond because it has little or no ability to seek recourse in the event of default.

In addition, a significant restructuring of federal income tax rates or even serious discussion on the topic in Congress could cause municipal bond prices to fall. The demand for municipal securities is strongly influenced by the value of tax-exempt income to investors. Lower income tax rates could reduce the advantage of owning municipal securities.

Municipal notes are similar to general municipal debt obligations, but they generally possess shorter terms. Municipal notes can be used to provide interim financing and may not be repaid if anticipated revenues are not realized.

Puerto Rico-Specific Risk. Municipal obligations issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or its political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, or public corporations may be affected by economic, market, political, and social conditions in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico currently is experiencing significant fiscal and economic challenges, including substantial debt service obligations, high levels of unemployment, underfunded public retirement systems, and persistent government budget deficits. These challenges may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico municipal securities. Major ratings agencies have downgraded the general obligation debt of Puerto Rico to below investment grade and continue to maintain a negative outlook for this debt, which increases the likelihood that the rating will be lowered further. In both August 2015 and January 2016, Puerto Rico defaulted on its debt by failing to make full payment due on its outstanding bonds, and there can be no assurance that Puerto Rico will be able to satisfy its future debt obligations. Further downgrades or defaults may place additional strain on the Puerto Rico economy and may negatively affect the value, liquidity, and volatility of the

 

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Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico municipal securities. Legislation, including legislation that would allow Puerto Rico to restructure its municipal debt obligations, thus increasing the risk that Puerto Rico may never pay off municipal indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed, could also impact the value of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico municipal securities.

These challenges and uncertainties have been exacerbated by Hurricane Maria and the resulting natural disaster in Puerto Rico. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, causing major damage across the Commonwealth, including damage to its water, power, and telecommunications infrastructure. The length of time needed to rebuild Puerto Rico’s infrastructure is unclear, but could amount to years, during which the Commonwealth is likely to be in an uncertain economic state. The full extent of the natural disaster’s impact on Puerto Rico’s economy and foreign investment in Puerto Rico is difficult to estimate.

Municipal Project-Specific Risk

The Fund may be more sensitive to adverse economic, business or political developments if it invests a substantial portion of its assets in the bonds of specific projects (such as those relating to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities), industrial development bonds, or in general obligation bonds, particularly if there is a large concentration from issuers in a single state. This is because the value of municipal securities can be significantly affected by the political, economic, legal, and legislative realities of the particular issuer’s locality or municipal sector events. Similarly, changes to state or federal regulation tied to a specific sector, such as the hospital sector, could have an impact on the revenue stream for a given subset of the market.

California State-Specific Risk

The Fund may invest in municipal bonds issued by or on behalf of the State of California and its political subdivisions, financing authorities and their agencies, and therefore may be affected significantly by economic, regulatory or political developments affecting the ability of California issuers to pay interest or repay principal. Certain California issuers of issues of municipal bonds have experienced serious financial difficulties in the past and reoccurrence of these difficulties may impair the ability of certain California issuers to pay principal or interest on their obligations. Provisions of the California Constitution and State statutes which limit the taxing and spending authority of California governmental entities may impair the ability of California issuers to pay principal and/or interest on their obligations. While California’s economy is broad, it does have major concentrations in high technology, aerospace and defense-related manufacturing, trade, entertainment, real estate and financial services, and may be sensitive to economic problems affecting those industries. Future California political and economic developments, constitutional amendments, legislative measures, executive orders, administrative regulations, litigation and voter initiatives could have an adverse effect on the debt obligations of California issuers.

New York State-Specific Risk

The Fund may invest in municipal bonds issued by or on behalf of the State of New York and its political subdivisions, financing authorities and their agencies, and therefore may be particularly affected by political, economic or regulatory developments affecting the ability of New York tax-exempt issuers to pay interest or repay principal. Certain New York issuers of municipal bonds have at times experienced serious financial difficulties, and a reoccurrence of these difficulties may impair the ability of certain New York issuers to pay principal and/or interest on their obligations. The creditworthiness of obligations issued by local New York issuers may be unrelated to the creditworthiness of obligations issued by New York City and State agencies, and that there is no obligation on the part of New York State to make payment on such local obligations in the event of default.

Relative to other states, New York has for many years imposed a very high state and local tax burden on residents. The burden of state and local taxation, in combination with the many other causes of regional economic dislocation, has contributed to the decisions of some businesses and individuals to relocate outside of, or not locate within, New York. The economic and financial condition of the State also may be affected by various financial, social, economic and political factors. For example, the securities industry is more central to New York’s economy than to

 

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the national economy, therefore any significant decline in stock market performance could adversely affect the State’s income and employment levels. Furthermore, such social, economic and political factors can be very complex, may vary from year to year and can be the result of actions taken not only by the State and its agencies and instrumentalities, but also by entities, such as the Federal government, that are not under the control of the State.

New York City accounts for a large portion of the State’s population and personal income, and New York City’s financial health affects the State in numerous ways. New York City continues to require significant financial assistance from the State and depends on State aid to both enable it to balance its budget and to meet its cash requirements. The State could also be affected by the ability of the City to market its securities successfully in the public credit markets, as well as by shifts upward or downward in the State’s real estate market.

Insurance Risk

The Fund may purchase municipal securities that are secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of the companies that provide such credit enhancements will affect the value of those securities. Certain significant providers of insurance for municipal securities have recently incurred significant losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower credit quality investments that have experienced recent defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such losses have reduced the insurers’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such insurance if they are called upon to do so in the future. While an insured municipal security will typically be deemed to have the rating of its insurer, if the insurer of a municipal security suffers a downgrade in its credit rating or the market discounts the value of the insurance provided by the insurer, the rating of the underlying municipal security will be more relevant and the value of the municipal security would more closely, if not entirely, reflect such rating. In such a case, the value of insurance associated with a municipal security would decline and may not add any value. The insurance feature of a municipal security does not guarantee the full payment of principal and interest through the life of an insured obligation, the market value of the insured obligation or the net asset value of the common shares represented by such insured obligation.

Inflation/Deflation Risk

Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from the Fund’s investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of payments at future dates. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s portfolio could decline. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio and Common Shares.

Call Risk

Call risk refers to the possibility that an issuer may exercise its right to redeem a municipal bond or other fixed income security earlier than expected (a call). Issuers may call outstanding municipal bonds or other securities prior to their maturity for a number of reasons (e.g., declining interest rates, changes in credit spreads and improvements in the issuer’s credit quality). If an issuer calls a municipal bond or other security in which the Fund has invested, the Fund may not recoup the full amount of its initial investment and may be forced to reinvest in lower-yielding securities, securities with greater credit risks or securities with other, less favorable features.

Credit Risk

The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a debt security (including a security purchased with securities lending collateral), or the counterparty to a derivatives contract, repurchase agreement or a loan of portfolio securities, is unable or unwilling, or is perceived (whether by market participants, rating agencies, pricing services or otherwise) as unable or unwilling, to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The downgrade of the credit of a security held by the Fund may decrease its value. Securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, which are often reflected in credit ratings. Measures such as average

 

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credit quality may not accurately reflect the true credit risk of the Fund. This is especially the case if the Fund holds securities with widely varying credit ratings. Therefore, if the Fund has an average credit rating that suggests a certain credit quality, the Fund may in fact be subject to greater credit risk than the average would suggest. This risk is greater to the extent the Fund uses leverage or derivatives in connection with the management of the Fund. Municipal bonds are subject to the risk that litigation, legislation or other political events, local business or economic conditions, or the bankruptcy of the issuer could have a significant effect on an issuer’s ability to make payments of principal and/or interest.

Issuer Risk

The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets. A change in the financial condition of a single issuer may affect securities markets as a whole. These risks can apply to the Common Shares issued by the Fund and to the issuers of securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests.

Liquidity Risk

To the extent consistent with the applicable liquidity requirements for interval funds under Rule 23c-3 of the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell at the time that the Fund would like or at the price that the Fund believes such investments are currently worth. Many of the Fund’s investments may be illiquid. Illiquid securities may become harder to value, especially in changing markets. The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may reduce the returns of the Fund because it may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price or possibly require the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations, which could prevent the Fund from taking advantage of other investment opportunities. Additionally, the market for certain investments may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the conditions of a particular issuer. Bond markets have consistently grown over the past three decades while the capacity for traditional dealer counterparties to engage in fixed income trading has not kept pace and in some cases has decreased. As a result, dealer inventories of corporate bonds, which provide a core indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to “make markets,” are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. Because market makers seek to provide stability to a market through their intermediary services, the significant reduction in dealer inventories could potentially lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Such issues may be exacerbated during periods of economic uncertainty. In such cases, the Fund, due to limitations on investments in illiquid securities and the difficulty in purchasing and selling such securities or instruments, may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain sector.

Fixed income securities with longer durations until maturity face heightened levels of liquidity risk as compared to fixed income securities with shorter durations until maturity. The risks associated with illiquid instruments may be particularly acute in situations in which the Fund’s operations require cash (such as in connection with repurchase offers) and could result in the Fund borrowing to meet its short-term needs or incurring losses on the sale of illiquid instruments. See “Principal Risks of the Fund – Repurchase Offers Risk.” It may also be the case that other market participants may be attempting to liquidate fixed income holdings at the same time as the Fund, causing increased supply in the market and contributing to liquidity risk and downward pricing pressure. See “Principal Risks of the Fund— Valuation Risk.”

Repurchase Offers Risk

As described under “Periodic Repurchase Offers” above, the Fund is an “interval fund” and, in order to provide liquidity to shareholders, the Fund, subject to applicable law, intends to conduct quarterly repurchase offers of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares at NAV, subject to approval of the Board. In each quarter, such repurchase offers will be for at least 5% of its outstanding Common Shares at NAV, pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act.

 

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The Fund currently expects to conduct quarterly repurchase offers for 10% of its outstanding Common Shares under ordinary circumstances. The Fund believes that these repurchase offers are generally beneficial to the Fund’s shareholders, and repurchases generally will be funded from available cash or sales of portfolio securities. However, repurchase offers and the need to fund repurchase obligations may affect the ability of the Fund to be fully invested or force the Fund to maintain a higher percentage of its assets in liquid investments, which may harm the Fund’s investment performance. Moreover, diminution in the size of the Fund through repurchases may result in untimely sales of portfolio securities (with associated imputed transaction costs, which may be significant), and may limit the ability of the Fund to participate in new investment opportunities or to achieve its investment objective. The Fund may accumulate cash by holding back (i.e., not reinvesting) payments received in connection with the Fund’s investments. The Fund believes that payments received in connection with the Fund’s investments will generate sufficient cash to meet the maximum potential amount of the Fund’s repurchase obligations. If at any time cash and other liquid assets held by the Fund are not sufficient to meet the Fund’s repurchase obligations, the Fund intends, if necessary, to sell investments. If, as expected, the Fund employs investment leverage, repurchases of Common Shares would compound the adverse effects of leverage in a declining market. In addition, if the Fund borrows to finance repurchases, interest on that borrowing will negatively affect Common Shareholders who do not tender their Common Shares by increasing the Fund’s expenses and reducing any net investment income. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed, the Board of Trustees of the Fund may determine to increase the amount repurchased by up to 2% of the Fund’s outstanding shares as of the date of the Repurchase Request Deadline. In the event that the Board of Trustees of the Fund determines not to repurchase more than the repurchase offer amount, or if shareholders tender more than the repurchase offer amount plus 2% of the Fund’s outstanding shares as of the date of the Repurchase Request Deadline, the Fund will repurchase the Common Shares tendered on a pro rata basis, and shareholders will have to wait until the next repurchase offer to make another repurchase request. As a result, shareholders may be unable to liquidate all or a given percentage of their investment in the Fund during a particular repurchase offer. Some shareholders, in anticipation of proration, may tender more Common Shares than they wish to have repurchased in a particular quarter, thereby increasing the likelihood that proration will occur. A shareholder may be subject to market and other risks, and the NAV of Common Shares tendered in a repurchase offer may decline between the Repurchase Request Deadline and the date on which the NAV for tendered Common Shares is determined. In addition, the repurchase of Common Shares by the Fund may be a taxable event to shareholders.

High Yield Securities Risk

In general, lower rated debt securities carry a greater degree of risk that the issuer will lose its ability to make interest and principal payments, which could have a negative effect on the NAV of the Fund’s Common Shares or Common Share dividends. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.” High yield securities involve a greater risk of default and their prices are generally more volatile and sensitive to actual or perceived negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or revenues of underlying borrowers or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. Debt securities in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain rating agencies. The Fund may purchase distressed securities that are in default or the issuers of which are in bankruptcy, which involve heightened risks. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Distressed and Defaulted Securities Risk.” An economic downturn could severely affect the ability of issuers (particularly those that are highly leveraged) to service their debt obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity. Lower-rated securities are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities, which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular security. For example, under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for below investment grade securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, and certain securities in the Fund’s portfolio may become illiquid or less liquid. As a result, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell these securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk.” To the extent the Fund focuses on below investment grade debt obligations, PIMCO’s capabilities in analyzing credit quality and associated risks will be particularly important, and there can be no assurance that PIMCO will be successful in this regard. See “The Fund’s Investment Objectives and Strategies—Portfolio Contents—High Yield Securities” for additional information. Due to the risks involved in investing in high yield securities, an investment in the Fund should be considered speculative.

 

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The Fund’s credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a rating agency or PIMCO downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, PIMCO may consider factors including, but not limited to, PIMCO’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. Analysis of creditworthiness may be more complex for issuers of high yield securities than for issuers of higher quality debt securities.

Market Risk

The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest rates, adverse changes to credit markets or adverse investor sentiment generally. The value of a security may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value simultaneously. Credit ratings downgrades may also negatively affect securities held by the Fund. Even when markets perform well, there is no assurance that the investments held by the Fund will increase in value along with the broader market. In addition, market risk includes the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt the economy on a national or global level. For instance, terrorism, market manipulation, government defaults, government shutdowns, political changes or diplomatic developments, and natural/environmental disasters can all negatively impact the securities markets, which could cause the Fund to lose value. Any market disruptions could also prevent the Fund from executing advantageous investment decisions in a timely manner. Thus, investors should closely monitor current market conditions to determine whether the Fund meets their individual financial needs and tolerance for risk.

Current market conditions may pose heightened risks with respect funds that invest in fixed income securities. As discussed more under “Principal Risks of the Fund—Interest Rate Risk,” interest rates in the U.S. are near historically low levels. However, continued economic recovery, the end of the Federal Reserve Board’s quantitative easing program, and an increased likelihood of a rising interest rate environment increase the risk that interest rates will continue to rise in the near future. Any further interest rate increases in the future could cause the value of the Fund to decrease. As such, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate, volatility and liquidity risk.

Exchanges and securities markets may close early, close late or issue trading halts on specific securities, which may result in, among other things, the Fund being unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments at an advantageous time or accurately price its portfolio investments.

Municipal Bond Market Risk. The amount of public information available about the municipal bonds in the Fund’s portfolio is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Fund may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of PIMCO than would be a stock fund or taxable bond fund. The secondary market for municipal bonds, particularly below investment grade bonds in which the Fund may invest, also tends to be less well-developed and less liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell its bonds at attractive prices.

Management Risk

The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. PIMCO and each individual portfolio manager will apply investment techniques and risk analysis in making investment decisions for

 

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the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results. Certain securities or other instruments in which the Fund seeks to invest may not be available in the quantities desired. In addition, regulatory restrictions, actual or potential conflicts of interest or other considerations may cause PIMCO to restrict or prohibit participation in certain investments. In such circumstances, PIMCO or the individual portfolio managers may determine to purchase other securities or instruments as substitutes. Such substitute securities or instruments may not perform as intended, which could result in losses to the Fund. To the extent the Fund employs strategies targeting perceived pricing inefficiencies, arbitrage strategies or similar strategies, it is subject to the risk that the pricing or valuation of the securities and instruments involved in such strategies may change unexpectedly, which may result in reduced returns or losses to the Fund. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax restrictions, policies or developments may affect the investment techniques available to PIMCO and each individual portfolio manager in connection with managing the Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives. There also can be no assurance that all of the personnel of PIMCO will continue to be associated with PIMCO for any length of time. The loss of the services of one or more key employees of PIMCO could have an adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to realize its investment objective.

In addition, the Fund may rely on various third-party sources to calculate its NAV. As a result, the Fund is subject to certain operational risks associated with reliance on service providers and service providers’ data sources. In particular, errors or systems failures and other technological issues may adversely impact the Fund’s calculations of its NAV, and such NAV calculation issues may result in inaccurately calculated NAVs, delays in NAV calculation and/or the inability to calculate NAVs over extended periods. The Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such failures.

Reinvestment Risk

Income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if and when the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called debt obligations at market interest rates that are below the portfolio’s current earnings rate. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, an issuer of debt obligations may exercise an option to redeem securities prior to maturity, forcing the Fund to invest in lower-yielding securities. The Fund also may choose to sell higher yielding portfolio securities and to purchase lower yielding securities to achieve greater portfolio diversification, because the portfolio managers believe the current holdings are overvalued or for other investment-related reasons. A decline in income received by the Fund from its investments is likely to have a negative effect on dividend levels, NAV and/or overall return of the Common Shares.

Leverage Risk

The Fund’s use of leverage (as described under “Leverage” in the body of this prospectus) creates the opportunity for increased Common Share net income, but also creates special risks for Common Shareholders. To the extent used, there is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful. Leverage is a speculative technique that may expose the Fund to greater risk and increased costs. The Fund’s assets attributable to any outstanding preferred shares or the net proceeds that the Fund obtains from its use of tender option bonds, derivatives or other forms of leverage, if any, will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies as described in this prospectus. Dividends payable with respect to any preferred shares outstanding and interest expense payable by the Fund with respect to any tender option bonds, derivatives and other forms of leverage will generally be based on shorter-term interest rates that would be periodically reset. So long as the Fund’s portfolio investments provide a higher rate of return (net of applicable Fund expenses) than the dividend rate on any preferred shares outstanding, including the Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up, and the interest expenses and other costs to the Fund of such other leverage, the investment of the proceeds thereof will generate more income than will be needed to pay the costs of the leverage. If so, and all other things being equal, the excess may be used to pay higher dividends to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not so leveraged. If, however, shorter-term interest rates rise relative to the rate of return on the Fund’s portfolio, the interest and other costs to the Fund of leverage (including interest expenses on tender option bonds and the dividend rate on any outstanding preferred shares, including the Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up) could exceed the rate of return on the debt obligations and other investments held by the Fund, thereby reducing return to Common Shareholders. In addition,

 

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fees and expenses of any form of leverage used by the Fund will be borne entirely by the Common Shareholders (and not by preferred shareholders, if any) and will reduce the investment return of the Common Shares. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of leverage will result in a higher yield on the Common Shares, and it may result in losses. In addition, any preferred shares issued by the Fund are expected to pay cumulative dividends, which may tend to increase leverage risk. Leverage creates several major types of risks for Common Shareholders, including:

 

  the likelihood of greater volatility of NAV of Common Shares, and of the investment return to Common Shareholders, than a comparable portfolio without leverage;

 

  the possibility either that Common Share dividends will fall if the interest and other costs of leverage rise, or that dividends paid on Common Shares will fluctuate because such costs vary over time; and

 

  the effects of leverage in a declining market or a rising interest rate environment, as leverage is likely to cause a greater decline in the NAV of the Common Shares than if the Fund were not leveraged.

In addition, the counterparties to the Fund’s leveraging transactions and any preferred shareholders of the Fund will have priority of payment over the Fund’s Common Shareholders.

In addition to tender option bonds (or a future issuance of preferred shares), the Fund may engage in other transactions that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions, credit default swaps, reverse repurchases, or other derivatives. The Fund’s use of such transactions gives rise to associated leverage risks described above, and may adversely affect the Fund’s income, distributions and total returns to Common Shareholders. The Fund manages some of its derivative positions by segregating an amount of cash or liquid securities equal to the notional value or the market value, as applicable, of those positions. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.” The Fund may also offset derivatives positions against one another or against other assets to manage effective market exposure resulting from derivatives in its portfolio. To the extent that any offsetting positions do not behave in relation to one another as expected, the Fund may perform as if it is leveraged through use of these derivative strategies. See “Use of Leverage.”

Should the Fund issue preferred shares as presently intended, among other risks, any decline in the net asset value of the Fund’s investments could result in the risk of the Fund of failing to meet its asset coverage requirements for any such preferred shares or the risk of the preferred shares being downgraded by a rating agency. In an extreme case, the Fund’s current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the dividend requirements on any preferred shares outstanding. In order to address these types of events, the Fund might need to liquidate investments in order to fund a redemption of some or all of preferred shares. Liquidation at times of adverse economic conditions may result in a loss to the Fund. At other times, these liquidations may result in gain at the Fund level and thus in additional taxable distributions to Common Shareholders. See “Tax Matters” for more information. Any preferred shares, tender option bonds, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions, credit default swaps, reverse repurchases, or other derivatives by the Fund or counterparties to the Fund’s other leveraging transactions, if any, would have, seniority over the Fund’s Common Shares.

The SEC has issued a proposed rule relating to a registered investment company’s use of derivatives and related instruments that, if adopted, could potentially require the Fund to reduce its use of leverage and/or observe more stringent asset coverage and related requirements than are currently imposed by the 1940 Act, which could adversely affect the value or performance of the Fund and the Common Shares.

Because the fees received by the Investment Manager are based on the average daily “total managed assets” of the Fund (including any assets attributable to any preferred shares, tender option bonds and borrowings that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager has a financial incentive for the Fund to use certain forms of leverage (e.g., preferred shares and tender option bonds), which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

 

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Segregation and Coverage Risk

Certain portfolio management techniques, such as, among other things, utilizing tender offer bonds, purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, entering into swap agreements, futures contracts or other derivative transactions, or engaging in short sales, may be considered senior securities unless steps are taken to segregate the Fund’s assets or otherwise cover its obligations. To avoid having these instruments considered senior securities, the Fund may segregate liquid assets with a value equal (on a daily mark-to-market basis) to its obligations under these types of leveraged transactions, enter into offsetting transactions or otherwise cover such transactions. See “Leverage” in this prospectus. The Fund may be unable to use such segregated assets for certain other purposes, which could result in the Fund earning a lower return on its portfolio than it might otherwise earn if it did not have to segregate those assets in respect of, or otherwise cover, such portfolio positions. To the extent the Fund’s assets are segregated or committed as cover, it could limit the Fund’s investment flexibility. Segregating assets and covering positions will not limit or offset losses on related positions.

In addition, if the Fund issues preferred shares, the Fund may be required to satisfy various additional asset coverage requirements with respect to such preferred shares. See “Leverage.”

Derivatives Risk

The Fund may, but is not required to, utilize a variety of derivative instruments (both long and short positions) for investment or risk management purposes, as well as to leverage its portfolio. The Fund may use derivatives to gain exposure to securities markets in which it may invest (e.g., pending investment of the proceeds of this offering in individual securities, as well as on an ongoing basis). The Fund may also use derivatives to add leverage to its portfolio. See “Principal Risks of the Fund —Leverage Risk.” Derivatives transactions that the Fund may utilize include, but are not limited to, purchases or sales of futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), call and put options, credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps and other swap agreements. The Fund may also have exposure to derivatives, such as interest rate or credit-default swaps, through investment in credit-linked trust certificates and other securities issued by special purpose or structured vehicles. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of risks described elsewhere in this prospectus, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, issuer risk, credit risk, leveraging risk, counterparty risk and management risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.” They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation, the risk of unfavorable or ambiguous documentation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. If the Fund invests in a derivative instrument, it could lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when that would be beneficial. The Fund’s use of derivatives also may affect the amount, timing or character of distributions to, and taxes payable by Common Shareholders. See “Tax Matters.”

Over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives are also subject to the risk that a counterparty to the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligations to the other party, as many of the protections afforded to centrally-cleared derivatives might not be available for OTC derivatives transactions. For derivatives traded on an exchange or through a central counterparty, credit risk resides with the Fund’s clearing broker, or the clearinghouse itself, rather than with a counterparty in an OTC derivative transaction.

The regulation of the derivatives markets has increased over the past several years, and additional future regulation of the derivatives markets may make derivatives more costly, may limit the availability or reduce the liquidity of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives. Any such adverse future developments could impair the effectiveness of the Fund’s derivative transactions and cause the Fund to lose value. For instance, in December 2015, the SEC proposed new regulations applicable to a registered investment

 

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company’s use of derivatives and related instruments. If adopted as proposed, these regulations could significantly limit or impact the Fund’s ability to invest in derivatives and other instruments, limit the Fund’s ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and/or adversely affect the Fund’s performance, efficiency in implementing its strategy, liquidity and/or ability to pursue its investment objectives.

Valuation Risk

The municipal bonds in which the Fund invests may be less liquid and more difficult to value than other types of securities. When market quotations or pricing service prices are not readily available or are deemed to be unreliable, the Fund values its investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. See “Net Asset Value.” Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security or other asset. As a result, there can be no assurance that fair value pricing will result in adjustments to the prices of securities or other assets, or that fair value pricing will reflect actual market value, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security or other asset will be materially different from quoted or published prices, from the prices used by others for the same security or other asset and/or from the value that actually could be or is realized upon the sale of that security or other asset.

Counterparty Risk

The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts and other instruments entered into by the Fund or held by special purpose or structured vehicles in which the Fund invests. In the event that the Fund enters into a derivative transaction with a counterparty that subsequently becomes insolvent or becomes the subject of a bankruptcy case, the derivative transaction may be terminated in accordance with its terms and the Fund’s ability to realize its rights under the derivative instrument and its ability to distribute the proceeds could be adversely affected. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery (including recovery of any collateral it has provided to the counterparty) in a dissolution, assignment for the benefit of creditors, liquidation, winding-up, bankruptcy, or other analogous proceeding. In addition, in the event of the insolvency of a counterparty to a derivative transaction, the derivative transaction would typically be terminated at its fair market value. If the Fund is owed this fair market value in the termination of the derivative transaction and its claim is unsecured, the Fund will be treated as a general creditor of such counterparty, and will not have any claim with respect to any underlying security or asset. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

Confidential Information Access Risk

In managing the Fund, PIMCO may from time to time have the opportunity to receive material, non-public information (“Confidential Information”) about the issuers of certain investments, including, without limitation, senior floating rate loans, other loans and related investments being considered for acquisition by the Fund or held in the Fund’s portfolio. For example, an issuer of privately placed loans considered by the Fund may offer to provide PIMCO with financial information and related documentation regarding the issuer that is not publicly available. Pursuant to applicable policies and procedures, PIMCO may (but is not required to) seek to avoid receipt of Confidential Information from the issuer so as to avoid possible restrictions on its ability to purchase and sell investments on behalf of the Fund and other clients to which such Confidential Information relates (e.g., other securities issued by the bank used in the example above). In such circumstances, the Fund (and other PIMCO clients) may be disadvantaged in comparison to other investors, including with respect to the price the Fund pays or receives when it buys or sells an investment. Further, PIMCO’s and the Fund’s abilities to assess the desirability of proposed consents, waivers or amendments with respect to certain investments may be compromised if they are not privy to available Confidential Information. PIMCO may also determine to receive such Confidential Information in certain circumstances under its applicable policies and procedures. If PIMCO intentionally or unintentionally comes into possession of Confidential Information, it may be unable, potentially for a substantial period of time, to purchase or sell investments to which such Confidential Information relates.

 

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Private Placements Risk

A private placement involves the sale of securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act, or relevant provisions of applicable non-U.S. law, to certain institutional and qualified individual purchasers, such as the Fund. In addition to the general risks to which all securities are subject, securities received in a private placement generally are subject to strict restrictions on resale, and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk.” Therefore, the Fund may be unable to dispose of such securities when it desires to do so, or at the most favorable time or price. Private placements may also raise valuation risks. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Valuation Risk.”

Inflation/Deflation Risk

Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from the Fund’s investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of payments at future dates. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s portfolio could decline. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio and Common Shares.

Risk of Regulatory Changes

Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur and may adversely affect the Fund and its ability to pursue its investment strategies and/or increase the costs of implementing such strategies. New (or revised) laws or regulations may be imposed by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), the SEC, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), the U.S. Federal Reserve or other banking regulators, other governmental regulatory authorities or self-regulatory organizations that supervise the financial markets that could adversely affect the Fund.

In particular, these agencies are implementing a variety of new rules pursuant to financial reform legislation in the United States. The Fund also may be adversely affected by changes in the enforcement or interpretation of existing statutes and rules by these governmental regulatory authorities or self-regulatory organizations.

In addition, the securities and futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations and margin requirements. The CFTC, the SEC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, other regulators and self-regulatory organizations and exchanges are authorized under these statutes, regulations and otherwise to take extraordinary actions in the event of market emergencies. The Fund and the Investment Manager have historically been eligible for exemptions from certain regulations. However, there is no assurance that the Fund and the Investment Manager will continue to be eligible for such exemptions.

In December 2013, regulators finalized rules implementing Section 619 (the “Volcker Rule”) and Section 941 (the “Risk Retention Rules”) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). Both the Volcker Rule and the Risk Retention Rules apply to tender option bond programs. The Volcker Rule precludes banking entities from: (i) sponsoring or acquiring interests in the trusts used to hold a municipal bond in the creation of tender option bond trusts; and (ii) continuing to service or maintain relationships with existing programs involving such trusts to the same extent and in the same capacity as existing programs. At this time, the full impact of these rules is not certain; however, in response to these rules, industry participants are continuing to explore various structuring alternatives for tender option bond programs. The Risk Retention Rules require the sponsor to a tender option bond trust to retain at least five percent of the credit risk of the underlying assets supporting such trust’s municipal bonds. The Risk Retention Rules may increase the costs of such transactions in certain circumstances.

Other Investment Companies Risk

The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in securities of other closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. As a shareholder in an investment

 

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company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s investment management fees with respect to the assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, these other investment companies may utilize leverage, in which case an investment would subject the Fund to additional risks associated with leverage. Due to its own financial interest or other business considerations, the Investment Manager may choose to invest a portion of the Fund’s assets in investment companies sponsored or managed by the Investment Manager or its related parties in lieu of investments by the Fund directly in portfolio securities, or may choose to invest in such investment companies over investment companies sponsored or managed by others. Applicable law may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.”

Tax Risk

The Fund has elected to be treated as a “regulated investment company” under the Code and intends each year to qualify and be eligible to be treated as such, so that it generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its net investment income or net short-term or long-term capital gains that it timely distributes (or is deemed to distribute, as described below) to shareholders. In order to qualify for such treatment, the Fund must meet certain asset diversification tests and at least 90% of its gross income for such year must be certain types of qualifying income. If for any taxable year the Fund were to fail to meet the income or diversification test described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a Fund-level tax and, in the case of a diversification test failure, disposing of certain assets.

If, in any year, the Fund were to fail to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company under the Code, and were ineligible to or did not otherwise cure such failure, the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates and, when such income is distributed, shareholders would be subject to further tax on such distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits.

To qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, which are treated as items of interest excludable from gross income for regular federal income tax purposes, at least 50% of the value of the total assets of the Fund must consist of obligations the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax under section 103(a) of the Code as of the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year. If the proportion of taxable investments held by the Fund exceeds 50% of the Fund’s total assets as of the close of any quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, the Fund will not for that taxable year satisfy the general eligibility test that otherwise permits it to pay exempt-interest dividends.

The value of the Fund’s investments and its net asset value may be adversely affected by changes in tax rates and policies. Because interest income from municipal securities is normally not subject to regular federal income taxation, the attractiveness of municipal securities in relation to other investment alternatives is affected by changes in federal income tax rates or changes in the tax-exempt status of interest income from municipal securities. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the demand for and supply, liquidity and marketability of municipal securities. This could in turn affect the Fund’s net asset value and ability to acquire and dispose of municipal securities at desirable yield and price levels. Additionally, the Fund is not a suitable investment for individual retirement accounts, for other tax-exempt or tax-deferred accounts or for investors who are not sensitive to the federal income tax consequences of their investments.

Potential Conflicts of Interest Risk—Allocation of Investment Opportunities

The Investment Manager is involved worldwide with a broad spectrum of financial services and asset management activities and may engage in the ordinary course of business in activities in which their interests or the interests of their clients may conflict with those of the Fund. The Investment Manager may provide investment management services to other funds and discretionary managed accounts that follow an investment program similar to that of the Fund. Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Investment Manager intends to engage in such activities and may receive compensation from third parties for its services. The results of the Fund’s investment activities may differ from those of the Fund’s affiliates, or another account managed by the Fund’s affiliates, and it is

 

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possible that the Fund could sustain losses during periods in which one or more of the Fund’s affiliates and/or other accounts achieve profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts. The Investment Manager has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time.

Distribution Risk

Although the Fund may seek to maintain stable distributions, the Fund’s distribution rate may be affected by numerous factors, including but not limited to changes in realized and projected market returns, fluctuations in market interest rates, Fund performance, and other factors. There can be no assurance that a change in market conditions or other factors will not result in a change in the Fund’s distribution rate or that the rate will be sustainable in the future.

Securities Lending Risk

For the purpose of achieving income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and other financial institutions provided a number of conditions are satisfied, including that the loan is fully collateralized. Please see “Investment Objectives and Policies—Loans of Portfolio Securities” in the Statement of Additional Information for more details. When the Fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned, and the Fund will also receive a fee or interest on the collateral. Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent. The Fund may pay lending fees to a party arranging the loan. Cash collateral received by the Fund in securities lending transactions may be invested in short-term liquid fixed income instruments or in money market or short-term mutual funds, or similar investment vehicles, including affiliated money market or short-term mutual funds. The Fund bears the risk of such investments.

Portfolio Turnover Risk

The Investment Manager manages the Fund without regard generally to restrictions on portfolio turnover. The use of futures contracts and other derivative instruments with relatively short maturities may tend to exaggerate the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund. Trading in fixed income securities does not generally involve the payment of brokerage commissions, but does involve indirect transaction costs. The use of futures contracts and other derivative instruments may involve the payment of commissions to futures commission merchants or other intermediaries. Higher portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in other securities. The higher the rate of portfolio turnover of the Fund, the higher these transaction costs borne by the Fund generally will be. Such sales may result in realization of taxable capital gains (including short-term capital gains, which are generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates when distributed net of short-term capital losses and net long-term capital losses), and may adversely impact the Fund’s after-tax returns. See “Tax Matters.”

Operational Risk

An investment in the Fund, like any fund, can involve operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors, human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel and errors caused by third-party service providers. The occurrence of any of these failures, errors or breaches could result in a loss of information, regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage or other events, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund. While the Fund seeks to minimize such events through controls and oversight, there may still be failures that could cause losses to the Fund.

 

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Cybersecurity Risk

As the use of technology has become more prevalent in the course of business, the Fund has become potentially more susceptible to operational and informational security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional cyber events that may, among other things, cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption and/or destruction or lose operational capacity, result in the unauthorized release or other misuse of confidential information, or otherwise disrupt normal business operations. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding), but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). In addition, cyber security breaches involving the Fund’s third party service providers (including but not limited to advisers, administrators, transfer agents, custodians, distributors and other third parties), trading counterparties or issuers in which the Fund invests can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Moreover, cyber security breaches involving trading counterparties or issuers in which the Fund invests could adversely impact such counterparties or issuers and cause the Fund’s investments to lose value.

Cyber security failures or breaches may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders. These failures or breaches may also result in disruptions to business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses; interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, process shareholder transactions or otherwise transact business with shareholders; impediments to trading; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines; penalties; reputational damage; reimbursement or other compensation costs; additional compliance and cyber security risk management costs and other adverse consequences. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in an attempt to prevent any cyber incidents in the future.

Like with operational risk in general, the Fund has established risk management systems and business continuity plans designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security. However, there are inherent limitations in these plans and systems, including that certain risks may not have been identified, in large part because different or unknown threats may emerge in the future. As such, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers in which the Fund may invest, trading counterparties, or third party service providers to the Fund. There is also a risk that cyber security breaches may not be detected. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

Non-Diversification Risk

Focusing investments in a small number of issuers increases risk. The Fund is “non-diversified,” which means that the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers than a diversified fund. A fund that invests in a relatively smaller number of issuers are more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified fund might be. Some of those issuers also may present substantial credit or other risks. Similarly, the Fund may be subject to increased economic, business or political risk to the extent that it invests a substantial portion of its assets in a particular currency, in a group of related industries, in a particular issuer, in the bonds of similar projects or in a narrowly defined geographic area outside the U.S. Notwithstanding the Fund’s status as a “non-diversified” investment company under the 1940 Act, the Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment under the Code, which imposes its own diversification requirements.

Certain Affiliations

Certain broker-dealers may be considered to be affiliated persons of the Fund and/or the Investment Manager due to their possible affiliations with Allianz SE, the ultimate parent of the Investment Manager. Absent an exemption from the SEC or other regulatory relief, the Fund is generally precluded from effecting certain principal transactions with affiliated brokers, and its ability to purchase securities being underwritten by an affiliated broker or a syndicate including an affiliated broker, or to utilize affiliated brokers for agency transactions, is subject to restrictions. This could limit the Fund’s ability to engage in securities transactions and take advantage of market opportunities.

 

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Anti-Takeover Provisions

The Fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”) includes provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust.”

 

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Summary of Fund Expenses

This table is intended to assist investors in understanding the various costs and expenses directly or indirectly associated with investing in the Fund.

Shareholder Transaction Expenses (fees paid directly from your investment):

 

     
    

Institutional Class

 

    

Maximum Initial Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases

(as a percentage of offering price)

 

   None     

Dividend Reinvestment Fees

 

   None     

Repurchase Fee

   None     

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):

 

    

Percentage of Net Assets

Attributable to Common Shares

(assuming the use of

leverage)(1)

 

Institutional Class

 

    

Management Fees(2)

 

   1.00%     

Distribution and/or Service Fees

 

   None     

Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds(3)

 

   0.58%     

Other Expenses(4)

 

   0.81%     

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

 

   2.39%     

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement(5)

 

   (0.71)%     

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement

   1.68%     

 

(1) The table above assumes the use of leverage representing approximately 25% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

(2) Management fees include fees payable to the Investment Manager for advisory services and for supervisory, administrative and other services. The Fund pays for the advisory, supervisory and administrative services it requires under what is essentially an all-in fee structure (the “unified management fee”). Pursuant to an investment management agreement, PIMCO is paid a Management Fee of 0.75% the Fund’s total managed assets. The Fund (and not PIMCO) will be responsible for certain fees and expenses that are not covered by the unified management fee under the investment management agreement. Please see “Management of the Fund - Management Fee” for an explanation of the unified management fee and definition of “total managed assets.”

 

(3)

Based on estimated levels of utilization of tender option bonds and assumes that the Fund will incur interest expenses attributable to tender option bonds for its entire first year of operations at an annual estimated rate of 2.35% (based on estimated market interest rates under current market conditions). Although there is no guarantee the Fund will do so, the Fund currently intends to seek to replace a portion of leverage achieved through the use of tender option bonds with leverage attributable to an expected issuance of preferred

 

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shares within its first year of operations. The actual interest or dividend expenses of any preferred shares may be higher than the interest rates estimated in the table for tender option bond utilization, perhaps to a significant extent. Such expense is required to be treated as a Fund expense for accounting purposes and is not payable to PIMCO.

 

(4) Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, and include organizational expenses equal to 0.78% of net assets attributable to Common Shares, which will be paid and satisfied in the Fund’s first year of operation.

 

(5) PIMCO has contractually agreed, through July 31, 2019, to waive its management fee, or reimburse the Fund, to the extent that organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees exceed 0.10% of the Fund’s net assets (the “Expense Limit”). Under an expense limitation agreement, in any month in which the investment management agreement is in effect, PIMCO is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of any portion of the management fee reduced as set forth above (the “Reimbursement Amount”) during the previous thirty-six months, provided that such amount paid to PIMCO will not (1) together with any recoupment of organizational expenses and pro rata trustee fees or management fees exceed 0.10% of average net assets; (2) exceed the total Reimbursement Amount; or (3) include any amounts previously reimbursed to PIMCO. For the avoidance of doubt, any reimbursement of PIMCO’s management fee pursuant to the expense limitation agreement plus any recoupment of organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees will not exceed the lesser of (i) the expense limit in effect at the time of waiver or reimbursement and (ii) the expense limit in effect at the time of recoupment.

EXAMPLE

As required by relevant SEC regulations, the following example illustrates the expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in the Common Shares, assuming a 5% annual return(1):

 

      1 Year    3 Years    5 Years    10 Years

Institutional Class

   $17    $68    $121    $267
(1) The example above should not be considered a representation of future expenses. Actual expenses may be higher or lower than those shown. The example assumes that the estimated Interest Payments on Borrowed Funds and Other Expenses set forth in the Annual Expenses table are accurate, that the Annual Fund Operating Expenses (as described above) remain the same, except to reduce annual expenses upon completion of organization and offering expenses, and that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at NAV, and takes into account the effect of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement (if any) during the first year. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% annual return shown in the example.

Financial Highlights

The Fund is newly organized and its Common Shares have not previously been offered. Therefore, the Fund does not have any financial history. Additional information about the Fund’s investments will be available in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports when they are prepared.

The Fund

The Fund is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund continuously offers its Common Shares and is operated as an “interval fund.” The Fund currently offers one class of Common Shares: Institutional. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on November 20, 2017, pursuant to a Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration of Trust”), which is governed by the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As a newly organized entity, the Fund has no operating history.

Use of Proceeds

The Fund will invest the proceeds of the continuous offering of Common Shares on an ongoing basis in accordance with its investment objectives and policies as stated below. It is currently anticipated that the Fund will be able to invest all or substantially all of the net proceeds according to its investment objectives and policies within approximately three months after receipt of the proceeds, depending on the amount and timing of proceeds available to the Fund as well as the availability of investments consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, and except to the extent proceeds are held in cash to pay dividends or expenses, satisfy repurchase offers or for temporary defensive purposes. Pending such investment, it is anticipated that the proceeds of an offering will be invested in high quality, short-term, municipal or other tax-exempt securities, although the Fund may, if necessary, also invest in other high-quality, short-term securities.

 

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The Fund’s Investment Objectives and Strategies

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES

The Fund seeks to provide high current income exempt from federal income tax. Capital appreciation is a secondary objective. The types of securities and instruments in which the Fund may invest are summarized under “The Fund’s Investment Objectives and Policies—Portfolio Management Strategies—Portfolio Contents.”

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

PIMCO serves as the Investment Manager of the Fund and manages the Fund’s portfolio. See “Management of the Fund.” The portfolio management strategies and techniques to be utilized by PIMCO are described below.

Flexible Allocation Strategy

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by utilizing a flexible, multi-sector tax-efficient approach to investing, under normal circumstances, primarily in municipal bonds and other municipal securities that carry interest payments that are exempt from federal income tax. The principal issuers of these securities are state and local governments and their agencies located in any of the fifty states, as well as in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories and possessions. To a lesser extent, the Fund also expects to invest in a full range of preferred securities, with an emphasis on preferred securities that, at the time of issuance, are eligible to pay dividends that qualify for certain favorable federal income tax treatment. With PIMCO’s macroeconomic analysis as the basis for top-down investment decisions, the Fund seeks to offer investors an actively-managed municipal bond portfolio that aims to capitalize on what PIMCO believes are attractive opportunities across states and sectors within the U.S. municipal market.

Investment Selection Strategies

In selecting securities for the Fund, PIMCO develops an outlook for interest rates and the economy, analyzes credit and call risks, and uses other security selection techniques. The proportion of the Fund’s assets committed to investment in securities with particular characteristics (such as quality, sector, interest rate or maturity) varies based on PIMCO’s outlook for the U.S. economy.

PIMCO attempts to preserve and enhance the value of the Fund’s holdings relative to the municipal bond market, generally, using proprietary analytical models that test and evaluate the sensitivity of those holdings to changes in interest rates and yield relationships. There is no guarantee that PIMCO’s investment selection techniques will produce the desired results.

Credit Quality

The Fund may invest without limit in municipal bonds and other securities of any credit quality, including without limitation, in securities that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade (below Baa3 by Moody’s or below BBB- by either S&P or Fitch, or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality). Bonds of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” Bonds in the lowest investment grade category may also be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain rating agencies. The Fund may also invest without limit in investment grade securities. The Fund generally expects to invest approximately 60% of its total assets in above investment grade securities and 40% of its total assets in below investment grade securities, but may determine to allocate more heavily or exclusively to either category at any time and from time to time based on PIMCO’s economic outlook, market conditions, and other factors.

 

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Independent Credit Analysis

PIMCO relies primarily on its own analysis of the credit quality and risks associated with individual municipal bonds considered for the Fund, rather than relying exclusively on rating agencies or third-party research. The Fund’s portfolio managers utilize this information in an attempt to minimize credit risk and to identify investments that are undervalued or that offer attractive yields relative to PIMCO’s assessment of their credit characteristics. This aspect of PIMCO’s capabilities will be particularly important to the extent that the Fund invests in high yield municipal bonds or other securities.

Duration Management

The Fund does not target a specific duration or maturity for the municipal bonds and other securities in which it invests, and the Fund’s average portfolio duration, as calculated by PIMCO may vary significantly depending on market conditions and other factors. There is no limit on the maturity or duration of any individual security in which the Fund may invest. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. The portfolio manager focuses on municipal bonds with the potential to offer attractive current income, typically looking for bonds that can provide consistently attractive current yields or that are trading at competitive market prices. Capital appreciation, if any, generally arises from decreases in interest rates or improving credit fundamentals for a particular state, municipality or issuer.

PORTFOLIO CONTENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION

Investment Parameters

The Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of municipal bonds and other municipal securities, the interest from which, in the opinion of bond counsel for the issuer at the time of issuance (or on the basis of other authority believed by PIMCO to be reliable), is exempt from federal income tax. The Fund’s 80% policy is a fundamental policy, which may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares voting as a separate class.

The Fund may invest without limit in municipal bonds and other securities that are rated below investment grade (or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality). Bonds of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal and are commonly referred to as “junk bonds.” The Fund may also invest without limit in investment grade securities. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in bonds of issuers in California and New York.

The Fund may invest the balance of its assets (i.e., not towards its 80% policy noted above) in securities and assets that produce taxable income. Such assets are normally expected to include preferred securities, with an emphasis on preferred securities that, at the time of issuance, are eligible to pay dividends that qualify for certain favorable federal income tax treatment, such as dividends that are treated as qualified dividend income and eligible for the dividends received deduction (in each instance, provided certain requirements and holding periods are satisfied). See “Tax Matters.”

It is possible that the Fund could own no preferred securities at any given time, including, for example, if municipal securities are expected to produce a higher yield than preferred securities on an after-tax basis.

Subject to the Fund’s investment policies described above, the Fund may invest in other securities, including convertible and contingent convertible securities, securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A of the Securities Act, and other privately placed securities, and other debt securities subject to federal income tax, including privately negotiated debt obligations with respect to which the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as specific securities, an index of securities or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets, such as

 

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indexes reflecting bonds. The rate of interest on an income-producing security may be fixed, floating or variable. The Fund may also engage in credit spread trades. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the prices or interest rates of two bonds or other securities, in which the value of the investment position is determined by changes in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities. The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis and may engage in short sales. The Fund may invest in trust certificates issued in tender option bond programs. In these programs, a trust typically issues two classes of certificates and uses the proceeds to purchase municipal securities having relatively long maturities and bearing interest at a fixed interest rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term tax-exempt rates. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in securities of other closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the Fund may invest directly.

The Fund may, but is not required to, invest in derivative instruments, such as options, futures and forward contracts or swap agreements. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% policy, the Fund values its derivative instruments based on their market value. The Fund may, without limitation, seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as buy backs or dollar rolls).

To the extent consistent with the applicable liquidity requirements for interval funds under Rule 23c-3 of the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities.

Temporary defensive investments. Upon PIMCO’s recommendation, for temporary defensive purposes , the Fund may deviate from its investment strategy by investing some or all of its total assets in investments such as high grade debt securities, including high quality, short-term debt securities, and cash and cash equivalents. The Fund may not achieve its investment objectives when it does so.

The following provides additional information regarding the types of securities and other instruments in which the Fund will ordinarily invest. A more detailed discussion of these and other instruments and investment techniques that may be used by the Fund is provided under “Investment Objectives and Policies” in the Statement of Additional Information.

Municipal Bonds

Municipal bonds share the attributes of debt/fixed income securities in general, but are generally issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities, and may be either taxable or tax-exempt instruments. The municipal bonds that the Fund may purchase include without limit general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer’s general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Tax exempt private activity bonds and industrial development bonds generally are also limited obligation bonds and thus are not payable from the issuer’s general revenues. The credit and quality of private activity bonds and industrial development bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds is the responsibility of the corporate user (and/or any guarantor).

The Fund may invest in Build America Bonds, which are tax credit bonds created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which authorized state and local governments to issue Build America Bonds as taxable bonds in 2009 and 2010, without volume limitations, to finance any capital expenditures for which such issuers could otherwise issue traditional tax-exempt bonds. State and local governments may receive a direct federal subsidy payment for a portion of their borrowing costs on Build America Bonds equal to 35% of the total coupon interest paid to investors. The state or local government issuer can elect to either take the federal subsidy or pass the 35% tax credit along to bondholders. The Fund’s investments in Build America Bonds will result in taxable

 

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income and the Fund may elect to pass through to shareholders the corresponding tax credits. The tax credits can generally be used to offset federal income taxes and the alternative minimum tax, but such credits are generally not refundable. Build America Bonds involve similar risks as municipal bonds, including credit and market risk. They are intended to assist state and local governments in financing capital projects at lower borrowing costs and are likely to attract a broader group of investors than tax-exempt municipal bonds. For example, taxable funds, such as the Fund, may choose to invest in Build America Bonds. Although Build America Bonds were only authorized for issuance during 2009 and 2010, the program may have resulted in reduced issuance of tax-exempt municipal bonds during the same period. The Build America Bond program expired on December 31, 2010, at which point no further issuance of new Build America Bonds was permitted. As of the date of this prospectus, there is no indication that Congress will renew the program to permit issuance of new Build America Bonds.

The Fund may invest in pre-refunded municipal bonds. Pre-refunded municipal bonds are tax-exempt bonds that have been refunded to a call date prior to the final maturity of principal, or, in the case of pre-refunded municipal bonds commonly referred to as “escrowed-to-maturity bonds,” to the final maturity of principal, and remain outstanding in the municipal market. The payment of principal and interest of the pre-refunded municipal bonds held by the Fund is funded from securities in a designated escrow account that holds U.S. Treasury securities or other obligations of the U.S. Government (including its agencies and instrumentalities (“Agency Securities”)). Interest payments on pre-refunded bonds issued on or prior to December 31, 2017 are exempt from federal income tax; pre-refunded bonds issued after December 31, 2017 will not qualify for such tax-advantaged treatment. Pre-refunded bonds usually will bear an AAA/Aaa rating (if a re-rating has been requested and paid for) because they are backed by U.S. Treasury securities or Agency Securities. Because the payment of principal and interest is generated from securities held in an escrow account established by the municipality and an independent escrow agent, the pledge of the municipality has been fulfilled and the original pledge of revenue by the municipality is no longer in place. The escrow account securities pledged to pay the principal and interest of the pre-refunded municipal bond do not guarantee the price movement of the bond before maturity. Issuers of municipal bonds refund in advance of maturity the outstanding higher cost debt and issue new, lower cost debt, placing the proceeds of the lower cost issuance into an escrow account to pre-refund the older, higher cost debt. Investment in pre-refunded municipal bonds held by the Fund may subject the Fund to interest rate risk and market risk. In addition, while a secondary market exists for pre-refunded municipal bonds, if the Fund sells pre-refunded municipal bonds prior to maturity, the price received may be more or less than the original cost, depending on market conditions at the time of sale.

The Fund may invest in municipal lease obligations. A lease is not a full faith and credit obligation of the issuer and is usually backed only by the borrowing government’s unsecured pledge to make annual appropriations for lease payments. There have been challenges to the legality of lease financing in numerous states, and, from time to time, certain municipalities have considered not appropriating money for lease payments. In deciding whether to purchase a lease obligation for the Fund, PIMCO will assess the financial condition of the borrower, the merits of the project, the level of public support for the project and the legislative history of lease financing in the state. These securities may be less readily marketable than other municipal securities.

Some longer-term municipal bonds give the investor the right to “put” or sell the security at par (face value) within a specified number of days following the investor’s request—usually one to seven days. This demand feature enhances a security’s liquidity by shortening its effective maturity and enables it to trade at a price equal to or very close to par. If a demand feature terminates prior to being exercised, the Fund would hold the longer-term security, which could experience substantially more volatility.

The Fund may invest in municipal warrants, which are essentially call options on municipal bonds. In exchange for a premium, municipal warrants give the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a municipal bond in the future. The Fund may purchase a warrant to lock in forward supply in an environment in which the current issuance of bonds is sharply reduced. Like options, warrants may expire worthless and may have reduced liquidity.

The Fund may invest in municipal bonds with credit enhancements such as letters of credit, municipal bond insurance and standby bond purchase agreements (“SBPAs”). Letters of credit are issued by a third party, usually a

 

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bank, to enhance liquidity and to ensure repayment of principal and any accrued interest if the underlying municipal bond should default. Municipal bond insurance, which is usually purchased by the bond issuer from a private, nongovernmental insurance company, provides an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee that the insured bond’s principal and interest will be paid when due. Insurance does not guarantee the price of the bond. The credit rating of an insured bond reflects the credit rating of the insurer, based on its claims-paying ability. The obligation of a municipal bond insurance company to pay a claim extends over the life of each insured bond. Although defaults on insured municipal bonds have been low to date and municipal bond insurers have met their claims, there is no assurance that this will continue. A higher-than expected default rate could strain the insurer’s loss reserves and adversely affect its ability to pay claims to bondholders. Because a significant portion of insured municipal bonds that have been issued and are outstanding is insured by a small number of insurance companies, not all of which have the highest credit rating, an event involving one or more of these insurance companies, such as a credit rating downgrade, could have a significant adverse effect on the value of the municipal bonds insured by such insurance company or companies and on the municipal bond markets as a whole. An SBPA is a liquidity facility provided to pay the purchase price of bonds that cannot be re-marketed. The obligation of the liquidity provider (usually a bank) is only to advance funds to purchase tendered bonds that cannot be re-marketed and does not cover principal or interest under any other circumstances. The liquidity provider’s obligations under the SBPA are usually subject to numerous conditions, including the continued creditworthiness of the underlying borrower.

Tender Option Bonds. The Fund may invest in trust certificates issued in tender option bond programs. In a tender option bond transaction (“TOB”), a tender option bond trust (“TOB Trust”) issues floating rate certificates (“TOB Floater”) and residual interest certificates (“TOB Residual”) and utilizes the proceeds of such issuance to purchase a fixed-rate municipal bond (“Fixed Rate Bond”) that either is owned or identified by the Fund. The TOB Floater is generally issued to third party investors (typically a money market fund) and the TOB Residual is generally issued to the Fund, which sold or identified the Fixed Rate Bond. The TOB Trust divides the income stream provided by the Fixed Rate Bond to create two securities, the TOB Floater, which is a short-term security, and the TOB Residual, which is a longer-term security. The interest rates payable on the TOB Residual issued to the Fund bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on the TOB Floater. The interest rate on the TOB Floater is reset by a remarketing process typically every 7 to 35 days. After income is paid on the TOB Floater at current rates, the residual income from the Fixed Rate Bond goes to the TOB Residual. Therefore, rising short-term rates result in lower income for the TOB Residual, and vice versa. In the case of a TOB Trust that utilizes the cash received (less transaction expenses) from the issuance of the TOB Floater and TOB Residual to purchase the Fixed Rate Bond from a Fund, the Fund may then invest the cash received in additional securities, generating leverage for the Fund. Other PIMCO-managed accounts may also contribute municipal bonds to a TOB Trust into which a Fund has contributed Fixed Rate Bonds. If multiple PIMCO-managed accounts participate in the same TOB Trust, the economic rights and obligations under the TOB Residual will be shared among the funds ratably in proportion to their participation in the TOB Trust.

The TOB Residual may be more volatile and less liquid than other municipal bonds of comparable maturity. In most circumstances the TOB Residual holder bears substantially all of the underlying Fixed Rate Bond’s downside investment risk and also benefits from any appreciation in the value of the underlying Fixed Rate Bond. Investments in a TOB Residual typically will involve greater risk than investments in Fixed Rate Bonds.

A TOB Residual held by the Fund provides the Fund with the right to: (1) cause the holders of the TOB Floater to tender their notes at par, and (2) cause the sale of the Fixed Rate Bond held by the TOB Trust, thereby collapsing the TOB Trust. TOB Trusts are generally supported by a liquidity facility provided by a third party bank or other financial institution (the “Liquidity Provider”) that provides for the purchase of TOB Floaters that cannot be remarketed. The holders of the TOB Floaters have the right to tender their certificates in exchange for payment of par plus accrued interest on a periodic basis (typically weekly) or on the occurrence of certain mandatory tender events. The tendered TOB Floaters are remarketed by a remarketing agent, which is typically an affiliated entity of the Liquidity Provider. If the TOB Floaters cannot be remarketed, the TOB Floaters are purchased by the TOB Trust either from the proceeds of a loan from the Liquidity Provider or from a liquidation of the Fixed Rate Bond.

 

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The TOB Trust may also be collapsed without the consent of the Fund, as the TOB Residual holder, upon the occurrence of certain “tender option termination events” (or “TOTEs”) as defined in the TOB Trust agreements. Such termination events typically include the bankruptcy or default of the municipal bond, a substantial downgrade in credit quality of the municipal bond, or a judgment or ruling that interest on the Fixed Rate Bond is subject to federal income taxation. Upon the occurrence of a termination event, the TOB Trust would generally be liquidated in full with the proceeds typically applied first to any accrued fees owed to the trustee, remarketing agent and liquidity provider, and then to the holders of the TOB Floater up to par plus accrued interest owed on the TOB Floater and a portion of gain share, if any, with the balance paid out to the TOB Residual holder. In the case of a mandatory termination event (“MTE”), after the payment of fees, the TOB Floater holders would be paid before the TOB Residual holders (i.e., the Fund). In contrast, in the case of a TOTE, after payment of fees, the TOB Floater holders and the TOB Residual holders would be paid pro rata in proportion to the respective face values of their certificates.

In December 2013, regulators finalized rules implementing Volcker Rule and Risk Retention Rules. Both the Volcker Rule and the Risk Retention Rules apply to tender option bond programs. The Volcker Rule precludes banking entities from (i) sponsoring or acquiring interests in the trusts used to hold a municipal bond in the creation of TOB Trusts; and (ii) continuing to service or maintain relationships with existing programs involving TOB Trusts to the same extent and in the same capacity as existing programs. The Risk Retention Rules require the sponsor to a TOB Trust to retain at least five percent of the credit risk of the underlying assets supporting the TOB Trust’s municipal bonds. The Risk Retention Rules may increase the costs of such transactions in certain circumstances.

In response to these rules, industry participants explored various structuring alternatives for TOB Trusts and agreed on a new tender option bond structure in which the Funds hire service providers to assist with establishing, structuring and sponsoring a TOB Trust. Service providers to a TOB Trust, such as administrators, liquidity providers, trustees and remarketing agents act at the direction of, and as agent of, the Funds as the TOB residual holders.

Under the new TOB Trust structure, the Liquidity Provider or remarketing agent will no longer purchase the tendered TOB Floaters, even in the event of failed remarketing. This may increase the likelihood that a TOB Trust will need to be collapsed and liquidated in order to purchase the tendered TOB Floaters. The TOB Trust may draw upon a loan from the Liquidity Provider to purchase the tendered TOB Floaters. Any loans made by the Liquidity Provider will be secured by the purchased TOB Floaters held by the TOB Trust and will be subject to an interest rate agreed with the Liquidity Provider.

Bonds

The Fund may invest in bonds of varying maturities issued by non-U.S. (foreign) and U.S. corporations and other business entities, governments and quasi-governmental entities and municipalities and other issuers. Bonds may include, among other things, fixed or variable/floating-rate debt obligations, including bills, notes, debentures, money market instruments and similar instruments and securities. Bonds generally are used by corporations as well as governments and other issuers to borrow money from investors. The issuer pays the investor a fixed or variable rate of interest and normally must repay the amount borrowed on or before maturity. Certain bonds are “perpetual” in that they have no maturity date.

Commercial Paper

Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by corporations such as banks or bank holding companies and finance companies. The rate of return on commercial paper may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.

 

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U.S. Government Securities

U.S. Government securities are obligations of and, in certain cases, guaranteed by, the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. The U.S. Government does not guarantee the NAV of the Fund’s Common Shares. Some U.S. Government securities, such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and securities guaranteed by GNMA, are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others, such as those of the FHLBs, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury”); others, such as those of FNMA, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; and still others are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. U.S. Government securities may include zero coupon securities, which do not distribute interest on a current basis and tend to be subject to greater risk than interest-paying securities of similar maturities.

Preferred Securities

Preferred securities represent an equity interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of other stocks such as common stocks, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from liquidation of the company. Unlike common stocks, preferred securities usually do not have voting rights. Preferred securities in some instances are convertible into common stock. Some preferred securities also entitle their holders to receive additional liquidation proceeds on the same basis as holders of a company’s common stock, and thus also represent an ownership interest in the company. Some preferred securities offer a fixed rate of return with no maturity date. Because they never mature, these preferred securities may act like long-term bonds, can be more volatile than other types of preferred securities and may have heightened sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Other preferred securities have a variable dividend, generally determined on a quarterly or other periodic basis, either according to a formula based upon a specified premium or discount to the yield on particular U.S. Treasury securities or based on an auction process, involving bids submitted by holders and prospective purchasers of such securities. Although they are equity securities, preferred securities have certain characteristics of both debt securities and common stock. They are like debt securities in that their stated income is generally contractually fixed. They are like common stocks in that they do not have rights to precipitate bankruptcy proceedings or collection activities in the event of missed payments. Furthermore, preferred securities have many of the key characteristics of equity due to their subordinated position in an issuer’s capital structure and because their quality and value are heavily dependent on the profitability of the issuer rather than on any legal claims to specific assets or cash flows. Because preferred securities represent an equity ownership interest in a company, their value usually will react more strongly than bonds and other debt instruments to actual or perceived changes in a company’s financial condition or prospects, or to fluctuations in the equity markets.

In order to be payable, dividends on preferred securities must be declared by the issuer’s board of directors. In addition, distributions on preferred securities may be subject to deferral and thus may not be automatically payable. Income payments on some preferred securities are cumulative, causing dividends and distributions to accrue even if they are not declared by the board of directors of the issuer or otherwise made payable. Other preferred securities are non-cumulative, meaning that skipped dividends and distributions do not continue to accrue. There is no assurance that dividends on preferred securities in which the Fund invests will be declared or otherwise made payable.

Preferred securities have a liquidation value that generally equals their original purchase price at the date of issuance. The market values of preferred securities may be affected by favorable and unfavorable changes affecting the issuers’ industries or sectors. They also may be affected by actual and anticipated changes or ambiguities in the tax status of the security and by actual and anticipated changes or ambiguities in tax laws, such as changes in corporate and individual income tax rates or the characterization of dividends as tax-advantaged. The dividends paid on the preferred securities in which the Fund may invest might not be eligible for tax-advantaged “qualified dividend” treatment. See “Tax Matters.” Because the claim on an issuer’s earnings represented by preferred securities may become disproportionately large when interest rates fall below the rate payable on the securities or for other reasons, the issuer may redeem preferred securities, generally after an initial period of call protection in which the security is not redeemable. Thus, in declining interest rate environments in particular, the Fund’s holdings of higher dividend-paying preferred securities may be reduced and the Fund may be unable to acquire securities paying comparable rates with the redemption proceeds.

 

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Bank Capital Securities and Bank Obligations

The Fund may invest in bank capital securities of both non-U.S. (foreign) and U.S. issuers. Bank capital securities are issued by banks to help fulfill their regulatory capital requirements. There are three common types of bank capital: Lower Tier II, Upper Tier II and Tier I. Upper Tier II securities are commonly thought of as hybrids of debt and preferred stock. Upper Tier II securities are often perpetual (with no maturity date), callable and have a cumulative interest deferral feature. This means that under certain conditions, the issuer bank can withhold payment of interest until a later date. However, such deferred interest payments generally earn interest. Tier I securities often take the form of trust preferred securities.

The Fund may also invest in other bank obligations including without limitation certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and fixed time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates that are issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and that earn a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. There are generally no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is generally no market for such deposits. The Fund may also hold funds on deposit with its custodian bank in an interest-bearing account for temporary purposes.

High Yield Securities

The Fund may invest without limit in debt instruments that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade (below Baa3 by Moody’s or below BBB- by either S&P or Fitch), or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in securities of stressed or distressed issuers, which include securities at risk of being in default as to the repayment of principal and/or interest at the time of acquisition by the Fund or that are rated in the lower rating categories by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (for example, Ca or lower by Moody’s or CC or lower by S&P or Fitch) or, if unrated, are determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest in defaulted securities and debtor-in-possession financings. Below investment grade securities are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.” High yield securities involve a greater degree of risk (in particular, a greater risk of default) than, and special risks in addition to the risks associated with, investment grade debt obligations. While offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher yields, high yield securities typically entail greater potential price volatility and may be less liquid than higher-rated securities. High yield securities may be regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make timely principal and interest payments. They also may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than higher-rated securities. Debt securities in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain ratings agencies.

The market values of high yield securities tend to reflect individual developments of the issuer to a greater extent than do higher-quality securities, which tend to react mainly to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. In addition, lower-quality debt securities tend to be more sensitive to general economic conditions. Certain emerging market governments that issue high yield securities in which the Fund may invest are among the largest debtors to commercial banks, foreign governments and supranational organizations, such as the World Bank, and may not be able or willing to make principal and/or interest payments as they come due.

Credit ratings and unrated securities. Rating agencies are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of debt obligations. Appendix A to this prospectus describes the various ratings assigned to debt obligations by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. As noted in Appendix A, Moody’s, S&P and Fitch may modify their ratings of securities to show relative standing within a rating category, with the addition of numerical modifiers (1, 2 or 3) in the case of Moody’s, and with the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign in the case of S&P and Fitch. Ratings assigned by

 

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a rating agency are not absolute standards of credit quality and do not evaluate market risks. Rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings, and an issuer’s current financial condition may be better or worse than a rating indicates. The Fund will not necessarily sell a security when its rating is reduced below its rating at the time of purchase. PIMCO does not rely solely on credit ratings, and develops its own analysis of issuer credit quality. The ratings of a debt security may change over time. Moody’s, S&P and Fitch monitor and evaluate the ratings assigned to securities on an ongoing basis. As a result, debt instruments held by the Fund could receive a higher rating (which would tend to increase their value) or a lower rating (which would tend to decrease their value) during the period in which they are held by the Fund.

The Fund may purchase unrated securities (which are not rated by a rating agency) if PIMCO determines that the security is of comparable quality to a rated security that the Fund may purchase. Unrated securities may be less liquid than comparable rated securities and involve the risk that PIMCO may not accurately evaluate the security’s comparative credit rating. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of high yield securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher-quality debt obligations. The Fund’s success in achieving its investment objectives may depend more heavily on PIMCO’s credit analysis to the extent that the Fund invests in below investment grade quality and unrated securities.

Zero-Coupon Bonds, Step-ups and Payment-in-kind Securities

Zero-coupon bonds pay interest only at maturity rather than at intervals during the life of the security. Like zero-coupon bonds, “step up” bonds pay no interest initially but eventually begin to pay a coupon rate prior to maturity, which rate may increase at stated intervals during the life of the security. Payment-in-kind securities (“PIKs”) are debt obligations that pay “interest” in the form of other debt obligations, instead of in cash. Each of these instruments is normally issued and traded at a deep discount from face value. Zero-coupon bonds, step-ups and PIKs allow an issuer to avoid or delay the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments and, as a result, may involve greater credit risk than bonds that pay interest currently or in cash. The Fund would be required to distribute the income on these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund will not receive the income on a current basis or in cash. Thus, the Fund may have to sell investments, including when it may not be advisable to do so, to make income distributions to its shareholders.

Inflation-Indexed Bonds

Inflation-indexed bonds (other than municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds) are fixed income securities the principal value of which is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. If the index measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds (other than municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds) will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of TIPS. For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal. TIPS may also be divided into individual zero-coupon instruments for each coupon or principal payment (known as “iSTRIPS”). An iSTRIP of the principal component of a TIPS issue will retain the embedded deflation floor that will allow the holder of the security to receive the greater of the original principal or inflation-adjusted principal value at maturity. iSTRIPS may be less liquid than conventional TIPS because they are a small component of the TIPS market. Municipal inflation-indexed securities are municipal bonds that pay coupons based on a fixed rate plus CPI.

With regard to municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds, the inflation adjustment is typically reflected in the semi-annual coupon payment. As a result, the principal value of municipal inflation-indexed bonds and such corporate inflation-indexed bonds does not adjust according to the rate of inflation. At the same time, the value of municipal inflation-indexed securities and such corporate inflation-indexed securities generally will not increase if the rate of inflation decreases. Because municipal inflation-indexed securities and corporate inflation-indexed securities are a small component of the municipal bond and corporate bond markets, respectively, they may be less liquid than conventional municipal and corporate bonds.

 

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The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. If nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates may rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity. See “Tax Matters.”

Convertible Securities and Synthetic Convertible Securities

Convertible securities (i.e., debt securities that may be converted at either a stated price or stated rate into underlying shares of common stock) have general characteristics similar to both debt securities and equity securities. Although to a lesser extent than with debt obligations, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion feature, the market value of convertible securities tends to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying common stocks and, therefore, also will react to variations in the general market for equity securities.

Convertible securities are investments that provide for a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than common stocks. There can be no assurance of current income because the issuers of the convertible securities may default on their obligations. Convertible securities, however, generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar credit quality because of the potential for equity-related capital appreciation. A convertible security, in addition to providing current income, offers the potential for capital appreciation through the conversion feature, which enables the holder to benefit from increases in the market price of the underlying common stock.

The Fund may invest in synthetic convertible securities, which are created through a combination of separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security, that is, an income-producing component and the right to acquire a convertible component. The income-producing component is achieved by investing in non-convertible, income-producing securities such as bonds, preferred securities and money market instruments. The convertible component is achieved by purchasing warrants or options to buy common stock at a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index. The Fund may also purchase synthetic securities created by other parties, typically investment banks, including convertible structured notes. The income-producing and convertible components of a synthetic convertible security may be issued separately by different issuers and at different times. The values of synthetic convertible securities will respond differently to market fluctuations than a traditional convertible security because a synthetic convertible is composed of two or more separate securities or instruments, each with its own market value. Synthetic convertible securities are also subject to the risks associated with derivatives. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Derivatives Risk.” In addition, if the value of the underlying common stock or the level of the index involved in the convertible element falls below the strike price of the warrant or option, the warrant or option may lose all value

Contingent Convertible Securities

Contingent convertible securities (“CoCos”) are a form of hybrid debt security issued primarily by non-U.S. issuers, which have loss absorption mechanisms built into their terms. CoCos have no stated maturity, have fully discretionary coupons and are typically issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments. CoCos generally either convert into equity of the issuer or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain triggering events (“triggers”) linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions relating to the issuer’s continued viability. In certain scenarios, investors in CoCos may suffer a loss of capital ahead of equity holders or when equity holders do not. There is no guarantee that the Fund will receive a return of principal on CoCos. Any indication that an automatic write-down or conversion event may occur can be expected to have an adverse effect on the market price of CoCos. CoCos are often rated below investment grade and are subject to the risks of high yield securities.

 

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Because CoCos are issued primarily by financial institutions, CoCos may present substantially increased risks at times of financial turmoil, which could affect financial institutions more than companies in other sectors and industries. Further, the value of an investment in CoCos is unpredictable and will be influenced by many factors and risks, including interest rate risk, credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk. An investment by the Fund in CoCos may result in losses to the Fund.

Some additional risks associated with CoCos include, but are not limited to:

Loss absorption risk. CoCos may be subject to an automatic write-down (i.e., the automatic write-down of the principal amount or value of the securities, potentially to zero, and the cancellation of the securities) under certain circumstances, which could result in the Fund losing a portion or all of its investment in such securities. In addition, the Fund may not have any rights with respect to repayment of the principal amount of the securities that has not become due or the payment of interest or dividends on such securities for any period from (and including) the interest or dividend payment date falling immediately prior to the occurrence of such automatic write-down. An automatic write-down could also result in a reduced income rate if the dividend or interest payment is based on the security’s par value. In addition, CoCos have fully discretionary coupons. This means coupons can potentially be cancelled at the issuer’s discretion or at the request of the relevant regulatory authority in order to help the issuer absorb losses and may be suspended in the event there are insufficient distributable reserves.

Subordinated instruments. CoCos will, in the majority of circumstances, be issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments in order to provide the appropriate regulatory capital treatment prior to a conversion. Accordingly, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a conversion having occurred, the rights and claims of the holders of the CoCos, such as the Funds, against the issuer in respect of or arising under the terms of the CoCos shall generally rank junior to the claims of all holders of unsubordinated obligations of the issuer. In addition, if the CoCos are converted into the issuer’s underlying equity securities following a conversion event (i.e., a “trigger”), each holder will be subordinated due to their conversion from being the holder of a debt instrument to being the holder of an equity instrument.

Market value will fluctuate based on unpredictable factors. The trading behavior of a given issuer’s CoCos may be strongly impacted by the trading behavior of other issuers’ CoCos, such that negative information from an unrelated CoCo may cause a decline in value of one or more CoCos held by the Fund. Accordingly, the trading behavior of CoCos may not follow the trading behavior of other similarly structured securities. The value of CoCos is unpredictable and could be influenced by many factors including, without limitation: (i) the creditworthiness of the issuer and/or fluctuations in such issuer’s applicable capital ratios; (ii) supply and demand for the CoCos; (iii) general market conditions and available liquidity; and (iv) economic, financial and political events that affect the issuer, its particular market or the financial markets in general.

Variable- and Floating-Rate Securities

Variable- and floating-rate instruments are instruments that pay interest at rates that adjust whenever a specified interest rate changes and/or that reset on predetermined dates (such as the last day of a month or calendar quarter). In addition to senior loans, variable- and floating-rate instruments may include, without limitation, instruments such as catastrophe and other event-linked bonds, bank capital securities, unsecured bank loans, corporate bonds, money market instruments and certain types of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities. Due to their variable- or floating-rate features, these instruments will generally pay higher levels of income in a rising interest rate environment and lower levels of income as interest rates decline. For the same reason, the market value of a variable- or floating-rate instrument is generally expected to have less sensitivity to fluctuations in market interest rates than a fixed-rate instrument, although the value of a variable- or floating-rate instrument may nonetheless decline as interest rates rise and due to other factors, such as changes in credit quality.

 

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The Fund also may engage in credit spread trades. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the prices or interest rates of two bonds or other securities, in which the value of the investment position is determined by changes in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities.

Inverse Floaters

An inverse floater is a type of debt instrument that bears a floating or variable interest rate that moves in the opposite direction to interest rates generally or the interest rate on another security or index. Changes in interest rates generally, or the interest rate of the other security or index, inversely affect the interest rate paid on the inverse floater, with the result that the inverse floater’s price will be considerably more volatile than that of a fixed-rate bond. The Fund may invest without limit in inverse floaters, which brokers typically create by depositing an income-producing instrument, which may be a mortgage-related asset, in a trust. The trust in turn issues a variable rate security and inverse floaters. The interest rate for the variable rate security is typically determined by an index or an auction process, while the inverse floater holder receives the balance of the income from the underlying income-producing instrument less an auction fee. The market prices of inverse floaters may be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and prepayment rates on the underlying securities, and may decrease significantly when interest rates increase or prepayment rates change. In a transaction in which the Fund purchases an inverse floater from a trust, and the underlying bond was held by the Fund prior to being deposited into the trust, the Fund typically treats the transaction as a secured borrowing for financial reporting purposes. As a result, for financial reporting purposes, the Fund will generally incur a non-cash interest expense with respect to interest paid by the trust on the variable rate securities, and will recognize additional interest income in an amount directly corresponding to the non-cash interest expense. Therefore, the Fund’s NAV per Common Share and performance are not affected by the non-cash interest expense. This accounting treatment does not apply to inverse floaters acquired by the Fund when the Fund did not previously own the underlying bond.

Derivatives

The Fund may, but is not required to, utilize various derivative strategies (both long and short positions) for investment purposes, leveraging purposes, or in an attempt to hedge against market, credit, interest rate, currency and other risks in the portfolio. See “Leverage.” Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends upon, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index, and may relate to, among others, individual debt instruments, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities and related indexes. Examples of derivative instruments that the Fund may use include, without limitation, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), call and put options (including options on futures contracts), credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps and other swap agreements. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investment directly in securities and other more traditional investments. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Derivatives Risk.” Certain types of derivative instruments that the Fund may utilize are described elsewhere in this section, including those described under “Municipal Bonds—Tender Option Bonds,” “—Certain Interest Rate Transactions,” and “—Credit Default Swaps” Please see “Investment Objectives and Policies—Derivative Instruments” in the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about these and other derivative instruments that the Fund may use and the risks associated with such instruments. There is no assurance that these derivative strategies will be available at any time or that PIMCO will determine to use them for the Fund or, if used, that the strategies will be successful. In addition, the Fund may be subject to certain restrictions on its use of derivative strategies imposed by guidelines of one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for any preferred shares issued by the Fund.

Rule 144A Securities

The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered for public sale, but that are eligible for purchase and sale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Rule 144A permits certain qualified institutional buyers, such as the Fund, to trade in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the Securities Act. Rule 144A Securities may be deemed illiquid, although the Fund may determine that certain Rule 144A Securities are liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.

 

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Illiquid Securities

To the extent consistent with the applicable liquidity requirements for interval funds under Rule 23c-3 of the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities. PIMCO may be subject to significant delays in disposing of illiquid securities, and other transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in liquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in liquid securities. The term “illiquid securities” for this purpose means any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Depending on the circumstances, illiquid securities may be considered to include, among other things, certain purchased OTC options and the assets used to cover certain written OTC options, securities or other liquid assets being used as cover for such options, repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days, certain loan participation interests, fixed time deposits which are not subject to prepayment or provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (such as privately placed debt securities), and other securities which legally or in PIMCO’s opinion may be deemed illiquid (not including securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act), and certain commercial paper that PIMCO has determined to be liquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees).

Other Investment Companies

The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in securities of other closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund treats such investments in other investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds as investments in municipal bonds for purposes of the Fund’s investment policies.

In general, under the 1940 Act, an investment company such as the Fund may not (i) own more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of any one registered investment company, (ii) invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any single registered investment company or (iii) invest more than 10% of its total assets in securities of other registered investment companies.

The Fund may invest in other investment companies to gain broad market or sector exposure, including during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash (such as the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds of the offering of its Common Shares) or when PIMCO believes share prices of other investment companies offer attractive values.

As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s management fees and other expenses with respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described in this prospectus.

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investments

The Fund may invest in instruments of corporate and other foreign (non-U.S.) issuers, and in instruments traded principally outside of the United States. The Fund may invest in sovereign and other debt securities issued by foreign governments and their respective sub-divisions, agencies or instrumentalities, government sponsored enterprises and supranational government entities. Supranational entities include international organizations that are organized or supported by one or more government entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and by international banking institutions and related governmental agencies. As a holder of such debt securities, the Fund may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities. In addition, there are generally no bankruptcy proceedings similar to those in the United

 

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States by which defaulted foreign debt securities may be collected. Investing in foreign securities involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk.”

PIMCO generally considers an instrument to be economically tied to a non-U.S. country if the issuer is a foreign (non-U.S.) government (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), or if the issuer is organized under the laws of a non-U.S. country. In the case of certain money market instruments, such instruments will be considered economically tied to a non-U.S. country if either the issuer or the guarantor of such money market instrument is organized under the laws of a non-U.S. country. With respect to derivative instruments, PIMCO generally considers such instruments to be economically tied to non-U.S. countries if the underlying assets are foreign currencies (or baskets or indexes of such currencies), or instruments or securities that are issued by foreign governments or issuers organized under the laws of a non-U.S. country (or if the underlying assets are certain money market instruments, if either the issuer or the guarantor of such money market instruments is organized under the laws of a non-U.S. country).

The Fund may invest in Brady Bonds, which are securities created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to sovereign entities for new obligations in connection with a debt restructuring. Investments in Brady Bonds may be viewed as speculative. Brady Bonds acquired by the Fund may be subject to restructuring arrangements or to requests for new credit, which may cause the Fund to realize a loss of interest or principal on any of its portfolio holdings.

The foreign securities in which the Fund may invest include without limitation Eurodollar obligations and “Yankee Dollar” obligations. Eurodollar obligations are U.S. dollar-denominated certificates of deposit and time deposits issued outside the U.S. capital markets by foreign branches of U.S. banks and by foreign banks. Yankee Dollar obligations are U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued in the U.S. capital markets by foreign banks. Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar obligations are generally subject to the same risks that apply to domestic debt issues, notably credit risk, interest rate risk, market risk and liquidity risk. Additionally, Eurodollar (and to a limited extent, Yankee Dollar) obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks. One such risk is the possibility that a sovereign country might prevent capital, in the form of U.S. dollars, from flowing across its borders. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments; the extent and quality of government regulation of financial markets and institutions; the imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes; and the expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers.

Short Sales

The Fund may make short sales of securities (i) to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities, (ii) to increase the flexibility of the Fund, (iii) for investment return, (iv) as part of a risk arbitrage strategy, and (v) as part of its overall portfolio management strategies involving the use of derivative instruments. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline or will underperform relative to other securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

When the Fund makes a short sale, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale as collateral for its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale. The Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities or maintain an arrangement with a broker to borrow securities, and would often be obligated to pay over any accrued interest and dividends on such borrowed securities.

If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time that the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.

The Fund may invest pursuant to a risk arbitrage strategy to take advantage of a perceived relationship between the value of two securities. Frequently, a risk arbitrage strategy involves the short sale of a security.

 

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To the extent the Fund engages in short sales, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales “against the box”) will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of segregated or “earmarked” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board. A short sale is “against the box” to the extent that the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short. The Fund will engage in short selling to the extent permitted by the federal securities laws and rules and interpretations thereunder. To the extent the Fund engages in short selling in foreign (non-U.S.) jurisdictions, the Fund will do so to the extent permitted by the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction.

The Fund may also engage in so-called “naked” short sales (i.e., short sales that are not “against the box”), in which case the Fund’s losses could theoretically be unlimited, in cases where the Fund is unable for whatever reason to close out its short position. The Fund has the flexibility to engage in short selling to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and rules and interpretations thereunder.

 

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Certain Interest Rate Transactions

In order to reduce the interest rate risk inherent in the Fund’s underlying investments and capital structure, the Fund may (but is not required to) enter into interest rate swap transactions. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the Fund with a counterparty of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, such as an exchange of fixed rate payments for floating rate payments. These transactions generally involve an agreement with the swap counterparty to pay a fixed or variable rate payment in exchange for the counterparty paying the Fund the other type of payment stream (i.e., variable or fixed). The payment obligation would be based on the notional amount of the swap. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements in which the Fund may invest include without limitation interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap;” interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor;” and interest rate “collars,” under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Fund may (but is not required to) use interest rate swap transactions with the intent to reduce or eliminate the risk that an increase in short-term interest rates could pose for the performance of the Fund’s Common Shares as a result of leverage, and also may use these instruments for other hedging or investment purposes. Any termination of an interest rate swap transaction could result in a termination payment by or to the Fund.

Credit Default Swaps

The Fund may enter into credit default swaps for both investment and risk management purposes, as well as to add leverage to the Fund’s portfolio. A credit default swap may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not currently held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in a credit default swap is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount, if the swap is cash settled. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer generally may elect to receive the full notional value of the swap from the seller, who, in turn, generally will recover an amount significantly lower than the equivalent face amount of the obligations of the reference entity, whose value may have significantly decreased, through (i) physical delivery of such obligations by the buyer, (ii) cash settlement or (iii) an auction process. As a seller, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

The spread of a credit default swap is the annual amount the protection buyer must pay the protection seller over the length of the contract, expressed as a percentage of the notional amount. When spreads rise, market perceived credit risk rises and when spreads fall, market perceived credit risk falls. Wider credit spreads and decreasing market values, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. For credit default swaps on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values, as well as the annual payment rate, serve as an indication of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

Credit default swaps involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to general market risks, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk, among other risks associated with derivative instruments. A buyer generally also will lose its investment and recover nothing should no credit event occur and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments

 

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previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller. The Fund’s obligations under a credit default swap will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund). In connection with credit default swaps in which the Fund is the buyer, the Fund may segregate or “earmark” cash or liquid assets, or enter into certain offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the Fund’s exposure (any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed by the Fund to any counterparty), on a marked-to-market basis. In connection with credit default swaps in which the Fund is the seller, if the Fund covers its position through asset segregation, the Fund will segregate or “earmark” cash or liquid assets with a value at least equal to the full notional amount of the Fund’s obligation under the swap. Such segregation or “earmarking” will not limit the Fund’s exposure to loss. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.”

When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions

The Fund may purchase securities that it is eligible to purchase on a when-issued basis, may purchase and sell such securities for delayed delivery and may make contracts to purchase such securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond normal settlement time (forward commitments). When-issued transactions, delayed delivery purchases and forward commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the securities declines prior to the settlement date. The risk is in addition to the risk that the Fund’s other assets will decline in value. Therefore, these transactions may result in a form of leverage and increase the Fund’s overall investment exposure. Typically, no income accrues on securities the Fund has committed to purchase prior to the time delivery of the securities is made, although the Fund may earn income on securities it has segregated to cover these positions. When the Fund has sold a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis, the Fund does not participate in future gains or losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a transaction fails to pay for the securities, the Fund could suffer a loss. Additionally, when selling a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis without owning the security, the Fund will incur a loss if the security’s price appreciates in value such that the security’s price is above the agreed-upon price on the settlement date.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements, in which the Fund purchases a security from a bank or broker-dealer and the bank or broker-dealer agrees to repurchase the security at the Fund’s cost plus interest within a specified time. If the party agreeing to repurchase should default, the Fund will seek to sell the securities it holds. This could involve transaction costs or delays in addition to a loss on the securities if their value should fall below their repurchase price. Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid securities.

Lending of Portfolio Securities

For the purpose of achieving income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers or other financial institutions provided a number of conditions are satisfied, including that the loan is fully collateralized. See “Investment Objectives and Policies—Securities Loans” in the Statement of Additional Information for details. When the Fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned. The Fund will also receive a fee or interest on the collateral. Securities lending involves

 

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the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent, or the risk of loss due to the investment performance of the collateral. The Fund may pay lending fees to the party arranging the loan. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Securities Lending Risk.”

Portfolio Turnover

The length of time the Fund has held a particular security is not generally a consideration in investment decisions. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” The Fund may engage in frequent and active trading of portfolio securities to achieve its investment objectives, particularly during periods of volatile market movements. High portfolio turnover (e.g., over 100%) generally involves correspondingly greater expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in other securities. Sales of portfolio securities may also result in realization of taxable capital gains, including short-term capital gains (which are generally treated as ordinary income upon distribution in the form of dividends). The trading costs and tax effects associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

Please see “Investment Objectives and Policies” in the Statement of Additional Information for additional information regarding the investments of the Fund and their related risks.

Leverage

The Fund currently intends, subject to favorable market conditions, to add leverage to its portfolio through the use of tender option bonds and, within its first year of operations, by issuing preferred shares. The Fund may also choose to add leverage through the use of reverse repurchase agreements, credit default swaps, dollar rolls or borrowings, such as through bank loans or commercial paper and/or other credit facilities. The Fund may also enter into transactions other than those noted above that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions.

The Fund intends to issue preferred shares and utilize tender option bonds and other forms of leverage opportunistically and may choose to increase or decrease, or eliminate entirely, its use of leverage over time and from time to time based on PIMCO’s assessment of the yield curve environment, interest rate trends, market conditions and other factors. The net proceeds the Fund obtains from the issuance of preferred shares or the use of tender option bonds or other forms of leverage will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as described in this prospectus. So long as the rate of return, net of applicable Fund expenses, on the debt obligations and other investments purchased by the Fund exceeds the costs to the Fund of the leverage it utilizes, the investment of the Fund’s assets attributable to leverage will generate more income than will be needed to pay the costs of the leverage. If so, and all other things being equal, the excess may be used to pay higher dividends to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not so leveraged.

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue preferred shares unless, immediately after such issuance, the value of the Fund’s total net assets (as defined below) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of any outstanding preferred shares and the newly issued preferred shares plus the aggregate amount of any senior securities of the Fund representing indebtedness (i.e., such liquidation value plus the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness may not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total net assets). In addition, should preferred shares be issued, the Fund would not be permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s total net assets satisfies the above-referenced 200% coverage requirement.

The 1940 Act also generally prohibits the Fund from engaging in most forms of leverage representing indebtedness other than preferred shares (including the use of tender option bonds, to the extent that these instruments are not

 

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covered as described below) unless immediately after the issuance of the leverage the Fund has satisfied the asset coverage test with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness prescribed by the 1940 Act; that is, the value of the Fund’s total assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (for these purposes, “total net assets”) is at least 300% of the senior securities representing indebtedness (effectively limiting the use of leverage through senior securities representing indebtedness to 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total net assets, including assets attributable to such leverage). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, this asset coverage test is satisfied. The Fund may (but is not required to) cover its commitments under tender option bonds or other derivatives instruments by the segregation of liquid assets, or by entering into offsetting transactions or owning positions covering its obligations. To the extent that certain of these instruments are so covered, they will not be considered “senior securities” under the 1940 Act and therefore will not be subject to the 1940 Act 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to forms of senior securities representing indebtedness used by the Fund. However, such instruments, even if covered, represent a form of economic leverage and create special risks. The use of these forms of leverage increases the volatility of the Fund’s investment portfolio and could result in larger losses to Common Shareholders than if these strategies were not used. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.”

Leveraging is a speculative technique and there are special risks and costs involved. There is no assurance that the Fund will issue preferred shares or utilize other forms of leverage (such as tender option bonds). If used, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful or result in a higher yield on your Common Shares. When leverage is used, the net asset value of the Common Shares and the yield to Common Shareholders will be more volatile. In addition, dividends paid on preferred shares and interest and other expenses borne by the Fund with respect to its use of tender option bonds or other forms of leverage are borne by the Common Shareholders and result in a reduction of the net asset value of the Common Shares. In addition, because the fees received by the Investment Manager are based on the total managed assets of the Fund (including any assets attributable to any preferred shares, tender option bonds and borrowings that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager has a financial incentive for the Fund to use certain forms of leverage (e.g., preferred shares and tender option bonds), which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

The SEC has issued a proposed rule relating to a registered investment company’s use of derivatives and related instruments that, if adopted, could potentially require the Fund to reduce its use of leverage and/or observe more stringent asset coverage and related requirements than are currently imposed by the 1940 Act, which could adversely affect the value or performance of the Fund and the Common Shares.

The Fund’s ability to utilize leverage may also be limited by asset coverage requirements and other guidelines imposed by rating agencies that provide ratings for preferred shares, which may be more restrictive than the limitations imposed by the 1940 Act noted above.

EFFECTS OF LEVERAGE

The following table is furnished in response to requirements of the SEC. It is designed to illustrate the effects of leverage through the use of senior securities, as that term is defined under Section 18 of the 1940 Act, on Common Share total return, assuming investment portfolio total returns (consisting of income and changes in the value of investments held in the Fund’s portfolio) of -10%, -5%, 0%, 5% and 10%. Assuming that leverage will represent approximately 25% of the Fund’s total managed assets and that the Fund will bear expenses relating to that leverage at an annual effective expense rate of 2.35% payable by the Fund (assuming that the Fund will incur interest expenses attributable to the utilization of tender option bonds for its entire first year of operations and based on estimated market interest rates for such financing under current market conditions), the annual return that the Fund’s portfolio must experience (net of expenses) in order to cover such costs of the leverage would be 0.58%. Although there is no guarantee the Fund will do so, the Fund currently intends to seek to replace a portion of leverage achieved through the use of tender option bonds with leverage attributable to an expected issuance of preferred shares within its first year of operations. The actual interest or dividend expenses of any preferred shares

 

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may be higher than the interest rates estimated for tender option bond utilization, perhaps to a significant extent. The information below does not reflect the Fund’s potential use of certain other forms of economic leverage achieved through the use of other instruments or transactions not considered to be senior securities under the 1940 Act, such as certain derivative instruments.

These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative of the investment portfolio returns experienced or expected to be experienced by the Fund. Your actual returns may be greater or less than those appearing below. In addition, actual borrowing expenses associated with the use of tender option bonds or the issuance of preferred shares, if any, by the Fund may vary frequently and may be significantly higher or lower than the rate used for the example below.

 

Assumed Portfolio Total Return

 

   (10.00)%

 

   (5.00)%

 

   0.00%

 

   5.00%

 

   10.00%

 

Institutional Class Common Shares Total Return

 

 

   (14.12)%    (7.45)%    (0.78)%    5.88%    12.55%

Institutional Class Common Shares Total Return is composed of two elements —the distributions paid by the Fund to holders of Common Shares (the amount of which is largely determined by the net investment income of the Fund after paying dividend payments on any preferred shares issued by the Fund and expenses on any forms of leverage outstanding) and gains or losses on the value of the securities and other instruments the Fund owns. As required by SEC rules, the table assumes that the Fund is more likely to suffer capital losses than to enjoy capital appreciation. For example, to assume a total return of 0%, the Fund must assume that the income it receives on its investments is entirely offset by losses in the value of those investments. This table reflects hypothetical performance of the Fund’s portfolio and not the actual performance of the Fund’s Common Shares, the value of which is determined by market forces and other factors.

Should the Fund elect to add leverage, any benefits of such leverage cannot be fully achieved until the proceeds resulting from the use of such leverage have been received by the Fund and invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. As noted above, the Fund’s willingness to use leverage, and the extent to which leverage is used at any time, will depend on many factors, including, among other things, PIMCO’s assessment of the yield curve environment, interest rate trends, market conditions and other factors.

Principal Risks of the Fund

The NAV of the Common Shares will fluctuate with and be affected by, among other things, various principal risks of the Fund and its investments which are summarized below.

No Prior History

The Fund is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company with no history of operations and is designed for long-term investors and not as a trading vehicle.

New/Small Fund Risk

A new or smaller fund’s performance may not represent how the fund is expected to or may perform in the long term if and when it becomes larger and has fully implemented its investment strategies. Investment positions may have a disproportionate impact (negative or positive) on performance in a new and smaller fund, such as the Fund. New and smaller funds may also require a period of time before they are invested in securities that meet their investment objectives and policies and achieve a representative portfolio composition. Fund performance may be lower or higher during this “ramp-up” period, and may also be more volatile, than would be the case after the fund is fully invested. Similarly, a new or smaller fund’s investment strategy may require a longer period of time to show returns that are representative of the strategy. New funds have limited performance histories for investors to evaluate and new and smaller funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. If a new or smaller fund were to fail to successfully implement its investment strategies or achieve its investment objective, performance may

 

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Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that the municipal bonds and other securities in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because of a change in interest rates. As nominal interest rates rise, the value of certain fixed income securities held by the Fund is likely to decrease. A nominal interest rate can be described as the sum of a real interest rate and an expected inflation rate. Interest rate changes can be sudden and unpredictable, and the Fund may lose money as a result of movements in interest rates. The Fund may not be able to hedge against changes in interest rates or may choose not to do so for cost or other reasons. In addition, any hedges may not work as intended.

A wide variety of factors can cause interest rates to rise (e.g., central bank monetary policies, inflation rates, general economic conditions). This risk may be particularly acute in the current market environment because market interest rates are currently near historically low levels. This, combined with recent economic recovery, the Federal Reserve Board’s conclusion of its quantitative easing program, and increases in federal funds interest rates in 2015, 2016 and 2017, which had not occurred since 2006, could potentially increase the probability of an upward interest rate environment in the near future. To the extent the Federal Reserve Board continues to raise interest rates, there is a risk that rates across the financial system may rise.

Fixed income securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, usually making them more volatile than securities with shorter durations. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates that incorporates a security’s yield, coupon, final maturity and call features, among other characteristics. Duration is useful primarily as a measure of the sensitivity of a fixed income security’s market price to interest rate (i.e., yield) movements. All other things remaining equal, for each one percentage point increase in interest rates, the value of a portfolio of fixed income investments would generally be expected to decline by one percent for every year of the portfolio’s average duration above zero. For example, the value of a portfolio of fixed income securities with an average duration of eight years would generally be expected to decline by approximately 8% if interest rates rose by one percentage point.

Variable and floating rate securities generally are less sensitive to interest rate changes but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general. Conversely, floating rate securities will not generally increase in value if interest rates decline. Inverse floating rate securities may decrease in value if interest rates increase. Inverse floating rate securities may also exhibit greater price volatility than a fixed rate obligation with similar credit quality. When the Fund holds variable or floating rate securities, a decrease (or, in the case of inverse floating rate securities, an increase) in market interest rates will adversely affect the income received from such securities and the NAV of the Fund’s shares.

During periods of very low or negative interest rates, the Fund may be unable to maintain positive returns. Interest rates in the United States are at or near historically low levels. Very low or negative interest rates may magnify interest rate risk. Changing interest rates, including rates that fall below zero, may have unpredictable effects on markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Fund performance to the extent the Fund is exposed to such interest rates.

Measures such as average duration may not accurately reflect the true interest rate sensitivity of the Fund. This is especially the case if the Fund consists of securities with widely varying durations. Therefore, if the Fund has an average duration that suggests a certain level of interest rate risk, the Fund may in fact be subject to greater interest rate risk than the average would suggest. This risk is greater to the extent the Fund uses leverage or derivatives in connection with the management of the Fund.

Convexity is an additional measure used to understand a security’s or Fund’s interest rate sensitivity. Convexity measures the rate of change of duration in response to changes in interest rates. With respect to a security’s price, a larger convexity (positive or negative) may imply more dramatic price changes in response to changing interest

 

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rates. Convexity may be positive or negative. Negative convexity implies that interest rate increases result in increased duration, meaning increased sensitivity in prices in response to rising interest rates. Thus, securities with negative convexity, which may include bonds with traditional call features and certain mortgage-backed securities, may experience greater losses in periods of rising interest rates. Accordingly, if the Fund holds such securities, the Fund may be subject to a greater risk of losses in periods of rising interest rates.

Rising interest rates may result in a decline in value of the Fund’s municipal bond investments and in periods of volatility. Further, while U.S. municipal bond markets have steadily grown over the past three decades, dealer “market making” ability has remained relatively stagnant. As a result, dealer inventories of certain types of bonds and similar instruments, which provide a core indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to “make markets,” are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. Because market makers provide stability to a market through their intermediary services, the significant reduction in dealer inventories could potentially lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Such issues may be exacerbated during periods of economic uncertainty. All of these factors, collectively and/or individually, could cause the Fund to lose value

Municipal Bond Risk

Investing in the municipal bond market involves the risks of investing in debt securities generally and certain other risks. The amount of public information available about the municipal bonds in which the Fund may invest is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Fund’s investment in municipal bonds may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of PIMCO than its investments in taxable bonds. The secondary market for municipal bonds also tends to be less well developed or liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell municipal bonds at attractive prices.

The ability of municipal issuers to make timely payments of interest and principal may be diminished during general economic downturns, by litigation, legislation or political events, or by the bankruptcy of the issuer. Laws, referenda, ordinances or regulations enacted in the future by Congress or state legislatures or the applicable governmental entity could extend the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or impose other constraints on enforcement of such obligations, or on the ability of municipal issuers to levy taxes. Issuers of municipal securities also might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. In the event of bankruptcy of such an issuer, the Fund could experience delays in collecting principal and interest and the Fund may not, in all circumstances, be able to collect all principal and interest to which it is entitled. To enforce its rights in the event of a default in the payment of interest or repayment of principal, or both, the Fund may take possession of and manage the assets securing the issuer’s obligations on such securities, which may increase the Fund’s operating expenses. Adverse economic, business, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of the Fund’s municipal bonds in the same manner. The Fund will be particularly subject to these risks to the extent that it focuses its investments in municipal bonds in a particular state or geographic region.

The Fund may invest in trust certificates issued in tender option bond programs. In these programs, a trust typically issues two classes of certificates and uses the proceeds to purchase municipal securities having relatively long maturities and bearing interest at a fixed interest rate substantially higher than prevailing short-term tax-exempt rates. There is a risk that the Fund will not be considered the owner of a tender option bond for federal income tax purposes, and thus will not be entitled to treat such interest as exempt from federal income tax. Certain tender option bonds may be illiquid or may become illiquid as a result of, among other things, a credit rating downgrade, a payment default or a disqualification from tax-exempt status. The Fund’s investment in the securities issued by a tender option bond trust may involve greater risk and volatility than an investment in a fixed rate bond, and the value of such securities may decrease significantly when market interest rates increase. Tender option bond trusts could be terminated due to market, credit or other events beyond the Fund’s control, which could require the Fund to dispose of portfolio investments at inopportune times and prices. The Fund may use a tender option bond program as a way of achieving leverage in its portfolio, in which case the Fund will be subject to leverage risk.

 

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The Fund may invest in revenue bonds, which are typically issued to fund a wide variety of capital projects including electric, gas, water and sewer systems; highways, bridges and tunnels; port and airport facilities; colleges and universities; and hospitals. Because the principal security for a revenue bond is generally the net revenues derived from a particular facility or group of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source, there is no guarantee that the particular project will generate enough revenue to pay its obligations, in which case the Fund’s performance may be adversely affected.

The Fund may invest in taxable municipal bonds, such as Build America Bonds. Build America Bonds are tax credit bonds created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which authorized state and local governments to issue Build America Bonds as taxable bonds in 2009 and 2010, without volume limitations, to finance any capital expenditures for which such issuers could otherwise issue traditional tax-exempt bonds. The Fund’s investments in Build America Bonds or similar taxable municipal bonds will result in taxable income and the Fund may elect to pass through to Common Shareholders the corresponding tax credits. The tax credits can generally be used to offset federal income taxes and the alternative minimum tax, but such credits are generally not refundable. Taxable municipal bonds involve similar risks as tax-exempt municipal bonds, including credit and market risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Credit Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Market Risk.”

Municipal securities are also subject to interest rate, credit, and liquidity risk, which are discussed generally elsewhere in this section, and elaborated upon below with respect to municipal bonds.

Interest Rate Risk. The value of municipal securities, similar to other fixed income securities, will likely drop as interest rates rise in the general market. Conversely, when rates decline, bond prices generally rise.

Credit Risk. The risk that a borrower may be unable to make interest or principal payments when they are due. Funds that invest in municipal securities rely on the ability of the issuer to service its debt. This subjects the Fund to credit risk in that the municipal issuer may be fiscally unstable or exposed to large liabilities that could impair its ability to honor its obligations. Municipal issuers with significant debt service requirements, in the near-to mid-term; unrated issuers and those with less capital and liquidity to absorb additional expenses may be most at risk. To the extent the Fund invests in lower quality or high yield municipal securities, it may be more sensitive to the adverse credit events in the municipal market. The treatment of municipalities in bankruptcy is more uncertain, and potentially more adverse to debt holders, than for corporate issues.

Liquidity Risk. The risk that investors may have difficulty finding a buyer when they seek to sell, and therefore, may be forced to sell at a discount to the market value. Liquidity may sometimes be impaired in the municipal market and because the Fund primarily invests in municipal securities, it may find it difficult to purchase or sell such securities at opportune times. Liquidity can be impaired due to interest rate concerns, credit events, or general supply and demand imbalances. Depending on the particular issuer and current economic conditions, municipal securities could be deemed more volatile investments.

In addition to general municipal market risks, different municipal sectors may face different risks. For instance, general obligation bonds are secured by the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the municipality issuing the obligation. As such, timely payment depends on the municipality’s ability to raise tax revenue and maintain a fiscally sound budget. The timely payments may also be influenced by any unfunded pension liabilities or other post-employee benefit plan (OPEB) liabilities.

Revenue bonds are secured by special tax revenues or other revenue sources. If the specified revenues do not materialize, then the bonds may not be repaid.

Private activity bonds are yet another type of municipal security. Municipalities use private activity bonds to finance the development of industrial facilities for use by private enterprise. Principal and interest payments are to be made by the private enterprise benefitting from the development, which means that the holder of the bond is exposed to the risk that the private issuer may default on the bond.

 

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Moral obligation bonds are usually issued by special purpose public entities. If the public entity defaults, repayment becomes a “moral obligation” instead of a legal one. The lack of a legally enforceable right to payment in the event of default poses a special risk for a holder of the bond because it has little or no ability to seek recourse in the event of default.    

In addition, a significant restructuring of federal income tax rates or even serious discussion on the topic in Congress could cause municipal bond prices to fall. The demand for municipal securities is strongly influenced by the value of tax-exempt income to investors. Lower income tax rates could reduce the advantage of owning municipal securities.

Municipal notes are similar to general municipal debt obligations, but they generally possess shorter terms. Municipal notes can be used to provide interim financing and may not be repaid if anticipated revenues are not realized.

Puerto Rico-Specific Risk. Municipal obligations issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or its political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, or public corporations may be affected by economic, market, political, and social conditions in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico currently is experiencing significant fiscal and economic challenges, including substantial debt service obligations, high levels of unemployment, underfunded public retirement systems, and persistent government budget deficits. These challenges may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico municipal securities. Major ratings agencies have downgraded the general obligation debt of Puerto Rico to below investment grade and continue to maintain a negative outlook for this debt, which increases the likelihood that the rating will be lowered further. In both August 2015 and January 2016, Puerto Rico defaulted on its debt by failing to make full payment due on its outstanding bonds, and there can be no assurance that Puerto Rico will be able to satisfy its future debt obligations. Further downgrades or defaults may place additional strain on the Puerto Rico economy and may negatively affect the value, liquidity, and volatility of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico municipal securities. Legislation, including legislation that would allow Puerto Rico to restructure its municipal debt obligations, thus increasing the risk that Puerto Rico may never pay off municipal indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed, could also impact the value of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico municipal securities.

These challenges and uncertainties have been exacerbated by Hurricane Maria and the resulting natural disaster in Puerto Rico. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, causing major damage across the Commonwealth, including damage to its water, power, and telecommunications infrastructure. The length of time needed to rebuild Puerto Rico’s infrastructure is unclear, but could amount to years, during which the Commonwealth is likely to be in an uncertain economic state. The full extent of the natural disaster’s impact on Puerto Rico’s economy and foreign investment in Puerto Rico is difficult to estimate.

Municipal Project-Specific Risk

The Fund may be more sensitive to adverse economic, business or political developments if it invests a substantial portion of its assets in the bonds of specific projects (such as those relating to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities), industrial development bonds, or in general obligation bonds, particularly if there is a large concentration from issuers in a single state. This is because the value of municipal securities can be significantly affected by the political, economic, legal, and legislative realities of the particular issuer’s locality or municipal sector events. Similarly, changes to state or federal regulation tied to a specific sector, such as the hospital sector, could have an impact on the revenue stream for a given subset of the market.

California State-Specific Risk

The Fund may invest in municipal bonds issued by or on behalf of the State of California and its political subdivisions, financing authorities and their agencies, and therefore may be affected significantly by economic, regulatory or political developments affecting the ability of California issuers to pay interest or repay principal.

 

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Certain California issuers of issues of municipal bonds have experienced serious financial difficulties in the past and reoccurrence of these difficulties may impair the ability of certain California issuers to pay principal or interest on their obligations. Provisions of the California Constitution and State statutes which limit the taxing and spending authority of California governmental entities may impair the ability of California issuers to pay principal and/or interest on their obligations. While California’s economy is broad, it does have major concentrations in high technology, aerospace and defense-related manufacturing, trade, entertainment, real estate and financial services, and may be sensitive to economic problems affecting those industries. Future California political and economic developments, constitutional amendments, legislative measures, executive orders, administrative regulations, litigation and voter initiatives could have an adverse effect on the debt obligations of California issuers.

New York State-Specific Risk

The Fund may invest in municipal bonds issued by or on behalf of the State of New York and its political subdivisions, financing authorities and their agencies, and therefore may be particularly affected by political, economic or regulatory developments affecting the ability of New York tax-exempt issuers to pay interest or repay principal. Certain New York issuers of municipal bonds have at times experienced serious financial difficulties, and a reoccurrence of these difficulties may impair the ability of certain New York issuers to pay principal and/or interest on their obligations. The creditworthiness of obligations issued by local New York issuers may be unrelated to the creditworthiness of obligations issued by New York City and State agencies, and that there is no obligation on the part of New York State to make payment on such local obligations in the event of default.

Relative to other states, New York has for many years imposed a very high state and local tax burden on residents. The burden of state and local taxation, in combination with the many other causes of regional economic dislocation, has contributed to the decisions of some businesses and individuals to relocate outside of, or not locate within, New York. The economic and financial condition of the State also may be affected by various financial, social, economic and political factors. For example, the securities industry is more central to New York’s economy than to the national economy, therefore any significant decline in stock market performance could adversely affect the State’s income and employment levels. Furthermore, such social, economic and political factors can be very complex, may vary from year to year and can be the result of actions taken not only by the State and its agencies and instrumentalities, but also by entities, such as the Federal government, that are not under the control of the State.

New York City accounts for a large portion of the State’s population and personal income, and New York City’s financial health affects the State in numerous ways. New York City continues to require significant financial assistance from the State and depends on State aid to both enable it to balance its budget and to meet its cash requirements. The State could also be affected by the ability of the City to market its securities successfully in the public credit markets, as well as by shifts upward or downward in the State’s real estate market.

Insurance Risk

The Fund may purchase municipal securities that are secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of the companies that provide such credit enhancements will affect the value of those securities. Certain significant providers of insurance for municipal securities have recently incurred significant losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower credit quality investments that have experienced recent defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. As a result, such losses have reduced the insurers’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such insurance if they are called upon to do so in the future. While an insured municipal security will typically be deemed to have the rating of its insurer, if the insurer of a municipal security suffers a downgrade in its credit rating or the market discounts the value of the insurance provided by the insurer, the rating of the underlying municipal security will be more relevant and the value of the municipal security would more closely, if not entirely, reflect such rating. In such a case, the value of insurance associated with a municipal security would decline and may not add any value. The insurance feature of a municipal security does not guarantee the full payment of principal and interest through the life of an insured obligation, the market value of the insured obligation or the net asset value of the common shares represented by such insured obligation.

 

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Inflation/Deflation Risk

Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from the Fund’s investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of payments at future dates. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s portfolio could decline. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio and Common Shares.

Call Risk

Call risk refers to the possibility that an issuer may exercise its right to redeem a municipal bond or other fixed income security earlier than expected (a call). Issuers may call outstanding municipal bonds or other securities prior to their maturity for a number of reasons (e.g., declining interest rates, changes in credit spreads and improvements in the issuer’s credit quality). If an issuer calls a municipal bond or other security in which the Fund has invested, the Fund may not recoup the full amount of its initial investment and may be forced to reinvest in lower-yielding securities, securities with greater credit risks or securities with other, less favorable features.

Credit Risk

The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a debt security (including a security purchased with securities lending collateral), or the counterparty to a derivatives contract, repurchase agreement or a loan of portfolio securities, is unable or unwilling, or is perceived (whether by market participants, rating agencies, pricing services or otherwise) as unable or unwilling, to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The downgrade of the credit of a security held by the Fund may decrease its value. Securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, which are often reflected in credit ratings. Measures such as average credit quality may not accurately reflect the true credit risk of the Fund. This is especially the case if the Fund holds securities with widely varying credit ratings. Therefore, if the Fund has an average credit rating that suggests a certain credit quality, the Fund may in fact be subject to greater credit risk than the average would suggest. This risk is greater to the extent the Fund uses leverage or derivatives in connection with the management of the Fund. Municipal bonds are subject to the risk that litigation, legislation or other political events, local business or economic conditions, or the bankruptcy of the issuer could have a significant effect on an issuer’s ability to make payments of principal and/or interest.

Issuer Risk

The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets. A change in the financial condition of a single issuer may affect securities markets as a whole. These risks can apply to the Common Shares issued by the Fund and to the issuers of securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests.

Liquidity Risk

To the extent consistent with the applicable liquidity requirements for interval funds under Rule 23c-3 of the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell at the time that the Fund would like or at the price that the Fund believes such investments are currently worth. Many of the Fund’s investments may be illiquid. Illiquid securities may become harder to value, especially in changing markets. The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may reduce the returns of the Fund because it may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price or possibly require the Fund to dispose of other investments at unfavorable times or prices in order to satisfy its obligations, which could prevent the Fund from taking advantage of other investment opportunities. Additionally,

 

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the market for certain investments may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the conditions of a particular issuer. Bond markets have consistently grown over the past three decades while the capacity for traditional dealer counterparties to engage in fixed income trading has not kept pace and in some cases has decreased. As a result, dealer inventories of corporate bonds, which provide a core indication of the ability of financial intermediaries to “make markets,” are at or near historic lows in relation to market size. Because market makers seek to provide stability to a market through their intermediary services, the significant reduction in dealer inventories could potentially lead to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the fixed income markets. Such issues may be exacerbated during periods of economic uncertainty. In such cases, the Fund, due to limitations on investments in illiquid securities and the difficulty in purchasing and selling such securities or instruments, may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain sector.

Fixed income securities with longer durations until maturity face heightened levels of liquidity risk as compared to fixed income securities with shorter durations until maturity. The risks associated with illiquid instruments may be particularly acute in situations in which the Fund’s operations require cash (such as in connection with repurchase offers) and could result in the Fund borrowing to meet its short-term needs or incurring losses on the sale of illiquid instruments. See “Principal Risks of the Fund – Repurchase Offers Risk.” It may also be the case that other market participants may be attempting to liquidate fixed income holdings at the same time as the Fund, causing increased supply in the market and contributing to liquidity risk and downward pricing pressure. See “Principal Risks of the Fund— Valuation Risk.”

Repurchase Offers Risk

As described under “Periodic Repurchase Offers” above, the Fund is an “interval fund” and, in order to provide liquidity to shareholders, the Fund, subject to applicable law, intends to conduct quarterly repurchase offers of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares at NAV, subject to approval of the Board. In each quarter, such repurchase offers will be for at least 5% of its outstanding Common Shares at NAV, pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act.

The Fund currently expects to conduct quarterly repurchase offers for 10% of its outstanding Common Shares under ordinary circumstances. The Fund believes that these repurchase offers are generally beneficial to the Fund’s shareholders, and repurchases generally will be funded from available cash or sales of portfolio securities. However, repurchase offers and the need to fund repurchase obligations may affect the ability of the Fund to be fully invested or force the Fund to maintain a higher percentage of its assets in liquid investments, which may harm the Fund’s investment performance. Moreover, diminution in the size of the Fund through repurchases may result in untimely sales of portfolio securities (with associated imputed transaction costs, which may be significant), and may limit the ability of the Fund to participate in new investment opportunities or to achieve its investment objective. The Fund may accumulate cash by holding back (i.e., not reinvesting) payments received in connection with the Fund’s investments. The Fund believes that payments received in connection with the Fund’s investments will generate sufficient cash to meet the maximum potential amount of the Fund’s repurchase obligations. If at any time cash and other liquid assets held by the Fund are not sufficient to meet the Fund’s repurchase obligations, the Fund intends, if necessary, to sell investments. If, as expected, the Fund employs investment leverage, repurchases of Common Shares would compound the adverse effects of leverage in a declining market. In addition, if the Fund borrows to finance repurchases, interest on that borrowing will negatively affect Common Shareholders who do not tender their Common Shares by increasing the Fund’s expenses and reducing any net investment income. If a repurchase offer is oversubscribed, the Board of Trustees of the Fund may determine to increase the amount repurchased by up to 2% of the Fund’s outstanding shares as of the date of the Repurchase Request Deadline. In the event that the Board of Trustees of the Fund determines not to repurchase more than the repurchase offer amount, or if shareholders tender more than the repurchase offer amount plus 2% of the Fund’s outstanding shares as of the date of the Repurchase Request Deadline, the Fund will repurchase the Common Shares tendered on a pro rata basis, and shareholders will have to wait until the next repurchase offer to make another repurchase request. As a result, shareholders may be unable to liquidate all or a given percentage of their investment in the Fund during a particular repurchase offer. Some shareholders, in anticipation of proration, may tender more Common Shares than they wish to have repurchased in a particular quarter, thereby increasing the likelihood that proration

 

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will occur. A shareholder may be subject to market and other risks, and the NAV of Common Shares tendered in a repurchase offer may decline between the Repurchase Request Deadline and the date on which the NAV for tendered Common Shares is determined. In addition, the repurchase of Common Shares by the Fund may be a taxable event to shareholders.

High Yield Securities Risk

In general, lower rated debt securities carry a greater degree of risk that the issuer will lose its ability to make interest and principal payments, which could have a negative effect on the NAV of the Fund’s Common Shares or Common Share dividends. Securities of below investment grade quality are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.” High yield securities involve a greater risk of default and their prices are generally more volatile and sensitive to actual or perceived negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or revenues of underlying borrowers or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. Debt securities in the lowest investment grade category also may be considered to possess some speculative characteristics by certain rating agencies. The Fund may purchase distressed securities that are in default or the issuers of which are in bankruptcy, which involve heightened risks. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Distressed and Defaulted Securities Risk.” An economic downturn could severely affect the ability of issuers (particularly those that are highly leveraged) to service their debt obligations or to repay their obligations upon maturity. Lower-rated securities are generally less liquid than higher-rated securities, which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of a particular security. For example, under adverse market or economic conditions, the secondary market for below investment grade securities could contract further, independent of any specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer, and certain securities in the Fund’s portfolio may become illiquid or less liquid. As a result, the Fund could find it more difficult to sell these securities or may be able to sell these securities only at prices lower than if such securities were widely traded. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk.” To the extent the Fund focuses on below investment grade debt obligations, PIMCO’s capabilities in analyzing credit quality and associated risks will be particularly important, and there can be no assurance that PIMCO will be successful in this regard. See “The Fund’s Investment Objectives and Strategies—Portfolio Contents—High Yield Securities” for additional information. Due to the risks involved in investing in high yield securities, an investment in the Fund should be considered speculative.

The Fund’s credit quality policies apply only at the time a security is purchased, and the Fund is not required to dispose of a security in the event that a rating agency or PIMCO downgrades its assessment of the credit characteristics of a particular issue. In determining whether to retain or sell such a security, PIMCO may consider factors including, but not limited to, PIMCO’s assessment of the credit quality of the issuer of such security, the price at which such security could be sold and the rating, if any, assigned to such security by other rating agencies. Analysis of creditworthiness may be more complex for issuers of high yield securities than for issuers of higher quality debt securities.

Market Risk

The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest rates, adverse changes to credit markets or adverse investor sentiment generally. The value of a security may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value simultaneously. Credit ratings downgrades may also negatively affect securities held by the Fund. Even when markets perform well, there is no assurance that the investments held by the Fund will increase in value along with the broader market. In addition, market risk includes the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt the economy on a national or global level. For instance, terrorism, market manipulation, government defaults, government

 

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shutdowns, political changes or diplomatic developments, and natural/environmental disasters can all negatively impact the securities markets, which could cause the Fund to lose value. Any market disruptions could also prevent the Fund from executing advantageous investment decisions in a timely manner. Thus, investors should closely monitor current market conditions to determine whether the Fund meets their individual financial needs and tolerance for risk.

Current market conditions may pose heightened risks with respect funds that invest in fixed income securities. As discussed more under “Principal Risks of the Fund—Interest Rate Risk,” interest rates in the U.S. are near historically low levels. However, continued economic recovery, the end of the Federal Reserve Board’s quantitative easing program, and an increased likelihood of a rising interest rate environment increase the risk that interest rates will continue to rise in the near future. Any further interest rate increases in the future could cause the value of the Fund to decrease. As such, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate, volatility and liquidity risk.

Exchanges and securities markets may close early, close late or issue trading halts on specific securities, which may result in, among other things, the Fund being unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments at an advantageous time or accurately price its portfolio investments.

Municipal Bond Market Risk. The amount of public information available about the municipal bonds in the Fund’s portfolio is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds, and the investment performance of the Fund may therefore be more dependent on the analytical abilities of PIMCO than would be a stock fund or taxable bond fund. The secondary market for municipal bonds, particularly below investment grade bonds in which the Fund may invest, also tends to be less well-developed and less liquid than many other securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell its bonds at attractive prices.

Management Risk

The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. PIMCO and each individual portfolio manager will apply investment techniques and risk analysis in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results. Certain securities or other instruments in which the Fund seeks to invest may not be available in the quantities desired. In addition, regulatory restrictions, actual or potential conflicts of interest or other considerations may cause PIMCO to restrict or prohibit participation in certain investments. In such circumstances, PIMCO or the individual portfolio managers may determine to purchase other securities or instruments as substitutes. Such substitute securities or instruments may not perform as intended, which could result in losses to the Fund. To the extent the Fund employs strategies targeting perceived pricing inefficiencies, arbitrage strategies or similar strategies, it is subject to the risk that the pricing or valuation of the securities and instruments involved in such strategies may change unexpectedly, which may result in reduced returns or losses to the Fund. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax restrictions, policies or developments may affect the investment techniques available to PIMCO and each individual portfolio manager in connection with managing the Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objectives. There also can be no assurance that all of the personnel of PIMCO will continue to be associated with PIMCO for any length of time. The loss of the services of one or more key employees of PIMCO could have an adverse impact on the Fund’s ability to realize its investment objective.

In addition, the Fund may rely on various third-party sources to calculate its NAV. As a result, the Fund is subject to certain operational risks associated with reliance on service providers and service providers’ data sources. In particular, errors or systems failures and other technological issues may adversely impact the Fund’s calculations of its NAV, and such NAV calculation issues may result in inaccurately calculated NAVs, delays in NAV calculation and/or the inability to calculate NAVs over extended periods. The Fund may be unable to recover any losses associated with such failures.

 

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Reinvestment Risk

Income from the Fund’s portfolio will decline if and when the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called debt obligations at market interest rates that are below the portfolio’s current earnings rate. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, an issuer of debt obligations may exercise an option to redeem securities prior to maturity, forcing the Fund to invest in lower-yielding securities. The Fund also may choose to sell higher yielding portfolio securities and to purchase lower yielding securities to achieve greater portfolio diversification, because the portfolio managers believe the current holdings are overvalued or for other investment-related reasons. A decline in income received by the Fund from its investments is likely to have a negative effect on dividend levels, NAV and/or overall return of the Common Shares.

Leverage Risk

The Fund’s use of leverage (as described under “Leverage” in the body of this prospectus) creates the opportunity for increased Common Share net income, but also creates special risks for Common Shareholders. To the extent used, there is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful. Leverage is a speculative technique that may expose the Fund to greater risk and increased costs. The Fund’s assets attributable to any outstanding preferred shares or the net proceeds that the Fund obtains from its use of tender option bonds, derivatives or other forms of leverage, if any, will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and policies as described in this prospectus. Dividends payable with respect to any preferred shares outstanding and interest expense payable by the Fund with respect to any tender option bonds, derivatives and other forms of leverage will generally be based on shorter-term interest rates that would be periodically reset. So long as the Fund’s portfolio investments provide a higher rate of return (net of applicable Fund expenses) than the dividend rate on any preferred shares outstanding, including the Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up, and the interest expenses and other costs to the Fund of such other leverage, the investment of the proceeds thereof will generate more income than will be needed to pay the costs of the leverage. If so, and all other things being equal, the excess may be used to pay higher dividends to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not so leveraged. If, however, shorter-term interest rates rise relative to the rate of return on the Fund’s portfolio, the interest and other costs to the Fund of leverage (including interest expenses on tender option bonds and the dividend rate on any outstanding preferred shares, including the Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up) could exceed the rate of return on the debt obligations and other investments held by the Fund, thereby reducing return to Common Shareholders. In addition, fees and expenses of any form of leverage used by the Fund will be borne entirely by the Common Shareholders (and not by preferred shareholders, if any) and will reduce the investment return of the Common Shares. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s use of leverage will result in a higher yield on the Common Shares, and it may result in losses. In addition, any preferred shares issued by the Fund are expected to pay cumulative dividends, which may tend to increase leverage risk. Leverage creates several major types of risks for Common Shareholders, including:

 

  the likelihood of greater volatility of NAV of Common Shares, and of the investment return to Common Shareholders, than a comparable portfolio without leverage;

 

  the possibility either that Common Share dividends will fall if the interest and other costs of leverage rise, or that dividends paid on Common Shares will fluctuate because such costs vary over time; and

 

  the effects of leverage in a declining market or a rising interest rate environment, as leverage is likely to cause a greater decline in the NAV of the Common Shares than if the Fund were not leveraged.

In addition, the counterparties to the Fund’s leveraging transactions and any preferred shareholders of the Fund will have priority of payment over the Fund’s Common Shareholders.

In addition to tender option bonds (or a future issuance of preferred shares), the Fund may engage in other transactions that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions, credit default swaps, reverse repurchases, or other derivatives. The Fund’s use of such transactions gives rise to associated leverage risks described above, and may adversely affect the Fund’s income, distributions and total returns to Common Shareholders. The Fund manages some of its derivative positions by segregating an amount of cash or liquid

 

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securities equal to the notional value or the market value, as applicable, of those positions. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.” The Fund may also offset derivatives positions against one another or against other assets to manage effective market exposure resulting from derivatives in its portfolio. To the extent that any offsetting positions do not behave in relation to one another as expected, the Fund may perform as if it is leveraged through use of these derivative strategies. See “Use of Leverage.”

Should the Fund issue preferred shares as presently intended, among other risks, any decline in the net asset value of the Fund’s investments could result in the risk of the Fund of failing to meet its asset coverage requirements for any such preferred shares or the risk of the preferred shares being downgraded by a rating agency. In an extreme case, the Fund’s current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the dividend requirements on any preferred shares outstanding. In order to address these types of events, the Fund might need to liquidate investments in order to fund a redemption of some or all of preferred shares. Liquidation at times of adverse economic conditions may result in a loss to the Fund. At other times, these liquidations may result in gain at the Fund level and thus in additional taxable distributions to Common Shareholders. See “Tax Matters” for more information. Any preferred shares, tender option bonds, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions, credit default swaps, reverse repurchases, or other derivatives by the Fund or counterparties to the Fund’s other leveraging transactions, if any, would have, seniority over the Fund’s Common Shares.

The SEC has issued a proposed rule relating to a registered investment company’s use of derivatives and related instruments that, if adopted, could potentially require the Fund to reduce its use of leverage and/or observe more stringent asset coverage and related requirements than are currently imposed by the 1940 Act, which could adversely affect the value or performance of the Fund and the Common Shares.

Because the fees received by the Investment Manager are based on the average daily “total managed assets” of the Fund (including any assets attributable to any preferred shares, tender option bonds and borrowings that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager has a financial incentive for the Fund to use certain forms of leverage (e.g., preferred shares and tender option bonds), which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

Segregation and Coverage Risk

Certain portfolio management techniques, such as, among other things, utilizing tender offer bonds, purchasing securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis, entering into swap agreements, futures contracts or other derivative transactions, or engaging in short sales, may be considered senior securities unless steps are taken to segregate the Fund’s assets or otherwise cover its obligations. To avoid having these instruments considered senior securities, the Fund may segregate liquid assets with a value equal (on a daily mark-to-market basis) to its obligations under these types of leveraged transactions, enter into offsetting transactions or otherwise cover such transactions. See “Leverage” in this prospectus. The Fund may be unable to use such segregated assets for certain other purposes, which could result in the Fund earning a lower return on its portfolio than it might otherwise earn if it did not have to segregate those assets in respect of, or otherwise cover, such portfolio positions. To the extent the Fund’s assets are segregated or committed as cover, it could limit the Fund’s investment flexibility. Segregating assets and covering positions will not limit or offset losses on related positions.

In addition, if the Fund issues preferred shares, the Fund may be required to satisfy various additional asset coverage requirements with respect to such preferred shares. See “Leverage.”

Derivatives Risk

The Fund may, but is not required to, utilize a variety of derivative instruments (both long and short positions) for investment or risk management purposes, as well as to leverage its portfolio. The Fund may use derivatives to gain exposure to securities markets in which it may invest (e.g., pending investment of the proceeds of this offering in individual securities, as well as on an ongoing basis). The Fund may also use derivatives to add leverage to its portfolio. See “Principal Risks of the Fund —Leverage Risk.” Derivatives transactions that the Fund may utilize

 

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include, but are not limited to, purchases or sales of futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), call and put options, credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps and other swap agreements. The Fund may also have exposure to derivatives, such as interest rate or credit-default swaps, through investment in credit-linked trust certificates and other securities issued by special purpose or structured vehicles. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Derivatives are subject to a number of risks described elsewhere in this prospectus, such as liquidity risk, interest rate risk, issuer risk, credit risk, leveraging risk, counterparty risk and management risk. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk.” They also involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation, the risk of unfavorable or ambiguous documentation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. If the Fund invests in a derivative instrument, it could lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when that would be beneficial. The Fund’s use of derivatives also may affect the amount, timing or character of distributions to, and taxes payable by Common Shareholders. See “Tax Matters.”

OTC derivatives are also subject to the risk that a counterparty to the transaction will not fulfill its contractual obligations to the other party, as many of the protections afforded to centrally-cleared derivatives might not be available for OTC derivatives transactions. For derivatives traded on an exchange or through a central counterparty, credit risk resides with the Fund’s clearing broker, or the clearinghouse itself, rather than with a counterparty in an OTC derivative transaction.

The regulation of the derivatives markets has increased over the past several years, and additional future regulation of the derivatives markets may make derivatives more costly, may limit the availability or reduce the liquidity of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives. Any such adverse future developments could impair the effectiveness of the Fund’s derivative transactions and cause the Fund to lose value. For instance, in December 2015, the SEC proposed new regulations applicable to a registered investment company’s use of derivatives and related instruments. If adopted as proposed, these regulations could significantly limit or impact the Fund’s ability to invest in derivatives and other instruments, limit the Fund’s ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and/or adversely affect the Fund’s performance, efficiency in implementing its strategy, liquidity and/or ability to pursue its investment objectives.

Valuation Risk

The municipal bonds in which the Fund invests may be less liquid and more difficult to value than other types of securities. When market quotations or pricing service prices are not readily available or are deemed to be unreliable, the Fund values its investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. See “Net Asset Value.” Fair value pricing may require subjective determinations about the value of a security or other asset. As a result, there can be no assurance that fair value pricing will result in adjustments to the prices of securities or other assets, or that fair value pricing will reflect actual market value, and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security or other asset will be materially different from quoted or published prices, from the prices used by others for the same security or other asset and/or from the value that actually could be or is realized upon the sale of that security or other asset.

Counterparty Risk

The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts and other instruments entered into by the Fund or held by special purpose or structured vehicles in which the Fund invests. In the event that the Fund enters into a derivative transaction with a counterparty that subsequently becomes insolvent or becomes the subject of a bankruptcy case, the derivative transaction may be terminated in accordance with its terms and the Fund’s ability to realize its rights under the derivative instrument and its ability to distribute the proceeds could be adversely affected. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in

 

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obtaining any recovery (including recovery of any collateral it has provided to the counterparty) in a dissolution, assignment for the benefit of creditors, liquidation, winding-up, bankruptcy, or other analogous proceeding. In addition, in the event of the insolvency of a counterparty to a derivative transaction, the derivative transaction would typically be terminated at its fair market value. If the Fund is owed this fair market value in the termination of the derivative transaction and its claim is unsecured, the Fund will be treated as a general creditor of such counterparty, and will not have any claim with respect to any underlying security or asset. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.

Confidential Information Access Risk

In managing the Fund, PIMCO may from time to time have the opportunity to receive Confidential Information about the issuers of certain investments, including, without limitation, senior floating rate loans, other loans and related investments being considered for acquisition by the Fund or held in the Fund’s portfolio. For example, an issuer of privately placed loans considered by the Fund may offer to provide PIMCO with financial information and related documentation regarding the issuer that is not publicly available. Pursuant to applicable policies and procedures, PIMCO may (but is not required to) seek to avoid receipt of Confidential Information from the issuer so as to avoid possible restrictions on its ability to purchase and sell investments on behalf of the Fund and other clients to which such Confidential Information relates (e.g., other securities issued by the bank used in the example above). In such circumstances, the Fund (and other PIMCO clients) may be disadvantaged in comparison to other investors, including with respect to the price the Fund pays or receives when it buys or sells an investment. Further, PIMCO’s and the Fund’s abilities to assess the desirability of proposed consents, waivers or amendments with respect to certain investments may be compromised if they are not privy to available Confidential Information. PIMCO may also determine to receive such Confidential Information in certain circumstances under its applicable policies and procedures. If PIMCO intentionally or unintentionally comes into possession of Confidential Information, it may be unable, potentially for a substantial period of time, to purchase or sell investments to which such Confidential Information relates.

Private Placements Risk

A private placement involves the sale of securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act, or relevant provisions of applicable non-U.S. law, to certain institutional and qualified individual purchasers, such as the Fund. In addition to the general risks to which all securities are subject, securities received in a private placement generally are subject to strict restrictions on resale, and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Liquidity Risk.” Therefore, the Fund may be unable to dispose of such securities when it desires to do so, or at the most favorable time or price. Private placements may also raise valuation risks. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Valuation Risk.”

Inflation/Deflation Risk

Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from the Fund’s investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of payments at future dates. As inflation increases, the real value of the Fund’s portfolio could decline. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio and Common Shares.

Risk of Regulatory Changes

Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur and may adversely affect the Fund and its ability to pursue its investment strategies and/or increase the costs of implementing such strategies. New (or revised) laws or regulations may be imposed by the CFTC, the SEC, the IRS, the U.S. Federal Reserve or other banking regulators, other governmental regulatory authorities or self-regulatory organizations that supervise the financial markets that could adversely affect the Fund.

 

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In particular, these agencies are implementing a variety of new rules pursuant to financial reform legislation in the United States. The Fund also may be adversely affected by changes in the enforcement or interpretation of existing statutes and rules by these governmental regulatory authorities or self-regulatory organizations.

In addition, the securities and futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations and margin requirements. The CFTC, the SEC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, other regulators and self-regulatory organizations and exchanges are authorized under these statutes, regulations and otherwise to take extraordinary actions in the event of market emergencies. The Fund and the Investment Manager have historically been eligible for exemptions from certain regulations. However, there is no assurance that the Fund and the Investment Manager will continue to be eligible for such exemptions.

In December 2013, regulators finalized the Volcker Rule and the Risk Retention Rules. Both the Volcker Rule and the Risk Retention Rules apply to tender option bond programs. The Volcker Rule precludes banking entities from: (i) sponsoring or acquiring interests in the trusts used to hold a municipal bond in the creation of tender option bond trusts; and (ii) continuing to service or maintain relationships with existing programs involving such trusts to the same extent and in the same capacity as existing programs. At this time, the full impact of these rules is not certain; however, in response to these rules, industry participants are continuing to explore various structuring alternatives for tender option bond programs. The Risk Retention Rules require the sponsor to a tender option bond trust to retain at least five percent of the credit risk of the underlying assets supporting such trust’s municipal bonds. The Risk Retention Rules may increase the costs of such transactions in certain circumstances.

Other Investment Companies Risk

The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in securities of other closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses, and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s investment management fees with respect to the assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, these other investment companies may utilize leverage, in which case an investment would subject the Fund to additional risks associated with leverage. Due to its own financial interest or other business considerations, the Investment Manager may choose to invest a portion of the Fund’s assets in investment companies sponsored or managed by the Investment Manager or its related parties in lieu of investments by the Fund directly in portfolio securities, or may choose to invest in such investment companies over investment companies sponsored or managed by others. Applicable law may limit the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.”

Tax Risk

The Fund has elected to be treated as a “regulated investment company” under the Code and intends each year to qualify and be eligible to be treated as such, so that it generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its net investment income or net short-term or long-term capital gains that it timely distributes (or is deemed to distribute, as described below) to shareholders. In order to qualify for such treatment, the Fund must meet certain asset diversification tests and at least 90% of its gross income for such year must be certain types of qualifying income. If for any taxable year the Fund were to fail to meet the income or diversification test described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying a Fund-level tax and, in the case of a diversification test failure, disposing of certain assets.

If, in any year, the Fund were to fail to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company under the Code, and were ineligible to or did not otherwise cure such failure, the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates and, when such income is distributed, shareholders would be subject to a further tax on such distributions to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits.

To qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, which are treated as items of interest excludable from gross income for regular federal income tax purposes, at least 50% of the value of the total assets of the Fund must consist of

 

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obligations the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax under section 103(a) of the Code as of the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year. If the proportion of taxable investments held by the Fund exceeds 50% of the Fund’s total assets as of the close of any quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, the Fund will not for that taxable year satisfy the general eligibility test that otherwise permits it to pay exempt-interest dividends.

The value of the Fund’s investments and its net asset value may be adversely affected by changes in tax rates and policies. Because interest income from municipal securities is normally not subject to regular federal income taxation, the attractiveness of municipal securities in relation to other investment alternatives is affected by changes in federal income tax rates or changes in the tax-exempt status of interest income from municipal securities. Any proposed or actual changes in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the demand for and supply, liquidity and marketability of municipal securities. This could in turn affect the Fund’s net asset value and ability to acquire and dispose of municipal securities at desirable yield and price levels. Additionally, the Fund is not a suitable investment for individual retirement accounts, for other tax-exempt or tax-deferred accounts or for investors who are not sensitive to the federal income tax consequences of their investments.

Potential Conflicts of Interest Risk—Allocation of Investment Opportunities

The Investment Manager is involved worldwide with a broad spectrum of financial services and asset management activities and may engage in the ordinary course of business in activities in which their interests or the interests of their clients may conflict with those of the Fund. The Investment Manager may provide investment management services to other funds and discretionary managed accounts that follow an investment program similar to that of the Fund. Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Investment Manager intends to engage in such activities and may receive compensation from third parties for its services. The results of the Fund’s investment activities may differ from those of the Fund’s affiliates, or another account managed by the Fund’s affiliates, and it is possible that the Fund could sustain losses during periods in which one or more of the Fund’s affiliates and/or other accounts achieve profits on their trading for proprietary or other accounts. The Investment Manager has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time.

Distribution Risk

Although the Fund may seek to maintain stable distributions, the Fund’s distribution rate may be affected by numerous factors, including but not limited to changes in realized and projected market returns, fluctuations in market interest rates, Fund performance, and other factors. There can be no assurance that a change in market conditions or other factors will not result in a change in the Fund’s distribution rate or that the rate will be sustainable in the future.

Securities Lending Risk

For the purpose of achieving income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and other financial institutions provided a number of conditions are satisfied, including that the loan is fully collateralized. Please see “Investment Objectives and Policies—Loans of Portfolio Securities” in the Statement of Additional Information for more details. When the Fund lends portfolio securities, its investment performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned, and the Fund will also receive a fee or interest on the collateral. Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral if the borrower fails to return the security loaned or becomes insolvent. The Fund may pay lending fees to a party arranging the loan. Cash collateral received by the Fund in securities lending transactions may be invested in short-term liquid fixed income instruments or in money market or short-term mutual funds, or similar investment vehicles, including affiliated money market or short-term mutual funds. The Fund bears the risk of such investments.

 

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Portfolio Turnover Risk

The Investment Manager manages the Fund without regard generally to restrictions on portfolio turnover. The use of futures contracts and other derivative instruments with relatively short maturities may tend to exaggerate the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund. Trading in fixed income securities does not generally involve the payment of brokerage commissions, but does involve indirect transaction costs. The use of futures contracts and other derivative instruments may involve the payment of commissions to futures commission merchants or other intermediaries. Higher portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in other securities. The higher the rate of portfolio turnover of the Fund, the higher these transaction costs borne by the Fund generally will be. Such sales may result in realization of taxable capital gains (including short-term capital gains, which are generally taxed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates when distributed net of short-term capital losses and net long-term capital losses), and may adversely impact the Fund’s after-tax returns. See “Tax Matters.”

Operational Risk

An investment in the Fund, like any fund, can involve operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors, human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel and errors caused by third-party service providers. The occurrence of any of these failures, errors or breaches could result in a loss of information, regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage or other events, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund. While the Fund seeks to minimize such events through controls and oversight, there may still be failures that could cause losses to the Fund.

Cybersecurity Risk

As the use of technology has become more prevalent in the course of business, the Fund has become potentially more susceptible to operational and informational security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional cyber events that may, among other things, cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption and/or destruction or lose operational capacity, result in the unauthorized release or other misuse of confidential information, or otherwise disrupt normal business operations. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding), but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). In addition, cyber security breaches involving the Fund’s third party service providers (including but not limited to advisers, administrators, transfer agents, custodians, distributors and other third parties), trading counterparties or issuers in which the Fund invests can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Moreover, cyber security breaches involving trading counterparties or issuers in which the Fund invests could adversely impact such counterparties or issuers and cause the Fund’s investments to lose value.

Cyber security failures or breaches may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders. These failures or breaches may also result in disruptions to business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses; interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, process shareholder transactions or otherwise transact business with shareholders; impediments to trading; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines; penalties; reputational damage; reimbursement or other compensation costs; additional compliance and cyber security risk management costs and other adverse consequences. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in an attempt to prevent any cyber incidents in the future.

Like with operational risk in general, the Fund has established risk management systems and business continuity plans designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security. However, there are inherent limitations in these plans and systems, including that certain risks may not have been identified, in large part because different or unknown threats may emerge in the future. As such, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers in which the Fund may invest, trading counterparties, or third party service providers to the Fund. There is also a risk that cyber security breaches may not be detected. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

 

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Non-Diversification Risk

Focusing investments in a small number of issuers increases risk. The Fund is “non-diversified,” which means that the Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers than a diversified fund. A fund that invests in a relatively smaller number of issuers are more susceptible to risks associated with a single economic, political or regulatory occurrence than a diversified fund might be. Some of those issuers also may present substantial credit or other risks. Similarly, the Fund may be subject to increased economic, business or political risk to the extent that it invests a substantial portion of its assets in a particular currency, in a group of related industries, in a particular issuer, in the bonds of similar projects or in a narrowly defined geographic area outside the U.S. Notwithstanding the Fund’s status as a “non-diversified” investment company under the 1940 Act, the Fund intends to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment under the Code, which imposes its own diversification requirements.

Certain Affiliations

Certain broker-dealers may be considered to be affiliated persons of the Fund and/or the Investment Manager due to their possible affiliations with Allianz SE, the ultimate parent of the Investment Manager. Absent an exemption from the SEC or other regulatory relief, the Fund is generally precluded from effecting certain principal transactions with affiliated brokers, and its ability to purchase securities being underwritten by an affiliated broker or a syndicate including an affiliated broker, or to utilize affiliated brokers for agency transactions, is subject to restrictions. This could limit the Fund’s ability to engage in securities transactions and take advantage of market opportunities.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

The Fund’s Declaration includes provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status. See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust.”

How the Fund Manages Risk

Hedging and Related Strategies

The Fund may (but is not required to) use various investment strategies to attempt to hedge exposure to reduce the risk of price fluctuations of its portfolio securities, the risk of loss, and to preserve capital. Derivatives strategies and instruments that the Fund may use include: financial futures contracts; short sales; other types of swap agreements or options thereon; options on financial futures; and options based on either an index of municipal securities or taxable debt securities whose prices, PIMCO believes, correlate with the prices of the Fund’s investments. Income earned by the Fund from its hedging and related transactions may be subject to one or more special U.S. federal income tax rules that can affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to Common Shareholders. For instance, many hedging activities will be treated as capital gain and, if not offset by net realized capital loss, will be distributed to shareholders in taxable distributions. If effectively used, hedging strategies will offset in varying percentages losses incurred on the Fund’s investments due to adverse interest rate changes. There is no assurance that these hedging strategies will be available at any time or that PIMCO will determine to use them for the Fund or, if used, that the strategies will be successful. PIMCO may determine not to engage in hedging strategies or to do so only in unusual circumstances or market conditions. In addition, the Fund may be subject to certain restrictions on its use of hedging strategies imposed by guidelines of one or more ratings agencies that may issue ratings on any preferred shares issued by the Fund.

 

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Management of Investment Portfolio and Capital Structure to Limit Leverage Risk

The Fund may take certain actions if short-term interest rates increase or market conditions otherwise change (or the Fund anticipates such an increase or change) and the Fund’s leverage begins (or is expected) to adversely affect Common Shareholders. In order to attempt to offset such a negative impact of leverage on Common Shareholders, the Fund may shorten the average maturity or duration of its investment portfolio (by investing in short-term, high quality securities or implementing certain hedging strategies). Should the Fund issue preferred shares, the Fund also may attempt to reduce leverage by redeeming or otherwise purchasing preferred shares or by reducing any holdings in other instruments that create leverage. As explained above under “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk,” the success of any such attempt to limit leverage risk depends on PIMCO’s ability to accurately predict interest rate or other market changes. Because of the difficulty of making such predictions, the Fund may not be successful in managing its interest rate exposure in the manner described above.

Investment Limitations

In addition, the Fund has adopted certain investment limitations designed to limit investment risk. See “Investment Restrictions” in the Statement of Additional Information for a description of these limitations.

Management of the Fund

Trustees and Officers

The Board is responsible for the management of the Fund, including supervision of the duties performed by the Investment Manager. There are currently eight trustees of the Fund, two of whom are treated by the Fund as “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act). The names and business addresses of the trustees and officers of the Fund and their principal occupations and other affiliations during the past five years are set forth under “Management of the Fund” in the Statement of Additional Information.

Investment Management Agreement

PIMCO serves as the investment manager for the Fund. Subject to the supervision of the Board, PIMCO is responsible for managing the investment activities of the Fund and the Fund’s business affairs and other administrative matters.

PIMCO is located at 650 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Organized in 1971, PIMCO provides investment management and advisory services to private accounts of institutional and individual clients and to registered investment companies. PIMCO is a majority-owned indirect subsidiary of Allianz SE, a publicly traded European insurance and financial services company. As of September 30, 2017, PIMCO had approximately $1.68 trillion in assets under management.

PIMCO may retain affiliates to provide various administrative and other services required by the Fund.

Investment Management Agreement

Pursuant to an investment management agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund (the “Investment Management Agreement”), the Fund has agreed to pay the Investment Manager an annual fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 0.75% of the Fund’s “total managed assets.” Total managed assets means the total assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, tender option bonds, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding, if any) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, tender option bonds and borrowings). For purposes of calculating “total managed assets,” the liquidation preference of any preferred shares outstanding is not considered a liability. By way of clarification, with respect to any reverse repurchase agreement, dollar roll or similar transaction, “total managed assets” includes any proceeds from the sale of an asset of the Fund to a counterparty in such a transaction, in addition to the value of the underlying asset as of the relevant measuring date. Furthermore, to the extent applicable, assets attributable to tender option bonds would be included as assets irrespective of

 

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whether or not they are included as assets for financial reporting purposes. However, to the extent the Fund does not contribute municipal bonds to a tender option bond trust but holds residual interests issued by such trust, the tender option bonds outstanding would not be included in the calculation of “total managed assets.” In addition, for purposes of calculating “total managed assets,” the Fund’s derivative investments will be valued based on their market value.

Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, PIMCO shall provide to the Fund investment guidance and policy direction in connection with the management of the Fund, including oral and written research, analysis, advice and statistical and economic data and information. In addition, under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, PIMCO provides or causes to be furnished all supervisory and administrative and other services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund under the unified management fee, including but not limited to the supervision and coordination of matters relating to the operation of the Fund, including any necessary coordination among the custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, and recordkeeping agent (including pricing and valuation of the Fund), accountants, attorneys, and other parties performing services or operational functions for the Fund; the provision of adequate personnel, office space, communications facilities, and other facilities necessary for the effective supervision and administration of the Fund, as well as the services of a sufficient number of persons competent to perform such supervisory and administrative and clerical functions as are necessary for compliance with federal securities laws and other applicable laws; the maintenance of the books and records of the Fund; the preparation of all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns and reports for the Fund; the preparation, filing and distribution of any proxy materials (except as provided below), periodic reports to shareholders and other regulatory filings; the provision of administrative services to shareholders for the Fund including the maintenance of a shareholder information telephone number, the provision of certain statistical information and performance of the Fund, an internet website (if requested), and maintenance of privacy protection systems and procedures; the preparation and filing of such registration statements and other documents with such authorities as may be required to register a new class of shares of the Fund; the taking of other such actions as may be required by applicable law (including establishment and maintenance of a compliance program for the Fund); and the provision of administrative services to shareholders as necessary, including: the maintenance of a shareholder call center; shareholder transaction processing; the provision of certain statistical information and performance of the Fund; a web servicing platform and internet website; access by PIMCO representatives to databases to assist with shareholder inquiries and reports; oversight of anti-money laundering monitoring systems and procedures; repurchase fee application and monitoring systems and procedures; and processing of client registration applications.

Under the Investment Management Agreement, PIMCO will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its obligations under the Investment Management Agreement with respect to the Fund, with the exception of certain expenses that are assumed by the Fund pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement. In addition, PIMCO is responsible for the following costs expenses: expenses of all audits by the Fund’s independent public accountants; expenses of the Fund’s transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent, and recordkeeping agent; expenses and fees paid to agents and intermediaries for sub-transfer agency, sub-accounting and other shareholder services on behalf of shareholders of Shares of the Fund (or Shares of a particular Share class) held through omnibus and networked, record shareholder accounts (together, “Sub-Transfer Agency Expenses”), except where Sub-Transfer Agency Expenses are paid pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 or similar plan adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund; expenses of the Fund’s custodial services, including any recordkeeping services provided by the custodian; expenses of obtaining quotations for calculating the value of the Fund’s net assets; expenses of maintaining the Fund’s tax records; certain expenses and fees, including legal fees, incident to meetings of the Fund’s shareholders; certain expenses associated with the preparation, printing and distribution of the Fund’s prospectuses, notices and proxy statements, press releases and reports to existing shareholders; certain expenses associated with the preparation and filing of registration statements and updates thereto and reports with regulatory bodies; expenses associated with the maintenance of the Fund’s existence and qualification to do business; expenses (including registration fees) of issuing, redeeming and repurchasing (including expenses associated with the Fund’s repurchases pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act); expenses associated with registering and qualifying for sale Common Shares with federal and state securities authorities following the initial registration of its Common Shares under the Securities Act (i.e., that are not organizational and offering expenses of the Fund specified below)

 

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and following any registration of a new class of shares of the Fund subsequent to its initial registration; and the expense of qualifying and listing existing Common Shares with any securities exchange or other trading system; the Fund’s ordinary legal fees, including the legal fees that arise in the ordinary course of business for a Massachusetts business trust, registered as a closed-end management investment company and, as applicable, that operates as an “interval fund” pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act, or that is listed for trading with a securities exchange or other trading system; costs of printing certificates representing Common Shares of the Fund, if any; the Fund’s pro rata portion of the fidelity bond required by Section 17(g) of the 1940 Act, or other insurance premiums; and organizational and offering expenses, including registration (including share registration) fees, legal, marketing, printing, accounting and other expenses, in connection with any registration of a new class of shares of the Fund subsequent to its initial registration.

The Fund (and not PIMCO) is responsible for certain fees and expenses that are not covered by the unified management fee under the Investment Management Agreement. These include salaries and other compensation or expenses, including travel expenses, of any of the Fund’s executive officers and employees, if any, who are not officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners or employees of PIMCO or its subsidiaries or affiliates; taxes and governmental fees, if any, levied against the Fund; brokerage fees and commissions, and other portfolio transaction expenses incurred by or for the Fund (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of outside legal counsel or third-party consultants retained in connection with reviewing, negotiating and structuring specialized loans and other investments made by the Fund, and any costs associated with originating loans, asset securitizations, alternative lending-related strategies and so-called “broken-deal costs” (e.g., fees, costs, expenses and liabilities, including, for example, due diligence-related fees, costs, expenses and liabilities, with respect to unconsummated investments)); expenses of the Fund’s securities lending (if any), including any securities lending agent fees, as governed by a separate securities lending agreement; costs, including interest expenses, of borrowing money or engaging in other types of leverage financing including, without limitation, through the use by the Fund of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, bank borrowings, credit facilities and tender option bonds; costs, including dividend and/or interest expenses and other costs (including, without limitation, offering and related legal costs, fees to brokers, fees to auction agents, fees to transfer agents, fees to ratings agencies and fees to auditors associated with satisfying ratings agency requirements for preferred shares or other securities issued by the Fund and other related requirements in the Fund’s organizational documents) associated with the Fund’s issuance, offering, redemption and maintenance of preferred shares, commercial paper or other instruments (such as the use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, bank borrowings, credit facilities and tender option bonds) for the purpose of incurring leverage; fees and expenses of any underlying funds or other pooled vehicles in which the Fund invests; dividend and interest expenses on short positions taken by the Fund; fees and expenses, including travel expenses, and fees and expenses of legal counsel retained for their benefit, of Trustees who are not officers, employees, partners, shareholders or members of PIMCO or its subsidiaries or affiliates; extraordinary expenses, including extraordinary legal expenses, as may arise, including, without limitation, expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings, other claims, and the legal obligations of the Fund to indemnify its Trustees, officers, employees, shareholders, distributors, and agents with respect thereto; fees and expenses, including legal, printing and mailing, solicitation and other fees and expenses associated with and incident to shareholder meetings and proxy solicitations involving contested elections of Trustees, shareholder proposals or other non-routine matters that are not initiated or proposed by Fund management; organizational and offering expenses of the Fund, including registration (including Share registration fees), legal, marketing, printing, accounting and other expenses, associated with organizing the Fund in its state of jurisdiction and in connection with the initial registration of the Fund under the 1940 Act and the initial registration of its Common Shares under the Securities Act (i.e., through the effectiveness of the Fund’s initial registration statement on Form N-2) and fees and expenses associated with seeking, applying for and obtaining formal exemptive, no-action and/or other relief from the SEC in connection with the issuance of multiple share classes; except as otherwise provided as an expense of PIMCO, any expenses allocated or allocable to a specific class of Common Shares, including without limitation sub-transfer agency expenses and distribution and/or services fees paid pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 or similar plan adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund for a particular share class; and expenses of the Fund which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

PIMCO may earn a profit on the management fee paid by the Fund. Also, under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, PIMCO, and not Common Shareholders, would benefit from any price decreases in third-party services, including decreases resulting from an increase in net assets.

 

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Because the management fee received by PIMCO is based on the average daily total managed assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, tender option bonds, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding), PIMCO has a financial incentive for the Fund to utilize reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, tender option bonds and borrowings or to issue preferred shares, which may create a conflict of interest between PIMCO, on the one hand, and Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

A discussion regarding the considerations of the Fund’s Board for approving the Investment Management Agreement between PIMCO and the Fund will be included in the Fund’s first report to shareholders.

Portfolio Managers

The following individuals share primary responsibility for managing the Fund:

 

 

Name

 

  

 

Since

 

  

 

Recent Professional Experience

 

David Hammer       

  Inception ([    ],  

2018)    

  

Executive Vice President, PIMCO. Mr. Hammer is the head of the municipal bond portfolio management team. He rejoined PIMCO in May 2015 after serving as Managing Director and Head of Municipal Trading, Risk Management and Research at Morgan Stanley, and previously he was a Senior Vice President of PIMCO. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2012, he was an Executive Director “for Morgan Stanley, where he served as head of the high yield and distressed municipal bond trading group.”

 

Rachel Betton       

  Inception ([    ],  

2018)    

  

Ms. Betton is a senior vice president and municipal bond portfolio manager in the New York office. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2013, she was a municipal high yield and distressed trader at Morgan Stanley. Additionally, she was a public finance banker, focusing on municipal asset-backed securitizations and revenue-backed credits in the Midwest. She has 11 years of investment and financial services experience and holds an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University.

 

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

Control Persons

A control person is a person who owns, either directly or indirectly, beneficially more than 25% of the voting securities of a company. As of the date of this prospectus, the Fund could be deemed to be under control of Allianz Fund Investments, Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Manager, which had voting authority with respect to approximately 100% of the value of the outstanding interests in the Fund on such date. However, it is anticipated that Allianz Fund Investments, Inc. will no longer be a control person once the Fund commences investment operations and its Common Shares are sold to the public.

 

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Additional Information

The Trustees are responsible generally for overseeing the management of the Fund. The Trustees authorize the Fund to enter into service agreements with the Investment Manager, the Distributor and other service providers in order to provide, and in some cases authorize service providers to procure through other parties, necessary or desirable services on behalf of the Fund. Shareholders are not intended to be third-party beneficiaries of such service agreements.

Neither this prospectus, the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, any contracts filed as exhibits to the Fund’s registration statement, nor any other communications or disclosure documents from or on behalf of the Fund creates a contract between a shareholder of the Fund and the Fund, a service provider to the Fund, and/or the Trustees or officers of the Fund. The Trustees may amend this prospectus, the Statement of Additional Information, and any other contracts to which the Fund is a party, and interpret the investment objectives, policies, restrictions and contractual provisions applicable to the Fund without shareholder input or approval, except in circumstances in which shareholder approval is specifically required by law (such changes to fundamental investment policies) or where a shareholder approval requirement is specifically disclosed in this prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information.

Plan of Distribution

PIMCO Investments LLC, an affiliate of PIMCO, is the principal underwriter and distributor of the Fund’s Institutional Class Common Shares pursuant to a distribution contract (the “Distribution Contract”) with the Fund. The Distributor, located at 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019, is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). The Distributor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PIMCO and an indirect subsidiary of Allianz Asset Management. The Distributor does not participate in the distribution of non-PIMCO managed registered fund products.

The Distributor acts as the distributor of Common Shares for the Fund on a best efforts basis, subject to various conditions, pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Contract. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any specific amount of Common Shares of the Fund.

Common Shares of the Fund will be continuously offered through the Distributor. As discussed below, the Fund may authorize one or more intermediaries (e.g., broker-dealers and other financial firms) to receive orders on its behalf. The Common Shares will be offered at NAV per share calculated each regular business day. Please see “Net Asset Value” below.

The Fund and the Distributor will have the sole right to accept orders to purchase Common Shares and reserve the right to reject any order in whole or in part.

No market currently exists for the Fund’s Common Shares. The Fund will not list its Common Shares for trading on any securities exchange. There is currently no secondary market for the Fund’s Common Shares and the Fund does not anticipate that a secondary market will develop for its Common Shares. Investors should consider Common Shares of the Fund to be an illiquid investment. Neither the Investment Manager nor the Distributor intends to make a market in the Fund’s Common Shares.

The Fund has agreed to indemnify the Distributor and certain of the Distributor’s affiliates against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act, as amended. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Distributor has agreed to indemnify the Fund and each Trustee against certain liabilities under the Securities Act, as amended, and in connection with the services rendered to the Fund.

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS COMMON SHARES

Institutional Class Common Shares of the Fund are offered in this prospectus. Institutional Class Common Shares are offered for investment to investors such as pension and profit sharing plans, employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations, corporations and individuals that can meet the minimum investment amount. Institutional Class Common Shares may also be offered through certain financial firms that charge their customers transaction or other fees with respect to their customers’ investments in the Fund.

 

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SERVICING ARRANGEMENTS

The Fund’s Common Shares may be available through broker-dealers, banks, trust companies, insurance companies and other financial firms that have entered into shareholder servicing arrangements with respect to the Fund. A financial firm is one that, in exchange for compensation, sells, among other products, registered investment company shares (including the shares offered in this prospectus) or provides services for registered investment company shareholders.

These financial firms provide varying investment products, programs, platforms and accounts, through which investors may purchase Common Shares of the Fund. Shareholder servicing arrangements typically include processing orders for shares, generating account and confirmation statements, sub-accounting, account maintenance, tax reporting, collecting and posting distributions to investor accounts and disbursing cash dividends as well as other investment or administrative services required for the particular firm’s products, programs, platform and accounts. These financial firms may impose additional or different conditions than the Fund on purchases of Common Shares. They may also independently establish and charge their customers or program participants transaction fees, account fees and other amounts in connection with purchases of Common Shares in addition to any fees imposed by the Fund. These additional fees may vary and over time could increase the cost of an investment in the Fund and lower investment returns. Each financial firm is responsible for transmitting to its customers and program participants a schedule of any such fees and information regarding any additional or different conditions regarding purchases. Shareholders who are customers of these financial firms or participants in programs serviced by them should contact the financial firm for information regarding these fees and conditions.

PIMCO and/or its affiliates may make payments to financial firms for the shareholder services provided. These payments are made out of PIMCO’s or its affiliates’ resources, including the management fees paid to PIMCO under the Fund’s Investment Management Agreement. The actual services provided by these firms, and the payments made for such services, vary from firm to firm. The payments may be based on a fixed dollar amount for each account and position maintained by the financial firm and/or a percentage of the value of shares held by investors through the firm. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for more information.

These payments may be material to financial firms relative to other compensation paid by the Fund, PIMCO and/or its affiliates (as applicable) and may be in addition to other fees and payments, such as distribution and/or service fees, revenue sharing or “shelf space” fees and event support, other non-cash compensation and charitable contributions paid to or at the request of such firms (described below). Also, the payments may differ depending on the share class and may vary from amounts paid to the Fund’s transfer agent for providing similar services to other accounts. PIMCO and/or its affiliates do not control these financial firms’ provision of the services for which they are receiving payments.

OTHER PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL FIRMS

Some or all of the distribution and servicing fees described above are paid or “reallowed” to the financial firm, including their financial advisors through which you purchase your shares.

The Distributor may from time to time make payments and provide other incentives to selected financial firms as compensation for services such as providing the Fund with “shelf space” or a higher profile for the financial firms’ financial advisors and their customers, placing the Funds on the financial firms’ preferred or recommended fund list, granting the Distributor access to the firms’ financial advisors and furnishing marketing support and other specified services. These payments may be significant to the financial firms.

A number of factors will be considered in determining the amount of these payments to financial firms. On some occasions, such payments may be conditioned upon levels of sales, including the sale of a specified minimum dollar amount of the Common Shares of the Fund, other funds sponsored by PIMCO and/or a particular class of

 

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shares, during a specified period of time. The Distributor may also make payments to one or more financial firms based upon factors such as the amount of assets a financial firm’s clients have invested in the Fund and the quality of the financial firm’s relationship with the Distributor, PIMCO and/or their affiliates.

To the extent the additional payments described above are made, such additional payments would be made from the Distributor’s own assets (and sometimes, therefore referred to as “revenue sharing”) pursuant to agreements with broker-dealers or other financial firms and would not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of the Fund’s shares or the amount the Fund will receive as proceeds from such sales. These payments may be made to financial firms (as selected by the Distributor) that have sold significant amounts of shares of the Fund.

The Distributor or its employees and representatives may make payments or reimburse financial firms for sponsorship and/or attendance at conferences, seminars or informational meetings (“event support”), provide financial firms or their personnel with occasional tickets to events or other entertainment, meals, and small gifts (“other non-cash compensation”), make charitable contributions to valid charitable organizations at the request of financial firms (“charitable contributions”) and make financial contributions pertaining to sales incentives and contests, each to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules and regulations.

In addition, wholesaler representatives of the Distributor visit financial firms on a regular basis to market and educate financial advisors and other personnel about the Fund. These payments, reimbursements and activities may provide additional access to financial advisors at these financial firms, which may increase purchases and/or reduce redemptions of Fund shares.

The Distributor also may pay financial firms for certain services including technology, operations, tax, or audit consulting services, and may pay such firms for the Distributor’s attendance at investment forums sponsored by such firms or for various studies, surveys, or access to databases. Subject to applicable law, PIMCO and its affiliates may also provide investment advisory services to financial firms and may execute brokerage transactions on behalf of the Fund with such financial firms. These financial firms may, in the ordinary course of their business, recommend that their clients utilize PIMCO’s investment advisory services or invest in the Fund or in other products sponsored or distributed by the Distributor.

If investment advisers, distributors or affiliates of mutual funds make payments and provide other incentives in differing amounts, financial firms and their financial advisors may have financial incentives for recommending a particular fund over other funds. In addition, depending on the arrangements in place at any particular time, a financial firm and its financial advisors may also have a financial incentive for recommending a particular share class over other share classes, to the extent applicable. A shareholder who holds Fund Common Shares through a financial firm should consult with the shareholder’s financial advisor and review carefully any disclosure by the financial firm as to its compensation received by the financial advisor.

Although the Fund may use financial firms that sell Fund Common Shares to effect transactions for the Fund’s portfolio, the Fund and PIMCO will not consider the sale of Fund Common Shares as a factor when choosing financial firms to effect those transactions.

For further details about payments made by the Distributor to financial firms, please see the Statement of Additional Information.

PURCHASING SHARES

The following section provides basic information about how to purchase Common Shares of the Fund.

The Fund typically does not offer or sell its shares to non-U.S. residents. For purposes of this policy, a U.S. resident is defined as an account with (i) a U.S. address of record and (ii) all account owners residing in the U.S. at the time of sale. Eligible investors may purchase Institutional Class Common Shares in the following ways:

 

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Through your broker-dealer or other financial firm. Your broker-dealer or other financial firm may establish different minimum investment requirements than the Fund and may also independently charge you transaction fees and additional amounts (which may vary) in return for its services, which will reduce your return. Shares you purchase through your broker-dealer or other financial firm will normally be held in your account with that firm.

Through the Distributor. You should discuss your investment with your financial advisor before you make a purchase to be sure the Fund is appropriate for you. If you do not list a financial advisor and his/her brokerage firm on the Account Application, the Distributor is designated as the broker of record, but solely for purposes of acting as your agent to purchase shares. Investors who wish to invest direct may obtain an Account Application online at pimco.com or by calling 844.312.2113. The completed Account Application may be submitted using the following methods:

Facsimile: 844.643.0432

Overnight Mail:

PIMCO Interval Funds

C/O DST Systems, Inc.

430 W. 7th Street

Suite 219993

Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

Regular Mail:

PIMCO Interval Funds

P.O. Box 219993

Kansas City, MO 64121-9993

E-mail: pimcoaltprocessing@dstsystems.com

For inquiries, please call 844.312.2113.

Payment for the purchase of Common Shares may be made by check payable to the PIMCO Interval Funds and sent to the Regular Mail address above; or by wiring federal funds to:

PIMCO Interval Funds

United Missouri Bank

928 Grand Blvd.

Kansas City, MO 64106

ABA: 1010-00695-5

DDA: 98-7229-174-3

ACCT: Your PIMCO Account Number

FFC: Shareholder Name and Fund Identifier

Before wiring federal funds, the investor must provide order instructions to the transfer agent by facsimile at 844.643.0432 or by e-mail at pimcoaltprocessing@dstsystems.com. In order to receive the current day’s NAV, order instructions must be received in good order prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) (“NYSE Close”). Instructions must include the name and signature of an appropriate person designated on the Account Application (“Authorized Person”), account name, account number, name of the Fund and dollar amount. Failure to send the accompanying payment on the same day may result in the cancellation of the order. Payments received without order instructions could result in a processing delay or a return of wire.

An investor may place a purchase order for Common Shares without first wiring federal funds if the purchase amount is to be derived from an advisory account managed by PIMCO or one of its affiliates, or from an account with a broker-dealer or other financial firm that has established a processing relationship with the Fund on behalf of its customers.

 

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INVESTMENT MINIMUMS

Institutional Class Common Shares. The following investment minimums apply for purchases of Institutional Class Common Shares:

 

        Initial Investment                   Subsequent Investments        
$1 million per account   None

The initial investment minimums may be modified for certain financial firms that submit orders on behalf of their customers. The Fund or the distributor may lower or waive the initial investment minimums for certain categories of investors at their discretion. The minimum initial investment may also be modified for the Trustees and certain employees and their extended family members of PIMCO and its affiliates. For these purposes, “extended family members” shall include such person’s spouse or domestic partner, as recognized by applicable state law, children, siblings, current brother/sister-in-laws, parents, and current father/mother-in-laws. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for details.

 

    Additional Investments. An investor may purchase additional Common Shares of the Fund at any time by sending a facsimile or e-mail as outlined above. If you invest through a broker-dealer, contact your financial firm for information on purchasing additional Institutional Class Common Shares.

 

    Other Purchase Information. Purchases of a Fund’s Common Shares will be made in full and fractional shares.

The Fund and the Distributor each reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of the Fund or to reject any purchase order, in whole or in part, when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interests of the Fund.

In the interest of economy and convenience, certificates for shares will not be issued.

SIGNATURE VALIDATION

When a signature validation is called for, a Medallion signature guarantee or Signature validation program (“SVP”) stamp may be required. A Medallion signature guarantee is intended to provide signature validation for transactions considered financial in nature, and an SVP stamp is intended to provide signature validation for transactions non-financial in nature. In certain situations, a notarized signature may be used instead of a Medallion signature guarantee or an SVP stamp. A Medallion signature guarantee or SVP stamp may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency, savings association or other financial institution which is participating in a Medallion program or Signature validation program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. When a Medallion signature guarantee or SVP stamp is required, signature validations from financial institutions which are not participating in one of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that financial institutions participating in a recognized Medallion program may still be ineligible to provide a signature validation for transactions of greater than a specified dollar amount. The Fund may change the signature validation requirements from time to time upon notice to shareholders, which may be given by means of a new or supplemented prospectus. Shareholders should contact the Fund for additional details regarding the Fund’s signature validation requirements.

In addition, corporations, trusts, and other institutional organizations are required to furnish evidence of the authority of the persons designated on the Account Application to effect transactions for the organization.

 

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REQUEST FOR MULTIPLE COPIES OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

To reduce expenses, it is intended that only one copy of the Fund’s prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report, when available, will be mailed to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents and your shares are held directly with the Fund, call the Fund at 844.312.2113. You will receive the additional copy within 30 days after receipt of your request by the Fund. Alternatively, if your shares are held through a financial institution, please contact the financial institution directly.

ACCEPTANCE AND TIMING OF PURCHASE ORDERS

A purchase order received by the Fund or its designee prior to the NYSE Close, on a day the Fund is open for business, together with payment made in one of the ways described above will be effected at that day’s NAV plus any applicable sales charge. An order received after the NYSE Close will be effected at the NAV determined on the next business day. However, orders received by certain retirement plans and other financial firms on a business day prior to the NYSE Close and communicated to the Fund or its designee prior to such time as agreed upon by the Fund and financial firm will be effected at the NAV determined on the business day the order was received by the financial firm. The Fund is “open for business” on each day the NYSE is open for trading, which excludes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If the NYSE is closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, the Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a Business Day and accept purchase orders in accordance with applicable law. The Fund reserves the right to close if the primary trading markets of the Fund’s portfolio instruments are closed and the Fund’s management believes that there is not an adequate market to meet purchase requests. On any business day when the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) recommends that the securities markets close trading early, the Fund may close trading early. Purchase orders will be accepted only on days which the Fund is open for business.

The Fund and the Distributor each reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to accept or reject any order for purchase of Fund Common Shares. The sale of Common Shares may be suspended during any period in which the NYSE is closed other than weekends or holidays, or if permitted by the rules of the SEC, when trading on the NYSE is restricted or during an emergency which makes it impracticable for the Fund to dispose of its securities or to determine fairly the value of its net assets, or during any other period as permitted by the SEC for the protection of investors.

VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY

To help the federal government combat the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person that opens a new account, and to determine whether such person’s name appears on government lists of known or suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations. As a result, the Fund must obtain the following information for each person that opens a new account:

 

  1. Name;

 

  2. Date of birth (for individuals);

 

  3. Residential or business street address; and

 

  4. Social security number, taxpayer identification number, or other identifying number.

Federal law prohibits the Fund and other financial institutions from opening a new account unless they receive the minimum identifying information listed above.

 

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Individuals may also be asked for a copy of their driver’s license, passport or other identifying document in order to verify their identity. In addition, it may be necessary to verify an individual’s identity by cross-referencing the identification information with a consumer report or other electronic database. Additional information may be required to open accounts for corporations and other entities.

After an account is opened, the Fund may restrict your ability to purchase additional Common Shares until your identity is verified. The Fund also may close your account and redeem your shares or take other appropriate action if it is unable to verify your identity within a reasonable time.

Periodic Repurchase Offers

The Fund is a closed-end interval fund and, to provide liquidity and the ability to receive NAV on a disposition of at least a portion of your Common Shares, makes periodic offers to repurchase Common Shares. No shareholder will have the right to require the Fund to repurchase its Common Shares, except as permitted by the Fund’s interval structure. No public market for the Common Shares exists, and none is expected to develop in the future. Consequently, shareholders generally will not be able to liquidate their investment other than as a result of repurchases of their Common Shares by the Fund, and then only on a limited basis.

The Fund has adopted, pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act, a fundamental policy, which cannot be changed without shareholder approval, requiring the Fund to offer to repurchase at least 5% and up to 25% of its Common Shares at NAV on a regular schedule. Although the policy permits repurchases of between 5% and 25% of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares, for each quarterly repurchase offer, the Fund currently expects to offer to repurchase 10% of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares at NAV subject to approval of the Board. The schedule requires the Fund to make repurchase offers every three months. The Fund expects the first repurchase offer to be issued in the fourth quarter of 2018.

REPURCHASE DATES

The Fund will make quarterly repurchase offers every three months. As discussed below, the date on which the repurchase price for Common Shares is determined will occur no later than the 14th day after the Repurchase Request Deadline (or the next business day, if the 14th day is not a business day).

REPURCHASE REQUEST DEADLINE

The date by which shareholders wishing to tender Common Shares for repurchase must respond to the repurchase offer will be no more than fourteen days before the Repurchase Pricing Date (defined below). When a repurchase offer commences, the Fund sends, at least 21 days before the Repurchase Request Deadline, written notice to each shareholder setting forth, among other things:

 

    The percentage of outstanding Common Shares that the Fund is offering to repurchase and how the Fund will purchase Common Shares on a pro rata basis if the offer is oversubscribed.

 

    The date on which a shareholder’s repurchase request is due.

 

    The date that will be used to determine the Fund’s NAV applicable to the repurchase offer (the “Repurchase Pricing Date”).

 

    The date by which the Fund will pay to shareholders the proceeds from their Common Shares accepted for repurchase.

 

    The NAV of the Common Shares as of a date no more than seven days before the date of the written notice and the means by which shareholders may ascertain the NAV.

 

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    The procedures by which shareholders may tender their Common Shares and the right of shareholders to withdraw or modify their tenders before the Repurchase Request Deadline.

 

    The circumstances in which the Fund may suspend or postpone the repurchase offer.

This notice may be included in a shareholder report or other Fund document. The Repurchase Request Deadline will be strictly observed. If a shareholder fails to submit a repurchase request in good order by the Repurchase Request Deadline, the shareholder will be unable to liquidate Common Shares until a subsequent repurchase offer, and will have to resubmit a request in the next repurchase offer. Shareholders may withdraw or change a repurchase request with a proper instruction submitted in good form at any point before the Repurchase Request Deadline.

DETERMINATION OF REPURCHASE PRICE AND PAYMENT FOR SHARES

The Repurchase Pricing Date will occur no later than the 14th day after the Repurchase Request Deadline (or the next business day, if the 14th day is not a business day). The Fund expects to distribute payment to shareholders between one and three (3) business days after the Repurchase Pricing Date and will distribute such payment no later than seven (7) calendar days after such date. The Fund’s NAV per share may change materially between the date a repurchase offer is mailed and the Repurchase Request Deadline, and it may also change materially between the Repurchase Request Deadline and Repurchase Pricing Date. The method by which the Fund calculates NAV is discussed below under “Net Asset Value.” During the period an offer to repurchase is open, shareholders may obtain the current NAV by visiting www.pimco.com or calling the Fund’s transfer agent at (844) 312-2113.

REPURCHASE FEE

The Fund does not currently intend to charge a repurchase fee. However, the Fund may charge a repurchase fee of up to 2.00%, which the Fund would retain to help offset non-de minimis estimated costs related to the repurchase incurred by the Fund, directly or indirectly, as a result of repurchasing Common Shares, thus allocating estimated transaction costs to the shareholder whose Common Shares are being repurchased. The Fund may introduce, or modify the amount of, a repurchase fee at any time. The Fund may also waive or reduce the repurchase fee if PIMCO determines that the repurchase is offset by a corresponding purchase or if for other reasons the Fund will not incur transaction costs or will incur reduced transaction costs.

Your financial adviser or other financial intermediary may charge service fees for handling Common Share repurchases. In such cases, there may be fees imposed by the intermediary on different terms (and subject to different exceptions) than those set forth above. Please consult your financial adviser or other financial intermediary for details.

SUSPENSION OR POSTPONEMENT OF REPURCHASE OFFERS

The Fund may suspend or postpone a repurchase offer in limited circumstances set forth in Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act, as described below, but only with the approval of a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act. The Fund may suspend or postpone a repurchase offer only: (1) if making or effecting the repurchase offer would cause the Fund to lose its status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) for any period during which the NYSE or any other market in which the securities owned by the Fund are principally traded is closed, other than customary weekend and holiday closings, or during which trading in such market is restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable, or during which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or (4) for such other periods as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of shareholders of the Fund.

 

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OVERSUBSCRIBED REPURCHASE OFFERS

There is no minimum number of Common Shares that must be tendered before the Fund will honor repurchase requests. However, the Fund’s Trustees set for each repurchase offer a maximum percentage of Common Shares that may be repurchased by the Fund, which is currently expected to be 10% of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares. In the event a repurchase offer by the Fund is oversubscribed, the Fund may repurchase, but is not required to repurchase, additional Common Shares up to a maximum amount of 2% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Fund. If the Fund determines not to repurchase additional Common Shares beyond the repurchase offer amount, or if shareholders tender an amount of Common Shares greater than that which the Fund is entitled to repurchase, the Fund will repurchase the Common Shares tendered on a pro rata basis.

If any Common Shares that you wish to tender to the Fund are not repurchased because of proration, you will have to wait until the next repurchase offer and resubmit a new repurchase request, and your repurchase request will not be given any priority over other shareholders’ requests. Thus, there is a risk that the Fund may not purchase all of the Common Shares you wish to have repurchased in a given repurchase offer or in any subsequent repurchase offer. In anticipation of the possibility of proration, some shareholders may tender more Common Shares than they wish to have repurchased in a particular quarter, increasing the likelihood of proration.

There is no assurance that you will be able to tender your Common Shares when or in the amount that you desire.

CONSEQUENCES OF REPURCHASE OFFERS

From the time the Fund distributes or publishes each repurchase offer notification until the Repurchase Pricing Date for that offer, the Fund must maintain liquid assets at least equal to the percentage of its Common Shares subject to the repurchase offer. For this purpose, “liquid assets” means assets that may be sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business, at approximately the price at which the Fund values them, within the period between the Repurchase Request Deadline and the repurchase payment deadline, or which mature by the repurchase payment deadline. The Fund is also permitted to borrow up to the maximum extent permitted under the 1940 Act to meet repurchase requests.

If the Fund borrows to finance repurchases, interest on that borrowing will negatively affect shareholders who do not tender their Common Shares by increasing the Fund’s expenses and reducing any net investment income. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able sell a significant amount of additional Common Shares so as to mitigate these effects.

These and other possible risks associated with the Fund’s repurchase offers are described under “Principal Risks of Investment in the Fund — Repurchase Offers Risk” above. In addition, the repurchase of Common Shares by the Fund will be a taxable event to shareholders, potentially even to those shareholders that do not participate in the repurchase. For a discussion of these tax consequences, see “Tax Matters” below and in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

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Net Asset Value

The NAV of the Fund’s Common Shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding.

On each day that the NYSE is open, the Fund’s Common Shares are ordinarily valued as of the NYSE Close. Information that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after the time as of which NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of a security or the NAV determined earlier that day. The Fund reserves the right to change the time as of which its respective NAV is calculated if the Fund closes earlier, or as permitted by the SEC.

For purposes of calculating NAV, portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotes are readily available are valued at market value. Market value is generally determined on the basis of official closing prices or the last reported sales prices, or if no sales are reported, based on quotes obtained from established market makers or prices (including evaluated prices) supplied by the Fund’s approved pricing services, quotation reporting systems and other third-party sources (together, “Pricing Services”). The Fund will normally use pricing data for domestic equity securities received shortly after the NYSE Close and does not normally take into account trading, clearances or settlements that take place after the NYSE Close. If market value pricing is used, a foreign (non-U.S.) equity security traded on a foreign exchange or on more than one exchange is typically valued using pricing information from the exchange considered by PIMCO to be the primary exchange. A foreign (non-U.S.) equity security will be valued as of the close of trading on the foreign exchange, or the NYSE Close, if the NYSE Close occurs before the end of trading on the foreign exchange. Domestic and foreign (non-U.S.) fixed income securities, non-exchange traded derivatives, and equity options are normally valued on the basis of quotes obtained from brokers and dealers or Pricing Services using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Prices obtained from Pricing Services may be based on, among other things, information provided by market makers or estimates of market values obtained from yield data relating to investments or securities with similar characteristics. Certain fixed income securities purchased on a delayed-delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Exchange-traded options, except equity options, futures and options on futures are valued at the settlement price determined by the relevant exchange. Swap agreements are valued on the basis of bid quotes obtained from brokers and dealers or market-based prices supplied by Pricing Services or other pricing sources. With respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies (other than exchange traded funds (“ETFs”)), the Fund’s NAV will be calculated based upon the NAVs of such investments.

If a foreign (non-U.S.) equity security’s value has materially changed after the close of the security’s primary exchange or principal market but before the NYSE Close, the security may be valued at fair value based on procedures established and approved by the Board. Foreign (non-U.S.) equity securities that do not trade when the NYSE is open are also valued at fair value. With respect to foreign (non-U.S.) equity securities, the Fund may determine the fair value of investments based on information provided by Pricing Services and other third-party vendors, which may recommend fair value or adjustments with reference to other securities, indexes or assets. In considering whether fair valuation is required and in determining fair values, the Fund may, among other things, consider significant events (which may be considered to include changes in the value of U.S. securities or securities indexes) that occur after the close of the relevant market and before the NYSE Close. The Fund may utilize modeling tools provided by third-party vendors to determine fair values of non-U.S. securities. For these purposes, any movement in the applicable reference index or instrument (“zero trigger”) between the earlier close of the applicable foreign market and the NYSE Close may be deemed to be a significant event, prompting the application of the pricing model (effectively resulting in daily fair valuations). Foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges may permit trading in foreign (non-U.S.) equity securities on days when the Fund is not open for business, which may result in the Fund’s portfolio investments being affected when shareholders are unable to buy or sell shares.

Senior secured floating rate loans for which an active secondary market exists to a reliable degree will be valued at the mean of the last available bid/ask prices in the market for such loans, as provided by a Pricing Service. Senior secured floating rate loans for which an active secondary market does not exist to a reliable degree will be valued

 

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at fair value, which is intended to approximate market value. In valuing a senior secured floating rate loan at fair value, the factors considered may include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) the creditworthiness of the borrower and any intermediate participants, (b) the terms of the loan, (c) recent prices in the market for similar loans, if any, and (d) recent prices in the market for instruments of similar quality, rate, period until next interest rate reset and maturity.

Investments valued in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are converted to the U.S. dollar using exchange rates obtained from Pricing Services. As a result, the value of such investments and, in turn, the NAV of the Fund’s shares may be affected by changes in the value of currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar. The value of investments traded in markets outside the United States or denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar may be affected significantly on a day that the Fund is not open for business. As a result, to the extent that the Fund holds foreign (non-U.S.) investments, the value of those investments may change at times when shareholders are unable to buy or sell shares and the value of such investments will be reflected in the Fund’s next calculated NAV.

Investments for which market quotes or market-based valuations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board or persons acting at their direction. The Board has adopted methods for valuing securities and other assets in circumstances where market quotes are not readily available, and has delegated to PIMCO the responsibility for applying the fair valuation methods. In the event that market quotes or market-based valuations are not readily available, and the security or asset cannot be valued pursuant to a Board approved valuation method, the value of the security or asset will be determined in good faith by the Valuation Oversight Committee of the Board (“Valuation Oversight Committee”), generally based on recommendations provided by PIMCO. Market quotes are considered not readily available in circumstances where there is an absence of current or reliable market-based data (e.g., trade information, bid/ask information, indicative market quotations (“Broker Quotes”), Pricing Services’ prices), including where events occur after the close of the relevant market, but prior to the NYSE Close, that materially affect the values of the Fund’s securities or assets. In addition, market quotes are considered not readily available when, due to extraordinary circumstances, the exchanges or markets on which the securities trade do not open for trading for the entire day and no other market prices are available. The Board has delegated to PIMCO the responsibility for monitoring significant events that may materially affect the values of the Fund’s securities or assets and for determining whether the value of the applicable securities or assets should be reevaluated in light of such significant events.

When the Fund uses fair valuation to determine the value of a portfolio security or other asset for purposes of calculating its NAV, such investments will not be priced on the basis of quotes from the primary market in which they are traded, but rather may be priced by another method that the Board or persons acting at their direction believe reflects fair value. Fair valuation may require subjective determinations about the value of a security. While the Fund’s policy is intended to result in a calculation of the Fund’s NAV that fairly reflects security values as of the time of pricing, the Fund cannot ensure that fair values determined by the Board or persons acting at their direction would accurately reflect the price that the Fund could obtain for a security if it were to dispose of that security as of the time of pricing (for instance, in a forced or distressed sale). The prices used by the Fund may differ from the value that would be realized if the securities were sold.

Distributions

The Fund currently intends to declare income dividends daily and distribute them to Common Shareholders quarterly at rates that reflect the past and projected net income of the Fund. Subject to applicable law, the Fund may fund a portion of its distributions with gains from the sale of portfolio securities and other sources. The dividend rate that the Fund pays on its Common Shares may vary as portfolio and market conditions change, and will depend on a number of factors, including without limitation the amount of the Fund’s undistributed net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains, as well as dividends payable on any preferred shares issued by the Funds (including the Preferred Share Gross-Up) and the costs of any other leverage obtained by the Fund (including interest expenses on any tender option bonds, reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and borrowings). As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of distributions on the Common Shares and the

 

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Fund’s dividend policy could change. For a discussion of factors that may cause the Fund’s income and capital gains (and therefore the dividend) to vary, see “Principal Risks of the Fund.” The Fund intends to distribute each year all of its net investment income and net short-term capital gains. In addition, at least annually, the Fund intends to distribute net realized long-term capital gains not previously distributed, if any. The net investment income of the Fund consists of all income (other than net short-term and long-term capital gains) less all expenses of the Fund (after it pays accrued dividends on any outstanding preferred shares). To permit the Fund to maintain more stable distributions, the Fund’s distribution rates will be based, in part, on projections as to annual cash available for distribution and, therefore, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular quarter may be more or less than the amount of cash available to the Fund for distribution for that quarterly period.

The Fund may distribute less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in a particular period. The undistributed net investment income would be available to supplement future distributions. As a result, the distributions paid by the Fund for any particular quarterly period may be more or less than the amount of net investment income actually earned by the Fund during the period. Undistributed net investment income will be added to the Fund’s NAV and, correspondingly, distributions from undistributed net investment income will be deducted from the Fund’s NAV.

The Fund intends to issue preferred shares that will pay dividend distributions at a stated rate, which rate will be based on the assumption that such dividend distributions will consist entirely of “exempt-interest dividends” (as defined below under “Taxes on Portfolio Distributions”). The terms of such preferred shares will provide further that, in the event less than the entire amount of any particular dividend distribution paid pursuant to the stated rate were to consist of “exempt-interest dividends”, the amount of such dividend would increase by an amount (the “Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up”) such that the after-tax amount of such increased dividend would equal the total amount the holder of such preferred shares would have received if the dividend at the stated rate had consisted entirely of “exempt-interest dividends.” Any Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up would reduce the amount that would otherwise be distributable to Common Shareholders.

The tax treatment and characterization of the Fund’s distributions may vary significantly from time to time because of the varied nature of the Fund’s investments. If the Fund estimates that a portion of one of its dividend distributions may be comprised of amounts from sources other than net investment income in accordance with its policies and good accounting practices, the Fund will notify shareholders of record of the estimated composition of such distribution through a Section 19 Notice. To determine the sources of a Fund’s distributions during the reporting period, the Fund references its internal accounting records at the time the distribution is paid and generally bases its projections of the final tax character of those distributions on the tax characteristics of the distribution reflected in its internal accounting records at the time of such payment. If, based on such records, a particular distribution does not include capital gains or paid-in surplus or other capital sources, a Section 19 Notice generally would not be issued. It is important to note that differences exist between a Fund’s daily internal accounting records, the Fund’s financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and recordkeeping practices under income tax regulations. Examples of such differences may include, among others, the treatment of paydowns on mortgage-backed securities purchased at a discount and periodic payments under interest rate swap contracts. Notwithstanding the Fund’s estimates and projections, it is possible that the Fund may not issue a Section 19 Notice in situations where the Fund’s financial statements prepared later and in accordance with U.S. GAAP or the final tax character of those distributions might later report that the sources of those distributions included capital gains and/or a return of capital. Additionally, given differences in tax and U.S. GAAP treatment of certain distributions, the Fund may not issue a Section 19 Notice in situations where the Fund’s financial statements prepared later and in accordance with U.S. GAAP might report that the sources of these distributions included capital gains and/or a return of capital.

The tax characterization of the Fund’s distributions made in a taxable year cannot finally be determined until at or after the end of the year. As a result, there is a possibility that the Fund may make total distributions during a taxable year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains (as reduced by any capital loss carryforwards) for the relevant year. For example, the Fund may distribute amounts early in the year that are derived from short-term capital gains, but incur net short-term capital losses later in the year, thereby

 

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offsetting short-term capital gains out of which distributions have already been made by the Fund. In such a situation, the amount by which the Fund’s total distributions exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains would generally be treated as a tax-free return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Common Shares, with any amounts exceeding such basis treated as gain from the sale of Common Shares. In general terms, a return of capital would occur where a Fund distribution (or portion thereof) represents a return of a portion of your investment, rather than net income or capital gains generated from your investment during a particular period. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in the Common Shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of the Common Shares. The Fund will send shareholders detailed tax information with respect to the Fund’s distributions annually. See “Tax Matters.”

The 1940 Act currently limits the number of times the Fund may distribute long-term capital gains in any tax year, which may increase the variability of the Fund’s distributions and result in certain distributions being comprised more or less heavily than others of long-term capital gains currently eligible for favorable income tax rates.

Unless a Common Shareholder elects to receive distributions in cash, all distributions of Common Shareholders whose shares are registered with the plan agent will be automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

Although it does not currently intend to do so, the Board may change the Fund’s distribution policy and the amount or timing of distributions, based on a number of factors, including the amount of the Fund’s undistributed net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains and historical and projected net investment income and net short- and long-term capital gains.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

Pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan (the “Plan”), all common shareholders will have all dividends, including any capital gain dividends, reinvested automatically in additional Common Shares by DST Systems, Inc., as agent for the Common Shareholders (the “Plan Agent”), unless the shareholder elects to receive cash. An election to receive cash may be revoked or reinstated at the option of the shareholder. In the case of record shareholders such as banks, brokers or other nominees that hold common shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the record shareholder as representing the total amount registered in such shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who are to participate in the Plan. Shareholders whose shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or nominee should contact the bank, broker or nominee for details. Such shareholders may not be able to transfer their shares to another bank or broker and continue to participate in the Plan.

Common Shares received under the Plan will be issued to you at their NAV on the ex-dividend date; there is no sales or other charge for reinvestment. You are free to withdraw from the Plan and elect to receive cash at any time by giving written notice to the Plan Agent or by contacting your broker or dealer, who will inform the Fund. Your request must be received by the Fund at least ten days prior to the payment date of the distribution to be effective for that dividend or capital gain distribution.

The Plan Agent provides written confirmation of all transactions in the shareholder accounts in the Plan, including information you may need for tax records. Any proxy you receive will include all Common Shares you have received under the Plan.

Automatically reinvested dividends and distributions are taxed in the same manner as cash dividends and distributions. See “Tax Matters.”

The Fund and the Plan Agent reserve the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Additional information about the Plan may be obtained from the Plan Agent.

 

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Description of Capital Structure and Shares

The following is a brief description of the anticipated capital structure of the Fund. This description does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Declaration and the Fund’s Bylaws, as amended and restated through the date hereof (the “Bylaws”). The Declaration and Bylaws are each exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The Fund is an unincorporated voluntary association with transferable shares of beneficial interest (commonly referred to as a “Massachusetts business trust”) established under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts by the Declaration. The Declaration provides that the Trustees of the Fund may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. Preferred shares may be issued in one or more series, with such par value and with such rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the Common Shareholders.

COMMON SHARES

The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares will be issued with a par value of $0.00001 per share. The Fund is currently offering one class of Common Shares: Institutional Class. The fees and expenses for the Fund are set forth in “Summary of Fund Expenses” above.

Common Shareholders will be entitled to the payment of dividends and other distributions when, as and if declared by the Board. All Common Shares have equal rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. Common Shares will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed in “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust,” non-assessable, and will have no pre-emptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. Upon liquidation of the Fund, after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities of the Fund and the liquidation preference with respect to any outstanding preferred shares, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining assets of the Fund among the Fund’s Common Shareholders.

The Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders. If the Fund does hold a meeting of shareholders, Common Shares of the Fund entitle their holders to one vote for each Common Share held. Each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote, except as otherwise provided by the Declaration, Bylaws, or required by applicable law.

The Fund will send unaudited reports at least semiannually and audited financial statements annually to all of its Common Shareholders.

The Common Shares are not, and are not expected to be, listed for trading on any national securities exchange nor is there expected to be any secondary trading market in the Common Shares.

The following table shows the amounts of Common Shares of the Fund that were authorized and outstanding as of

April 1, 2018:

 

        Title of Class        

  

Amount Authorized

  

Amount Held by
the Fund for its Account

  

Amount Outstanding
Exclusive of
Amount Shown Under
(3)

                

Institutional Class

 

   Unlimited    0    $                             $100,000

 

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As noted under “Leverage,” the Fund intends, subject to then favorable market conditions, to add leverage to its portfolio by issuing preferred shares, and may choose to add leverage to its portfolio through the use of tender option bonds, certain derivative instruments or other leverage-producing instruments.

PREFERRED SHARES

The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of preferred shares. Preferred shares may be issued in one or more classes or series, with such par value and rights as determined by the Board of Trustees, by action of the Board of Trustees without the approval of the Common Shareholders.

Subject to authorization by the Board of Trustees, it is expected that the Fund may issue preferred shares within one year of the date of this prospectus. Any such decision is subject to market conditions and to the Board of Trustees and PIMCO’s continuing belief that leveraging the Fund’s capital structure through the issuance of preferred shares is likely to achieve benefits to the Common Shareholders as described elsewhere in this prospectus. See “Leverage.” Although the terms of the preferred shares will be determined by the Board of Trustees (subject to applicable law and the Fund’s Declaration) if and when it authorizes a preferred shares offering, it is expected that the preference on distribution, liquidation preference, voting rights and certain redemption provisions of the preferred shares will likely be as stated below.

Limited Issuance of Preferred Shares. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may issue preferred shares with an aggregate liquidation value of up to one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets, including any liabilities associated with borrowings, measured immediately after issuance of the preferred shares. “Liquidation value” means the original purchase price of the shares being liquidated plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless the liquidation value of the preferred shares is less than one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution) immediately after the distribution.

Distribution Preference. Preferred shares would have complete priority over the Common Shares as to distribution of assets.

Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up. Preferred shares would pay dividend distributions at a stated rate, which rate would be based on the assumption that such dividend distributions would consist entirely of “exempt-interest dividends” (as defined below under “Taxes on Portfolio Distributions”). The terms of the preferred shares will provide further that, in the event less than the entire amount of any particular dividend distribution paid pursuant to the stated rate were to consist of “exempt-interest dividends”, the amount of such dividend would increase by the Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up. Any Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up would reduce the amount that would otherwise be distributable to Common Shareholders.

Liquidation Preference. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of preferred shares would be entitled to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) before any distribution of assets is made to Common Shareholders.

Voting Rights. Preferred shares are required to be voting shares and to have equal voting rights with Common Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in this Prospectus or the Statement of Additional Information, and except as otherwise required by applicable law, preferred shares would vote together with Common Shareholders as a single class.

If the Fund issues preferred shares as currently anticipated, it is expected that holders of preferred shares voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees (following the establishment of the Fund by an initial trustee, the Declaration provides for a total of no less than three trustees). The remaining trustees will be elected by Common Shareholders and holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting together as a single class. In the unlikely event that two full years of accrued dividends are unpaid on the preferred shares the holders of all outstanding preferred shares voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect a majority of the

 

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Fund’s trustees until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. In order for the Fund to take certain actions or enter into certain transactions, a separate class vote of holders of preferred shares would be required, in addition to the single class vote of the holders of preferred shares and Common Shares.

Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Shares. The terms of any preferred shares provide that they may be redeemed by the issuer at certain times, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated dividends. Any redemption or purchase of preferred shares by the Fund will reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares, while any issuance of shares by the Fund would increase such leverage.

If the Fund issues preferred shares as currently anticipated, it is expected that the Fund would apply for and obtain ratings for such shares from one or more nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations (“NRSROs”). As long as any preferred shares are outstanding, the composition of the Fund’s portfolio would reflect guidelines established by such NRSROs. Based on previous guidelines established by such NRSROs for the securities of other issuers, the Fund anticipates that the guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. However, at this time, no assurance can be given as to the nature or extent of the guidelines that may be imposed in connection with obtaining a rating of any preferred shares.

Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust

The Declaration and the Bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status.

As described below, the Declaration grants special approval rights with respect to certain matters to members of the Board who qualify as “Continuing Trustees,” which term means a Trustee who either (i) has been a member of the Board for a period of at least thirty-six months (or since the commencement of the Fund’s operations, if less than thirty-six months) or (ii) was nominated to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees by a majority of the Continuing Trustees then members of the Board.

The Declaration requires the affirmative vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Board of Trustees and holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund’s shares to authorize certain Fund transactions not in the ordinary course of business, including a merger or consolidation or share exchange, any shareholder proposal as to specific investment decisions made or to be with respect to the assets of the Fund or issuance or transfer by the Fund of the Fund’s shares having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more (except as may be made pursuant to a public offering, the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan or upon exercise of any stock subscription rights), unless the transaction is authorized by both a majority of the Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (in which case no shareholder authorization would be required by the Declaration, but may be required in certain cases under the 1940 Act). The Declaration also requires the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund’s shares entitled to vote on the matter to authorize a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, unless the conversion is authorized by both a majority of the Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (in which case shareholders would have only the minimum voting rights required by the 1940 Act with respect to the conversion). Also, the Declaration provides that the Fund may be terminated at any time by vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund’s shares or, alternatively, by vote or consent of both a majority of the Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees. See “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust” in the Statement of Additional Information for a more detailed summary of these provisions.

The Trustees may from time to time grant other voting rights to shareholders with respect to these and other matters in the Bylaws, certain of which are required by the 1940 Act.

The overall effect of these provisions is to render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of control of the Fund by a third party. These provisions also provide, however, the advantage of potentially requiring persons seeking control of the Fund to negotiate with its management regarding the price to be paid and

 

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facilitating the continuity of the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. The Board of Trustees of the Fund has considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and concluded that they are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, including Common Shareholders.

The foregoing is intended only as a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Declaration and the Bylaws, both of which are on file with the SEC.

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, in certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for debts or obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such limited liability be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the Trustees. The Declaration further provides for indemnification out of the assets and property of the Fund for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is remote.

Tax Matters

This section summarizes some of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. persons of investing in the Fund; the consequences under other tax laws and to non-U.S. shareholders may differ. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors as to the possible application of federal, state, local or non-U.S. income tax laws. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information regarding the tax aspects of investing in the Fund.

Treatment as a Registered Investment Company

The Fund intends to elect to be treated, and intends each year to qualify and be eligible, to be treated, as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). A regulated investment company is not subject to U.S. federal income tax at the corporate level on income and gains from investments that are distributed in a timely manner to shareholders in the form of dividends. The Fund’s failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would result in corporate-level taxation, thereby reducing the return on your investment.

Taxes on Portfolio Distributions

A shareholder subject to U.S. federal income tax will generally be subject to tax on Fund distributions. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, Fund distributions will generally be taxable to a shareholder as either ordinary income or capital gains. Fund dividends consisting of distributions of investment income generally are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. The municipal bonds in which the Fund primarily invests are generally issued by states, cities, or a political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such state or city, the interest on which is generally exempt from regular federal income tax, and Fund distributions of such interest that the Fund properly reports to you as “exempt-interest dividends” will generally not be subject to regular federal income tax. An investment in the Fund may result in liability for federal alternative minimum tax for both individual and, for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2017, corporate shareholders. Distributions of net investment income other than “exempt-interest dividends” will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income.

Federal taxes on Fund distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned or is deemed to have owned the investments that generated the capital gains, rather than how long a shareholder has owned the shares. Distributions of net capital gains (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses, in each case determined with reference to any loss carryforwards) that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends generally will be treated as long-term capital gains includible in a shareholder’s net capital gains and taxed to individuals at reduced rates. The Fund does not expect a significant portion of its distributions to be treated as long-term capital gains. Distributions of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions that the Fund properly reports to you as “qualified dividend income” are taxable at the reduced rates applicable to long-term capital gains provided that both you and the Fund meet certain holding period and other requirements.

 

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The ultimate tax characterization of the Fund’s distributions made in a taxable year cannot be determined finally until after the end of that taxable year. As a result, there is a possibility that the Fund may make total distributions during a taxable year in an amount that exceeds the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. In that case, the excess generally would be treated as return of capital and would reduce a shareholder’s tax basis in the applicable shares, with any amounts exceeding such basis treated as gain from the sale of such shares. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s tax basis in the shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of the Common Shares.

Fund distributions are taxable to shareholders as described above even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid).

Certain Fund Investments

The Fund’s investments in certain debt instruments could cause the Fund to recognize taxable income in excess of the cash generated by such investments (which may require the Fund to liquidate other investments in order to make required distributions). The Fund does not expect to qualify to pass through tax-exempt dividends to shareholders.

The Fund may at times buy tax-exempt investments at a discount from the price at which they were originally issued, especially during periods of rising interest rates. For federal income tax purposes, some or all of this market discount will be included in the Fund’s ordinary income and will be taxable to you as such when it is distributed.

Taxes When you Dispose of Your Common Shares

Any gain resulting from the disposition of Common Shares that is treated as a sale or exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes generally will be taxable to shareholders as capital gains for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Shareholders who offer, and are able to sell all of the Common Shares they hold or are deemed to hold in response to a repurchase offer (as described above) generally will be treated as having sold their shares and generally will recognize a capital gain or loss. In the case of shareholders who tender or are able to sell fewer than all of their shares, it is possible that any amounts that the shareholder receives in such repurchase will be taxable as a dividend to such shareholder. In addition, there is a risk that shareholders who do not tender any of their shares for repurchase, or whose percentage interest in the Fund otherwise increases as a result of the repurchase offer, will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having received a taxable dividend distribution as a result of their proportionate increase in the ownership of the Fund. The Fund’s use of cash to repurchase shares could adversely affect its ability to satisfy the distribution requirements for treatment as a regulated investment company. The Fund could also recognize income in connection with its liquidation of portfolio securities to fund share repurchases. Any such income would be taken into account in determining whether such distribution requirements are satisfied.

Backup Withholding

The Fund is generally required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any shareholder who fails to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to the Fund that he, she or it is not subject to such withholding.

Custodian and Transfer Agent

The primary custodian of the assets of the Fund is State Street Bank and Trust Company. State Street Bank and Trust Company’s principal business address is One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111. The primary custodian performs custodial and fund accounting services as well as sub-administrative and compliance services on behalf

 

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of the Fund. UMB Bank, n.a also serves as a custodian of the Fund for the purpose of processing investor subscriptions and repurchases. UMB Bank, n.a.‘s principal business address is 1010 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64106.

DST Systems, Inc. serves as the Fund’s transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursement agent and shareholder servicing agent, as well as agent for the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

[    ], [    ], (“[    ]”) serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. [ ] provides audit services, tax assistance and consultation in connection with review of SEC and IRS filings.

Legal Matters

Certain legal matters will be passed on for the Fund by Ropes & Gray LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.

 

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Table of Contents for the Statement of Additional Information

 

The Fund     3  
   
Investment Objectives and Policies     3  
   
Investment Restrictions     90  
   
Management of the Fund     94  
   
Distribution of Fund Shares     118  
   
Repurchase of Common Shares     126  
   
Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage     127  
   
Distributions     130  
   
Description of Capital Structure and Shares     130  
   
Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust     132  
   
Conversion to Open-End Fund     134  
   
Net Asset Value     134  
   
Taxation     135  
   
Performance Related and Comparative Information     155  
   
Custodian, Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursement Agent     156  
   
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm     156  
   
Counsel     156  
   
Registration Statement     156  
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm     156  
   
Financial Statements     156  
   

Appendix A — Procedures for Shareholders to Submit Nominee Candidates

    A-1  

 

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Appendix A

Description of Securities Ratings

The Fund’s investments may range in quality from securities rated in the lowest category to securities rated in the highest category (as rated by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch or, if unrated, determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality). The percentage of the Fund’s assets invested in securities in a particular rating category will vary. The following terms are generally used to describe the credit quality of fixed income securities:

High Quality Debt Securities are those rated in one of the two highest rating categories (the highest category for commercial paper) or, if unrated, deemed comparable by PIMCO.

Investment Grade Debt Securities are those rated in one of the four highest rating categories, or, if unrated, deemed comparable by PIMCO.

Below Investment Grade, High Yield Securities (“Junk Bonds”) are those rated lower than Baa3 by Moody’s, BBB- by S&P or Fitch and comparable securities. They are deemed predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability to repay principal and interest.

The following is a description of Moody’s, S&P’s and Fitch’s rating categories applicable to fixed income securities.

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Long-Term Corporate Obligation Ratings

Moody’s long-term obligation ratings are opinions of the relative credit risk of fixed income 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, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

Aa: Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A: Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa: Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba: Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B: Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa: Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca: Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C: Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category. Additionally, a ”(hyb)” indicator is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms.

Medium-Term Note Program Ratings

Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to medium-term note (MTN) programs and definitive ratings to the individual debt securities issued from them (referred to as drawdowns or notes).

 

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MTN program ratings are intended to reflect the ratings likely to be assigned to drawdowns issued from the program with the specified priority of claim (e.g. senior or subordinated). To capture the contingent nature of a program rating, Moody’s assigns provisional ratings to MTN programs. A provisional rating is denoted by a (P) in front of the rating.

The rating assigned to a drawdown from a rated MTN or bank/deposit note program is definitive in nature, and may differ from the program rating if the drawdown is exposed to additional credit risks besides the issuer’s default, such as links to the defaults of other issuers, or has other structural features that warrant a different rating. In some circumstances, no rating may be assigned to a drawdown.

Moody’s encourages market participants to contact Moody’s Ratings Desks or visit www.moodys.com directly if they have questions regarding ratings for specific notes issued under a medium-term note program. Unrated notes issued under an MTN program may be assigned an NR (not rated) symbol.

Short-Term Ratings

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.

National Scale Long-Term Ratings

Moody’s long-term National Scale Ratings (NSRs) are opinions of the relative creditworthiness of issuers and financial obligations within a particular country. NSRs are not designed to be compared among countries; rather, they address relative credit risk within a given country. Moody’s assigns national scale ratings in certain local capital markets in which investors have found the global rating scale provides inadequate differentiation among credits or is inconsistent with a rating scale already in common use in the country. In each specific country, the last two characters of the rating indicate the country in which the issuer is located (e.g., Aaa.br for Brazil).

Aaa.n: Issuers or issues rated Aaa.n demonstrate the strongest creditworthiness relative to other domestic issuers.

Aa.n: Issuers or issues rated Aa.n demonstrate very strong creditworthiness relative to other domestic issuers.

A.n: Issuers or issues rated A.n present above-average creditworthiness relative to other domestic issuers.

Baa.n: Issuers or issues rated Baa.n represent average creditworthiness relative to other domestic issuers.

Ba.n: Issuers or issues rated Ba.n demonstrate below-average creditworthiness relative to other domestic issuers.

B.n: Issuers or issues rated B.n demonstrate weak creditworthiness relative to other domestic issuers.

Caa.n: Issuers or issues rated Caa.n demonstrate very weak creditworthiness relative to other domestic issuers.

Ca.n: Issuers or issues rated Ca.n demonstrate extremely weak creditworthiness relative to other domestic issuers.

C.n: Issuers or issues rated C.n demonstrate the weakest creditworthiness relative to other domestic issuers.

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. National scale long-term ratings of D.ar and E.ar may also be applied to Argentine obligations.

 

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National Scale Short-Term Ratings

Moody’s short-term NSRs are opinions of the ability of issuers in a given country, relative to other domestic issuers, to repay debt obligations that have an original maturity not exceeding thirteen months. Short-term NSRs in one country should not be compared with short-term NSRs in another country, or with Moody’s global ratings.

There are four categories of short-term national scale ratings, generically denoted N-1 through N-4 as defined below.

In each specific country, the first two letters indicate the country in which the issuer is located (e.g., BR-1 through BR-4 for Brazil).

N-1: Issuers rated N-1 have the strongest ability to repay short-term senior unsecured debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers.

N-2: Issuers rated N-2 have an above average ability to repay short-term senior unsecured debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers.

N-3: Issuers rated N-3 have an average ability to repay short-term senior unsecured debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers.

N-4: Issuers rated N-4 have a below average ability to repay short-term senior unsecured debt obligations relative to other domestic issuers.

The short-term rating symbols P-1.za, P-2.za, P-3.za and NP.za are used in South Africa. National scale short-term ratings of AR-5 and AR-6 may also be applied to Argentine obligations.

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 as 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-grade 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 risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”). The second element uses a rating from a variation of the MIG scale called the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (VMIG) scale.

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.

 

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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 Global Ratings (“S&P”)

Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P Global Ratings’ (“S&P”) analysis of the following considerations:

 

    Likelihood of payment—capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on a financial obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
    Nature and provisions of the obligation and the promise S&P imputes; and
    Protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

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

Investment Grade

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.

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.

Speculative Grade

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

BB: An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B: An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC: An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC: An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred, but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

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C: An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared to obligations that are rated higher.

D: An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

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

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.

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

A-1: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-1’ is rated in the highest category by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong. Within this category, certain obligations are designated with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on these obligations is extremely strong.

A-2: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-2’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rating categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is satisfactory.

A-3: A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B: A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

C: A short-term obligation rated ‘C’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

D: A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed exchange offer.

Dual Ratings: Dual ratings may be assigned to debt issues that have a put option or demand feature. The first component of the rating addresses the likelihood of repayment of principal and interest as due, and the second component of the rating addresses only the demand feature. The first component of the rating can relate to either a short-term or long-term transaction and accordingly use either short-term or long-term rating symbols. The second component of the rating relates to the put option and is assigned a short-term rating symbol (for example, ‘AAA/A-1+’ or ‘A-1+/A-1’). With U.S. municipal short-term demand debt, the U.S. municipal short-term note rating symbols are used for the first component of the rating (for example, ‘SP-1+/A-1+’).

Active Qualifiers

S&P uses the following qualifiers that limit the scope of a rating. The structure of the transaction can require the use of a qualifier such as a ‘p’ qualifier, which indicates the rating addressed the principal portion of the obligation only. A qualifier appears as a suffix and is part of the rating.

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

 

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p: This suffix is used for issues in which the credit factors, the terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of principal are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of interest on the obligation. The ‘p’ suffix indicates that the rating addresses the principal portion of the obligation only and that the interest is not rated.

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

    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 would likely withdraw these preliminary ratings.

 

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

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.

cir: This symbol indicates a Counterparty Instrument Rating (CIR), which is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an issuer in a securitization structure with respect to a specific financial obligation to a counterparty (including interest rate swaps, currency swaps, and liquidity facilities). The CIR is determined on an ultimate payment basis; these opinions do not take into account timeliness of payment.

Inactive Qualifiers (no longer applied or outstanding)

*:This symbol that indicated that the rating was contingent upon S&P 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 was lowered to below an investment-grade level and/or the issuer’s bonds were deemed taxable. Discontinued use in January 2001.

G: The letter ‘G’ followed the rating symbol when a fund’s portfolio consisted primarily of direct U.S. government securities.

pi: This qualifier was used to indicate ratings that were based on an analysis of an issuer’s published financial information, as well as additional information in the public domain. Such ratings did not, however, reflect in-depth meetings with an issuer’s management and therefore, could have been based on less comprehensive information than ratings without a ‘pi’ suffix. Discontinued use as of December 2014 and as of August 2015 for Lloyd’s Syndicate Assessments.

pr: The letters ‘pr’ indicate that the rating was provisional. A provisional rating assumed the successful completion of a project financed by the debt being rated and indicates that payment of debt service requirements was largely or entirely

 

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dependent upon the successful, timely completion of the project. This rating, however, while addressing credit quality subsequent to completion of the project, made no comment on the likelihood of or the risk of default upon failure of such completion.

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, which are not covered in the credit rating. The absence of an ‘r’ modifier should not be taken as an indication that an obligation would not exhibit extraordinary non-credit related risks. S&P 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

Long-Term Credit Ratings

Investment Grade

AAA: Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

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 adverse business or 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 payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

Speculative Grade

BB: Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions 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 credit risk is present.

CCC: Substantial credit risk.

CC: Very high levels of credit risk.

C: Exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘B’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

The modifiers “+” or “-” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. For example, the rating category ‘AA’ has three notch-specific rating levels (‘AA+’; ‘AA’; ‘AA-’; each a rating level). Such suffixes are not added to the ‘AAA’ obligation rating category, or to corporate finance obligation ratings in the categories below ‘CCC.’

The subscript ‘emr’ is appended to a rating to denote embedded market risk that is beyond the scope of the rating. The designation is intended to make clear that the rating solely addresses the counterparty risk of the issuing bank. It is not meant to indicate any limitation in the analysis of the counterparty risk, which in all other respects follows published Fitch criteria for analyzing the issuing financial institution. Fitch does not rate these instruments where the principal is to any degree subject to market risk.

 

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Recovery Ratings

Recovery Ratings are assigned to selected individual securities and obligations, most frequently for individual obligations of corporate finance issuers with Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) in speculative grade categories.

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 on 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.

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 and analytical judgment, 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.

Short-Term Credit Ratings

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

F1: Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

F2: Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

F3: Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

B: Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

C: High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

RD: Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

D: Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

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

Subject to Completion dated May 2, 2018

PIMCO FLEXIBLE MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND

Statement of Additional Information

[    ], 2018

PIMCO Flexible Municipal Income Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that continuously offers its shares (the “Common Shares”) and is operated as an “interval fund.” The Fund currently offers one class of Common Shares: Institutional Class.

This Statement of Additional Information relating to the Common Shares of the Fund is not a prospectus, and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus relating thereto dated [    ], as supplemented from time to time (the “Prospectus”). This Statement of Additional Information does not include all information that a prospective investor should consider before purchasing Common Shares, and investors should obtain and read the Prospectus prior to purchasing such shares.

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO” or the “Investment Manager”), 650 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660, is the investment manager to the Fund.

A copy of the Prospectus and annual or semi-annual reports for the Fund may be obtained, when available, free of charge at the telephone number and address listed below or by visiting www.pimco.com.

 

PIMCO Flexible Municipal Income Fund

Regulatory Document Request

650 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, California 92660

Telephone: 844.312.2113

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Statement of Additional Information have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE FUND

     3  

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

     3  

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

     90  

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

     94  

DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES

     118  

REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES

     126  

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

     127  

DISTRIBUTIONS

     130  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND SHARES

     130  

ANTI-TAKEOVER AND OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST

     132  

CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

     134  

NET ASSET VALUE

     134  

TAXATION

     135  

PERFORMANCE RELATED AND COMPARATIVE INFORMATION

     155  

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSEMENT AGENT

     156  

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     156  

COUNSEL

     156  

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     156  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     156  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     156  

APPENDIX A –PROCEDURES FOR SHAREHOLDERS TO SUBMIT NOMINEE CANDIDATES

     A-1  

 

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THE FUND

The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that continuously offers itsCommon Shares and is operated as an “interval fund.” The Fund currently offers one class of Common Shares: Institutional Class. The Fund was formed on November 20, 2017 as a Massachusetts business trust.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

The investment objectives and general investment policies of the Fund are described in the Prospectus. Additional information concerning the characteristics of certain of the Fund’s investments, strategies and risks is set forth below. Unless a strategy or policy described below is specifically prohibited by the investment restrictions listed in the Prospectus, by the investment restrictions under “Investment Restrictions” in this Statement of Additional Information, or by applicable law, the Fund may engage in each of the practices described below. However, the Fund is not required to engage in any particular transaction or purchase any particular type of securities or investment even if to do so might benefit the Fund. Unless otherwise stated herein, all investment policies of the Fund may be changed by the Board of Trustees (the “Board’) without shareholder approval. In addition, the Fund may be subject to restrictions on its ability to utilize certain investments or investment techniques. Unless otherwise stated herein, these additional restrictions may be changed with the consent of the Board but without approval by or notice to shareholders.

High Yield Securities (“Junk Bonds”) and Securities of Distressed Companies

The Fund may invest without limit in debt instruments that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade (below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or below BBB- by either S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”)), or unrated but determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. The Fund may also invest in defaulted securities and debtor-in-possession financings. A description of the ratings categories used is set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus.

A security is considered to be below “investment grade” quality if it is either (1) not rated in one of the four highest rating categories by one of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) (i.e., rated Ba or below by Moody’s, BB or below by S&P or BB or below by Fitch) or (2) if unrated, determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality to obligations so rated. Investments in securities rated below investment grade are described as “speculative” by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, and are commonly referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds.” Additional information about Moody’s, S&P’s and Fitch’s securities ratings is included in Appendix A to the Prospectus.

Investors should consider the risks associated with high yield securities and debt securities of distressed companies before investing in the Fund. Investment in lower rated corporate debt securities and securities of distressed companies generally provides greater income and increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but it also typically entails greater price volatility and principal and income risk. Securities of distressed companies include both debt and equity securities. High yield securities and debt securities of distressed companies are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. Issuers of high yield and distressed company securities may be involved in restructurings or bankruptcy proceedings that may not be successful.

 

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The Fund’s investments in high yield securities, debt securities of distressed companies and unrated securities of similar credit quality may subject it to greater levels of credit risk, call risk and liquidity risk than funds that do not invest in such securities. These securities are considered predominantly speculative with respect to an issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments, and may be more volatile than other types of securities. An economic downturn or individual corporate developments could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell these securities at an advantageous time or price. A projection of an economic downturn, for example, could cause a decline in prices of high yield securities and debt securities of distressed companies because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of a highly leveraged company to make principal and interest payments on its debt securities, and a high yield security may lose significant market value before a default occurs. If an issuer of high yield or distressed company securities defaults, in addition to risking payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, the Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery of their respective investments. In the case of securities structured as zero-coupon or pay-in-kind securities, their market prices are affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes, and therefore tend to be more volatile than securities which pay interest periodically and in cash.

Issuers of high yield securities and securities of distressed companies may have the right to “call” or redeem the issue prior to maturity, which may result in the Fund having to reinvest the proceeds in other high yield securities that may pay lower interest rates. The Fund may also be subject to greater levels of liquidity risk than funds that do not invest in these securities. In addition, the high yield securities and securities of distressed companies in which the Fund invests may not be listed on any exchange and a secondary market for such securities may be comparatively illiquid relative to markets for other more liquid fixed income securities. Consequently, transactions in high yield securities and distressed company securities may involve greater costs than transactions in more actively traded securities, which could adversely affect the price at which the Fund could sell a high yield or distressed company security, and could adversely affect the daily net asset value of the shares. A lack of publicly-available information, irregular trading activity and wide bid/ask spreads among other factors, may, in certain circumstances, make high yield and distressed company debt difficult to sell at an advantageous time or price than other types of securities or instruments. These factors may result in the Fund being unable to realize full value for these securities and/or may result in the Fund not receiving the proceeds from a sale of a high yield or distressed company security for an extended period after such sale, each of which could result in losses to the Fund. Because of the risks involved in investing in high yield securities and securities of distressed companies, an investment in the Fund should be considered speculative.

Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of high yield securities and distressed company securities may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality debt securities, and achievement of the Fund’s investment objectives may, to the extent of its investments in high yield and distressed company securities, depend more heavily on PIMCO’s creditworthiness analysis than would be the case if the Fund were investing in higher quality securities.

High yield securities structured as “zero-coupon” bonds or “payment-in-kind” securities (“PIKs”) tend to be especially volatile as they are particularly sensitive to downward pricing

 

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pressures from rising interest rates or widening spreads and may require the Fund to make taxable distributions of income greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund has actually received. PIMCO seeks to reduce these risks through credit analysis and attention to current developments and trends in both the economy and financial markets. Even though such securities do not pay current interest in cash, the Fund nonetheless is required to accrue interest income on these investments and to distribute the interest income on a current basis. Thus, the Fund could be required at times to sell other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements (including when it is not advantageous to do so).

The secondary market on which high yield securities are traded may be less liquid than the market for higher grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the price at which the Fund could sell a high yield security, and could adversely affect the daily net asset value of the shares. Lower liquidity in secondary markets could adversely affect the value of high yield/high risk securities held by the Fund. While lower rated securities typically are less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher rated securities, the market prices of high yield/high risk securities structured as zero coupon bonds or PIKs may be affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes. For instance, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities, especially in a thinly traded market. When secondary markets for high yield and distressed company securities are less liquid than the market for higher grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the securities because such valuation may require more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation because there is less reliable, objective data available. PIMCO seeks to minimize the risks of investing in all securities through in-depth credit analysis and attention to current developments in interest rates and market conditions.

The use of credit ratings as the sole method of evaluating high yield securities and debt securities of distressed companies can involve certain risks. For example, credit ratings evaluate the safety of principal and interest payments of a debt security, not the market value risk of the security. Also, credit rating agencies may fail to change credit ratings in a timely fashion to reflect events since the security was last rated. PIMCO does not rely solely on credit ratings when selecting debt securities for the Fund, and develops its own independent analysis of issuer credit quality. If a credit rating agency changes the rating of a debt security held by the Fund, the Fund may retain the security if PIMCO deems it in the best interest of shareholders.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities

Mortgage-related securities are interests in pools of residential or commercial mortgage loans, including mortgage loans made by savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, commercial banks and others. Such mortgage loans may include reperforming loans (“RPLs”), which are loans that have previously been delinquent but are current at the time securitized. Pools of mortgage loans are assembled as securities for sale to investors by various governmental, government-related and private organizations. The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities issued by government agencies or other governmental entities or by private originators or issuers.

The mortgage-related securities in which the Fund may invest include, without limitation, mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial or residential mortgage-backed securities, mortgage dollar rolls, CMO residuals, stripped

 

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mortgage-backed securities (“SMBSs”) and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property. The Fund may also invest in other types of asset-backed securities, including collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), which include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities. The mortgage-related securities in which the Fund may invest may pay variable or fixed rates of interest.

Through investments in mortgage-related securities, including those that are issued by private issuers, the Fund may have some exposure to subprime loans as well as to the mortgage and credit markets generally. Private issuers include commercial banks, savings associations, mortgage companies, investment banking firms, finance companies and special purpose finance entities (called special purpose vehicles or SPVs) and other entities that acquire and package mortgage loans for resale as mortgage-related securities.

Mortgage Pass-Through Securities. Mortgage pass-through securities are securities representing interests in “pools” of mortgage loans secured by residential or commercial real property. Interests in pools of mortgage-related securities differ from other forms of debt securities, which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed or variable amounts with principal payments at maturity or specified call dates. Instead, these securities provide a monthly payment that consists of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their residential or commercial mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Additional payments are caused by repayments of principal resulting from the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, net of fees or costs that may be incurred. Some mortgage-related securities (such as securities issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae” or “GNMA”)) are described as “modified pass-through.” These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, at the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether or not the mortgagor actually makes the payment.

The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-related security, and may have the effect of shortening or extending the effective duration of the security relative to what was anticipated at the time of purchase. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities (arising from prepayments of principal due to the sale of the underlying property, refinancing, or foreclosure, net of fees and costs that may be incurred) may expose the Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. Also, if a security subject to prepayment has been purchased at a premium, the value of the premium would be lost in the event of prepayment. Like other fixed income securities, when interest rates rise, the value of a mortgage-related security generally will decline; however, when interest rates are declining, the value of mortgage-related securities with prepayment features may not increase as much as other fixed income securities. Adjustable rate mortgage-related and other ABS are also subject to some interest rate risk. For example, because interest rates on most adjustable rate mortgage- and other ABS only reset periodically (e.g., monthly or quarterly), changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the market value of these securities, including declines in value as interest rates rise. In addition, to the extent that unanticipated rates of prepayment on underlying mortgages increase the effective duration of a mortgage-related security, the volatility of such security can be expected to increase.

 

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The residential mortgage market in the United States recently has experienced difficulties that may adversely affect the performance and market value of certain of the Fund’s mortgage-related investments. Delinquencies and losses on residential mortgage loans (especially subprime and second-lien mortgage loans) generally have increased recently and may continue to increase, and a decline in or flattening of housing values (as has recently been experienced and may continue to be experienced in many housing markets) may exacerbate such delinquencies and losses. Borrowers with adjustable rate mortgage loans are more sensitive to changes in interest rates, which affect their monthly mortgage payments, and may be unable to secure replacement mortgages at comparably low interest rates. Also, a number of residential mortgage loan originators have experienced serious financial difficulties or bankruptcy. Owing largely to the foregoing, reduced investor demand for mortgage loans and mortgage-related securities and increased investor yield requirements have caused limited liquidity in the secondary market for certain mortgage-related securities, which can adversely affect the market value of mortgage-related securities. It is possible that such limited liquidity in such secondary markets could continue or worsen.

Agency Mortgage-Related Securities. Payment of principal and interest on some mortgage pass-through securities (but not the market value of the securities themselves) may be guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by GNMA) or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government (in the case of securities guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae” or “FNMA”) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac” or “FHLMC”)). The principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities is GNMA. GNMA is a wholly-owned U.S. Government corporation within the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (the “Department of Housing and Urban Development” or “HUD”). GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, the timely

payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by GNMA (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers) and backed by pools of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (the “FHA”), or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (the “VA”).

Government-related guarantors (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA was, until recently, a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders, and subject to general regulation by HUD and the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. As described below under “U.S. Government Securities,” FNMA is now under conservatorship by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”). FNMA primarily purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers, which includes state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions and mortgage bankers, although it may purchase other types of mortgages as well. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Instead, they are supported only by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations.

FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It was, until recently, a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and then owned entirely

 

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by private stockholders. As described below under U.S. Government Securities, FHLMC is now under conservatorship by the FHFA. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PCs”) which are pass-through securities, each representing an undivided interest in a pool of residential mortgages. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. Instead, they are supported only by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations.

FNMA and FHLMC also securitize RPLs. For example, in FNMA’s case, the RPLs are single-family, fixed rate reperforming loans that generally were previously placed in an MBS trust guaranteed by FNMA, purchased from the trust by FNMA and held as a distressed asset after four or more months of delinquency, and subsequently became current (i.e. performing) again. Such RPLs may have exited delinquency through efforts at reducing defaults (e.g., loan modification). In selecting RPLs for securitization, FNMA follows certain criteria related to length of time the loan has been performing, the type of loan (single-family, fixed rate), and the status of the loan as first lien, among other things. FNMA may include different loan structures and modification programs in the future.

On September 6, 2008, the FHFA placed FNMA and FHLMC into conservatorship. As the conservator, the FHFA succeeded to all rights, titles, powers and privileges of FNMA and FHLMC and of any stockholder, officer or director of FNMA and FHLMC with respect to FNMA and FHLMC and the assets of FNMA and FHLMC. FHFA selected a new chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for each of FNMA and FHLMC.

In connection with the conservatorship, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “U.S. Treasury”) entered into a Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with each of FNMA and FHLMC pursuant to which the U.S. Treasury will purchase up to an aggregate of $100 billion of each of FNMA and FHLMC to maintain a positive net worth in each enterprise. This agreement contains various covenants that severely limit each enterprise’s operations. In exchange for entering into these agreements, the U.S. Treasury received $1 billion of each enterprise’s senior preferred securities and warrants to purchase 79.9% of each enterprise’s common stock. On February 18, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was doubling the size of its commitment to each enterprise under the Senior Preferred Stock Program to $200 billion. The U.S. Treasury’s obligations under the Senior Preferred Stock Program are for an indefinite period of time for a maximum amount of $200 billion per enterprise. In 2009, the U.S. Treasury further amended the Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement to allow the cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in FNMA’s and FHLMC’s net worth through the end of 2012. In August 2012, the Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement was further amended to, among other things, accelerate the wind down of the retained portfolio, terminate the requirement that FNMA and FHLMC each pay a 10% dividend annually on all amounts received under the funding commitment, and require the submission of an annual risk management plan to the U.S. Treasury.

FNMA and FHLMC are continuing to operate as going concerns while in conservatorship and each remains liable for all of its obligations, including its guaranty obligations, associated with its mortgage-backed securities. The Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement is intended to enhance each of FNMA’s and FHLMC’s ability to meet its obligations. The FHFA has indicated that the conservatorship of each enterprise will end when the director of FHFA determines that FHFA’s plan to restore the enterprise to a safe and solvent condition has been completed.

 

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Under the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 (the “Reform Act”), which was included as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, FHFA, as conservator or receiver, has the power to repudiate any contract entered into by FNMA or FHLMC prior to FHFA’s appointment as conservator or receiver, as applicable, if FHFA determines, in its sole discretion, that performance of the contract is burdensome and that repudiation of the contract promotes the orderly administration of FNMA’s or FHLMC’s affairs. The Reform Act requires FHFA to exercise its right to repudiate any contract within a reasonable period of time after its appointment as conservator or receiver.

FHFA, in its capacity as conservator, has indicated that it has no intention to repudiate the guaranty obligations of FNMA or FHLMC because FHFA views repudiation as incompatible with the goals of the conservatorship. However, in the event that FHFA, as conservator or if it is later appointed as receiver for FNMA or FHLMC, were to repudiate any such guaranty obligation, the conservatorship or receivership estate, as applicable, would be liable for actual direct compensatory damages in accordance with the provisions of the Reform Act. Any such liability could be satisfied only to the extent of FNMA’s or FHLMC’s assets available therefor.

In the event of repudiation, the payments of interest to holders of FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed securities would be reduced if payments on the mortgage loans represented in the mortgage loan groups related to such mortgage-backed securities are not made by the borrowers or advanced by the servicer. Any actual direct compensatory damages for repudiating these guaranty obligations may not be sufficient to offset any shortfalls experienced by such mortgage-backed security holders.

Further, in its capacity as conservator or receiver, FHFA has the right to transfer or sell any asset or liability of FNMA or FHLMC without any approval, assignment or consent. Although FHFA has stated that it has no present intention to do so, if FHFA, as conservator or receiver, were to transfer any such guaranty obligation to another party, holders of FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed securities would have to rely on that party for satisfaction of the guaranty obligation and would be exposed to the credit risk of that party.

In addition, certain rights provided to holders of mortgage-backed securities issued by FNMA and FHLMC under the operative documents related to such securities may not be enforced against FHFA, or enforcement of such rights may be delayed, during the conservatorship or any future receivership. The operative documents for FNMA and FHLMC mortgage-backed securities may provide (or with respect to securities issued prior to the date of the appointment of the conservator may have provided) that upon the occurrence of an event of default on the part of FNMA or FHLMC, in its capacity as guarantor, which includes the appointment of a conservator or receiver, holders of such mortgage-backed securities have the right to replace FNMA or FHLMC as trustee if the requisite percentage of mortgage-backed securities holders consent. The Reform Act prevents mortgage-backed security holders from enforcing such rights if the event of default arises solely because a conservator or receiver has been appointed. The Reform Act also provides that no person may exercise any right or power to terminate, accelerate or declare an event of default under certain contracts to which FNMA or FHLMC is a party, or obtain possession of or exercise control over any property of FNMA or FHLMC, or affect any contractual rights of FNMA or FHLMC, without the approval of FHFA, as conservator or receiver, for a period of 45 or 90 days following the appointment of FHFA as conservator or receiver, respectively.

 

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Privately Issued Mortgage-Related (Non-Agency) Securities. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such non-governmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit, which may be issued by governmental entities, private insurers or the mortgage poolers. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers. Such insurance and guarantees, and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof, will be considered in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets the Fund’s investment quality standards. There can be no assurance that the private insurers or guarantors can meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements. The Fund may buy mortgage-related securities without insurance or guarantees if, through an examination of the loan experience and practices of the originator/servicers and poolers, the Investment Manager determines that the securities meet the Fund’s quality standards. Securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.

Privately issued mortgage-related securities are not subject to the same underwriting requirements for the underlying mortgages that are applicable to those mortgage-related securities that have a government or government-sponsored entity guarantee. As a result, the mortgage loans underlying privately issued mortgage-related securities may, and frequently do, have less favorable collateral, credit risk or other underwriting characteristics than government or government-sponsored mortgage-related securities and have wider variances in a number of terms including interest rate, term, size, purpose and borrower characteristics. Mortgage pools underlying privately issued mortgage-related securities more frequently include second mortgages, high loan-to-value ratio mortgages and manufactured housing loans, in addition to commercial mortgages and other types of mortgages where a government or government sponsored entity guarantee is not available. The coupon rates and maturities of the underlying mortgage loans in a privately-issued mortgage-related securities pool may vary to a greater extent than those included in a government guaranteed pool, and the pool may include subprime mortgage loans. Subprime loans are loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans. For these reasons, the loans underlying these securities have had in many cases higher default rates than those loans that meet government underwriting requirements.

The risk of non-payment is greater for mortgage-related securities that are backed by loans that were originated under weak underwriting standards, including loans made to borrowers with limited means to make repayment. A level of risk exists for all loans, although, historically, the poorest performing loans have been those classified as subprime. Other types of privately issued mortgage-related securities, such as those classified as pay-option adjustable rate or Alt-A have also performed poorly. Even loans classified as prime have experienced higher levels of delinquencies and defaults. The substantial decline in real property values across the U.S. has exacerbated the level of losses that investors in privately issued mortgage-related securities have experienced. It is not certain when these trends may reverse. Market factors that may adversely affect mortgage loan repayment include adverse economic conditions, unemployment, a decline in the value of real property, or an increase in interest rates.

 

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Privately issued mortgage-related securities are not traded on an exchange and there may be a limited market for the securities, especially when there is a perceived weakness in the mortgage and real estate market sectors. Without an active trading market, mortgage-related securities held in the Fund’s portfolio may be particularly difficult to value because of the complexities involved in assessing the value of the underlying mortgage loans.

The Fund may purchase privately issued mortgage-related securities that are originated, packaged and serviced by third party entities. It is possible these third parties could have interests that are in conflict with the holders of mortgage-related securities, and such holders (such as the Fund) could have rights against the third parties or their affiliates. For example, if a loan originator, servicer or its affiliates engaged in negligence or willful misconduct in carrying out its duties, then a holder of the mortgage-related security could seek recourse against the originator/servicer or its affiliates, as applicable. Also, as a loan originator/servicer, the originator/servicer or its affiliates may make certain representations and warranties regarding the quality of the mortgages and properties underlying a mortgage-related security. If one or more of those representations or warranties is false, then the holders of the mortgage-related securities (such as the Fund) could trigger an obligation of the originator/servicer or its affiliates, as applicable, to repurchase the mortgages from the issuing trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, many of the third parties that are legally bound by trust and other documents have failed to perform their respective duties, as stipulated in such trust and other documents, and investors have had limited success in enforcing terms. To the extent third party entities involved with privately issued mortgage-related securities are involved in litigation relating to the securities, actions may be taken that are adverse to the interests of holders of the mortgage-related securities, including the Fund. For example, third parties may seek to withhold proceeds due to holders of the mortgage-related securities, including the Fund, to cover legal or related costs. Any such action could result in losses to the Fund.

The assets underlying mortgage-related securities may be represented by a portfolio of first lien residential or commercial mortgages (including both whole mortgage loans and mortgage participation interests that may be senior or junior in terms of priority of repayment) or portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities issued or guaranteed by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC. Mortgage loans underlying a mortgage-related security may in turn be insured or guaranteed by the FHA or the VA. In the case of privately issued mortgage-related securities whose underlying assets are neither U.S. Government securities nor U.S. Government-insured mortgages, to the extent that real properties securing such assets may be located in the same geographical region, the security may be subject to a greater risk of default than other comparable securities in the event of adverse economic, political or business developments that may affect such region and, ultimately, the ability of residential homeowners to make payments of principal and interest on the underlying mortgages.

The Investment Manager seeks to manage the portion of the Fund’s assets committed to privately issued mortgage-related securities in a manner consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and overall portfolio risk profile. In determining whether and how much to invest in privately issued mortgage-related securities, and how to allocate those assets, the Investment Manager will consider a number of factors. These include, but are not limited to: (1) the nature of the borrowers (e.g., residential vs. commercial); (2) the collateral loan type (e.g.,

 

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for residential: First Lien - Jumbo/Prime, First Lien - Alt-A, First Lien - Subprime, First Lien - Pay-Option or Second Lien; for commercial: Conduit, Large Loan or Single Asset / Single Borrower); and (3) in the case of residential loans, whether they are fixed rate or adjustable mortgages. Each of these criteria can cause privately issued mortgage-related securities to have differing primary economic characteristics and distinguishable risk factors and performance characteristics.

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”). A CMO is a debt obligation of a legal entity that is collateralized by mortgages and divided into classes. A CMO is a hybrid between a mortgage-backed bond and a mortgage pass-through security. Similar to a bond, interest and prepaid principal is paid, in most cases, semi-annually or on a monthly basis. CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans or private mortgage bonds, but are more typically collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities issued or guaranteed by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC, and their income streams.

CMOs are structured into multiple classes, often referred to as “tranches,” with each class bearing a different stated maturity and entitled to a different schedule for payments of principal and interest, including prepayments. Actual maturity and average life will depend upon the prepayment experience of the collateral. CMOs provide for a modified form of call protection through a de facto breakdown of the underlying pool of mortgages according to how quickly the loans are repaid. In the case of certain CMOs (known as “sequential pay” CMOs), payment of principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including prepayments, are applied to the classes of CMOs in the order of their respective final distribution dates. Thus, no payment of principal will be made to any class of sequential pay CMOs until all other classes having an earlier final distribution date have been paid in full. An investor is partially guarded against a sooner than desired return of principal because of the sequential payments.

In a typical CMO transaction, a corporation (“issuer”) issues multiple series (e.g., A, B, C, Z) of CMO bonds (“Bonds”). Proceeds of the Bond offering are used to purchase mortgages or mortgage pass-through certificates (“Collateral”). The Collateral is pledged to a third party trustee as security for the Bonds. Principal and interest payments from the Collateral are used to pay principal on the Bonds in the order A, B, C, Z. The Series A, B, and C Bonds all bear current interest. Interest on the Series Z Bond is accrued and added to principal and a like amount is paid as principal on the Series A, B, or C Bond currently being paid off. When the Series A, B, and C Bonds are paid in full, interest and principal on the Series Z Bond begin to be paid currently.

With some CMOs, the issuer serves as a conduit to allow loan originators (primarily builders or savings and loan associations) to borrow against their loan portfolios. CMOs may be less liquid and may exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or ABS.

As CMOs have evolved, some classes of CMO bonds have become more common. For example, the Fund may invest in parallel-pay and planned amortization class (“PAC”) CMOs and multi-class pass-through certificates. Parallel-pay CMOs and multi-class pass-through certificates are structured to provide payments of principal on each payment date to more than one class. These simultaneous payments are taken into account in calculating the stated maturity date or final distribution date of each class, which, as with other CMO and multi-class pass-through structures, must be retired by its stated maturity date or final distribution date but may be retired earlier. PACs generally require payments of a specified amount of principal on each payment

 

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date. PACs are parallel-pay CMOs with the required principal amount on such securities having the highest priority after interest has been paid to all classes. Any CMO or multi-class pass-through structure that includes PAC securities must also have support tranches—known as support bonds, companion bonds or non-PAC bonds—which lend or absorb principal cash flows to allow the PAC securities to maintain their stated maturities and final distribution dates within a range of actual prepayment experience. These support tranches are subject to a higher level of maturity risk compared to other mortgage-related securities, and usually provide a higher yield to compensate investors. If principal cash flows are received in amounts outside a pre-determined range such that the support bonds cannot lend or absorb sufficient cash flows to the PAC securities as intended, the PAC securities are subject to heightened maturity risk. Consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, PIMCO may invest in various tranches of CMO bonds, including support bonds.

CMOs that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or by any of its agencies or instrumentalities will be considered U.S. Government securities by the Fund, while other CMOs, even if collateralized by U.S. Government securities, will have the same status as other privately issued securities for purposes of applying the Fund’s diversification tests.

FHLMC Collateralized Mortgage Obligations. FHLMC CMOs are debt obligations of FHLMC issued in multiple classes having different maturity dates which are secured by the pledge of a pool of conventional mortgage loans purchased by FHLMC. Payments of principal and interest on the CMOs are made semi-annually, as opposed to monthly. The amount of principal payable on each semi-annual payment date is determined in accordance with FHLMC’s mandatory sinking fund schedule, which in turn, is equal to approximately 100% of FHA prepayment experience applied to the mortgage collateral pool. All sinking fund payments in the CMOs are allocated to the retirement of the individual classes of bonds in the order of their stated maturities. Payment of principal on the mortgage loans in the collateral pool in excess of the amount of FHLMC’s minimum sinking fund obligation for any payment date are paid to the holders of the CMOs as additional sinking fund payments. Because of the “pass-through” nature of all principal payments received on the collateral pool in excess of FHLMC’s minimum sinking fund requirement, the rate at which principal of the CMOs is actually repaid is likely to be such that each class of bonds will be retired in advance of its scheduled maturity date.

If collection of principal (including prepayments) on the mortgage loans during any semi-annual payment period is not sufficient to meet FHLMC’s minimum sinking fund obligation on the next sinking fund payment date, FHLMC agrees to make up the deficiency from its general funds.

Criteria for the mortgage loans in the pool backing the FHLMC CMOs are identical to those of FHLMC PCs. FHLMC has the right to substitute collateral in the event of delinquencies and/or defaults.

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities. Commercial mortgage-backed securities include securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on commercial real property. Many of the risks of investing in commercial mortgage-backed securities reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage loans. These risks reflect the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. Commercial mortgage-backed securities may be less liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or ABS.

 

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CMO Residuals. CMO residuals are mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing.

The cash flow generated by the mortgage assets underlying a series of CMOs is applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the CMOs and second to pay the related administrative expenses and any management fee of the issuer. The residual in a CMO structure generally represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining after making the foregoing payments. Each payment of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual represents income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characteristics of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the pre-payment experience on the mortgage assets. In particular, the yield to maturity on CMO residuals is extremely sensitive to pre-payments on the related underlying mortgage assets, in the same manner as an interest-only (“IO”) class of SMBSs. See “Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities” below. In addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are based. As described below with respect to SMBSs, in certain circumstances the Fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual.

CMO residuals are generally purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers. Transactions in CMO residuals are generally completed only after careful review of the characteristics of the securities in question. In addition, CMO residuals may, or pursuant to an exemption therefrom, may not, have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). CMO residuals, whether or not registered under the 1933 Act, may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability and may be deemed “illiquid.”

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Backed Securities. Adjustable rate mortgage-backed securities (“ARMBSs”) have interest rates that reset at periodic intervals. Acquiring ARMBSs permits the Fund to participate in increases in prevailing current interest rates through periodic adjustments in the coupons of mortgages underlying the pool on which ARMBSs are based. Such ARMBSs generally have higher current yield and lower price fluctuations than is the case with more traditional fixed income debt securities of comparable rating and maturity. In addition, when prepayments of principal are made on the underlying mortgages during periods of rising interest rates, the Fund can reinvest the proceeds of such prepayments at rates higher than those at which they were previously invested. Mortgages underlying most ARMBSs, however, have limits on the allowable annual or lifetime increases that can be made in the interest rate that the mortgagor pays. Therefore, if current interest rates rise above such limits over the period of the limitation, the Fund, when holding an ARMBS, does not benefit from further increases in interest rates. Moreover, when interest rates are in excess of coupon rates (i.e., the rates being paid by mortgagors) of the mortgages, ARMBSs behave more like fixed income securities and less like adjustable rate securities and are subject to the risks associated with fixed income securities. In addition, during periods of rising interest rates, increases in the coupon rate of adjustable rate mortgages generally lag current market interest rates slightly, thereby creating the potential for capital depreciation on such securities.

 

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Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities. SMBS are derivative multi-class mortgage securities. SMBSs may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing.

SMBSs are usually structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of SMBS will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest (the “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the “PO” class). The yield to maturity on an IO class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s yield to maturity from these securities. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may fail to recoup some or all of its initial investment in these securities even if the security is in one of the highest rating categories. SMBSs may be deemed “illiquid.”

Other Mortgage-Related Securities. Other mortgage-related securities include securities other than those described above that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property, including mortgage dollar rolls, CMO residuals or SMBSs. Other mortgage-related securities may be equity or debt securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks, partnerships, trusts and special purpose entities of the foregoing.

Mortgage-related securities include, among other things, securities that reflect an interest in reverse mortgages. In a reverse mortgage, a lender makes a loan to a homeowner based on the homeowner’s equity in his or her home. While a homeowner must be age 62 or older to qualify for a reverse mortgage, reverse mortgages may have no income restrictions. Repayment of the interest or principal for the loan is generally not required until the homeowner dies, sells the home, or ceases to use the home as his or her primary residence.

There are three general types of reverse mortgages: (1) single-purpose reverse mortgages, which are offered by certain state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations; (2) federally-insured reverse mortgages, which are backed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (3) proprietary reverse mortgages, which are privately offered loans. A mortgage-related security may be backed by a single type of reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgage-related securities include agency and privately issued mortgage-related securities. The principal government guarantor of reverse mortgage-related securities is GNMA.

Reverse mortgage-related securities may be subject to risks different than other types of mortgage-related securities due to the unique nature of the underlying loans. The date of repayment for such loans is uncertain and may occur sooner or later than anticipated. The timing of payments for the corresponding mortgage-related security may be uncertain. Because reverse mortgages are offered only to persons 62 and older and there may be no income restrictions, the loans may react differently than traditional home loans to market events. Additionally, there can be no assurance that service providers to reverse mortgage trusts (RMTs) will diligently and

 

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appropriately execute their duties with respect to servicing such trusts. As a result, investors (which may include the Fund) in notes issued by RMTs may be deprived of payments to which they are entitled. This could result in losses to the Fund. Investors, including the Fund, may determine to pursue negotiations or legal claims or otherwise seek compensation from RMT service providers in certain instances. This may involve the Fund incurring costs and expenses associated with such actions.

Asset-Backed Securities. The Fund may invest in, or have exposure to, ABS, which are securities that represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, a stream of payments generated by particular assets, most often a pool or pools of similar assets (e.g., trade receivables). The credit quality of these securities depends primarily upon the quality of the underlying assets and the level of credit support and/or enhancement provided.

The underlying assets (e.g., loans) are subject to prepayments that shorten the securities’ weighted average maturity and may lower their return. If the credit support or enhancement is exhausted, losses or delays in payment may result if the required payments of principal and interest are not made. The value of these securities also may change because of changes in the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the pool, or the financial institution or trust providing the credit support or enhancement. Typically, there is no perfected security interest in the collateral that relates to the financial assets that support ABS. Asset-backed securities have many of the same characteristics and risks as the mortgage backed securities described above.

The Fund may purchase or have exposure to commercial paper, including asset-backed commercial paper (“ABCP”), that is issued by structured investment vehicles or other conduits. These conduits may be sponsored by mortgage companies, investment banking firms, finance companies, hedge funds, private equity firms and special purpose finance entities. ABCP typically refers to a short-term debt security, the payment of which is supported by cash flows from underlying assets, or one or more liquidity or credit support providers, or both. Assets backing ABCP include credit card, car loan and other consumer receivables and home or commercial mortgages, including subprime mortgages. The repayment of ABCP issued by a conduit depends primarily on the cash collections received from the conduit’s underlying asset portfolio and the conduit’s ability to issue new ABCP. Therefore, there could be losses to the Fund if investing in ABCP in the event of credit or market value deterioration in the conduit’s underlying portfolio, mismatches in the timing of the cash flows of the underlying asset interests and the repayment obligations of maturing ABCP, or the conduit’s inability to issue new ABCP. To protect investors from these risks, ABCP programs may be structured with various protections, such as credit enhancement, liquidity support, and commercial paper stop-issuance and wind-down triggers. However, there can be no guarantee that these protections will be sufficient to prevent losses to investors in ABCP. Some ABCP programs provide for an extension of the maturity date of the ABCP if, on the related maturity date, the conduit is unable to access sufficient liquidity through the issue of additional ABCP. This may delay the sale of the underlying collateral and the Fund may incur a loss if the value of the collateral deteriorates during the extension period. Alternatively, if collateral for ABCP deteriorates in value, the collateral may be required to be sold at inopportune times or at prices insufficient to repay the principal and interest on the ABCP. ABCP programs may provide for the issuance of subordinated notes as an additional form of credit enhancement. The subordinated notes are typically of a lower credit quality and have a higher risk of default. To the extent the Fund purchases these subordinated notes, it will have a higher likelihood of loss than investors in the senior notes.

 

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Some ABS, particularly home equity loan transactions, are subject to interest-rate risk and prepayment risk. A change in interest rates can affect the pace of payments on the underlying loans, which in turn, affects total return on the securities. Asset-backed securities also carry credit or default risk. If many borrowers on the underlying loans default, losses could exceed the credit enhancement level and result in losses to investors in an Asset-backed securities transaction. Finally, ABS have structure risk due to a unique characteristic known as early amortization, or early payout, risk. Built into the structure of most ABS are triggers for early payout, designed to protect investors from losses. These triggers are unique to each transaction and can include: a big rise in defaults on the underlying loans, a sharp drop in the credit enhancement level, or even the bankruptcy of the originator. Once early amortization begins, all incoming loan payments (after expenses are paid) are used to pay investors as quickly as possible based upon a predetermined priority of payment.

Collateralized Bond Obligations, Collateralized Loan Obligations and Other Collateralized Debt Obligations. The Fund may invest in each of CBOs, CLOs, other CDOs and other similarly structured securities. CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust that is often backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. The collateral can be from many different types of fixed-income securities such as high-yield debt, residential privately issued mortgage-related securities, commercial privately issued mortgage-related securities, trust preferred securities and emerging market debt. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Other CDOs are trusts backed by other types of assets representing obligations of various parties. CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses.

For CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the bonds or loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CBO trust, CLO trust or trust of another CDO typically have higher ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO, CLO or other CDO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, downgrades of the underlying collateral by rating agencies, forced liquidation of the collateral pool due to a failure of coverage tests, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CBO, CLO or other CDO securities as a class. Interest on certain tranches of a CDO may be paid in kind or deferred and capitalized (paid in the form of obligations of the same type rather than cash), which involves continued exposure to default risk with respect to such payments.

The risks of an investment in a CBO, CLO or other CDO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the instrument in which the Fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs may be characterized

 

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by the Fund as illiquid securities. However, an active dealer market may exist for CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs allowing them to qualify for Rule 144A transactions. In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed income securities discussed elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information and the Prospectus (e.g., prepayment risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, market risk, structural risk, legal risk and interest rate risk (which may be exacerbated if the interest rate payable on a structured financing changes based on multiples of changes in interest rates or inversely to changes in interest rates) and default risk), CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs carry additional risks including, but are not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the risk that the Fund may invest in CBOs, CLOs or other CDOs that are subordinate to other classes; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results; (v) the investment return achieved by the Fund could be significantly different than those predicted by financial models; (vi) the lack of a readily available secondary market for CDOs; (vii) risk of forced “fire sale” liquidation due to technical defaults such as coverage test failures; and (viii) the CDO’s manager may perform poorly.

Other Asset-Backed Securities. Other asset-backed securities (unrelated to mortgage loans) may be purchased by the Fund. Asset-backed securities (“ABS”) are bonds backed by pools of loans or other receivables. ABS are created from many types of assets, including, but not limited to, auto loans, accounts receivable such as credit card receivables and hospital account receivables, home equity loans, student loans, boat loans, mobile home loans, recreational vehicle loans, manufactured housing loans, aircraft leases, computer leases and syndicated bank loans. ABS are issued through special purpose vehicles that are bankruptcy remote from the issuer of the collateral. The credit quality of an ABS transaction depends on the performance of the underlying assets. To protect ABS investors from the possibility that some borrowers could miss payments or even default on their loans, ABS include various forms of credit enhancement.

Some ABS, particularly home equity loan transactions, are subject to interest-rate risk and prepayment risk. A change in interest rates can affect the pace of payments on the underlying loans, which in turn, affects total return on the securities. ABS also carry credit or default risk. If many borrowers on the underlying loans default, losses could exceed the credit enhancement level and result in losses to investors in an ABS transaction. Additionally, the value of ABS is subject to risks associated with the servicers’ performance. In some circumstances, a servicer’s or originator’s mishandling of documentation related to the underlying collateral (e.g., failure to properly document a security interest in the underlying collateral) may affect the rights of the security holders in and to the underlying collateral. Finally, ABS have structure risk due to a unique characteristic known as early amortization, or early payout, risk. Built into the structure of most ABS are triggers for early payout, designed to protect investors from losses. These triggers are unique to each transaction and can include: a big rise in defaults on the underlying loans, a sharp drop in the credit enhancement level, or even the bankruptcy of the originator. Once early amortization begins, all incoming loan payments (after expenses are paid) are used to pay investors as quickly as possible based upon a predetermined priority of payment.

Several types of asset-backed securities have already been offered to investors, including Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (“EETCs”) and Certificates for Automobile ReceivablesSM (“CARSSM”).

 

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EETCs are typically issued by specially-created trusts established by airlines, railroads, or other transportation corporations. The proceeds of EETCs are used to purchase equipment, such as airplanes, railroad cars, or other equipment, which in turn serve as collateral for the related issue of the EETCs. The equipment generally is leased by the airline, railroad or other corporation, which makes rental payments to provide the projected cash flow for payments to EETC holders. Holders of EETCs must look to the collateral securing the certificates, typically together with a guarantee provided by the lessee corporation or its parent company for the payment of lease obligations, in the case of default in the payment of principal and interest on the EETCs. However, because principal and interest payments on EETCs are funded in the ordinary course by the lessee corporation, the Fund treats EETCs as corporate bonds/obligations for purposes of compliance testing and related classifications.

CARSSM represent undivided fractional interests in a trust whose assets consist of a pool of motor vehicle retail installment sales contracts and security interests in the vehicles securing the contracts. Payments of principal and interest on CARSSM are passed through monthly to certificate holders, and are guaranteed up to certain amounts and for a certain time period by a letter of credit issued by a financial institution unaffiliated with the trustee or originator of the trust. An investor’s return on CARSSM may be affected by early prepayment of principal on the underlying vehicle sales contracts. If the letter of credit is exhausted, the trust may be prevented from realizing the full amount due on a sales contract because of state law requirements and restrictions relating to foreclosure sales of vehicles and the obtaining of deficiency judgments following such sales or because of depreciation, damage or loss of a vehicle, the application of federal and state bankruptcy and insolvency laws, or other factors. As a result, certificate holders may experience delays in payments or losses if the letter of credit is exhausted.

Consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, PIMCO also may invest in other types of asset-backed and related securities (such as credit card receivables or student loans). Other asset-backed securities may be collateralized by the fees earned by service providers. The value of asset-backed securities may be substantially dependent on the servicing of the underlying asset pools and are therefore subject to risks associated with the negligence by, or defalcation of, their servicers. In certain circumstances, the mishandling of related documentation may also affect the rights of the security holders in and to the underlying collateral. The insolvency of entities that generate receivables or that utilize the assets may result in added costs and delays in addition to losses associated with a decline in the value of the underlying assets.

Investors should note that Congress from time to time may consider actions that would limit or remove the explicit or implicit guarantee of the payment of principal and/or interest on many types of asset-backed securities. Any such action would likely adversely impact the value of such securities.

Real Estate Assets and Related Derivatives

The Fund may generally gain exposure to the real estate sector by investing in real-estate linked derivatives, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and common, preferred and convertible securities of issuers in real estate-related industries. The Fund may also invest in loans or other investments secured by real estate (other than mortgage-backed securities) and may, as a result of default, foreclosure or otherwise, take possession of and hold real estate as a direct owner (see “Loans and Other Indebtedness; Loan Participations and Assignments” below). Each of these

 

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types of investments are subject, directly or indirectly, to risks associated with ownership of real estate, including changes in the general economic climate or local conditions (such as an oversupply of space or a reduction in demand for space), loss to casualty or condemnation, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, zoning law amendments, changes in interest rates, overbuilding and increased competition, including competition based on rental rates, variations in market value, changes in the financial condition of tenants, changes in operating costs, attractiveness and location of the properties, adverse changes in the real estate markets generally or in specific sectors of the real estate industry and possible environmental liabilities. Real estate-related investments may entail leverage and may be highly volatile.

REITs are pooled investment vehicles that own, and typically operate, income-producing real estate. If a REIT meets certain requirements, including distributing to shareholders substantially all of its taxable income (other than net capital gains), then it is not generally taxed on the income distributed to shareholders. REITs are subject to management fees and other expenses, and so the Fund would bear its proportionate share of the costs of the REITs’ operations if it invests in REITs.

There are three general categories of REITs: Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and Hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest primarily in direct fee ownership or leasehold ownership of real property; they derive most of their income from rents. Mortgage REITs invest mostly in mortgages on real estate, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans, and the main source of their income is mortgage interest payments. Hybrid REITs hold both ownership and mortgage interests in real estate.

Along with the risks common to different types of real estate related securities, REITs, no matter the type, involve additional risk factors. These include poor performance by the REIT’s manager, adverse changes to the tax laws, and failure by the REIT to qualify for tax-free distribution of income or exemption under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) or tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In addition, some REITS have limited diversification because they invest in a limited number of properties, a narrow geographic area, or a single type of property. Also, the organizational documents of a REIT may contain provisions that make changes in control of the REIT difficult and time-consuming. Finally, private REITs are not traded on a national securities exchange. As such, these products are generally illiquid. This reduces the ability of the Fund to redeem its investment early. Private REITS are also generally harder to value and may bear higher fees than public REITs.

Some of the REITs in which the Fund may invest may be permitted to hold senior or residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or debt or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). The Fund may also hold interests in “Re-REMICs”, which are interests in securitizations formed by the contribution of asset backed or other similar securities into a trust which then issues securities in various tranches. The Fund may participate in the creation of a Re-REMIC by contributing assets to the trust and receiving junior and/or senior securities in return. An interest in a Re-REMIC security may be riskier than the securities originally held by and contributed to the trust, and the holders of the Re-REMIC securities will bear the costs associated with the securitization.

 

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Foreign (Non-U.S.) Securities

The Fund may invest in instruments of corporate and other foreign (non-U.S.) issuers, and in instruments traded principally outside of the United States. The Fund may invest in sovereign and other debt securities issued by foreign governments and their respective sub-divisions, agencies or instrumentalities, government sponsored enterprises and supranational government entities. The Fund may also invest directly in foreign currencies, including currencies of emerging market countries.

The foreign securities in which the Fund may invest include without limit Eurodollar obligations and “Yankee Dollar” obligations. Eurodollar obligations are U.S. dollar-denominated certificates of deposit and time deposits issued outside the U.S. capital markets by foreign branches of U.S. banks and by foreign banks. Yankee Dollar obligations are U.S. dollar-denominated obligations issued in the U.S. capital markets by foreign banks. Eurodollar and Yankee Dollar obligations are generally subject to the same risks that apply to domestic debt issues, notably credit risk, interest rate risk, market risk and liquidity risk. Additionally, Eurodollar (and to a limited extent, Yankee Dollar) obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks. One such risk is the possibility that a sovereign country might prevent capital, in the form of U.S. dollars, from flowing across its borders. Other risks include adverse political and economic developments; the extent and quality of government regulation of financial markets and institutions; the imposition of foreign withholding or other taxes; and the expropriation or nationalization of foreign issuers.

The Fund may also invest in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) or Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”). ADRs are U.S. dollar-denominated receipts issued generally by domestic banks and represent the deposit with the bank of a security of a non-U.S. issuer. EDRs are foreign currency-denominated receipts similar to ADRs and are issued and traded in Europe, and are publicly traded on exchanges or over-the-counter (“OTC”) in the United States. GDRs may be offered privately in the United States and also trade in public or private markets in other countries. ADRs, EDRs and GDRs may be issued as sponsored or unsponsored programs. In sponsored programs, an issuer has made arrangements to have its securities trade in the form of ADRs, EDRs or GDRs. In unsponsored programs, the issuer may not be directly involved in the creation of the program. Although regulatory requirements with respect to sponsored and unsponsored programs are generally similar, in some cases it may be easier to obtain financial information from an issuer that has participated in the creation of a sponsored program.

Investing in non-U.S. securities involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. These include: differences in accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, generally higher commission rates on non-U.S. portfolio transactions, the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations (which may include suspension of the ability to transfer currency from a country), market disruption, the possibility of security suspensions, political instability which can affect U.S. investments in non-U.S. countries and potential restrictions on the flow of international capital. In addition, foreign securities and the Fund’s income in respect of those securities may be subject to foreign taxes, including taxes withheld from payments on those securities, which would reduce the Fund’s return on such securities. Non-U.S. securities often trade with less frequency and volume than domestic securities and therefore may exhibit greater price volatility. Changes in foreign exchange rates will affect the value of those securities that

 

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are denominated or quoted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The currencies of non-U.S. countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund.

Investment in sovereign debt can involve a high degree of risk. The governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of the debt. A governmental entity’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the governmental entity’s policy toward the International Monetary Fund, and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Governmental entities may also depend on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a governmental entity’s implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to service its debts in a timely manner. Consequently, governmental entities may default on their sovereign debt. Holders of sovereign debt (including the Fund) may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by which sovereign debt on which governmental entities have defaulted may be collected in whole or in part.

The investments in foreign currency denominated debt obligations and hedging activities by the Fund will likely produce a difference between the Fund’s book income and its taxable income. This difference may cause a portion of the Fund’s income distributions to constitute returns of capital for tax purposes or require the Fund to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal tax purposes. The Fund’s investments in non-U.S. securities may increase or accelerate the amount of ordinary income recognized by shareholders. See “Taxation.”

Euro- and EU-related risks. The global economic crisis brought several small economies in Europe to the brink of bankruptcy and many other economies into recession and weakened the banking and financial sectors of many European countries. For example, the governments of Greece, Spain, Portugal, and the Republic of Ireland have all experienced large public budget deficits, the effects of which are still yet unknown and may slow the overall recovery of the European economies from the global economic crisis. In addition, due to large public deficits, some European countries may be dependent on assistance from other European governments and institutions or other central banks or supranational agencies such as the International Monetary Fund. Assistance may be dependent on a country’s implementation of reforms or reaching a certain level of performance. Failure to reach those objectives or an insufficient level of assistance could result in a deep economic downturn which could significantly affect the value of the Fund’s European investments.

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its currency, a member state relinquishes control of its own monetary policies. As a result, European countries are significantly affected by fiscal and monetary policies implemented by the EMU and European Central Bank. The euro currency may not fully reflect the strengths and weaknesses of the various economies that comprise the EMU and Europe generally.

It is possible that one or more EMU member countries could abandon the euro and return to a national currency and/or that the euro will cease to exist as a single currency in its current form. The effects of such an abandonment or a country’s forced expulsion from the euro on that country, the rest of the EMU, and global markets are impossible to predict, but are likely to be negative. The exit of any country out of the euro may have an extremely destabilizing effect on other Eurozone countries and their economies and a negative effect on the global economy as a whole. Such an exit by one country may also increase the possibility that additional countries may exit the euro should they face similar financial difficulties. In addition, in the event of one or more countries’ exit from the euro, it may be difficult to value investments denominated in euros or in a replacement currency.

The Fund may face potential risks associated with the referendum on the United Kingdom’s continued membership in the EU, which resulted in a vote for the United Kingdom to leave the EU. The vote to leave the EU may result in substantial volatility in foreign exchange markets and may lead to a sustained weakness in the British pound’s exchange rate against the United States dollar, the euro and other currencies, which may impact Fund returns. The vote to leave the EU may result in a sustained period of market uncertainty, as the United Kingdom seeks to negotiate the terms of its exit. It may also destabilize some or all of the other EU member countries and/or the Eurozone. These developments could result in losses to the Fund, as there may be negative effects on the value of Fund’s investments and/or on Fund’s ability to enter into certain transactions or value certain investments, and these developments may make it more difficult for the Fund to exit certain investments at an advantageous time or price. Such events could result from, among other things, increased uncertainty and volatility in the United Kingdom, the EU and other financial markets; fluctuations in asset values; fluctuations in exchange rates; decreased liquidity of investments located, traded or listed within the United Kingdom, the EU or elsewhere; changes in the willingness or ability of financial and other counterparties to enter into transactions or the price and terms on which other counterparties are willing to transact; and/or changes in legal and regulatory regimes to which Fund investments are or become subject. Any of these events, as well as an exit or expulsion of an EU member state other than the United Kingdom from the EU, could negatively impact Fund returns.

Investments in Russia. The Fund may invest in securities and instruments that are economically tied to Russia. In addition to the risks listed above under “Foreign (Non-U.S.) Securities,” investing in Russia presents additional risks. In particular, investments in Russia are subject to various risks such as political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. The risks include uncertain political and economic policies, short term market volatility, poor accounting standards, corruption and crime, an inadequate regulatory system, and unpredictable taxation. Investments in Russia are particularly subject to the risk that economic sanctions may be imposed by the United States and/or other countries. Such sanctions — which may impact companies in many sectors, including energy, financial services and defense, among others — may negatively impact the Fund’s performance and/or ability to achieve its investment objectives. The Russian securities market is characterized by limited volume of trading, resulting in difficulty in obtaining accurate prices. The Russian securities market, as compared to U.S. markets, has significant price volatility, less liquidity, a smaller market capitalization and a

 

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smaller number of traded securities. There may be little publicly available information about issuers. Settlement, clearing and registration of securities transactions are subject to risks because of registration systems that may not be subject to effective government supervision. This may result in significant delays or problems in registering the transfer of securities. Russian securities laws may not recognize foreign nominee accounts held with a custodian bank, and therefore the custodian may be considered the ultimate owner of securities they hold for their clients. Ownership of securities issued by Russian companies is recorded by companies themselves and by registrars instead of through a central registration system. It is possible that the ownership rights of the Fund could be lost through fraud or negligence. While applicable Russian regulations impose liability on registrars for losses resulting from their errors, it may be difficult for the Fund to enforce any rights it may have against the registrar or issuer of the securities in the event of loss of share registration. Adverse currency exchange rates are a risk and there may be a lack of available currency hedging instruments. Investments in Russia may be subject to the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets. Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for a significant portion of Russia’s exports, leaving the country vulnerable to swings in world prices.

Emerging Market Securities

The Fund may invest in securities that are economically tied to an emerging market country. PIMCO considers an instrument to be economically tied to an emerging market country if the security’s “country of exposure” is an emerging market country, as determined by the criteria set forth below. Alternatively, such as when a “country of exposure” is not available or when PIMCO believes the following tests more accurately reflect which country the security is economically tied to, PIMCO may consider an instrument to be economically tied to an emerging market country if the issuer or guarantor is a government of an emerging market country (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), if the issuer or guarantor is organized under the laws of an emerging market country, or if the currency of settlement of the security is a currency of an emerging market country.

With respect to derivative instruments, PIMCO generally considers such instruments to be economically tied to emerging market countries if the underlying assets are currencies of emerging market countries (or baskets or indexes of such currencies), or instruments or securities that are issued or guaranteed by governments of emerging market countries or by entities organized under the laws of emerging market countries or if an instrument’s “country of exposure” is an emerging market country. A security’s “country of exposure” is determined by PIMCO using certain factors provided by a third-party analytical service provider. The factors are applied in order such that the first factor to result in the assignment of a country determines the “country of exposure.” The factors, listed in the order in which they are applied, are: (i) if an asset-backed or other collateralized security, the country in which the collateral backing the security is located, (ii) the “country of risk” of the issuer, (iii) if the security is guaranteed by the government of the country (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), the country of the government or instrumentality providing the guarantee, (iv) the “country of risk” of the issuer’s ultimate parent, or (v) the country where the issuer is organized or incorporated under the laws thereof. “Country of risk” is a separate four-part test determined by the following factors, listed in order of importance: (i) management location, (ii) country of primary listing, (iii) sales or revenue attributable to the country, and (iv) reporting currency of the issuer. PIMCO has broad discretion to identify countries that it considers to qualify as emerging markets. In making investments in emerging market securities, the Fund

 

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emphasizes countries with relatively low gross natural product per capital and with the potential for rapid economic growth. Emerging market countries are generally located in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe. PIMCO will select the country and currency composition based on its evaluation of relative interest rates, inflation rates, exchange rates, monetary and fiscal policies, trade and current account balances, and any other specific factors it believes to be relevant.

The risks of investing in non-U.S. securities are particularly high when the issuers are tied economically to countries with developing or “emerging market” economies. Countries with “emerging market” economies are those with securities markets that are, in the opinion of PIMCO, less sophisticated than more developed markets in terms of participation by investors, analyst coverage, liquidity and regulation. Investing in emerging market countries involves certain risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities, and imposes risks greater than, or in addition to, risks of investing in non-U.S., developed countries. These risks include: greater risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation; currency devaluations and other currency exchange rate fluctuations; greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability (including the risk of war); more substantial government involvement in the economy; less government supervision and regulation of the securities markets and participants in those markets; controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on the Fund’s ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; unavailability of currency hedging techniques in certain emerging market countries; the fact that companies in emerging market countries may be smaller, less seasoned and newly organized companies; the difference in, or lack of, auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; the risk that it may be more difficult to obtain and/or enforce a judgment in a court outside the United States; and greater price volatility, substantially less liquidity and significantly smaller market capitalization of securities markets. In addition, a number of emerging market countries restrict, to various degrees, foreign investment in securities, and high rates of inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries. Also, any change in the leadership or politics of emerging market countries, or the countries that exercise a significant influence over those countries, may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities.

The Fund may also invest in Brady Bonds. Brady Bonds are securities created through the exchange of existing commercial bank loans to sovereign entities for new obligations in connection with debt restructurings under a debt restructuring plan introduced by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Nicholas F. Brady (the “Brady Plan”). Brady Plan debt restructurings have been implemented in a number of countries, including: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jordan, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Brady Bonds may be collateralized or uncollateralized, are issued in various currencies (primarily the U.S. dollar) and are actively traded in the OTC secondary market. Brady Bonds are not considered to be U.S. Government securities. U.S. dollar-denominated, collateralized Brady Bonds, which may be fixed rate par bonds or floating rate discount bonds, are generally collateralized in full as to principal by U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds having the same maturity as the Brady Bonds. Interest payments on these Brady Bonds generally are collateralized on a one-year or longer rolling-forward basis by cash or securities in an amount

 

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that, in the case of fixed rate bonds, is equal to at least one year of interest payments or, in the case of floating rate bonds, initially is equal to at least one year’s interest payments based on the applicable interest rate at that time and is adjusted at regular intervals thereafter. Certain Brady Bonds are entitled to “value recovery payments” in certain circumstances, which in effect constitute supplemental interest payments but generally are not collateralized. Brady Bonds are often viewed as having three or four valuation components: (i) the collateralized repayment of principal at final maturity; (ii) the collateralized interest payments; (iii) the uncollateralized interest payments; and (iv) any uncollateralized repayment of principal at maturity (these uncollateralized amounts constitute the “residual risk”).

Most Mexican Brady Bonds issued to date have principal repayments at final maturity fully collateralized by U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds (or comparable collateral denominated in other currencies) and interest coupon payments collateralized on an 18-month rolling-forward basis by funds held in escrow by an agent for the bondholders. A significant portion of the Venezuelan Brady Bonds and the Argentine Brady Bonds issued to date have principal repayments at final maturity collateralized by U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds (or comparable collateral denominated in other currencies) and/or interest coupon payments collateralized on a 14-month (for Venezuela) or 12-month (for Argentina) rolling-forward basis by securities held by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as collateral agent.

Brady Bonds involve various risk factors including residual risk and the history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities of countries issuing Brady Bonds. There can be no assurance that Brady Bonds in which the Fund may invest will not be subject to restructuring arrangements or to requests for new credit, which may cause the Fund to suffer a loss of interest or principal on any of their holdings.

Foreign Currency Transactions

The Fund may purchase and sell foreign currency options and foreign currency futures contracts and related options (see “Derivative Instruments” below), and may engage in foreign currency transactions either on a spot (cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market at the time or through forward currency contracts (“forwards”). The Fund may engage in these transactions in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign exchange rates in the purchase and sale of securities or because PIMCO believes a currency to which the Fund is exposed is overvalued. The Fund may also use foreign currency options, foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency futures and foreign spot transactions to increase exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one currency to another.

A forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a certain amount of a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts may be bought or sold to protect the Fund against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar or to increase exposure to a particular foreign currency. Open positions in forwards used for non-hedging purposes will be covered by the segregation with the Fund’s custodian of assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, and are marked to market daily. Although forwards may be used to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currencies, at the same time, they tend to limit any potential gain which might result

 

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should the value of such currencies increase. Forwards are used primarily to adjust the foreign exchange exposure of the Fund with a view to protecting the outlook, and the Fund might be expected to enter into such contracts under the following circumstances:

Lock In. When PIMCO desires to lock in the U.S. dollar price on the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency.

Cross Hedge. If a particular currency is expected to decrease against another currency, the Fund may sell the currency expected to decrease and purchase a currency which is expected to increase against the currency sold in an amount approximately equal to some or all of the Fund’s exposure to the currency sold.

Direct Hedge. If PIMCO wants to eliminate substantially all of the risk of owning a particular currency, and/or if PIMCO thinks that the Fund can benefit from price appreciation in a given country’s bonds but does not want to hold the currency, it may employ a direct hedge back into the U.S. dollar. In either case, the Fund would enter into a forward contract to sell the currency to which the Fund is exposed through the security and purchase U.S. dollars at an exchange rate established at the time it initiated the contract. The cost of the direct hedge transaction may offset most, if not all, of the yield advantage offered by the foreign security, but the Fund would hope to benefit from an increase (if any) in the value of the security.

Proxy Hedge. The Fund might choose to use a proxy hedge, which may be less costly than a direct hedge. In this case, the Fund, having purchased a security, will sell a currency whose value is believed to be closely linked to the currency to which the Fund is exposed through the security. Interest rates prevailing in the country whose currency was sold would be expected to be closer to those in the United States and lower than those of securities denominated in the currency of the original holding. This type of hedging entails greater risk than a direct hedge because it is dependent on a stable relationship between the two currencies paired as proxies and the relationships can be very unstable at times.

Costs of Hedging. When the Fund purchases a foreign (non-U.S.) bond with a higher interest rate than is available on U.S. bonds of a similar maturity, the additional yield on the foreign (non-U.S.) bond could be substantially reduced or lost if the Fund were to enter into a direct hedge by selling the foreign currency and purchasing the U.S. dollar. This is what is known as the “cost” of hedging. Proxy hedging attempts to reduce this cost through an indirect hedge back to the U.S. dollar.

It is important to note that hedging costs are treated as capital transactions and are not, therefore, deducted from the Fund’s dividend distribution and are not reflected in its yield. Instead such costs will, over time, be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value per share.

The Fund may enter into foreign currency transactions as a substitute for cash investments and for other investment purposes not involving hedging, including, without limitation, to exchange payments received in a foreign currency into U.S. dollars or in anticipation of settling a transaction that requires the Fund to deliver a foreign currency.

The forecasting of currency market movement is extremely difficult, and whether any hedging strategy will be successful is highly uncertain. Moreover, it is impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of a foreign currency forward

 

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contract. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to buy or sell additional currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such transaction) if PIMCO’s predictions regarding the movement of foreign currency or securities markets prove inaccurate. Also, foreign currency transactions, like currency exchange rates, can be affected unpredictably by intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or by currency controls or political developments. Such events may prevent or restrict the Fund’s ability to enter into foreign currency transactions, force the Fund to exit a foreign currency transaction at a disadvantageous time or price or result in penalties for the Fund, any of which may result in a loss to the Fund. In addition, the use of cross-hedging transactions may involve special risks, and may leave the Fund in a less advantageous position than if such a hedge had not been established. Because foreign currency forward contracts are privately negotiated transactions, there can be no assurance that the Fund will have flexibility to roll-over a foreign currency forward contract upon its expiration if it desires to do so. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the other party to the contract will perform its services thereunder. Under definitions adopted by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the “CFTC”) and the SEC, many non-deliverable foreign currency forwards are considered swaps for certain purposes, including determination of whether such instruments need to be exchange-traded and centrally cleared as discussed further in “Additional Risk Factors in Cleared Derivatives Transactions.” These changes are expected to reduce counterparty risk as compared to bi-laterally negotiated contracts.

The Fund may hold a portion of its assets in bank deposits denominated in foreign currencies, so as to facilitate investment in foreign securities as well as to protect against currency fluctuations and the need to convert such assets into U.S. dollars (thereby also reducing transaction costs). To the extent these monies are converted back into U.S. dollars, the value of the assets so maintained will be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

Tax Consequences of Hedging and other Foreign Currency Transactions. Regulations that may be issued in the future could limit the ability of the Fund to enter into the foreign currency transactions described above. Under applicable tax law, the Fund may be required to limit its gains from hedging in such transactions. The extent to which these limits apply is subject to tax regulations as yet unissued. In addition, hedging may also result in the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Code. Those provisions could affect the amount, timing or character of dividends paid by the Fund, including whether dividends paid by the Fund are classified as capital gains or ordinary income.

Foreign Currency Exchange-Related Securities

Foreign Currency Warrants. Foreign currency warrants such as Currency Exchange WarrantsSM are warrants which entitle the holder to receive from their issuer an amount of cash (generally, for warrants issued in the United States, in U.S. dollars) which is calculated pursuant to a predetermined formula and based on the exchange rate between a specified foreign currency and the U.S. dollar as of the exercise date of the warrant. Foreign currency warrants generally are exercisable upon their issuance and expire as of a specified date and time. Foreign currency warrants have been issued in connection with U.S. dollar-denominated debt offerings by major corporate issuers in an attempt to reduce the foreign currency exchange risk which, from the point of view of prospective purchasers of the securities, is inherent in the international fixed income marketplace. Foreign currency warrants may attempt to reduce the foreign exchange risk assumed by purchasers of a security by, for example, providing for a supplemental payment in the event that

 

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the U.S. dollar depreciates against the value of a major foreign currency such as the Japanese yen or the Euro. The formula used to determine the amount payable upon exercise of a foreign currency warrant may make the warrant worthless unless the applicable foreign currency exchange rate moves in a particular direction (e.g., unless the U.S. dollar appreciates or depreciates against the particular foreign currency to which the warrant is linked or indexed). Foreign currency warrants are severable from the debt obligations with which they may be offered, and may be listed on exchanges. Foreign currency warrants may be exercisable only in certain minimum amounts, and an investor wishing to exercise warrants who possesses less than the minimum number required for exercise may be required either to sell the warrants or to purchase additional warrants, thereby incurring additional transaction costs. In the case of any exercise of warrants, there may be a time delay between the time a holder of warrants gives instructions to exercise and the time the exchange rate relating to exercise is determined, during which time the exchange rate could change significantly, thereby affecting both the market and cash settlement values of the warrants being exercised. The expiration date of the warrants may be accelerated if the warrants should be delisted from an exchange or if their trading should be suspended permanently, which would result in the loss of any remaining “time value” of the warrants (i.e., the difference between the current market value and the exercise value of the warrants), and, in the case the warrants were “out-of-the-money,” in a total loss of the purchase price of the warrants. Warrants are generally unsecured obligations of their issuers and are not standardized foreign currency options issued by the Options Clearing Corporation (“the OCC”). Unlike foreign currency options issued by the OCC, the terms of foreign exchange warrants generally will not be amended in the event of governmental or regulatory actions affecting exchange rates or in the event of the imposition of other regulatory controls affecting the international currency markets. The initial public offering price of foreign currency warrants is generally considerably in excess of the price that a commercial user of foreign currencies might pay in the interbank market for a comparable option involving significantly larger amounts of foreign currencies. Foreign currency warrants are subject to significant foreign exchange risk, including risks arising from complex political or economic factors.

Principal Exchange Rate Linked Securities. Principal exchange rate linked securities (“PERLsSM”) are debt obligations the principal on which is payable at maturity in an amount that may vary based on the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and a particular foreign currency at or about that time. The return on “standard” principal exchange rate linked securities is enhanced if the foreign currency to which the security is linked appreciates against the U.S. dollar, and is adversely affected by increases in the foreign exchange value of the U.S. dollar; “reverse” principal exchange rate linked securities are like “standard” securities, except that their return is enhanced by increases in the value of the U.S. dollar and adversely impacted by increases in the value of foreign currency. Interest payments on the securities are generally made in U.S. dollars at rates that reflect the degree of foreign currency risk assumed or given up by the purchaser of the notes (i.e., at relatively higher interest rates if the purchaser has assumed some of the foreign exchange risk, or relatively lower interest rates if the issuer has assumed some of the foreign exchange risk, based on the expectations of the current market). PERLs may in limited cases be subject to acceleration of maturity (generally, not without the consent of the holders of the securities), which may have an adverse impact on the value of the principal payment to be made at maturity.

Performance Indexed Paper. Performance indexed paper is U.S. dollar-denominated commercial paper the yield of which is linked to certain foreign exchange rate movements. The yield to the investor on performance indexed paper is established at maturity as a function of spot exchange

 

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rates between the U.S. dollar and a designated currency as of or about that time (generally, the index maturity two days prior to maturity). The yield to the investor will be within a range stipulated at the time of purchase of the obligation, generally with a guaranteed minimum rate of return that is below, and a potential maximum rate of return that is above, market yields on U.S. dollar-denominated commercial paper, with both the minimum and maximum rates of return on the investment corresponding to the minimum and maximum values of the spot exchange rate two business days prior to maturity.

U.S. Government Securities

U.S. Government securities are obligations of, and, in certain cases, guaranteed by, the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities. The U.S. Government does not guarantee the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. U.S. Government securities are subject to market and interest rate risk, and may be subject to varying degrees of credit risk. Some U.S. Government securities, such as Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and securities guaranteed by GNMA, are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of the FNMA, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase the agency’s obligations; and still others, such as securities issued by members of the Farm Credit System, are supported only by the credit of the agency, instrumentality or corporation.

Securities issued by U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored enterprises may not be guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury. GNMA, a wholly owned U.S. Government corporation, is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by GNMA and backed by pools of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the VA. Government-related guarantors (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government) include the FNMA and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”). Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but its participation certificates are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

U.S. Government securities include securities that have no coupons, or have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons, individual interest coupons from such securities that trade separately, and evidences of receipt of such securities. Such securities may pay no cash income, and are purchased at a deep discount from their value at maturity. Because interest on zero coupon securities is not distributed on a current basis but is, in effect, compounded, zero coupon securities tend to be subject to greater risk than interest-paying securities of similar maturities. Custodial receipts issued in connection with so-called trademark zero coupon securities, such as CATs and TIGRs, are not issued by the U.S. Treasury, and are therefore not U.S. Government securities, although the underlying bond represented by such receipt is a debt obligation of the U.S. Treasury. Other zero coupon Treasury securities (e.g., STRIPs and CUBEs) are direct obligations of the U.S. Government.

 

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Municipal Securities

The Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a portfolio of municipal bonds and other municipal securities, the interest from which, in the opinion of bond counsel for the issuer at the time of issuance (or on the basis of other authority believed by PIMCO to be reliable), is exempt from federal income tax. The Fund’s 80% policy is a fundamental policy, which may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares voting as a separate class. The Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in bonds of issuers in California and New York.

Municipal securities include debt obligations issued by governmental entities to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities, the refunding of outstanding obligations, the payment of general operating expenses, and the extension of loans to public institutions and facilities. Municipal securities can be classified into two principal categories, including “general obligation” bonds and other securities and “revenue” bonds and other securities. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of principal and interest. Revenue securities are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue source, such as the user of the facility being financed. Municipal securities also may include “moral obligation” securities, which normally are issued by special purpose public authorities. If the issuer of moral obligation securities is unable to meet its debt service obligations from current revenues, it may draw on a reserve fund, the restoration of which is a moral commitment but not a legal obligation of the governmental entity that created the special purpose public authority. Municipal securities may be structured as fixed-, variable- or floating-rate obligations or as zero-coupon, PIKs and step-coupon securities and may be privately placed or publicly offered.

Municipal securities may include municipal bonds, municipal notes and municipal leases. Municipal bonds are debt obligations of a governmental entity that obligate the municipality to pay the holder a specified sum of money at specified intervals and to repay the principal amount of the loan at maturity.

The Fund may invest in municipal lease obligations. A lease is not a full faith and credit obligation of the issuer and is usually backed only by the borrowing government’s unsecured pledge to make annual appropriations for lease payments. There have been challenges to the legality of lease financing in numerous states, and, from time to time, certain municipalities have considered not appropriating money for lease payments. In deciding whether to purchase a lease obligation for the Fund, PIMCO will assess the financial condition of the borrower, the merits of the project, the level of public support for the project and the legislative history of lease financing in the state. These securities may be less readily marketable than other municipal securities.

Municipal notes may be issued by governmental entities and other tax-exempt issuers in order to finance short-term cash needs or, occasionally, to finance construction. Most municipal notes are general obligations of the issuing entity payable from taxes or designated revenues expected to be received within the relevant fiscal period. Municipal notes generally have maturities of one year or less. Municipal notes can be subdivided into two sub-categories: (i) municipal commercial paper and (ii) municipal demand obligations. Municipal commercial paper typically consists of very short-term unsecured negotiable promissory notes that are sold, for example, to

 

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meet seasonal working capital or interim construction financing needs of a governmental entity or agency. While these obligations are intended to be paid from general revenues or refinanced with long-term debt, they frequently are backed by letters of credit, lending agreements, note repurchase agreements or other credit facility agreements offered by banks or institutions.

Municipal demand obligations can be subdivided into two general types: variable rate demand notes and master demand obligations. Variable rate demand notes are tax-exempt municipal obligations or participation interests that provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the notes. They permit the holder to demand payment of the notes, or to demand purchase of the notes at a purchase price equal to the unpaid principal balance, plus accrued interest either directly by the issuer or by drawing on a bank letter of credit or guaranty issued with respect to such note. The issuer of the municipal obligation may have a corresponding right to prepay at its discretion the outstanding principal of the note plus accrued interest upon notice comparable to that required for the holder to demand payment. The variable rate demand notes in which the Fund may invest are payable, or are subject to purchase, on demand usually on notice of seven calendar days or less. The terms of the notes generally provide that interest rates are adjustable at intervals ranging from daily to six months.

Master demand obligations are tax-exempt municipal obligations that provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid and permit daily changes in the amount borrowed. The interest on such obligations is, in the opinion of counsel for the borrower, excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes (but not necessarily for alternative minimum tax purposes). Although there is no secondary market for master demand obligations, such obligations are considered by the Fund to be liquid because they are payable upon demand.

Investing in municipal securities is subject to certain risks. There are variations in the quality of municipal securities, both within a particular classification and between classifications, and the rates of return on municipal securities can depend on a variety of factors, including general money market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation, and the rating of the issue. The ratings of NRSROs represent their opinions as to the quality of municipal securities. It should be emphasized, however, that these ratings are general and are not absolute standards of quality, and municipal securities with the same maturity, interest rate, and rating may have different rates of return while municipal securities of the same maturity and interest rate with different ratings may have the same rate of return.

The payment of principal and interest on most municipal securities purchased by the Fund will depend upon the ability of the issuers to meet their obligations. An issuer’s obligations under its municipal securities are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the United States Bankruptcy Code. The power or ability of an issuer to meet its obligations for the payment of interest on and principal of its municipal securities may be materially adversely affected by litigation or other conditions.

There are particular considerations and risks relevant to investing in a portfolio of a single state’s municipal securities, such as the greater risk of the concentration of portfolio holdings. Each state’s municipal securities may include, in addition to securities issued by the relevant state and its political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities, securities issued by the governments of Guam, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands. These securities may be subject to different risks than municipal securities issued by the relevant state and its political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities.

 

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The Fund ordinarily purchases municipal securities whose interest, in the opinion of bond counsel, is excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The opinion of bond counsel may assert that such interest is not an item of tax preference for the purposes of the alternative minimum tax or is exempt from certain state or local taxes. There is no assurance that the applicable taxing authority will agree with this opinion. In the event, for example, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) determines that an issuer does not comply with relevant tax requirements, interest payments from a security could become federally taxable, possibly retroactively to the date the security was issued. As a shareholder of the Fund, you may be required to file an amended tax return as a result, reporting such income as taxable.

Municipal Bonds. Municipal bonds share the attributes of debt/fixed income securities in general, but are generally issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. The municipal bonds that the Fund may purchase include general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer’s general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Tax-exempt private activity bonds and industrial development bonds generally are also revenue bonds and thus are not payable from the issuer’s general revenues. The credit and quality of private activity bonds and industrial development bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds is the responsibility of the user and any guarantor. The Fund does not expect to be eligible to pass through to shareholders the tax-exempt character of interest earned on municipal bonds. The Fund may be more sensitive to adverse economic, business or political developments if it invests a substantial portion of its assets in industrial development bonds.

The Fund may invest in pre-refunded municipal bonds. Pre-refunded municipal bonds are tax exempt bonds that have been refunded to a call date prior to the final maturity of principal, or, in the case of pre-refunded municipal bonds commonly referred to as “escrowed-to-maturity bonds,” to the final maturity of principal, and remain outstanding in the municipal market. The payment of principal and interest of the pre-refunded municipal bonds held by the Fund is funded from securities in a designated escrow account that holds U.S. Treasury securities or other obligations of the U.S. Government (including its agencies and instrumentalities (“Agency Securities”)). As the payment of principal and interest is generated from securities held in an escrow account established by the municipality and an independent escrow agent, the pledge of the municipality has been fulfilled and the original pledge of revenue by the municipality is no longer in place. The escrow account securities pledged to pay the principal and interest of the pre-refunded municipal bond do not guarantee the price movement of the bond before maturity. Issuers of municipal bonds refund in advance of maturity the outstanding higher cost debt and issue new, lower cost debt, placing the proceeds of the lower cost issuance into an escrow account to pre-refund the older, higher cost debt. Investments in pre-refunded municipal bonds held by the Fund may subject the Fund to interest rate risk, market risk and credit risk. In addition, while a secondary market exists for pre-refunded municipal bonds, if the Fund sells pre-refunded municipal bonds prior to maturity, the price received may be more or less than the original cost, depending on market

 

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conditions at the time of sale. To the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the IRS, the Fund’s investment in pre-refunded municipal bonds backed by U.S. Treasury and Agency securities in the manner described above, will, for purposes of diversification tests applicable to the Fund, be considered an investment in the respective U.S. Treasury and Agency securities.

Under the Code, certain limited obligation bonds are considered “private activity bonds” and interest paid on such bonds is treated as an item of tax preference for purposes of calculating federal alternative minimum tax liability.

The Fund may purchase custodial receipts representing the right to receive either the principal amount or the periodic interest payments or both with respect to specific underlying municipal bonds. In a typical custodial receipt arrangement, an issuer or third party owner of municipal bonds deposits the bonds with a custodian in exchange for two classes of custodial receipts. The two classes have different characteristics, but, in each case, payments on the two classes are based on payments received on the underlying municipal bonds. In no event will the aggregate interest paid with respect to the two classes exceed the interest paid by the underlying municipal bond. Custodial receipts are sold in private placements. The value of a custodial receipt may fluctuate more than the value of a municipal Bond of comparable quality and maturity.

The Fund may invest in taxable municipal bonds, such as Build America Bonds. Build America Bonds are tax credit bonds created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which authorized state and local governments to issue Build America Bonds as taxable bonds in 2009 and 2010, without volume limitations, to finance any capital expenditures for which such issuers could otherwise issue traditional tax-exempt bonds. State and local governments may receive a direct federal subsidy payment for a portion of their borrowing costs on Build America Bonds equal to 35% of the total coupon interest paid to investors (or 45% in the case of Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds). The state or local government issuer can elect to either take the federal subsidy or pass the 35% tax credit along to bondholders. The Fund’s investments in Build America Bonds or similar taxable municipal bonds will result in taxable income and the Fund may elect to pass through to holders of the Fund’s Common Shares (“Common Shareholders”) the corresponding tax credits. The tax credits can generally be used to offset federal income taxes and the alternative minimum tax, but such credits are generally not refundable. Build America Bonds or similar taxable municipal bonds involve similar risks as tax-exempt municipal bonds, including credit and market risk. They are intended to assist state and local governments in financing capital projects at lower borrowing costs and are likely to attract a broader group of investors than tax-exempt municipal bonds. Although Build America Bonds were only authorized for issuance during 2009 and 2010, the program may have resulted in reduced issuance of tax-exempt municipal bonds during the same period.

The Build America Bond program expired on December 31, 2010, at which point no further issuance of new Build America Bonds was permitted. As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, there is no indication that Congress will renew the program to permit issuance of new Build America Bonds.

Some longer-term municipal bonds give the investor the right to “put” or sell the security at par (face value) within a specified number of days following the investor’s request—usually one to seven days. This demand feature enhances a security’s liquidity by shortening its effective maturity and enables it to trade at a price equal to or very close to par. If a demand feature terminates prior to being exercised, the Fund would hold the longer-term security, which could experience substantially more volatility.

 

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Certain Risks of Investing in Municipal Bonds. Economic downturns and budgetary constraints have made municipal bonds more susceptible to downgrade, default and bankruptcy. In addition, difficulties in the municipal bond markets could result in increased illiquidity, volatility and credit risk, and a decrease in the number of municipal bond investment opportunities. The value of municipal bonds may also be affected by uncertainties involving the taxation of municipal bonds or the rights of municipal bond holders in the event of a bankruptcy. Proposals to restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal bonds are introduced before Congress from time to time. These legal uncertainties could affect the municipal bond market generally, certain specific segments of the market, or the relative credit quality of particular securities.

The Fund may purchase and sell portfolio investments to take advantage of changes or anticipated changes in yield relationships, markets or economic conditions. The Fund may also sell municipal bonds due to changes in PIMCO’s evaluation of the issuer or cash needs resulting from repurchase requests for the Fund’s shares. The secondary market for municipal bonds typically has been less liquid than that for taxable debt/fixed income securities, and this may affect the Fund’s ability to sell particular municipal bonds at then-current market prices, especially in periods when other investors are attempting to sell the same securities.

Additionally, municipal bonds rated below investment grade (i.e., high yield municipal bonds) may not be as liquid as higher-rated municipal bonds. Reduced liquidity in the secondary market may have an adverse impact on the market price of a municipal bond and on the Fund’s ability to sell a municipal bond in response to changes or anticipated changes in economic conditions or to meet the Fund’s cash needs. Reduced liquidity may also make it more difficult to obtain market quotations based on actual trades for purposes of valuing the Fund’s portfolio. For more information on high yield securities please see “High Yield Securities (“Junk Bonds”) and Securities of Distressed Companies” above.

Prices and yields on municipal bonds are dependent on a variety of factors, including general money-market conditions, the financial condition of the issuer, general conditions of the municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. A number of these factors, including the ratings of particular issues, are subject to change from time to time. Information about the financial condition of an issuer of municipal bonds may not be as extensive as that which is made available by corporations whose securities are publicly traded.

The perceived increased likelihood of default among issuers of municipal bonds has resulted in constrained illiquidity, increased price volatility and credit downgrades of issuers of municipal bonds. Local and national market forces—such as declines in real estate prices and general business activity—may result in decreasing tax bases, fluctuations in interest rates, and increasing construction costs, all of which could reduce the ability of certain issuers of municipal bonds to repay their obligations. Certain issuers of municipal bonds have also been unable to obtain additional financing through, or must pay higher interest rates on, new issues, which may reduce revenues available for issuers of municipal bonds to pay existing obligations. In addition, events have demonstrated that the lack of disclosure rules in this area can make it difficult for investors to obtain reliable information on the obligations underlying municipal bonds. Adverse developments in the municipal bond market may negatively affect the value of all or a substantial portion of the Fund’s holdings in municipal bonds.

 

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From time to time, proposals have been introduced before Congress for the purpose of restricting or eliminating the federal income tax exemption for interest on certain types of municipal bonds. Additionally, certain other proposals have been introduced that would have the effect of taxing a portion of exempt interest and/or reducing the tax benefits of receiving exempt interest. It can be expected that similar proposals may be introduced in the future. As a result of any such future legislation, the availability of such municipal bonds for investment by the Fund and the value of such municipal bonds held by the Fund may be affected. In addition, it is possible that events occurring after the date of a municipal bond’s issuance, or after the Fund’s acquisition of such obligation, may result in a determination that the interest paid on that obligation is taxable, in certain cases retroactively.

Obligations of issuers of municipal bonds are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. Congress or state legislatures may seek to extend the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or to impose other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. There is also the possibility that as a result of litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of issuers to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal on their municipal bonds may be materially affected or their obligations may be found to be invalid or unenforceable. Such litigation or conditions may from time to time have the effect of introducing uncertainties in the market for municipal bonds or certain segments thereof, or of materially affecting the credit risk with respect to particular bonds. Adverse economic, business, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of the Fund’s municipal bonds in the same manner.

In particular, to the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in municipal bonds issued by California and New York issuers, the Fund may be subject to the risks inherent in concentrating investment in a particular state or region. The following summarizes information drawn from official statements, and other public documents available relating to issues potentially affecting securities offerings of issuers domiciled in the states of California and New York. Neither the Fund nor PIMCO have independently verified the information, but have no reason to believe that it is substantially different.

California. To the extent the Fund invests in municipal bonds issued by California issuers, it may be particularly affected by political, economic or regulatory developments affecting the ability of California tax-exempt issuers to pay interest or repay principal.

Provisions of the California Constitution and State statutes that limit the taxing and spending authority of California governmental entities may impair the ability of California governmental issuers to maintain debt service on their obligations. Future California political and economic developments, constitutional amendments, legislative measures, executive orders, administrative regulations, litigation and voter initiatives could have an adverse effect on the debt obligations of California issuers. The information set forth below constitutes only a brief summary of a number of complex factors that may impact California issuers of municipal bonds. The information is derived from sources that are generally available to investors, including information promulgated by the State’s Department of Finance, the State’s Treasurer’s Office, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office. The information is intended to give a recent historical description and is not intended to indicate future or continuing trends in the financial or other positions of California.

 

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Such information has not been independently verified by the Fund, and the Fund assumes no responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of such information. It should be noted that the financial strength of local California issuers and the creditworthiness of obligations issued by local California issuers are not directly related to the financial strength of the State or the creditworthiness of obligations issued by the State, and there is no obligation on the part of the State to make payment on such local obligations in the event of default.

Certain debt obligations held by the Fund may be obligations of issuers that rely in whole or in substantial part on California state government revenues for the continuance of their operations and payment of their obligations. Whether and to what extent the California Legislature will continue to appropriate a portion of the State’s General Fund to counties, cities and their various entities, which depend upon State government appropriations, is not entirely certain. To the extent local entities do not receive money from the State government to pay for their operations and services, their ability to pay debt service on obligations held by the Fund may be impaired.

Certain tax-exempt securities in which the Fund may invest may be obligations payable solely from the revenues of specific institutions, or may be secured by specific properties, which are subject to provisions of California law that could adversely affect the holders of such obligations. For example, the revenues of California health care institutions may be subject to state laws, and California law limits the remedies of a creditor secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real property.

California’s economy, the largest state economy in the United States and one of the largest and most diverse in the world, has major components in high technology, trade, entertainment, manufacturing, government, tourism, construction and services, and may be sensitive to economic factors affecting those industries. The relative proportion of the various components of the California economy closely resembles the make-up of the national economy.

California’s fiscal health has improved since the severe recession ended in 2009, which caused large budget deficits. California’s General Fund budget has achieved structural balance for the last several fiscal years. In recent years, the State has paid off billions of dollars of budgetary borrowings, debts and deferrals that were accumulated to balance budgets during the most recent recession and years prior.

California’s real gross domestic product (“GDP”) increased by 4.1% in 2015, and totaled $2.5 trillion at current prices, making California the sixth largest economy in the world. California has also added jobs at a faster rate than the nation since 2012. Despite the increase in the minimum wage from $9 to $10 per hour in 2016, lower-wage sectors, such as leisure and hospitality, and educational and health services continued to grow in 2016. The stronger-than-expected growth in these lower-wage sectors led to greater labor force participation, but also led to slower overall wage and personal income growth than expected in 2016. The unemployment rate in 2016 was 5.4% and is expected to remain low despite the increase in the minimum wage.

The Governor released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2017-18 on January 10, 2017 (“Governor’s Budget”). The Governor’s Budget focused on balancing the State’s budget deficit, which resulted from revenues lagging previous estimates. The Governor’s Budget included provisions to pull back on many one-time spending commitments made in the previous budget and to keep spending commensurate with the previous year. The Governor’s Budget continued the State’s focus on building Proposition 2 reserves to save for future economic downturns.

 

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Previous budgets allocated discretionary resources in excess of constitutional funding requirements, such as those required by Proposition 98, and the Governor’s Budget aimed to reduce the Proposition 98 allocation down to the minimum guarantee.

On May 11, 2017, the Governor revised the projections contained in the Governor’s Budget (“May Revision”). The May Revision projected total reserves of $11.1 billion by the end of fiscal year 2016-17—$8.5 billion in the Budget Stabilization Account (“BSA”), as required under Proposition 2, and $2.6 billion in the General Fund. In addition to the required transfer to the BSA, Proposition 2 requires that an equivalent amount be used to pay down existing debts and reduce unfunded liabilities in excess of current base amounts. During fiscal year 2017-18, per the May Revision, the Governor proposed to spend a total of $1.8 billion to repay some of the General Fund’s loans from special funds and transportation projects, to partially settle-up previous Proposition 98 underfunding of local education and to reduce some of the University of California employee pension liabilities.

The May Revision projected that General Fund revenues and transfers would be $125.9 billion and expenditures would be $124.0 billion. The May Revision stated that the General Fund began fiscal year 2016-17 with a surplus balance of $4.5 billion, and projected that the General Fund would begin fiscal year 2017-18 with a surplus of approximately $723 million. The projected fiscal year 2017-18 General Fund revenues and transfers were 6.2% greater than the revised fiscal year 2016-17 estimate of $118.5 billion, while the projected fiscal year 2017-18 expenditures were 1.4% greater than the revised fiscal year 2016-17 estimate of $122.3 billion.

On June 27, 2017, the Governor’s Budget was signed into law (“Enacted Budget”). The Enacted Budget projects that General Fund revenues and transfers will be $125.8 billion and expenditures will be $125.1 billion. The Enacted Budget states that the General Fund began fiscal year 2016-17 with a surplus balance of $4.5 billion, and projects that the General Fund will begin fiscal year 2017-18 with a surplus of approximately $1.6 billion. The projected fiscal year 2017-18 General Fund revenues and transfers are 6.2% greater than the revised fiscal year 2016-17 estimate of $118.60 billion, while the projected fiscal year 2017-18 expenditures are 3.0% greater than the revised fiscal year 2016-17 estimate of $121.4 billion.

According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, California’s nonpartisan fiscal and policy advisor, the State’s fiscal condition has worsened, and without new budget solutions, the State could face a budget deficit at the end of fiscal year 2017-18. Planning for the next downturn, which includes setting aside budget reserves, is an important priority. In addition, the Legislative Analyst’s Office noted that the Legislature now faces new uncertainties, as federal actions could significantly affect the budget in future years. The Governor’s emphasis on reserves is prudent, as a large budget reserve is the key to weathering the next recession with minimal disruption to public programs.

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) assign ratings to California’s long-term general obligation bonds, which represent their opinions as to the quality of the municipal bonds they rate. As of July 20, 2017, California’s general obligation bonds were assigned ratings of Aa3, AA+ and AA- by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, respectively. The ratings agencies continue to monitor the State’s budget deliberations closely to determine whether to alter the ratings. It should be recognized that these ratings are not an absolute standard of quality, but rather general indicators. Such ratings reflect only the view of the originating rating agencies, from which an explanation of the significance of such ratings

 

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may be obtained. There is no assurance that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency establishing the rating, circumstances so warrant. A downward revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may affect the market price of the State municipal obligations in which a Fund invests.

The State is a party to numerous legal proceedings, many of which normally occur in governmental operations and which, if decided against the State, might require the State to make significant future expenditures or impair future revenue sources.

Constitutional and statutory amendments as well as budget developments may affect the ability of California issuers to pay interest and principal on their obligations. The overall effect may depend upon whether a particular California tax-exempt security is a general or limited obligation bond and on the type of security provided for the bond. It is possible that measures affecting the taxing or spending authority of California or its political subdivisions may be approved or enacted in the future.

New York. To the extent the Fund invests in municipal bonds issued by New York issuers, it may be particularly affected by political, economic or regulatory developments affecting the ability of New York tax-exempt issuers to pay interest or repay principal. Investors should be aware that certain issuers of New York tax-exempt securities have at times experienced serious financial difficulties. A reoccurrence of these difficulties may impair the ability of certain New York issuers to maintain debt service on their obligations. The following information provides only a brief summary of the complex factors affecting the financial situation in New York and is derived from sources that are generally available to investors, including the New York State Division of the Budget and the New York City Office of Management and Budget. The information is intended to give a recent historical description and is not intended to indicate future or continuing trends in the financial or other positions of New York. Such information has not been independently verified by the Fund and the Fund assumes no responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of such information. It should be noted that the creditworthiness of obligations issued by local New York issuers may be unrelated to the creditworthiness of obligations issued by New York City and State agencies, and that there is no obligation on the part of New York State to make payment on such local obligations in the event of default.

Relative to other states, New York has for many years imposed a very high state and local tax burden on residents. The burden of state and local taxation, in combination with the many other causes of regional economic dislocation, has contributed to the decisions of some businesses and individuals to relocate outside of, or not locate within, New York. The economic and financial condition of the State also may be affected by various financial, social, economic and political factors. For example, the securities industry is more central to New York’s economy than to the national economy, therefore any significant decline in stock market performance could adversely affect the State’s income and employment levels. Furthermore, such social, economic and political factors can be very complex, may vary from year to year and can be the result of actions taken not only by the State and its agencies and instrumentalities, but also by entities, such as the Federal government, that are not under the control of the State.

The fiscal stability of New York State is related to the fiscal stability of the State’s municipalities, its agencies and authorities (which generally finance, construct and operate revenue-producing public benefit facilities). This is due in part to the fact that agencies,

 

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authorities and local governments in financial trouble often seek State financial assistance. In the event that New York City or any of its agencies or authorities suffers serious financial difficulty, then the ability of the State, New York City, and the State’s political subdivisions, agencies and authorities to obtain financing in the public credit markets, and the market price of outstanding New York tax-exempt securities, may be adversely affected.

State actions affecting the level of receipts and disbursements, the relative strength of the State and regional economies and actions of the Federal government may create budget gaps for the State. Moreover, even an ostensibly balanced budget may still contain several financial risks. These risks include the impact of broad economic factors, additional spending needs, revenues that may not materialize and proposals to reduce spending or raise revenues that have been previously rejected by the Legislature. To address a potential imbalance in any given fiscal year, the State would be required to take actions to increase receipts and/or reduce disbursements as it enacts the budget for that year. Under the State Constitution, the Governor is required to propose a balanced budget each year. There can be no assurance, however, that the Legislature will enact such proposals or that the State’s actions will be sufficient to preserve budgetary balance in a given fiscal year or to align recurring receipts and disbursements in future fiscal years. The fiscal stability of the State is related to the fiscal stability of its public authorities. Authorities have various responsibilities, including those that finance, construct and/or operate revenue-producing public facilities. Authorities are not subject to the constitutional restrictions on the incurrence of debt that apply to the State itself, and may issue bonds and notes within the amounts and restrictions set forth in their respective legislative authorization.

Authorities are generally supported by revenues generated by the projects financed or operated, such as tolls charged for use of highways, bridges or tunnels; charges for electric power, electric and gas utility services; rentals charged for housing units and charges for occupancy at medical care facilities. In addition, State legislation authorizes several financing techniques for authorities. Also, there are statutory arrangements providing for State local assistance payments otherwise payable to localities, to be made under certain circumstances directly to the authorities. Although the State has no obligation to provide additional assistance to localities whose local assistance payments have been paid to authorities under these arrangements, if local assistance payments are diverted the affected localities could seek additional State assistance. Some authorities also receive monies from State appropriations to pay for the operating costs of certain of their programs.

Over the near and long term, New York State and New York City may face economic problems. New York City accounts for a large portion of the State’s population and personal income, and New York City’s financial health affects the State in numerous ways. New York City continues to require significant financial assistance from the State and depends on State aid to both enable it to balance its budget and to meet its cash requirements. The State could also be affected by the ability of the City to market its securities successfully in the public credit markets, as well as by shifts upward or downward in the State’s real estate market.

In May 2017, the State’s Division of Budget (“DOB”) issued an Enacted Budget Financial Plan related to the State’s enacted budget for FY 2018 (“Enacted Budget”), which includes projections for FYs 2018 through 2021. The DOB estimates that New York’s Enacted Budget would eliminate the budget gap of $3.5 billion in FY 2018. The FY 2018 authorized gap-closing plan consists of approximately $3.6 billion in savings from spending control, including a $2.0 billion reduction in local assistance spending. The budget gap represents the difference between: (a) the projected General Fund disbursements, including transfers to other funds, needed to maintain anticipated service levels and specific commitments; and (b) the expected level of resources to pay for them.

 

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The State has experienced a number of natural disasters in recent years, for which the State has received, and anticipates further receipt of, Federal disaster aid. However, there can be no assurance that anticipated Federal disaster aid will be provided to the State, or that such Federal disaster aid, if provided, will be for the full amount estimated or on the timeline expected.

Although the State’s economy continues to show signs of growth, there are significant risks to this forecast, including, but not limited to, the effects of: national and international events, climate change and extreme weather events; ongoing financial instability in the Euro Zone; major terrorist events, hostilities or war; changes in consumer confidence, oil supplies and oil prices; cyber security attacks; Federal statutory and regulatory changes concerning financial sector activities; changes concerning financial sector bonus payouts; and shifts in monetary policy affecting interest rates and the financial markets.

The State projects total nonagricultural employment growth of 1.5% for 2017, with modest private sector growth of 1.4% for 2017. The State projects that wages will increase 3.6% for 2017, accompanied by total personal income growth of 3.2%. The State’s unemployment rate as of April 2017 was 4.3%, which was down from 4.8% in April 2016. The State’s unemployment rate was slightly below the national average of 4.4% in April 2017.

Estimated total General Fund receipts for the Enacted Budget are projected to be $69.8 billion for FY 2018, an annual increase of $4.1 billion, or 6.2%, from FY 2017 results. These receipts consisted of $45.3 billion in personal income tax revenues (an increase of 5.9% from FY 2017), $13.3 billion in consumption/use tax receipts (an increase of 5.4% from FY 2017) and $5.7 billion in business tax receipts (an increase of 20.1% from FY 2017). The significant growth is primarily attributable to one-time factors affecting FY 2017 receipts. Against these revenues and transfers, the Enacted Budget included approximately $70.3 billion in General Fund appropriations.

New York City has the largest population of any city in the U.S., and it is obligated to maintain a complex, varied and aging infrastructure. The City bears responsibility for more school buildings, firehouses, health facilities, community colleges, roads, bridges, libraries, and police precincts than any other municipality in the country.

New York City’s general debt limit, as provided in the New York State Constitution, is 10 percent of the five-year rolling average of the full value of taxable City real property. The City’s FY 2017 general debt-incurring power of $90.24 billion is projected to increase to $97.26 billion in FY 2018, to $103.47 billion in FY 2019, and to $110.30 billion by FY 2020. The City’s general obligation debt outstanding was $37.9 billion as of June 2017. After including contract and other liability and adjusting for appropriations, the City’s indebtedness that is counted toward the debt limit totaled $60.07 billion as of July 2016. This indebtedness is expected to grow to $80.87 billion by the beginning of FY 2020. The City is projected to have remaining debt-incurring capacity of $30.93 billion on July 1, 2017, $28.82 billion on July 1, 2018, and $29.44 billion on July 1, 2019.

 

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In addition to general obligation bonds, the City maintains several additional credits, including bonds issued by the New York City Transitional Finance Authority (“NYCTFA”) and Tobacco Settlement Asset Securitization Corporation (“TSASC”). At the end of FY 2016, NYCTFA debt backed by personal income tax revenues accounted for $29.31 billion of debt. In July 2009, the State Legislature granted NYCTFA the authority to issue additional debt for general capital purposes. This additional borrowing above the initial $13.5 billion limit is secured by personal income tax revenues and counted under the City’s general debt limit. In addition to this capacity, the NYCTFA is authorized to issue up to $9.4 billion of Building Aid Revenue Bonds (BARBs) for education purposes. Approximately $8.05 billion of these bonds have been issued as of June 30, 2016. Debt service for these bonds is supported by State building aid revenues. At the end of FY 2016, TSASC debt totaled $1.15 billion and there are currently no plans for future new money TSASC offerings. The City’s debt per capita has grown from $4,923 in FY 2000 to $9,782 by FY 2016, an increase of 99%. Over the same period, the cumulative growth rate in debt per capita was 2.2 times the City’s rate of inflation. Based on an analysis of financial statements released by other jurisdictions in FY 2015, New York City’s debt burden per capita was more than twice the average sample of large U.S. cities.

As of July 20, 2017 New York State’s general obligation bonds are rated AA, Aa1, and AA+ by S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch, respectively. As of July 20, 2017, New York City’s general obligation debt was rated AA+ by S&P, Aa2 by Moody’s, and AA by Fitch. Such ratings reflect only the view of the originating rating agencies, from which an explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained. There is no assurance that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency originally establishing the rating, circumstances so warrant. A downward revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may have an effect on the market price of the State municipal obligations in which the Fund invests.

Puerto Rico. Municipal obligations issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or its political subdivisions, agencies, instrumentalities, or public corporations may be affected by economic, market, political, and social conditions in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico currently is experiencing significant fiscal and economic challenges, including substantial debt service obligations, high levels of unemployment, underfunded public retirement systems, and persistent government budget deficits. These challenges may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico municipal securities. Major ratings agencies have downgraded the general obligation debt of Puerto Rico to below investment grade and continue to maintain a negative outlook for this debt, which increases the likelihood that the rating will be lowered further. In both August 2015 and January 2016, Puerto Rico defaulted on its debt by failing to make full payment due on its outstanding bonds, and there can be no assurance that Puerto Rico will be able to satisfy its future debt obligations. Further downgrades or defaults may place additional strain on the Puerto Rico economy and may negatively affect the value, liquidity, and volatility of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico municipal securities. Legislation, including legislation that would allow Puerto Rico to restructure its municipal debt obligations, thus increasing the risk that Puerto Rico may never pay off municipal indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed, could also impact the value of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico municipal securities.

These challenges and uncertainties have been exacerbated by Hurricane Maria and the resulting natural disaster in Puerto Rico. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, causing major damage across the Commonwealth, including damage to its water, power, and

 

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telecommunications infrastructure. The length of time needed to rebuild Puerto Rico’s infrastructure is unclear, but could amount to years, during which the Commonwealth is likely to be in an uncertain economic state. The full extent of the natural disaster’s impact on Puerto Rico’s economy and foreign investment in Puerto Rico is difficult to estimate.

Tender Option Bonds. The Fund may invest in trust certificates issued in tender option bond programs. In a tender option bond transaction (“TOB”), a tender option bond trust (“TOB Trust”) issues floating rate certificates (“TOB Floater”) and residual interest certificates (“TOB Residual”) and utilizes the proceeds of such issuance to purchase a fixed-rate municipal bond (“Fixed Rate Bond”) that either is owned or identified by the Fund. The TOB Floater is generally issued to third party investors (typically a money market fund) and the TOB Residual is generally issued to the Fund, which sold or identified the Fixed Rate Bond. The TOB Trust divides the income stream provided by the Fixed Rate Bond to create two securities, the TOB Floater, which is a short-term security, and the TOB Residual, which is a longer-term security. The interest rates payable on the TOB Residual issued to the Fund bear an inverse relationship to the interest rate on the TOB Floater. The interest rate on the TOB Floater is reset by a remarketing process typically every 7 to 35 days. After income is paid on the TOB Floater at current rates, the residual income from the Fixed Rate Bond goes to the TOB Residual. Therefore, rising short-term rates result in lower income for the TOB Residual, and vice versa. In the case of a TOB Trust that utilizes the cash received (less transaction expenses) from the issuance of the TOB Floater and TOB Residual to purchase the Fixed Rate Bond from a Fund, the Fund may then invest the cash received in additional securities, generating leverage for the Fund. Other PIMCO-managed accounts may also contribute municipal bonds to a TOB Trust into which a Fund has contributed Fixed Rate Bonds. If multiple PIMCO-managed accounts participate in the same TOB Trust, the economic rights and obligations under the TOB Residual will be shared among the funds ratably in proportion to their participation in the TOB Trust.

The TOB Residual may be more volatile and less liquid than other municipal bonds of comparable maturity. In most circumstances the TOB Residual holder bears substantially all of the underlying Fixed Rate Bond’s downside investment risk and also benefits from any appreciation in the value of the underlying Fixed Rate Bond. Investments in a TOB Residual typically will involve greater risk than investments in Fixed Rate Bonds.

A TOB Residual held by the Fund provides the Fund with the right to: (1) cause the holders of the TOB Floater to tender their notes at par, and (2) cause the sale of the Fixed-Rate Bond held by the TOB Trust, thereby collapsing the TOB Trust. TOB Trusts are generally supported by a liquidity facility provided by a third party bank or other financial institution (the “Liquidity Provider”) that provides for the purchase of TOB Floaters that cannot be remarketed. The holders of the TOB Floaters have the right to tender their certificates in exchange for payment of par plus accrued interest on a periodic basis (typically weekly) or on the occurrence of certain mandatory tender events. The tendered TOB Floaters are remarketed by a remarketing agent, which is typically an affiliated entity of the Liquidity Provider. If the TOB Floaters cannot be remarketed, the TOB Floaters are purchased by the TOB Trust either from the proceeds of a loan from the Liquidity Provider or from a liquidation of the Fixed Rate Bond.

The TOB Trust may also be collapsed without the consent of the Fund, as the TOB Residual holder, upon the occurrence of certain “tender option termination events” (or “TOTEs”) as defined in the TOB Trust agreements. Such termination events typically include the bankruptcy or default of the municipal bond, a substantial downgrade in credit quality of the municipal bond,

 

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or a judgment or ruling that interest on the Fixed Rate Bond is subject to federal income taxation. Upon the occurrence of a termination event, the TOB Trust would generally be liquidated in full with the proceeds typically applied first to any accrued fees owed to the trustee, remarketing agent and liquidity provider, and then to the holders of the TOB Floater up to par plus accrued interest owed on the TOB Floater and a portion of gain share, if any, with the balance paid out to the TOB Residual holder. In the case of a mandatory termination event (“MTE”), after the payment of fees, the TOB Floater holders would be paid before the TOB Residual holders (i.e., the Fund). In contrast, in the case of a TOTE, after payment of fees, the TOB Floater holders and the TOB Residual holders would be paid pro rata in proportion to the respective face values of their certificates.

In December 2013, regulators finalized rules implementing Section 619 (the “Volcker Rule”) and Section 941 (the “Risk Retention Rules”) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Stree Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”). Both the Volcker Rule and the Risk Retention Rules apply to tender option bond programs. The Volcker Rule precludes banking entities from (i) sponsoring or acquiring interests in the trusts used to hold a municipal bond in the creation of TOB Trusts; and (ii) continuing to service or maintain relationships with existing programs involving TOB Trusts to the same extent and in the same capacity as existing programs. The Risk Retention Rules require the sponsor to a TOB Trust to retain at least five percent of the credit risk of the underlying assets supporting the TOB Trust’s municipal bonds. The Risk Retention Rules may increase the costs of such transactions in certain circumstances.

In response to these rules, industry participants explored various structuring alternatives for TOB Trusts and agreed on a new tender option bond structure in which the Funds hire service providers to assist with establishing, structuring and sponsoring a TOB Trust. Service providers to a TOB Trust, such as administrators, liquidity providers, trustees and remarketing agents act at the direction of, and as agent of, the Funds as the TOB residual holders.

Under the new TOB Trust structure, the Liquidity Provider or remarketing agent will no longer purchase the tendered TOB Floaters, even in the event of failed remarketing. This may increase the likelihood that a TOB Trust will need to be collapsed and liquidated in order to purchase the tendered TOB Floaters. The TOB Trust may draw upon a loan from the Liquidity Provider to purchase the tendered TOB Floaters. Any loans made by the Liquidity Provider will be secured by the purchased TOB Floaters held by the TOB Trust and will be subject to an interest rate agreed with the Liquidity Provider.

Corporate Debt Securities

The Fund may invest in corporate debt securities of U.S. issuers and foreign issuers, and/or it may hold its assets in these securities for cash management purposes. The investment return of corporate debt securities reflects interest earnings and changes in the market value of the security. The market value of a corporate debt obligation may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates generally. There also exists the risk that the issuers of the securities may not be able to meet their obligations on interest or principal payments at the time called for by an instrument. The Fund’s investments in U.S. dollar or foreign currency-denominated corporate debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers are limited to corporate debt securities (corporate bonds, debentures, notes and other similar corporate debt instruments, including convertible securities) which meet the minimum ratings criteria set forth for the Fund, or, if unrated, are in PIMCO’s opinion comparable in quality to corporate debt securities in which the

 

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Fund may invest. Corporate income-producing securities may include forms of preferred or preference stock. The rate interest on a corporate debt security may be fixed, floating or variable, and may vary inversely with respect to a reference rate. The rate of return or return of principal on some debt obligations may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies. Corporate debt securities may be acquired with warrants attached. Securities rated Baa by Moody’s, BBB by S&P and BBB by Fitch are the lowest which are considered “investment grade” obligations. Moody’s describes securities rated Baa as “medium-grade” obligations; they are subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics. S&P describes securities rated BBB as “having adequate capacity to meet financial commitments, however, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitments.” For securities rated BBB, Fitch states that “.... expectations of default risk are currently low... capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.” For a discussion of securities rated below investment grade, see “High Yield Securities (“Junk Bonds”) and Securities of Distressed Companies” above.

Commercial Paper

Commercial paper represents short-term unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by corporations such as banks or bank holding companies and finance companies. The Fund may invest in commercial paper of any credit quality consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, including unrated commercial paper for which PIMCO has made a credit quality assessment. See Appendix A to the Prospectus for a description of the ratings assigned by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch Ratings to commercial paper. The rate of return on commercial paper may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies.

Convertible Securities

The Fund may invest in convertible securities, which may offer higher income than the common stocks into which they are convertible. A convertible debt security is a bond, debenture, note, or other security that entitles the holder to acquire common stock or other equity securities of the same or a different issuer. A convertible security generally entitles the holder to receive interest paid or accrued until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Before conversion, convertible securities have characteristics similar to non-convertible debt securities or preferred securities. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in a corporation’s capital structure and, therefore, generally entail less risk than the corporation’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security. Convertible securities are subordinate in rank to any senior debt obligations of the issuer, and, therefore, an issuer’s convertible securities entail more risk than its debt obligations. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible debt securities of similar credit quality because of the potential for capital appreciation. In addition, convertible securities are often lower-rated securities.

Because of the conversion feature, the price of the convertible security will normally fluctuate in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying asset, and as such is subject to risks relating to the activities of the issuer and/or general market and economic conditions. The

 

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income component of a convertible security may tend to cushion the security against declines in the price of the underlying asset. However, the income component of convertible securities causes fluctuations based upon changes in interest rates and the credit quality of the issuer. If the convertible security’s “conversion value,” which is the market value of the underlying common stock that would be obtained upon the conversion of the convertible security, is substantially below the “investment value,” which is the value of a convertible security viewed without regard to its conversion feature (i.e., strictly on the basis of its yield), the price of the convertible security is typically governed principally by its investment value. If the conversion value of a convertible security increases to a point that approximates or exceeds its investment value, the value of the security will typically be principally influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security generally sells at a premium over its conversion value to the extent investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding an income-producing security.

A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a predetermined price. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption, the Fund would be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security and convert it to underlying common stock, or would sell the convertible security to a third party, which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives. The Fund generally would invest in convertible securities for their favorable price characteristics and total return potential and would normally not exercise an option to convert unless the security is called or conversion is forced.

The Fund may invest in so-called “synthetic convertible securities,” which are composed of two or more different securities whose investment characteristics, taken together, resemble those of convertible securities. A third party or PIMCO may create a “synthetic” convertible security by combining separate securities that possess the two principal characteristics of a traditional convertible security, i.e., an income-producing security (“income-producing component”) and the right to acquire an equity security (“convertible component”). The income-producing component is achieved by investing in non-convertible, income-producing securities such as bonds, preferred securities and money market instruments, which may be represented by derivative instruments. The convertible component is achieved by investing in securities or instruments such as warrants or options to buy common stock at a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index. Unlike a traditional convertible security, which is a single security having a unitary market value, a synthetic convertible comprises two or more separate securities, each with its own market value. Therefore, the “market value” of a synthetic convertible security is the sum of the values of its fixed income component and its convertible component. For this reason, the values of a synthetic convertible security and a traditional convertible security may respond differently to market fluctuations.

More flexibility is possible in the assembly of a synthetic convertible security than in the purchase of a convertible security. Although synthetic convertible securities may be selected where the two components are issued by a single issuer, thus making the synthetic convertible security similar to the traditional convertible security, the character of a synthetic convertible security allows the combination of components representing distinct issuers, when PIMCO believes that such a combination may better achieve the Fund’s investment objectives. A synthetic convertible security also is a more flexible investment in that its two components may be purchased separately. For example, the Fund may purchase a warrant for inclusion in a synthetic convertible security but temporarily hold short-term investments while postponing the purchase of a corresponding bond pending development of more favorable market conditions.

 

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A holder of a synthetic convertible security faces the risk of a decline in the price of the security or the level of the index or security involved in the convertible component, causing a decline in the value of the security or instrument, such as a call option or warrant purchased to create the synthetic convertible security. Should the price of the stock fall below the exercise price and remain there throughout the exercise period, the entire amount paid for the call option or warrant would be lost. Because a synthetic convertible security includes the income-producing component as well, the holder of a synthetic convertible security also faces the risk that interest rates will rise, causing a decline in the value of the income-producing component.

The Fund also may purchase synthetic convertible securities created by other parties, including convertible structured notes. Convertible structured notes are income-producing debentures linked to equity, and are typically issued by investment banks. Convertible structured notes have the attributes of a convertible security; however, the investment bank that issues the convertible note, rather than the issuer of the underlying common stock into which the note is convertible, assumes credit risk associated with the underlying investment, and the Fund in turn assumes credit risk associated with the convertible note.

Contingent Convertible Instruments. Contingent convertible securities (“CoCos”) are a form of hybrid debt security issued primarily by non-U.S. issuers, which have loss absorption mechanisms built into their terms. CoCos have no stated maturity, have fully discretionary coupons and are typically issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments. CoCos generally either convert into common stock of the issuer or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain triggering events (“triggers”) linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions calling into question the issuing banking institution’s continued viability as a going-concern. In certain scenarios, investors in CoCos may suffer a loss of capital ahead of equity holders or when equity holders do not. There is no guarantee that the Fund will receive a return of principal on CoCos. Any indication that an automatic write-down or conversion event may occur can be expected to have an adverse effect on the market price of CoCos. CoCos are often rated below investment grade and are subject to the risks of high yield securities. Because CoCos are issued primarily by financial institutions, CoCos may present substantially increased risks at times of financial turmoil, which could affect financial institutions more than companies in other sectors and industries. Further, the value of an investment in CoCos is unpredictable and will be influenced by many factors and risks, including interest rate risk, credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk. An investment by the Fund in CoCos may result in losses to the Fund.

Some additional risks associated with CoCos include, but are not limited to:

 

    Loss absorption risk. CoCos may be subject to an automatic write-down (i.e., the automatic write-down of the principal amount or value of the securities, potentially to zero, and the cancellation of the securities) under certain circumstances, which could result in the Fund losing a portion or all of its investment in such securities. In addition, the Fund may not have any rights with respect to repayment of the principal amount of the securities that has not become due or the payment of interest or dividends on such securities for any period from (and including) the interest or dividend payment date falling immediately prior to the occurrence of such automatic write-down. An automatic write-down could also result in a reduced income rate if the dividend or interest payment is based on the security’s par value. In addition, CoCos have fully discretionary coupons. This means coupons can potentially be cancelled at the issuer’s discretion or at the request of the relevant regulatory authority in order to help the issuer absorb losses and may be suspended in the event there are insufficient distributable reserves.

 

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    Subordinated instruments. CoCos will, in the majority of circumstances, be issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments in order to provide the appropriate regulatory capital treatment prior to a conversion. Accordingly, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a conversion having occurred, the rights and claims of the holders of the CoCos, such as the Funds, against the issuer in respect of or arising under the terms of the CoCos shall generally rank junior to the claims of all holders of unsubordinated obligations of the issuer. In addition, if the CoCos are converted into the issuer’s underlying equity securities following a conversion event (i.e., a “trigger”), each holder will be subordinated due to their conversion from being the holder of a debt instrument to being the holder of an equity instrument.

 

    Market value will fluctuate based on unpredictable factors. The trading behavior of a given issuer’s CoCos may be strongly impacted by the trading behavior of other issuers’ CoCos, such that negative information from an unrelated CoCo may cause a decline in value of one or more CoCos held by the Fund. Accordingly, the trading behavior of CoCos may not follow the trading behavior of other similarly structured securities. The value of CoCos is unpredictable and could be influenced by many factors including, without limitation: (i) the creditworthiness of the issuer and/or fluctuations in such issuer’s applicable capital ratios; (ii) supply and demand for the CoCos; (iii) general market conditions and available liquidity; and (iv) economic, financial and political events that affect the issuer, its particular market or the financial markets in general.

Equity Securities

Subject to the Fund’s investment policies, the Fund may hold common stocks and other equity securities from time to time, including without limitation those it has received through the conversion of a convertible security held by the Fund or in connection with the restructuring of a debt security. The market price of common stocks and other equity securities may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Equity securities may decline in value due to factors affecting equity securities markets generally, particular industries represented in those markets, or the issuer itself. The values of equity securities may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed-income securities. These risks are generally magnified in the case of equity investments in distressed companies.

Preferred Securities

Preferred securities represent an equity interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of other stocks such as common stocks, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Some preferred securities also entitle their holders to receive additional liquidation proceeds on the same basis as holders of a company’s common stock, and thus also represent an ownership interest in that company. Preferred securities are subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. The value of a company’s preferred securities may fall as a result of factors relating directly to that company’s products or services. A preferred security’s value may also fall because of factors affecting not just the company, but companies in the same industry or in a number of different industries, such as increases in production costs. The value of preferred securities may also be affected by changes in financial markets that are

 

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relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates. In addition, a company’s preferred securities generally pay dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred securities will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Preferred stocks of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of larger companies.

Adjustable Rate and Auction Preferred Securities. Typically, the dividend rate on an adjustable rate preferred security is determined prospectively each quarter by applying an adjustment formula established at the time of issuance of the security. Although adjustment formulas vary among issues, they typically involve a fixed premium or discount relative to rates on specified debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. Typically, an adjustment formula will provide for a fixed premium or discount adjustment relative to the highest base yield of three specified U.S. Treasury securities: the 90-day Treasury bill, the 10-year Treasury note and the 20-year Treasury bond. The premium or discount adjustment to be added to or subtracted from this highest U.S. Treasury base rate yield is fixed at the time of issue and cannot be changed without the approval of the holders of the security. The dividend rate on another type of preferred security in which the Fund may invest, commonly known as auction preferred securities, is adjusted at intervals that may be more frequent than quarterly, such as every 7 or 49 days, based on bids submitted by holders and prospective purchasers of such stocks and may be subject to stated maximum and minimum dividend rates. The issues of most adjustable rate and auction preferred securities currently outstanding are perpetual, but are redeemable after a specified date, or upon notice, at the option of the issuer. Certain issues supported by the credit of a high-rated financial institution provide for mandatory redemption prior to expiration of the credit arrangement. No redemption can occur if full cumulative dividends are not paid. Although the dividend rates on adjustable and auction preferred securities are generally adjusted or reset frequently, the market values of these preferred securities may still fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. Market values of adjustable preferred securities also may substantially fluctuate if interest rates increase or decrease once the maximum or minimum dividend rate for a particular stock is approached. Auctions for U.S. auction preferred securities have failed since early 2008, and the dividend rates payable on such preferred shares since that time typically have been paid at their maximum applicable rate (typically a function of a reference rate of interest). PIMCO expects that auction preferred securities will continue to pay dividends at their maximum applicable rate for the foreseeable future and cannot predict whether or when the auction markets for auction preferred securities may resume normal functioning.

Fixed Rate Preferred Securities. Some fixed rate preferred securities in which the Fund may invest, known as perpetual preferred securities, offer a fixed return with no maturity date. Because they never mature, perpetual preferred securities act like long-term bonds and can be more volatile than and more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of preferred stocks that have a maturity date. The Fund may also invest in sinking fund preferred securities. These preferred securities also offer a fixed return, but have a maturity date and are retired or redeemed on a predetermined schedule. The shorter duration of sinking fund preferred securities makes them perform somewhat like intermediate-term bonds and they typically have lower yields than perpetual preferred securities.

 

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Bank Obligations

The Fund may invest in bank capital securities of both non-U.S. (foreign) and U.S. issuers. Bank capital securities are issued by banks to help fulfill their regulatory capital requirements. There are three common types of bank capital: Lower Tier II, Upper Tier II and Tier I. Bank capital is generally, but not always, of investment grade quality. Upper Tier II securities are commonly thought of as hybrids of debt and preferred stock. Upper Tier II securities are often perpetual (with no maturity date), callable and have a cumulative interest deferral feature. This means that under certain conditions, the issuer bank can withhold payment of interest until a later date. However, such deferred interest payments generally earn interest. Tier I securities often take the form of trust preferred securities.

Bank obligations in which the Fund may invest include, without limitation, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and fixed time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates that are issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and that earn a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. There are generally no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is generally no market for such deposits.

The activities of U.S. banks and most foreign banks are subject to comprehensive regulations which, in the case of U.S. regulations, have undergone substantial changes in the past decade and are currently subject to legislative and regulatory scrutiny. The enactment of new legislation or regulations, as well as changes in interpretation and enforcement of current laws, may affect the manner of operations and profitability of U.S. and foreign banks. Significant developments in the U.S. banking industry have included increased competition from other types of financial institutions, increased acquisition activity and geographic expansion. Banks may be particularly susceptible to certain economic factors, such as interest rate changes and adverse developments in the market for real estate. Fiscal and monetary policy and general economic cycles can affect the availability and cost of funds, loan demand and asset quality and thereby impact the earnings and financial conditions of banks.

Obligations of foreign banks involve somewhat different investment risks than those affecting obligations of U.S. banks, including the possibilities that their liquidity could be impaired because of future political and economic developments, that their obligations may be less marketable than comparable obligations of U.S. banks, that a foreign jurisdiction might impose withholding taxes on interest income payable on those obligations, that foreign deposits may be seized or nationalized, that foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls may be adopted which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on those obligations and that the selection of those obligations may be more difficult because there may be less publicly available information concerning foreign banks and the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements applicable to foreign banks may differ from those applicable to U.S. banks. Foreign banks are not generally subject to examination by any U.S. Government agency or instrumentality.

 

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Loans and Other Indebtedness; Loan Participations and Assignments

The Fund may purchase indebtedness and participations in commercial loans, as well as interests and/or servicing or similar rights in such loans. Such investments may be secured or unsecured and may be newly-originated (and may be specifically designed for the Fund). Indebtedness is different from traditional debt securities in that debt securities are part of a large issue of securities to the public and indebtedness may not be a security, but may represent a specific commercial loan to a borrower. Loan participations typically represent direct participation, together with other parties, in a loan to a corporate borrower, and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. The Fund may participate in such syndications, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part lender. When purchasing indebtedness and loan participations, the Fund assumes the credit risk associated with the corporate borrower and may assume the credit risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary. The indebtedness and loan participations in which the Fund may invest may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating service.

A loan is often administered by an agent bank acting as agent for all holders. The agent bank administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. In addition, the agent bank is normally responsible for the collection of principal and interest payments from the corporate borrower and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all institutions which are parties to the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, the Fund has direct recourse against the corporate borrower, the Fund may have to rely on the agent bank or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a corporate borrower.

A financial institution’s employment as agent bank might be terminated in the event that it fails to observe a requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent. A successor agent bank would generally be appointed to replace the terminated agent bank, and assets held by the agent bank under the loan agreement should remain available to holders of such indebtedness. However, if assets held by the agent bank for the benefit of the Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the agent bank’s general creditors, the Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. In situations involving other interposed financial institutions (e.g., an insurance company or governmental agency) similar risks may arise.

Purchasers of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the corporate borrower for payment of principal and interest. If the Fund does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the Portfolio’s share price and yield could be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured offer the Fund more protection than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the corporate borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated. In the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower, the Fund could experience delays or limitations in its ability to realize the benefits of any collateral securing a loan.

The Fund may invest in loan participations with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Indebtedness of companies whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. Some companies may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Consequently, when

 

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investing in indebtedness of companies with poor credit, the Fund bears a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested. The Fund may make investments in indebtedness and loan participations to achieve capital appreciation, rather than to seek income.

Loans and other types of direct indebtedness (which the Fund may invest in or otherwise gain exposure to) may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. In some cases, negotiations involved in disposing of indebtedness may require weeks to complete. Consequently, some indebtedness may be difficult or impossible to dispose of readily at what the Investment Manager believes to be a fair price. In addition, valuation of illiquid indebtedness involves a greater degree of judgment in determining the Fund’s net asset value than if that value were based on available market quotations, and could result in significant variations in the Fund’s daily share price. At the same time, some loan interests are traded among certain financial institutions and accordingly may be deemed liquid. As the market for different types of indebtedness develops, the liquidity of these instruments is expected to improve. Investments in loan participations are considered to be debt obligations for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction relating to the lending of funds or assets.

Investments in loans through a purchase of a loan or a direct assignment of a financial institution’s interests with respect to a loan may involve additional risks to the Fund. The purchaser of an assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations under the loan agreement with the same rights and obligations as the assigning lender. Assignments may, however, be arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and potential assignors, and the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of an assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning lender. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the Fund could become owner, in whole or in part, of any collateral, which could include, among other assets, real estate or other real or personal property, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and holding or disposing of the collateral (see “Real Estate Assets and Related Derivatives” above). In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, the Fund could be held liable as co-lender. It is unclear whether loans and other forms of direct indebtedness offer securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation. In the absence of definitive regulatory guidance, the Fund relies on the Investment Manager’s research in an attempt to avoid situations where fraud or misrepresentation could adversely affect the Fund.

The Fund may invest in debtor-in-possession financings (commonly known as “DIP financings”). DIP financings are arranged when an entity seeks the protections of the bankruptcy court under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. These financings allow the entity to continue its business operations while reorganizing under Chapter 11. Such financings constitute senior liens on unencumbered security (i.e., security not subject to other creditors’ claims). There is a risk that the entity will not emerge from Chapter 11 and be forced to liquidate its assets under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In the event of liquidation, the Fund’s only recourse will be against the property securing the DIP financing.

In determining whether to make a direct loan, the Fund will rely primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower and/or any collateral for payment of interest and repayment of principal. In making a direct loan, the Fund is exposed to the risk that the borrower may default or become insolvent and, consequently, that the Fund will lose money on the loan. Furthermore, direct loans may subject the Fund to liquidity and interest rate risk and certain direct loans may be deemed illiquid. Direct loans are not publicly traded and may not have a secondary market. The lack of a secondary market for direct loans may have an adverse impact on the ability of the Fund to dispose of a direct loan and/or to value the direct loan.

 

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In purchasing loans, the Fund will compete with a broad spectrum of lenders. Increased competition for, or a diminishment in the available supply of, qualifying loans could result in lower yields on such loans, which could reduce Fund performance.

Various state licensing requirements could apply to the Fund with respect to investments in loans and similar assets. The licensing requirements could apply depending on the location of the borrower, the location of the collateral securing the loan, or the location where the Fund or PIMCO operates or has offices. In states in which it is licensed, the Fund or PIMCO will be required to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including consumer protection and anti-fraud laws, which could impose restrictions on the Fund’s or PIMCO’s ability to take certain actions to protect the value of its investments in such assets and impose compliance costs. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations could lead to, among other penalties, a loss of the Fund’s or PIMCO’s license, which in turn could require the Fund to divest assets located in or secured by real property located in that state. These risks will also apply to issuers and entities in which the Fund invests that hold similar assets, as well as any origination company or servicer in which the Fund owns an interest.

Loan origination and servicing companies are routinely involved in legal proceedings concerning matters that arise in the ordinary course of their business. These legal proceedings range from actions involving a single plaintiff to class action lawsuits with potentially tens of thousands of class members. In addition, a number of participants in the loan origination and servicing industry (including control persons of industry participants) have been the subject of regulatory actions by state regulators, including state Attorneys General, and by the federal government. Governmental investigations, examinations or regulatory actions, or private lawsuits, including purported class action lawsuits, may adversely affect such companies’ financial results. To the extent the Fund seeks to engage in origination and/or servicing directly, or has a financial interest in, or is otherwise affiliated with, an origination or servicing company, the Fund will be subject to enhanced risks of litigation, regulatory actions and other proceedings. As a result, the Fund may be required to pay legal fees, settlement costs, damages, penalties or other charges, any or all of which could materially adversely affect the Fund and its investments.

The Fund limits the amount of its total assets that it will invest in issuers within the same industry (see “Investment Restrictions”). For purposes of these limits, the Fund generally will treat the corporate borrower as the “issuer” of indebtedness held by the Fund. In the case of loan participations where a bank or other lending institution serves as a financial intermediary between the Fund and the corporate borrower, if the participation does not shift to the Fund the direct debtor-creditor relationship with the corporate borrower, the Fund will treat both the lending bank or other lending institution and the corporate borrower as “issuers” for purposes of determining whether the Fund has invested more than 5% of its total assets in a single issuer and in accordance with written guidance from the staff of the SEC. Treating a financial intermediary as an issuer of indebtedness may restrict the Fund’s ability to invest in indebtedness related to a single financial intermediary even if the underlying borrowers represent many different companies.

 

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Senior Loans

To the extent the Fund invests in senior loans, the Fund may be subject to greater levels of credit risk, call risk, settlement risk and liquidity risk, than funds that do not invest in such securities. These instruments are considered predominantly speculative with respect to an issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments, and may be more volatile than other types of securities. An economic downturn or individual corporate developments could adversely affect the market for these instruments and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell these instruments at an advantageous time or price. An economic downturn would generally lead to a higher non-payment rate and, a senior loan may lose significant market value before a default occurs. The Fund may also be subject to greater levels of liquidity risk than funds that do not invest in senior loans. In addition, the senior loans in which the Fund invests may not be listed on any exchange and a secondary market for such loans may be comparatively illiquid relative to markets for other more liquid fixed income securities. Consequently, transactions in senior loans may involve greater costs than transactions in more actively traded securities. Restrictions on transfers in loan agreements, a lack of publicly-available information, irregular trading activity and wide bid/ask spreads among other factors, may, in certain circumstances, make senior loans difficult to sell at an advantageous time or price than other types of securities or instruments. These factors may result in the Fund being unable to realize full value for the senior loans and/or may result in the Fund not receiving the proceeds from a sale of a senior loan for an extended period after such sale, each of which could result in losses to the Fund. Senior loans may have extended trade settlement periods which may result in cash not being immediately available to the Fund. If an issuer of a senior loan prepays or redeems the loan prior to maturity, the Fund will have to reinvest the proceeds in other senior loans or similar instruments that may pay lower interest rates. Because of the risks involved in investing in senior loans, an investment in the Fund that invests in such instruments should be considered speculative.

Delayed Funding Loans and Revolving Credit Facilities

The Fund may also enter into, or acquire participations in, delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are borrowing arrangements in which the lender agrees to make loans up to a maximum amount upon demand by the borrower during a specified term. A revolving credit facility differs from a delayed funding loan in that as the borrower repays the loan, an amount equal to the repayment may be borrowed again during the term of the revolving credit facility. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities usually provide for floating or variable rates of interest. These commitments may have the effect of requiring the Fund to increase its investment in a company at a time when it might not otherwise decide to do so (including a time when the company’s financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid).

To the extent that the Fund is committed to advance additional funds, it will at all times segregate assets, determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, in an amount sufficient to meet such commitments.

The Fund may invest in delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities may be subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to resell such instruments. As a result, the Fund may be unable to sell such investments at an opportune time or may have to resell them at less than fair market value. For a further discussion of the risks involved in investing in loan participations and other forms of direct indebtedness see “Loans and Other Indebtedness; Loan Participations and Assignments.”

 

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Participation interests in revolving credit facilities will be subject to the limitations discussed in “Loans and Other Indebtedness; Loan Participations and Assignments.” Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are considered to be debt obligations for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction relating to the lending of funds or assets by the Fund.

Zero-Coupon Bonds, Step-Ups and Payment-In-Kind Securities

The Fund may invest directly or indirectly in zero-coupon securities, “step-ups” and PIKs. Zero-coupon securities are debt obligations that do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest either for the entire life of the obligation or for an initial period after the issuance of the obligations. Like zero-coupon bonds, “step-up” bonds pay no interest initially but eventually begin to pay a coupon rate prior to maturity, which rate may increase at stated intervals during the life of the security. PIKs are debt obligations that pay “interest” in the form of other debt obligations instead of cash. Each of these instruments is normally issued and traded at a deep discount from face value. The amount of the discount varies depending on such factors as the time remaining until maturity of the securities, prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the security and the perceived credit quality of the issuer. The market prices of zero-coupon bonds, step-ups and PIKs generally are more volatile than the market prices of debt instruments that pay interest currently and in cash and are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than do other types of securities having similar maturities and credit quality.

In order to satisfy a requirement for qualification as a “regulated investment company” under the Code, an investment company, such as the Fund, must distribute each year at least 90% of its net investment income, including the original issue discount accrued on zero-coupon bonds, step-ups and PIKs. Because the Fund will not, on a current basis, receive cash payments from the issuer of these securities in respect of any accrued original issue discount, in some years, the Fund may have to sell other portfolio holdings in order to obtain cash to satisfy the distribution requirements under the Code even though investment considerations might otherwise make it undesirable for the Fund to sell securities at such time. Under many market conditions, investments in zero-coupon bonds, step-ups and PIKs may be illiquid, making it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.

Variable and Floating Rate Debt Securities

The Fund may invest in floating rate debt instruments, including Senior Loans (described in more detail above). Variable and floating rate securities are securities that pay interest at rates that adjust whenever a specified interest rate changes, float at a fixed margin above a generally recognized base lending rate and/or reset or are redetermined (e.g., pursuant to an auction) on specified dates (such as the last day of a month or calendar quarter). These instruments may include, without limitation, variable-rate preferred stock, bank loans, money market instruments and certain types of mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities. Due to their variable- or floating-rate features, these instruments will generally pay higher levels of income in a rising interest rate environment and lower levels of income as interest rates decline. For the same reason, the market value of a variable- or floating-rate instrument is generally expected to have less sensitivity to fluctuations in market interest rates than a fixed-rate instrument, although the value of a floating-rate instrument may nonetheless decline as interest rates rise and due to other factors, such as changes in credit quality.

 

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The Fund may invest in floating rate debt instruments (“floaters”) and engage in credit spread trades. The interest rate on a floater is a variable rate which is tied to another interest rate, such as a money-market index or U.S. Treasury bill rate. The interest rate on a floater resets periodically, typically every six months. While, because of the interest rate reset feature, floaters provide the Fund with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates, the Fund will participate in any declines in interest rates as well. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the prices or interest rates of two securities or currencies where the value of the investment position is determined by movements in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities or currencies.

The Fund may also invest without limit in inverse floating rate debt instruments (“inverse floaters”). The interest rate on an inverse floater resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which the inverse floater is indexed. An inverse floater may exhibit greater price volatility than a fixed rate obligation of similar credit quality. See “Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities” above. The Fund’s investments in variable- and floating-rate securities may require the Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. As a result, in order to generate cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio that it would otherwise have continued to hold. See “Taxation.”

Inflation-Indexed Bonds

The Fund may invest in inflation-indexed bonds. Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers utilize a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Many other issuers pay out the Consumer Price Index accruals as part of a semiannual coupon.

Inflation-indexed bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of approximately five, ten or thirty years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semi-annual basis equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. For example, if the Fund purchased an inflation-indexed bond with a par value of $1,000 and a 3% real rate of return coupon (payable 1.5% semi-annually), and the rate of inflation over the first six months was 1%, the mid-year par value of the bond would be $1,010 and the first semi-annual interest payment would be $15.15 ($1,010 times 1.5%). If inflation during the second half of the year resulted in the whole year’s inflation equaling 3%, the end-of-year par value of the bond would be $1,030 and the second semi-annual interest payment would be $15.45 ($1,030 times 1.5%).

If the periodic adjustment rate measuring inflation falls, the principal value of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted downward, and consequently the interest payable on these securities (calculated with respect to a smaller principal amount) will be reduced. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of a U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bond, even during a period of deflation, although the inflation-adjusted principal received could be less than the inflation-adjusted principal that had accrued to the bond at the time of purchase. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. The Fund may also invest in other inflation-related bonds that may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal amount.

 

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The value of inflation-indexed bonds is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if the rate of inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed bonds. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed bonds.

While these securities are expected to provide protection from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.

The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed bonds is tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), which is not seasonably adjusted and which is calculated monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI-U is a measurement of changes in the cost of living, made up of components such as housing, food, transportation and energy. Inflation-indexed bonds issued by a foreign (non-U.S.) government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U or any foreign (non-U.S.) inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign (non-U.S.) country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States.

Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity. As a result, in order to generate cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio that it would otherwise have continued to hold. See “Taxation.”

Event-Linked Bonds

The Fund may obtain event-linked exposure by investing in “event-linked bonds,” or “event-linked swaps,” or by implementing “event-linked strategies.” Event-linked exposure results in gains that typically are contingent on the non-occurrence of a specific “trigger” event, such as a hurricane, earthquake or other physical or weather-related phenomena. Some event-linked bonds are commonly referred to as “catastrophe bonds.” They may be issued by government agencies, insurance companies, reinsurers, special purpose corporations or other on-shore or off-shore entities (such special purpose entities are created to accomplish a narrow and well-defined objective, such as the issuance of a note in connection with a reinsurance transaction). If a trigger event causes losses exceeding a specific amount in the geographic region and time period specified in a bond, the Fund may lose a portion or all of its principal invested in the bond. If no trigger event occurs, the Fund will recover its principal plus interest. For some event-linked bonds, the trigger event or losses may be based on company-wide losses, index-portfolio losses, industry indices or readings of scientific instruments rather than specified actual losses. Often the event-linked bonds provide for extensions of maturity that are mandatory, or optional at the discretion of the issuer, in order to process and audit loss claims in those cases where a trigger event has, or possibly has, occurred. An extension of maturity may increase volatility. In addition to the specified trigger events, event-linked bonds also may expose the Fund to certain unanticipated risks including but not limited to issuer risk, credit risk, counterparty risk, adverse regulatory or jurisdictional interpretations and adverse tax consequences.

 

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Event-linked bonds are a relatively new type of financial instrument. As such, there is no significant trading history for many of these securities, and there can be no assurance that a liquid market in these instruments will develop. Lack of a liquid market may impose the risk of higher transaction costs and the possibility that the Fund may be forced to liquidate positions when it would not be advantageous to do so. Event-linked bonds are typically rated, and the Fund will only invest in event-linked bonds that meet the credit quality requirements for the Fund.

Derivative Instruments

The Fund may, but is not required to, utilize various derivative strategies (both long and short positions) involving the purchase or sale of futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), call and put options, credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps and other swap agreements and other derivative instruments for investment purposes, leveraging purposes or in an attempt to hedge against market, credit, interest rate, currency and other risks in the portfolio. Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index and may relate to, among other things, stocks, bonds, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities, related indexes and other assets. The following describes certain derivative instruments and products in which the Fund may invest and risks associated therewith. The derivatives market is always changing and the Fund may invest in derivatives other than those shown below.

In pursuing its investment objective, the Fund may purchase and sell (write) both put options and call options on securities, swap agreements, securities indexes, commodity indexes and foreign currencies, and enter into interest rate, foreign currency, index and commodity futures contracts and purchase and sell options on such futures contracts (“futures options”) for hedging purposes or as part of their overall investment strategies. The Fund also may purchase and sell foreign currency options for purposes of increasing exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another. The Fund also may enter into swap agreements with respect to interest rates, commodities, indexes of securities or commodities, and to the extent it may invest in foreign currency denominated securities, may enter into swap agreements with respect to foreign currencies. The Fund may invest in structured notes. If other types of financial instruments, including other types of options, futures contracts, or futures options are traded in the future, the Fund may also use those instruments, provided that their use is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives.

The value of some derivative instruments in which the Fund invest may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and, like the other investments of the Fund, the ability of the Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of PIMCO to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. If PIMCO incorrectly forecasts such factors and has taken positions in derivative instruments contrary to prevailing market trends, the Fund could be exposed to additional, unforeseen risks, including the risk of loss.

The Fund might not employ any of the strategies described below, and no assurance can be given that any strategy used will succeed. If PIMCO incorrectly forecasts interest rates, market values

 

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or other economic factors in using a derivatives strategy for the Fund, the Fund might have been in a better position if it had not entered into the transaction at all. The use of these strategies involves certain special risks, including a possible imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of derivative instruments and price movements of related investments. While some strategies involving derivative instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in related investments or otherwise, due to the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that otherwise would be favorable or the possible need to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time because the Fund is required to maintain asset coverage or offsetting positions in connection with transactions in derivative instruments, and the possible inability of the Fund to close out or to liquidate its derivatives positions. In addition, the Fund’s use of such instruments may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally subject to tax when distributed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates) than if it had not used such instruments. If the Fund gains exposure to an asset class using derivative instruments backed by a collateral portfolio of fixed income instruments, changes in the value of the fixed income instruments may result in greater or lesser exposure to that asset class than would have resulted from a direct investment in securities comprising that asset class.

Participation in the markets for derivative instruments involves investment risks and transaction costs to which the Fund may not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The skills needed to successfully execute derivative strategies may be different from those needed for other types of transactions. If the Fund incorrectly forecasts the value and/or creditworthiness of securities, currencies, interest rates, counterparties or other economic factors involved in a derivative transaction, the Fund might have been in a better position if the Fund had not entered into such derivative transaction. In evaluating the risks and contractual obligations associated with particular derivative instruments, it is important to consider that certain derivative transactions may be modified or terminated only by mutual consent of the Fund and its counterparty and certain derivative transactions may be terminated by the counterparty or the Fund, as the case may be, upon the occurrence of certain Fund-related or counterparty-related events, which may result in losses or gains to the Fund based on the market value of the derivative transactions entered into between the Fund and the counterparty. In addition, such early terminations may result in taxable events and accelerate gain or loss recognition for tax purposes. It may not be possible for the Fund to modify, terminate, or offset the Fund’s obligations or the Fund’s exposure to the risks associated with a derivative transaction prior to its termination or maturity date, which may create a possibility of increased volatility and/or decreased liquidity to the Fund. Upon the expiration or termination of a particular contract, the Fund may wish to retain the Fund’s position in the derivative instrument by entering into a similar contract, but may be unable to do so if the counterparty to the original contract is unwilling to enter into the new contract and no other appropriate counterparty can be found, which could cause the Fund not to be able to maintain certain desired investment exposures or not to be able to hedge other investment positions or risks, which could cause losses to the Fund. Furthermore, after such an expiration or termination of a particular contract, the Fund may have fewer counterparties with which to engage in additional derivative transactions, which could lead to potentially greater counterparty risk exposure to one or more counterparties and which could increase the cost of entering into certain derivatives. In such cases, the Fund may lose money.

The Fund may engage in investment strategies, including the use of derivatives, to, among other things, seek to generate current, distributable income without regard to possible declines in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund’s income and gain-generating strategies, including certain

 

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derivatives strategies, may generate current, distributable income, even if such strategies could potentially result in declines in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund’s income and gain-generating strategies, including certain derivatives strategies, may generate current taxable income and gains sufficient to support monthly distributions even in situations when the Fund has experienced losses due to, for example, adverse changes in the broad U.S. or non-U.S. equity markets or the Fund’s debt investments, or arising from its use of derivatives. Consequently, shareholders may receive distributions subject to tax at ordinary income rates at a time when their investment in the Fund has declined in value, which may be economically similar to a taxable return of capital.

Also, suitable derivative and/or hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to identify or employ a desirable derivative and/or hedging transaction at any time or from time to time or, if a strategy is used, that it will be successful.

As further described below under “Additional Risk Factors in Cleared Derivatives Transactions,” federal legislation has been recently enacted in the U.S. that provides for new clearing, margin, reporting and registration requirements for participants in the derivatives market. While the ultimate impact is not yet clear, these changes could restrict and/or impose significant costs or other burdens upon the Fund’s ability to participate in derivatives transactions. Similarly, these changes could impose limits or restrictions on the counterparties with which the Fund engages in derivatives transactions. As a result, the Fund may be unable to use certain derivative instruments or otherwise execute its investment strategy. These risks may be particularly acute to the extent the Fund use commodity-related derivative instruments.

Options on Securities and Indexes. The Fund may purchase and sell both put and call options on equity, fixed income or other securities or indexes in standardized contracts traded on foreign or domestic securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities, or quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (“NASDAQ”) System or on a regulated foreign OTC market, and agreements, sometimes called cash puts, which may accompany the purchase of a new issue of bonds from a dealer. Among other reasons, the Fund may purchase put options to protect holdings in an underlying or related security against a decline in market value, and may purchase call options to protect against increases in the prices of securities it intends to purchase pending its ability to invest in such securities in an orderly manner.

An option on a security (or index) is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the security underlying the option (or the cash value of the index) at a specified exercise price, often at any time during the term of the option for American options or only at expiration for European options. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price (in the case of a call) or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security (in the case of a put). Certain put options written by the Fund, which counterparties may use as a source of liquidity, may be structured to have an exercise price that is less than the market value of the underlying securities that would be received by the Fund. Upon exercise, the writer of an option on an index is obligated to pay the difference between the cash value of the index and the exercise price multiplied by the specified multiplier for the index option. An index is designed to reflect features of a particular financial or securities market, a specific group of financial instruments or securities, or certain economic indicators.

 

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The Fund will “cover” its obligations when it writes call options or put options. In the case of a call option on a debt obligation or other security, the option is “covered” if the Fund owns the security underlying the call or has an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or other assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees in such amount are segregated by its custodian or “earmarked”) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by the Fund. A call option on a security is also “covered” if the Fund does not hold the underlying security or have the right to acquire it, but the Fund segregates or “earmarks” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees in an amount equal to the value of the underlying security (minus any collateral deposited with a broker-dealer or other financial institution), on a mark-to-market basis (a so-called “naked” call option).

For a call option on an index, the option is covered if the Fund maintains with its custodian assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees in an amount equal to the Fund’s net obligation under the option. A call option is also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security or index as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated or “earmarked” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. A put option on a security or an index is “covered” if the Fund segregates or “earmarks” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees equal to the exercise price. A put option is also covered if the Fund holds a put on the same security or index as the put written where the exercise price of the put held is (i) equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written, or (ii) less than the exercise price of the put written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated or “earmarked” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. Obligations under written call and put options so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restrictions concerning senior securities and borrowings.

If an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital gain equal to the premium received at the time the option was written. If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital loss equal to the premium paid. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange-traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, exchange, underlying security or index, exercise price, and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund desires. In addition, the Fund may sell put or call options it has previously purchased, which could result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount realized on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put or call option which is sold. Prior to the exercise or expiration, an option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series.

The Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if it is more, the Fund will realize a capital loss. If the premium received from a closing sale transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, the Fund will realize a capital gain or, if it is less, the Fund will realize a capital loss. The principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the underlying security or index in relation to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying security or index, and the time remaining until the expiration date.

 

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The premium paid for a put or call option purchased by the Fund is an asset of the Fund. The premium received for an option written by the Fund is recorded as a deferred credit. The value of an option purchased or written is marked to market daily and is valued in accordance with the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures. See “Net Asset Value” below.

The Fund may write covered straddles consisting of a combination of a call and a put written on the same underlying security. A straddle will be covered when sufficient liquid assets are deposited to meet the Fund’s immediate obligations. The Fund may use the same liquid assets to cover both the call and put options where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Fund will also segregate or “earmark” liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is “in the money.”

OTC Options. The staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased OTC options and the assets used as cover for written OTC options should generally be treated as illiquid. However, the staff of the SEC has also taken the position that the determination of whether a particular instrument is liquid should be made under guidelines and standards established by a fund’s board of trustees. The SEC staff has provided examples of factors that may be taken into account in determining whether a particular instrument should be treated as liquid. Pursuant to policies adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, purchased OTC options and the assets used as cover for OTC options written by the Fund may be treated as liquid under certain circumstances, such as when PIMCO has the contractual right to terminate or close out the OTC option on behalf of the Fund within seven days. These policies are not fundamental policies of the Fund and may be changed or modified by the Board of Trustees without the approval of shareholders, provided that any such change or modification will be consistent with applicable positions of the SEC staff.

Risks Associated with Options on Securities and Indexes. There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities and on indexes. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events.

During the option period, the covered call writer has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying security above the exercise price, but, as long as its obligation as a writer continues, has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option often has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying security at the exercise price. To the extent the Fund writes a put option, the Fund has assumed the obligation during the option period to purchase the underlying investment from the put buyer at the option’s exercise price if the put buyer exercises its option, regardless of whether the value of the underlying investment falls below the exercise price. This means that the Fund that writes a put

 

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option may be required to take delivery of the underlying investment and make payment for such investment at the exercise price. This may result in losses to the Fund and may result in the Fund holding the underlying investment for some period of time when it is disadvantageous to do so. If a put or call option purchased by the Fund is not sold when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying security remains equal to or greater than the exercise price (in the case of a put), or remains less than or equal to the exercise price (in the case of a call), the Fund will lose its entire investment in the option. Also, where a put or call option on a particular security is purchased to hedge against price movements in a related security, the price of the put or call option may move more or less than the price of the related security.

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when the Fund seeks to close out an option position. If the Fund were unable to close out an option that it had purchased on a security, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless. If the Fund were unable to close out a covered call option that it had written on a security, it would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise. As the writer of a covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the exercise price of the call.

If trading were suspended in an option purchased by the Fund, the Fund would not be able to close out the option. If restrictions on exercise were imposed, the Fund might be unable to exercise an option it has purchased. Except to the extent that a call option on an index written by the Fund is covered by an option on the same index purchased by the Fund, movements in the index may result in a loss to the Fund; however, such losses may be mitigated by changes in the value of the Fund’s securities during the period the option was outstanding.

To the extent that the Fund writes a call option on a security it holds in its portfolio and intends to use such security as the sole means of “covering” its obligation under the call option, the Fund has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying security above the exercise price during the option period, but, as long as its obligation under such call option continues, has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. If the Fund were unable to close out such a call option, the Fund would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise.

Foreign Currency Options. To the extent the Fund invests in foreign currency-denominated securities, it may buy or sell put and call options on foreign currencies as a hedge against changes in the value of the U.S. dollar (or another currency) in relation to a foreign currency in which the Fund’s securities may be denominated. In addition, each of the Fund may buy or sell put and call options on foreign currencies either on exchanges or in the OTC market. A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires. Currency options traded on U.S. or other exchanges may be subject to position limits which may limit the ability of the Fund to reduce foreign currency risk using such options. OTC options differ from traded options in that they are bilateral contracts with price and other terms negotiated between buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-traded options. Under definitions adopted by the CFTC and SEC, many foreign currency options are considered swaps for certain purposes, including determination of whether such instruments need to be exchange-traded and centrally cleared as discussed further in “Risks of Potential Government Regulation of Derivatives.”

 

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Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a security or other asset for a set price on a future date. These contracts are traded on exchanges, so that, in most cases, a party can close out its position on the exchange for cash, without delivering the underlying security or other underlying asset. An option on a futures contract gives the holder of the option the right to buy or sell a position in a futures contract from or to the writer of the option, at a specified price and on or before a specified expiration date. The Fund may invest in futures or options on futures with respect to interest rates, foreign currencies, securities or commodity indexes. The Fund may invest in foreign exchange futures contracts and options thereon (“futures options”) that are traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange or board of trade, or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system as an adjunct to their securities activities. In addition, the Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts on various securities indexes (“Index Futures”) and related options for hedging purposes and for investment purposes. The Fund purchase and sale of Index Futures is limited to contracts and exchanges which have been approved by the CFTC. Through the use of Index Futures and related options, the Fund may diversify risk in its portfolio without incurring the substantial brokerage costs which may be associated with investment in the securities of multiple issuers. The Fund may also avoid potential market and liquidity problems which may result from increases in positions already held by the Fund.

An interest rate, commodity, foreign currency or index futures contract provides for the future sale or purchase of a specified quantity of a financial instrument, commodity, foreign currency or the cash value of an index at a specified price and time. An Index Future is an agreement pursuant to which a party agrees to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of a securities index (“Index”) at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index contract was originally written. Although the value of an Index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, no physical delivery of these securities is made. A unit is the value of the relevant Index from time to time. Entering into a contract to buy units is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position in an Index. Index Futures contracts can be traded through all major commodity brokers. The Fund will ordinarily be able to close open positions on the futures exchange on which Index Futures are then traded at any time up to and including the expiration day. As described below, the Fund will be required to segregate initial margin in the name of the futures broker upon entering into an Index Future. Variation margin will be paid to and received from the broker on a daily basis as the contracts are marked to market. For example, when the Fund has purchased an Index Future and the price of the relevant Index has risen, that position will have increased in value and the Fund will receive from the broker a variation margin payment equal to that increase in value. Conversely, when the Fund has purchased an Index Future and the price of the relevant Index has declined, the position would be less valuable and the Fund would be required to make a variation margin payment to the broker.

The Fund may close open positions on the futures exchanges on which Index Futures are traded at any time up to and including the expiration day. All positions which remain open at the close of the last business day of the contract’s life are required to settle on the next business day (based upon the value of the relevant index on the expiration day), with settlement made with the appropriate clearing house. Positions in Index Futures may be closed out by the Fund only on the futures exchanges upon which the Index Futures are then traded.

 

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A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of indexes as well as financial instruments and foreign currencies, including, but not limited to: the S&P 500; the S&P Midcap 400; the Nikkei 225; the Markit CDX credit index; the iTraxx credit index; U.S. Treasury bonds; U.S. Treasury notes; U.S. Treasury bills; 90-day commercial paper; bank certificates of deposit; Eurodollar certificates of deposit; the Australian dollar; the Canadian dollar; the British pound; the Japanese yen; the Swiss franc; the Mexican peso; and certain multinational currencies, such as the euro. It is expected that other futures contracts will be developed and traded in the future. Certain futures contracts on indexes, financial instruments or foreign currencies may represent new investment products that lack track records.

The Fund might use financial futures contracts to hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates that might adversely affect either the value of the Fund’s securities or the price of the securities which the Fund intends to purchase. The Fund’s hedging activities may include sales of futures contracts as an offset against the effect of expected increases in interest rates, and purchases of futures contracts as an offset against the effect of expected declines in interest rates. Although other techniques could be used to reduce the Fund’s exposure to interest rate fluctuations, the Fund may be able to hedge its exposure more effectively and perhaps at a lower cost by using futures contracts and futures options.

The Fund may also invest in commodity futures contracts and options thereon. A commodity futures contract is an agreement to buy or sell a commodity, such as an energy, agricultural or metal commodity at a later date at a price and quantity agreed-upon when the contract is bought or sold.

The Fund may purchase and write call and put futures options. Futures options possess many of the same characteristics as options on securities and indexes (discussed above). A futures option gives the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true. A call option is “in the money” if the value of the futures contract that is the subject of the option exceeds the exercise price. A put option is “in the money” if the exercise price exceeds the value of the futures contract that is the subject of the option.

When a purchase or sale of a futures contract is made by the Fund, the Fund is required to segregate a specified amount of assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees (“initial margin”). The margin required for a futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded and may be modified during the term of the contract. Margin requirements on foreign exchanges may be different than U.S. exchanges. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract which is returned to the Fund upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The Fund expects to earn interest income on its initial margin deposits. A futures contract held by the Fund is valued daily at the official settlement price of the exchange on which it is traded. Each day the Fund pays or receives cash, called “variation margin,” equal to the daily change in value of the futures

 

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contract. This process is known as “marking to market.” Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by the Fund but is instead a settlement between the Fund and the broker of the amount one would owe the other if the futures contract expired. In computing daily net asset value, the Fund will mark to market its open futures positions.

The Fund is also required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it. Such margin deposits will vary depending on the nature of the underlying futures contract (and the related initial margin requirements), the current market value of the option, and other futures positions held by the Fund.

Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying securities or commodities, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (i.e., with the same exchange, underlying security or index, and delivery month). Closing out a futures contract sale is effected by purchasing an offsetting futures contract for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument or commodity with the same delivery date. If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is more, the Fund realizes a capital loss.

Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. Any transaction costs must also be included in these calculations.

The Fund may write covered straddles consisting of a call and a put written on the same underlying futures contract. A straddle will be covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet the Fund’s immediate obligations. The Fund may use the same liquid assets to cover both the call and put options where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Fund will also segregate liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is “in the money.”

Limitations on Use of Futures and Futures Options. When purchasing a futures contract, the Fund may but is not required to “earmark” or maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract. Alternatively, the Fund may “cover” its position by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held by the Fund.

When selling a futures contract, the Fund may but is not required to maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees that are equal to the market value of the instruments underlying the contract. Alternatively, the Fund may “cover” its position by owning the instruments underlying the contract (or, in the case of an Index Future, a portfolio with a volatility substantially similar to that of the Index on which the futures contract is based), or by holding a call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same futures contract at a price no higher than the price of the contract written by the Fund (or at a higher price if the difference is maintained in liquid assets with the Fund’s custodian).

When selling a call option on a futures contract, the Fund may but is not required to “earmark” or maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees that, when

 

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added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, equal the total market value of the futures contract underlying the call option. Alternatively, the Fund may cover its position by entering into a long position in the same futures contract at a price no higher than the strike price of the call option, by owning the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by holding a separate call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same futures contract at a price not higher than the strike price of the call option sold by the Fund.

When selling a put option on a futures contract, the Fund may but is not required to “earmark” or maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees that equal the purchase price of the futures contract, less any margin on deposit. Alternatively, the Fund may cover the position either by entering into a short position in the same futures contract, or by owning a separate put option permitting it to sell the same futures contract so long as the strike price of the purchased put option is the same or higher than the strike price of the put option sold by the Fund.

With respect to futures contracts that “physically settle,” the Fund may cover the open position by setting aside or “earmarking” liquid assets in an amount equal to the full notional value of the futures contract. With respect to futures that are required to “cash settle,” however, the Fund is permitted to set aside or “earmark” liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily mark-to-market (net) obligation, if any, (in other words, the Fund’s daily net liability, if any) rather than the full notional value of the futures contract. By setting aside or “earmarking” assets equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled futures, the Fund will have the ability to utilize these contracts to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate or “earmark” assets equal to the full notional value of the futures contract.

To the extent that securities with maturities greater than one year are used to segregate liquid assets to cover the Fund’s obligations under futures contracts and related options, such use will not eliminate the leverage risk arising from such use, which may tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of the Fund’s portfolio, and may require liquidation of portfolio positions when it is not advantageous to do so. However, any potential risk of leverage resulting from the use of securities with maturities greater than one year may be mitigated by the overall duration limit on the Fund’s portfolio securities. Thus, the use of a longer term security may require the Fund to hold offsetting short-term securities to balance the Fund’s portfolio such that the Fund’s duration does not exceed the maximum permitted for the Fund in the Prospectus.

The Fund will only enter into futures contracts and futures options which are standardized and traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade, or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system, or in the case of futures options, for which an established OTC exists.

The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company also may limit the extent to which the Fund may enter into futures, futures options or forward contracts.

Commodity Pool Operators and Commodity Trading Advisors. The CFTC has adopted regulations that subject registered investment companies and their investment advisers to regulation by the CFTC if the registered investment company invests more than a prescribed level of its liquidation value in futures, options on futures or commodities, swaps, or other

 

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financial instruments regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act (“commodity interests”), or if the Fund markets itself as providing investment exposure to such instruments. As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the Fund and/or PIMCO has claimed an exclusion from commodity pool operator (“CPO”) registration pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Fund. To remain eligible for this exclusion the Fund must comply with certain limitations, including limits on its ability to use any commodity interests and limits on the manner in which the Fund holds out its use of such commodity interests. These limitations may restrict the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategy, increase the costs of implementing its strategy, increase expenses of the Fund, and/or adversely affect the Fund’s total return.

Risks Associated with Futures and Futures Options. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts and futures options as hedging techniques. A purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the futures contract. Some of the risk may be caused by an imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the futures contract and the price of the security or other investment being hedged. The hedge will not be fully effective where there is such imperfect correlation. Also, an incorrect correlation could result in a loss on both the hedged securities in the Fund and the hedging vehicle, so that the portfolio return might have been greater had hedging not been attempted. For example, if the price of the futures contract moves more than the price of the hedged security, the Fund would experience either a loss or gain on the future which is not completely offset by movements in the price of the hedged securities. In addition, there are significant differences between the securities and futures markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between the markets, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objective. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends on circumstances such as variations in speculative market demand for futures and futures options on securities, including technical influences in futures trading and futures options, and differences between the financial instruments being hedged and the instruments underlying the standard contracts available for trading in such respects as interest rate levels, maturities, and creditworthiness of issuers. To compensate for imperfect correlations, the Fund may purchase or sell futures contracts in a greater dollar amount than the hedged securities if the volatility of the hedged securities is historically greater than the volatility of the futures contracts. Conversely, the Fund may purchase or sell fewer contracts if the volatility of the price of the hedged securities is historically less than that of the futures contracts. The risk of imperfect correlation generally tends to diminish as the maturity date of the futures contract approaches. A decision as to whether, when and how to hedge involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected interest rate trends. Also, suitable hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances.

Additionally, the price of Index Futures may not correlate perfectly with movement in the relevant index due to certain market distortions. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions which could distort the normal relationship between the index and futures markets. Second, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market, and as a result, the futures market may attract more speculators than does the securities market. Increased participation by speculators in the futures market may also cause temporary price distortions. In addition, trading hours for foreign stock Index Futures may not correspond perfectly to hours of trading on the foreign exchange to which a particular foreign stock Index Future relates. This may result in a disparity between the price of Index Futures and the value of the relevant index due to the lack of continuous arbitrage between the Index Futures price and the value of the underlying index.

 

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Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of the current trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when the Fund seeks to close out a futures or a futures option position, and that the Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. In addition, many of the contracts discussed above are relatively new instruments without a significant trading history. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active secondary market will develop or continue to exist.

Risks Associated with Commodity Futures Contracts. There are several additional risks associated with transactions in commodity futures contracts.

Storage. Unlike the financial futures markets, in the commodity futures markets there are costs of physical storage associated with purchasing the underlying commodity. The price of the commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity, including the time value of money invested in the physical commodity. To the extent that the storage costs for an underlying commodity change while the Fund is invested in futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately.

Reinvestment. In the commodity futures markets, producers of the underlying commodity may decide to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity by selling futures contracts today to lock in the price of the commodity at delivery tomorrow. In order to induce speculators to purchase the other side of the same futures contract, the commodity producer generally must sell the futures contract at a lower price than the expected future spot price. Conversely, if most hedgers in the futures market are purchasing futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only sell the other side of the futures contract at a higher futures price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the commodity markets will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price, which can have significant implications for the Fund. If the nature of hedgers and speculators in futures markets has shifted when it is time for the Fund to reinvest the proceeds of a maturing contract in a new futures contract, the Fund might reinvest at higher or lower futures prices, or choose to pursue other investments.

Other Economic Factors. The commodities which underlie commodity futures contracts may be subject to additional economic and non-economic variables, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political and regulatory developments. These factors may have a larger impact on commodity prices and

 

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commodity-linked instruments, including futures contracts, than on traditional securities. Certain commodities are also subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors. Others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of the prices for certain raw materials and the instability of supplies of other materials. These additional variables may create additional investment risks which subject the Fund’s investments to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.

Additional Risks of Options on Securities, Futures Contracts, Options on Futures Contracts and Forward Currency Exchange Contracts and Options Thereon. Options on securities, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and options on currencies may be traded on non-U.S. exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States; may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees; and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, non-U.S. securities. Some non-U.S. exchanges may be principal markets so that no common clearing facility exists and a trader may look only to the broker for performance of the contract. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex non-U.S. political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in non-U.S. markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States and (v) lesser trading volume. In addition, to the extent that the Fund does not hedge against fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which trading is done on non-U.S. exchanges, any profits that the Fund might realize in trading could be eliminated by adverse changes in the exchange rate, or the Fund could incur losses as a result of those changes. The value of some derivative instruments in which the Fund may invest may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and, like the other investments of the Fund, the ability of the Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of PIMCO to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. If PIMCO incorrectly forecasts such factors and has taken positions in derivative instruments contrary to prevailing market trends, the Fund could suffer losses. In addition, the Fund’s use of such instruments may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed to shareholders at the rate applicable to ordinary income) than if the Fund had not used such instruments.

Swap Agreements and Options on Swap Agreements. The Fund may engage in swap transactions, including, but not limited to, swap agreements on interest rates, security or commodity indexes, specific securities and commodities, and credit and event-linked swaps. To the extent the Fund may invest in foreign currency denominated securities, it may also invest in currency exchange rate swap agreements. The Fund may also enter into options on swap agreements (“swaptions”).

The Fund may enter into swap transactions for any legal purpose consistent with its investment objectives and policies, such as attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in a more cost-efficient manner.

 

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Swap agreements are bilateral contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to a number of years. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of types of investments or market factors. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” such as the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate, in a particular foreign currency, or in a “basket” of securities or commodities representing a particular index. Forms of swap agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. Consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and general investment policies, certain of the Fund may invest in commodity swap agreements. For example, an investment in a commodity swap agreement may involve the exchange of floating-rate interest payments for the total return on a commodity index. In a total return commodity swap, the Fund will receive the price appreciation of a commodity index, a portion of the index, or a single commodity in exchange for paying an agreed-upon fee. If the commodity swap is for one period, the Fund may pay a fixed fee, established at the outset of the swap. However, if the term of the commodity swap is more than one period, with interim swap payments, the Fund may pay an adjustable or floating fee. With a “floating” rate, the fee may be pegged to a base rate, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate, and is adjusted each period. Therefore, if interest rates increase over the term of the swap contract, the Fund may be required to pay a higher fee at each swap reset date. A swaption is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. The Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swaptions.

Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund would calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the segregation of assets determined to be liquid by

PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, to avoid any potential leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio. Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities and borrowings.

The Fund also may enter into OTC and cleared credit default swap agreements. The credit default swap agreement may reference one or more debt securities or obligations that are not currently held by the Fund. The protection “buyer” in an OTC credit default contract is generally obligated to pay the protection “seller” an upfront or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract until a credit event, such as a default, on a reference obligation has

 

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occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity described in the swap, or the seller may be required to deliver the related net cash amount if the swap is cash settled. The Fund may be either the buyer or seller in the transaction. If the Fund is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer may receive the full notional value of the swap in exchange for an equal face amount of deliverable obligations of the reference entity whose value may have significantly decreased.

As a seller, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. As the seller, the Fund would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap.

The spread of a credit default swap is the annual amount the protection buyer must pay the protection seller over the length of the contract, expressed as a percentage of the notional amount. When spreads rise, market perceived credit risk rises and when spreads fall, market perceived credit risk falls. Wider credit spreads and decreasing market values, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the credit soundness of the issuer of the reference obligation and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. For credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values, as well as the annual payment rate, serve as an indication of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

Credit default swap agreements sold by the Fund may involve greater risks than if the Fund had invested in the reference obligation directly since, in addition to general market risks, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, and with respect to OTC credit default swaps, counterparty risk and credit risk. The Fund will enter into uncleared credit default swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. A buyer generally also will lose its investment and recover nothing should no credit event occur and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the upfront or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value it pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the seller. The Fund’s obligations under a credit default swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owing to the Fund). In connection with credit default swaps in which the Fund is the buyer, the Fund will segregate or “earmark” cash or assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, or enter into certain offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the Fund’s exposure (any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed by the Fund to any counterparty), on a mark-to-market basis. In connection with credit default swaps in which the Fund is the seller, the Fund will segregate or “earmark” cash or assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, or enter into offsetting positions, with a value at least equal to the full notional amount of the Fund’s obligation under the swap. Such segregation or “earmarking” seeks to ensure that the Fund has assets available to satisfy its obligations with respect to the transaction and could have the effect of limiting any potential leveraging of the Fund’s portfolio. Such segregation or “earmarking” will not limit the Fund’s exposure to loss.

 

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Recent legislative and regulatory reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Act, have resulted in new regulation of swap agreements, including clearing, margin, reporting, recordkeeping and registration requirements for certain types of swaps contracts and other derivatives, including among others interest rate swaps and credit default swaps. Because these requirements are new and evolving, and certain of the rules are not yet final, its ultimate impact remains unclear. New regulations could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in swap transactions (for example, by making certain types of swap transactions no longer available to the Fund) and/or increase the costs of such swap transactions (for example, by increasing margin or capital requirements), and the Fund may as a result be unable to execute its investment strategies in a manner PIMCO might otherwise choose. New rules under the Dodd-Frank Act require certain OTC derivatives, including certain interest rate swaps and certain credit default swaps, to be executed on a regulated market and cleared through a central counterparty, which may result in increased margin requirements and costs for the Fund. It is also unclear how the regulatory changes will affect counterparty risk. See “Risks of Potential Government Regulation of Derivatives” and “Additional Risk Factors in Cleared Derivatives Transactions” below for further detail.

Additionally, U.S. regulators recently issued final rules under the Dodd-Frank Act that establish minimum margin and capital requirements for uncleared OTC derivatives transactions that will have a material impact on the Fund’s use of uncleared derivatives. These rules will impose minimum margin requirements on derivatives transactions between the Fund and their swap counterparties and may increase the amount of margin the Fund is required to provide. They will impose regulatory requirements on the timing of transferring margin, which may accelerate the Fund’s current margin process. They will also effectively require changes to typical derivatives margin documentation.

Whether the Fund’s use of swap agreements or swaptions will be successful in furthering its investment objectives will depend on PIMCO’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The Fund will enter into OTC swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. Certain restrictions imposed on the Fund by the Code may limit the Fund’s ability to use swap agreements. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including additional government regulation, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Like most other investments, swap agreements are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to the Fund’s interest. The Fund bears the risk of future market trends or the values of assets, reference rates, indexes, or other economic factors. If the Fund uses a swap as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the Fund will be exposed to the risk that the swap will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the Fund. While hedging strategies involving swap instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other Fund investments.

Many swaps are complex and often valued subjectively. Many OTC derivatives are complex and their valuation often requires modeling and judgment, which increases the risk of mispricing or

 

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incorrect valuation. The pricing models used may not produce valuations that are consistent with the values the Fund realizes when it closes or sells an over-the-counter derivative. Valuation risk is more pronounced when the Fund enters into OTC derivatives with specialized terms because the market value of those derivatives in some cases is determined in part by reference to similar derivatives with more standardized terms. Incorrect valuations may result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties, undercollateralization and/or errors in calculation of the Fund’s net asset value.

Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques, risk analyses, and tax planning different from those associated with traditional investments. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions. Swap agreements may be subject to liquidity risk, which exists when a particular swap is difficult to purchase or sell. If a swap transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid (as is the case with many OTC swaps), it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

Because OTC swap agreements are bilateral contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. To the extent that a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

Moreover, the Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The Fund will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. When a counterparty’s obligations are not fully secured by collateral, then the Fund is essentially an unsecured creditor of the counterparty. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund will have contractual remedies, but there is no assurance that a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations pursuant to such contracts or that, in the event of default, the Fund will succeed in enforcing contractual remedies. Counterparty risk still exists even if a counterparty’s obligations are secured by collateral because the Fund’s interest in collateral may not be perfected or additional collateral may not be promptly posted as required. Counterparty risk also may be more pronounced if a counterparty’s obligations exceed the amount of collateral held by the Fund (if any), the Fund is unable to exercise its interest in collateral upon default by the counterparty, or the termination value of the instrument varies significantly from the marked-to-market value of the instrument.

Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, the Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swaption than it will incur when it purchases a swaption. When the Fund purchases a swaption, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when the Fund writes a swaption, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

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

 

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Structured Notes. The Fund may invest in “structured” notes and other related instruments, which are privately negotiated debt obligations with respect to which the principal and/ or interest is determined by reference to the performance of a benchmark asset, market or interest rate (an “embedded index”), such as specific securities, an index of securities or specified interest rates, or the differential performance of two assets or markets, such as indexes reflecting bonds. Structured instruments may be issued by corporations, including banks, as well as by governmental agencies. Structured instruments frequently are assembled in the form of medium-term notes, but a variety of forms are available and may be used in particular circumstances. The terms of such structured instruments normally provide that their principal and/or interest payments are to be adjusted upwards or downwards (but ordinarily not below zero) to reflect changes in the embedded index while the structured instruments are outstanding. As a result, the interest and/or principal payments that may be made on a structured product may vary widely, depending on a variety of factors, including the volatility of the embedded index and the effect of changes in the embedded index on principal and/or interest payments. The rate of return on structured notes may be determined by applying a multiplier to the performance or differential performance of the referenced index(es) or other asset(s). Application of a multiplier involves leverage that will serve to magnify the potential for gain and the risk of loss.

The Fund may use structured instruments for investment purposes and also for risk management purposes, such as to reduce the duration and interest rate sensitivity of the Fund’s portfolio, and for leveraging purposes. While structured instruments may offer the potential for a favorable rate of return from time to time, they also entail certain risks. Structured instruments may be less liquid than other debt securities, and the price of structured instruments may be more volatile. In some cases, depending on the terms of the embedded index, a structured instrument may provide that the principal and/or interest payments may be adjusted below zero. Structured instruments also may involve significant credit risk and risk of default by the counterparty. Structured instruments may also be illiquid. Like other sophisticated strategies, the Fund’s use of structured instruments may not work as intended. If the value of the embedded index changes in a manner other than that expected by PIMCO, principal and/or interest payments received on the structured instrument may be substantially less than expected. Also, if PIMCO chooses to use structured instruments to reduce the duration of the Fund’s portfolio, this may limit the Fund’s return when having a longer duration would be beneficial (for instance, when interest rates decline).

Risks of Potential Government Regulation of Derivatives. It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent the Fund from using such instruments as a part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent the Fund from being able to achieve its investment objectives. It is impossible to fully predict the effects of past, present or future legislation and regulation in this area, but the effects could be substantial and adverse.

The futures markets are subject to comprehensive statutes, regulations, and margin requirements. In addition, the SEC, CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency, including, for example, the implementation or reduction of speculative position limits, the implementation of higher margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading.

 

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The regulation of swaps and futures transactions in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. There is a possibility of future regulatory changes altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in the Fund or the ability of the Fund to continue to implement its investment strategies. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act sets forth a legislative framework for OTC derivatives, such as swaps, in which the Fund may invest. Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act makes broad changes to the OTC derivatives market, grants significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to regulate OTC derivatives and market participants, and, among other things, requires clearing of many OTC derivatives transactions and imposes minimum margin and capital requirements on uncleared OTC derivatives transactions.

In addition, in December 2015, the SEC proposed new regulations applicable to registered investment companies’ use of derivatives and related instruments. If adopted as proposed, these regulations could significantly limit or impact the Fund’s ability to invest in derivatives and other instruments, limit the Fund’s ability to employ certain strategies that use such instruments, and/or adversely affect the Fund’s performance, efficiency in implementing its strategy, liquidity and/or ability to pursue its investment objectives.

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

In many ways, centrally cleared derivative arrangements are less favorable to mutual funds than bilateral arrangements. For example, the Fund may be required to provide greater amounts of margin for cleared derivatives transactions than for bilateral derivatives transactions. Also, in contrast to bilateral derivatives transactions, following a period of notice to the Fund, a clearing member generally can require termination of existing cleared derivatives transactions at any time or increases in margin requirements above the margin that the clearing member required at the beginning of a transaction. Clearing houses also have broad rights to increase margin requirements for existing transactions or to terminate transactions at any time. Any increase in margin requirements or termination by the clearing member or the clearing house could interfere with the ability of the Fund to pursue its investment strategy. Further, any increase in margin requirements by a clearing member could also expose the Fund to greater credit risk to its clearing member, because margin for cleared derivatives transactions in excess of clearing house margin requirements typically is held by the clearing member. Also, the Fund is subject to risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared (or that PIMCO expects to be cleared), and no clearing member is willing or able to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. While the documentation in place between the Fund and its clearing members generally provides that the clearing members will accept for clearing all transactions submitted for clearing that are within credit limits (specified in advance) for the Fund, the Fund is still subject to the risk that no clearing member will be willing or able to clear a transaction. In those cases, the transaction

 

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might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of the transaction, including loss of an increase in the value of the transaction and/or loss of hedging protection offered by the transaction. In addition, the documentation governing the relationship between the Fund and the clearing members is developed by the clearing members and generally is less favorable to the Fund than typical bilateral derivatives documentation. For example, this documentation generally includes a one-way indemnity by the Fund in favor of the clearing member, indemnifying the clearing member against losses it incurs in connection with acting as the Fund’s clearing member, and the documentation typically does not give the Fund any rights to exercise remedies if the clearing member defaults or becomes insolvent.

Some types of cleared derivatives are required to be executed on an exchange or on a swap execution facility (a “SEF”). A SEF is a trading platform where multiple market participants can execute derivatives by accepting bids and offers made by multiple other participants in the platform. This execution requirement may make it more difficult and costly for funds, such as the Fund, to enter into highly tailored or customized transactions. Trading swaps on a SEF may offer certain advantages over traditional bilateral OTC trading, such as ease of execution, price transparency, increased liquidity and/or favorable pricing. Execution through a SEF is not, however, without additional costs and risks, as parties are required to comply with SEF and CFTC rules and regulations, including disclosure and recordkeeping obligations, and SEF rights of inspection, among others. SEFs typically charge fees, and if the Fund executes derivatives on a swap execution facility through a broker intermediary, the intermediary may impose fees as well. The Fund also may be required to indemnify a SEF, or a broker intermediary who executes swaps on a SEF on the Fund’s behalf, against any losses or costs that may be incurred as a result of the Fund’s transactions on the SEF. In addition, the Fund may be subject to execution risk if it enters into a derivatives transaction that is required to be cleared, and no clearing member is willing to clear the transaction on the Fund’s behalf. In that case, the transaction might have to be terminated, and the Fund could lose some or all of the benefit of any increase in the value of the transaction after the time of the trade.

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

A Note on Commodity-Linked Derivatives. The Fund may seek to gain exposure to the commodity markets by investing in commodity-linked derivative instruments, swap transactions, or index-linked or commodity linked structured notes.

The value of a commodity-linked derivative investment generally is based upon the price movements of a physical commodity (such as energy, mineral, or agricultural products), a commodity futures contract or commodity index, or other economic variable based upon changes in the value of commodities or the commodities markets. Swap transactions are privately

 

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negotiated agreements between the Fund and a counterparty to exchange or swap investment cash flows or assets at specified intervals in the future. The obligations may extend beyond one year. There is no central exchange or market for swap transactions and therefore they are less liquid investments than exchange-traded instruments. The Fund bears the risk that the counterparty could default under a swap agreement. See “Swap Agreements and Options on Swap Agreements” above for further detail about swap transactions. Further, the Fund may invest in derivative debt instruments with principal and/or coupon payments linked to the value of commodities, commodity futures contracts or the performance of commodity indices. These are “commodity-linked” or “index-linked” notes, and are sometimes referred to as “structured notes” because the terms of the debt instrument may be structured by the issuer of the note and the purchaser of the note. See “Structured Notes” above for further discussion of these notes.

The value of these notes will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity or related index of investment. These notes expose the Fund economically to movements in commodity prices. These notes also are subject to risks, such as credit, market and interest rate risks, that in general affect the values of debt securities. Therefore, at the maturity of the note, the Fund may receive more or less principal that it originally invested. The Fund might receive interest payments on the note that are more or less than the stated coupon interest payments.

The Fund’s investments in commodity-linked instruments may bear on or be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code. See “Taxation.”

Asset Segregation. Certain of the transactions described above can be viewed as constituting a form of borrowing or financing transaction by the Fund. In such event, the Fund will cover its commitment under such transactions by segregating or “earmarking” assets in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, in which case such transactions will not be considered “senior securities” by the Fund. With respect to forwards, futures contracts, options and swaps that are contractually required to cash settle (i.e., where physical delivery of the underlying reference asset is not permitted), the Fund is permitted to segregate or earmark liquid assets equal to the Fund’s daily marked-to-market net obligation under the derivative instrument, if any, rather than the derivative’s full notional value, but may segregate full notional value, as applicable, with respect to other derivative instruments (including written credit default swaps and written options) that contractually require or permit physical delivery of securities or other underlying assets. By segregating or earmarking liquid assets equal to only its net marked-to-market obligation under derivatives that are required to cash settle, the Fund will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if the Fund were to segregate or earmark liquid assets equal to the full notional value of the derivative.

Hybrid Instruments

The Fund may invest in “hybrid” or indexed securities, which is a type of potentially high-risk derivative that combines a traditional stock, bond, or commodity with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a hybrid is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a “benchmark”). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid security may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark. An example of a hybrid could be a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid instrument would be a combination of a bond and a call option on oil.

 

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Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of pursuing a variety of investment goals, including currency hedging, duration management and increased total return. Hybrids may not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as commodity shortages and currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. Thus, an investment in a hybrid may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional, U.S. dollar-denominated bond that has a fixed principal amount and pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest. The purchase of hybrids also exposes the Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the hybrids. These risks may cause significant fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund.

Certain hybrid instruments may provide exposure to the commodities markets. These are derivative securities with one or more commodity-linked components that have payment features similar to commodity futures contracts, commodity options, or similar instruments. Commodity-linked hybrid instruments may be either equity or fixed income securities and are considered hybrid instruments because they have both security and commodity-like characteristics. A portion of the value of these instruments may be derived from the value of a commodity, futures contract, index or other economic variable. The Fund will only invest in commodity-linked hybrid instruments that qualify under applicable rules of the CFTC for an exemption from the provisions of the CEA.

Certain issuers of structured products such as hybrid instruments may be deemed to be investment companies, as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, the Fund’s investments in these products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies and may be subject to other restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act. In addition, the Fund’s investments in these products may be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company, and may limit the Fund’s ability to so qualify.

Leverage and Borrowing

The Fund currently intends, subject to favorable market conditions, to add leverage to its portfolio by issuing preferred shares and may also choose to add leverage through the use of tender option bonds, reverse repurchase agreements, credit default swaps, dollar rolls or borrowings, such as through bank loans or commercial paper and/or other credit facilities. The Fund may also enter into transactions other than those noted above that may give rise to a form of leverage including, among others, futures and forward contracts (including foreign currency exchange contracts), total return swaps and other derivative transactions, loans of portfolio securities, short sales and when-issued, delayed delivery and forward commitment transactions.

The Fund intends to issue preferred shares and utilize tender option bonds and other forms of leverage opportunistically and may choose to increase or decrease, or eliminate entirely, its use of leverage over time and from time to time based on PIMCO’s assessment of the yield curve environment, interest rate trends, market conditions and other factors. The net proceeds the Fund obtains from the issuance of preferred shares or the use of tender option bonds or other forms of

 

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leverage will be invested in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies as described in the Prospectus. So long as the rate of return, net of applicable Fund expenses, on the debt obligations and other investments purchased by the Fund exceeds the costs to the Fund of the leverage it utilizes, the investment of the Fund’s assets attributable to leverage will generate more income than will be needed to pay the costs of the leverage. If so, and all other things being equal, the excess may be used to pay higher dividends to Common Shareholders than if the Fund were not so leveraged.

Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to issue preferred shares unless, immediately after such issuance, the value of the Fund’s total net assets (as defined below) is at least 200% of the liquidation value of any outstanding preferred shares and the newly issued preferred shares plus the aggregate amount of any senior securities of the Fund representing indebtedness (i.e., such liquidation value plus the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness may not exceed 50% of the Fund’s total net assets). In addition, should preferred shares be issued, the Fund would not be permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, the value of the Fund’s total net assets satisfies the above-referenced 200% coverage requirement.

The 1940 Act also generally prohibits the Fund from engaging in most forms of leverage representing indebtedness other than preferred shares (including the use of tender option bonds, to the extent that these instruments are not covered as described below) unless immediately after the issuance of the leverage the Fund has satisfied the asset coverage test with respect to senior securities representing indebtedness prescribed by the 1940 Act; that is, the value of the Fund’s total assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities (for these purposes, “total net assets”) is at least 300% of the senior securities representing indebtedness (effectively limiting the use of leverage through senior securities representing indebtedness to 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total net assets, including assets attributable to such leverage). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless, at the time of such declaration, this asset coverage test is satisfied. The Fund may (but is not required to) cover its commitments under tender option bonds or other derivatives instruments by the segregation of liquid assets, or by entering into offsetting transactions or owning positions covering its obligations. To the extent that certain of these instruments are so covered, they will not be considered “senior securities” under the 1940 Act and therefore will not be subject to the 1940 Act 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to forms of senior securities representing indebtedness used by the Fund. However, such instruments, even if covered, represent a form of economic leverage and create special risks. The use of these forms of leverage increases the volatility of the Fund’s investment portfolio and could result in larger losses to Common Shareholders than if these strategies were not used. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk” in the Prospectus. To the extent that the Fund engages in borrowings, it may prepay a portion of the principal amount of the borrowing to the extent nececessary in order to maintain the required asset coverage. Failure to maintain asset coverage requirements could result in an event of default.

Leveraging is a speculative technique and there are special risks and costs involved. There is no assurance that the Fund will issue preferred shares and utilize other forms of leverage (such as tender option bonds). If used, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategies will be successful or result in a higher yield on your Common Shares. When leverage is used, the net asset value of the Common Shares and the yield to Common Shareholders will be more volatile. See “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk.” In addition, dividends paid on

 

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preferred shares and interest and other expenses borne by the Fund with respect to its use of tender option bonds or other forms of leverage are borne by the Common Shareholders and result in a reduction of the net asset value of the Common Shares. In addition, because the fees received by the Investment Manager are based on the Fund’s “total managed assets”(including any assets attributable to any preferred shares, tender option bonds and borrowings that may be outstanding), the Investment Manager has a financial incentive for the Fund to use certain forms of leverage (e.g., preferred shares and tender option bonds), which may create a conflict of interest between the Investment Manager, on the one hand, and the Common Shareholders, on the other hand. For purposes of calculating “total managed assets,” the Fund’s derivatives will be valued based on their market value.

The SEC has issued a proposed rule relating to a registered investment company’s use of derivatives and related instruments that, if adopted, could potentially require the Fund to reduce its use of leverage and/or observe more stringent asset coverage and related requirements than are currently imposed by the 1940 Act, which could adversely affect the value or performance of the Fund and the Common Shares.

The Fund’s ability to utilize leverage may also be limited by asset coverage requirements and other guidelines imposed by rating agencies that provide ratings for preferred shares, which may be more restrictive than the limitations imposed by the 1940 Act noted above.

Please see “Leverage,” “Principal Risks of the Fund—Leverage Risk” and “Principal Risks of the Fund—Segregation and Coverage Risk” for additional information regarding leverage and related risks.

The Fund also may borrow money in order to repurchase its shares or as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, including for the payment of dividends or the settlement of securities transactions which otherwise might require untimely dispositions of portfolio securities held by the Fund.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements and economically similar transactions for hedging or cash management purposes or to add leverage to its portfolio. A reverse repurchase agreement involves the sale of a portfolio-eligible security by the Fund, coupled with its agreement to repurchase the instrument at a specified time and price. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund continues to be entitled to receive any principal and interest payments on the underlying security during the term of the agreement. Reverse repurchase agreements involve leverage risk and the risk that the market value of securities retained by the Fund may decline below the repurchase price of the securities sold by the Fund which it is obligated to repurchase. The Fund may (but is not required to) segregate or “earmark” liquid assets equal (on a daily mark-to-market basis) to its obligations under reverse repurchase agreements. To the extent that positions in reverse repurchase agreements are not so covered, they would be deemed senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act.

The Fund also may effect simultaneous purchase and sale transactions that are known as “sale-buybacks.” A sale-buyback is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement, except that in a sale-buyback, the counterparty who purchases the security is entitled to receive any principal or interest payments made on the underlying security pending settlement of the Fund’s repurchase of the underlying security.

 

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Mortgage Dollar Rolls

A mortgage dollar roll is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement in certain respects. In a “dollar roll” transaction, the Fund sells a mortgage-related security, such as a security issued by GNMA, to a dealer and simultaneously agrees to repurchase a similar security (but not the same security) in the future at a pre-determined price. A “dollar roll” can be viewed, like a reverse repurchase agreement, as a collateralized borrowing in which the Fund pledges a mortgage- related security to a dealer to obtain cash. However, unlike reverse repurchase agreements, the dealer with which the Fund enters into a dollar roll transaction is not obligated to return the same securities as those originally sold by the Fund, but only securities which are “substantially identical.” To be considered “substantially identical,” the securities returned to the Fund generally must: (1) be collateralized by the same types of underlying mortgages; (2) be issued by the same agency and be part of the same program; (3) have a similar original stated maturity; (4) have identical net coupon rates; (5) have similar market yields (and therefore price); and (6) satisfy “good delivery” requirements, meaning that the aggregate principal amounts of the securities delivered and received back must be within a specified percentage of the initial amount delivered. The Fund’s obligations under a dollar roll agreement must be covered by segregated or “earmarked” liquid assets equal in value to the securities subject to repurchase by the Fund. As with reverse repurchase agreements, to the extent that positions in dollar roll agreements are not covered by segregated or “earmarked” liquid assets at least equal to the amount of any forward purchase commitment, such transactions would be deemed senior securities representing indebtedness for purposes of the 1940 Act.

It is possible that changing government regulation may affect the Fund’s use of these strategies. Changes in regulatory requirements concerning margin for certain types of financing transactions, such as repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, and securities lending and borrowing, could impact the Fund’s ability to utilize these investment strategies and techniques.

Repurchase Agreements

For the purposes of maintaining liquidity and achieving income, the Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with domestic commercial banks or registered broker-dealers. A repurchase agreement is a contract under which the Fund would acquire a security for a relatively short period (usually not more than one week) subject to the obligation of the seller to repurchase and the Fund to resell such security at a fixed time and price (representing the Fund’s cost plus interest). In the case of repurchase agreements with broker-dealers, the value of the underlying securities (or collateral) will be at least equal at all times to the total amount of the repurchase obligation, including the interest factor. The Fund bears a risk of loss in the event that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its obligations and the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities. This risk includes the risk of procedural costs or delays in addition to a loss on the securities if their value should fall below their repurchase price. PIMCO will monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparties.

Credit-Linked Trust Certificates

The Fund may invest in credit-linked trust certificates, which are investments in a limited purpose trust or other vehicle which, in turn, invests in a basket of derivative instruments, such as credit default swaps, total return swaps, basis swaps, interest rate swaps and other derivative transactions or securities, in order to provide exposure to the high yield or another debt securities

 

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market. For instance, the Fund may invest in credit-linked trust certificates as a cash management tool in order to gain exposure to the high yield markets and/or to remain fully invested when more traditional income-producing securities are not available, including during the period when the net proceeds of this offering and any future offering are being invested.

Like an investment in a bond, investments in these credit-linked trust certificates represent the right to receive periodic income payments (in the form of distributions) and payment of principal at the end of the term of the certificate. However, these payments are conditioned on the Fund’s receipt of payments from, and the Fund’s potential obligations to, the counterparties to the derivative instruments and other securities in which the trust invests. For instance, the trust may sell one or more credit default swaps, under which the trust would receive a stream of payments over the term of the swap agreements provided that no event of default has occurred with respect to the referenced debt obligation upon which the swap is based. If a default occurs, the stream of payments may stop and the trust would be obligated to pay to the counterparty the par (or other agreed upon value) of the referenced debt obligation. This, in turn, would reduce the amount of income and principal that the Fund would receive as an investor in the trust. Please see “Derivatives Instruments–Swap Agreements and Options on Swap Agreements” in this Statement of Additional Information for additional information about credit default swaps. The Fund’s investments in these instruments are indirectly subject to the risks associated with derivative instruments, including, among others, credit risk, default or similar event risk, counterparty risk, interest rate risk, leverage risk and management risk. It is expected that the trusts which issue credit-linked trust certificates will constitute “private” investment companies, exempt from registration under the 1940 Act. Therefore, the certificates will be subject to the risks described under “Other Investment Companies,” and will not be subject to applicable investment limitations and other regulation imposed by the 1940 Act (although the Fund will remain subject to such limitations and regulation, including with respect to its investments in the certificates). Although the trusts are typically private investment companies, they generally are not actively managed such as a “hedge fund” might be. It is also expected that the certificates will be exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. Accordingly, there may be no established trading market for the certificates and they may constitute illiquid investments. See “Principal Risks of the Fund–Liquidity Risk” in the Prospectus. If market quotations are not readily available for the certificates, they will be valued by the Fund at fair value as determined by the Board of Trustees or persons acting at its direction. See “Net Asset Value” in the Prospectus.

When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions

The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis. When such purchases are outstanding, the Fund will segregate until the settlement date assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with the procedures approved by the Board of Trustees in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. Typically, no income accrues on securities the Fund has committed to purchase prior to the time delivery of the securities is made, although the Fund may earn income on securities it has segregated.

When purchasing a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its net asset value. Because the Fund is not required to pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with the Fund’s other investments. If the Fund remains substantially fully invested at a time when when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment purchases are outstanding, the purchases may result in a form of leverage.

 

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When the Fund has sold a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis, the Fund does not participate in future gains or losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a transaction fails to deliver or pay for the securities, the Fund could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity or could suffer a loss.

The Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a transaction after it is entered into, and may sell when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment securities before they are delivered, which may result in a capital gain or loss. There is no percentage limitation on the extent to which the Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis.

Common Stocks

Common stock generally takes the form of shares in a corporation. The value of a company’s stock may fall as a result of factors directly relating to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services. A stock’s value also may fall because of factors affecting not just the company, but also companies in the same industry or in a number of different industries, such as increases in production costs. The value of a company’s stock also may be affected by changes in financial markets that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates. In addition, a company’s stock generally pays dividends only after the company invests in its own business and makes required payments to holders of its bonds, other debt and preferred stock. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock will usually react more strongly than its bonds, other debt and preferred stock to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects. Stocks of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse developments than those of larger companies. Stocks of companies that the portfolio managers believe are fast-growing may trade at a higher multiple of current earnings than other stocks. The value of such stocks may be more sensitive to changes in current or expected earnings than the values of other stocks.

Short Sales

The Fund may make short sales of securities (i) to offset potential declines in long positions in similar securities, (ii) to increase the flexibility of the Fund, (iii) for investment return, (iv) as part of a risk arbitrage strategy, and (v) as part of its overall portfolio management strategies involving the use of derivative instruments. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline or will underperform relative to other securities held in the Fund’s portfolio.

When the Fund makes a short sale, it must borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the broker-dealer through which it made the short sale as collateral for its obligation to deliver the security upon conclusion of the sale. The Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities or maintain an arrangement with a broker to borrow securities, and would often be obligated to pay over any accrued interest and dividends on such borrowed securities.

 

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If the price of the security sold short increases between the time of the short sale and the time that the Fund replaces the borrowed security, the Fund will incur a loss; conversely, if the price declines, the Fund will realize a capital gain. Any gain will be decreased, and any loss increased, by the transaction costs described above. The successful use of short selling may be adversely affected by imperfect correlation between movements in the price of the security sold short and the securities being hedged.

The Fund may invest pursuant to a risk arbitrage strategy to take advantage of a perceived relationship between the value of two securities. Frequently, a risk arbitrage strategy involves the short sale of a security.

To the extent the Fund engages in short sales, it will provide collateral to the broker-dealer and (except in the case of short sales “against the box”) will maintain additional asset coverage in the form of segregated or “earmarked” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures approved by the Board. A short sale is “against the box” to the extent that the Fund contemporaneously owns, or has the right to obtain at no added cost, securities identical to those sold short. The Fund will engage in short selling to the extent permitted by the federal securities laws and rules and interpretations thereunder. To the extent the Fund engages in short selling in foreign (non-U.S.) jurisdictions, the Fund will do so to the extent permitted by the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction.

The Fund may also engage in so-called “naked” short sales (i.e., short sales that are not “against the box”), in which case the Fund’s losses could theoretically be unlimited, in cases where the Fund is unable for whatever reason to close out its short position. The Fund has the flexibility to engage in short selling to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and rules and interpretations thereunder.

Illiquid Securities

To the extent consistent with the applicable liquidity requirements for interval funds under Rule 23c-3 of the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest without limit in illiquid securities. PIMCO may be subject to significant delays in disposing of illiquid securities, and other transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in liquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in liquid securities. The term “illiquid securities” for this purpose means any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Depending on the circumstances, illiquid securities may be considered to include, among other things, certain purchased OTC options and the assets used to cover certain written OTC options, securities or other liquid assets being used as cover for such options, repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days, certain loan participation interests, fixed time deposits which are not subject to prepayment or provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (such as privately placed debt securities), and other securities which legally or in PIMCO’s opinion may be deemed illiquid (not including securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act), and certain commercial paper that PIMCO has determined to be liquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees).

 

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Rule 144A Securities

The Fund may invest in securities that have not been registered for public sale, but that are eligible for purchase and sale pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. Rule 144A permits certain qualified institutional buyers, such as the Fund, to trade in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale under the 1933 Act. Rule 144A Securities may be deemed illiquid, although the Fund may determine that certain Rule 144A Securities are liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees.

Other Investment Companies

The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in securities of other closed-end investment companies that invest primarily in municipal bonds of the types in which the Fund may invest directly. The Fund treats its investments in other investment companies that invest primarily in types of securities in which the Fund may invest directly as investments in such types of securities for purposes of the Fund’s investment policies (e.g., the Fund’s investment in an investment company that invests primarily in debt securities will be treated by the Fund as an investment in a debt security).

In general, under the 1940 Act, an investment company such as the Fund may not (i) own more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of any one registered investment company, (ii) invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any single registered investment company or (iii) invest more than 10% of its total assets in securities of other registered investment companies.

The Fund may invest in other investment companies to gain broad market or sector exposure, including during periods when it has large amounts of uninvested cash (such as the period shortly after the Fund receives the proceeds of the offering of its Common Shares) or when PIMCO believes share prices of other investment companies offer attractive values.

As a shareholder in an investment company, the Fund will bear its ratable share of that investment company’s expenses and would remain subject to payment of the Fund’s management fees and other expenses with respect to assets so invested. Common Shareholders would therefore be subject to duplicative expenses to the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies. In addition, the securities of other investment companies may also be leveraged and will therefore be subject to the same leverage risks described in the Prospectus and herein.

Private Placements

A private placement involves the sale of securities that have not been registered under the 1933 Act, or relevant provisions of applicable non-U.S. law, to certain institutional and qualified individual purchasers, such as the Fund. In addition to the general risks to which all securities are subject, securities received in a private placement generally are subject to strict restrictions on resale, and there may be no liquid secondary market or ready purchaser for such securities. Therefore, the Fund may be unable to dispose of such securities when it desires to do so, or at the most favorable time or price. Private placements may also raise valuation risks.

 

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Fund Operations

Operational Risk. An investment in the Fund, like any fund, can involve operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors, human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and technology, changes in personnel and errors caused by third-party service providers. The occurrence of any of these failures, errors or breaches could result in a loss of information, regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage or other events, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund. While the Fund seeks to minimize such events through controls and oversight, there may still be failures that could cause losses to the Fund.

Cybersecurity Risk. As the use of technology has become more prevalent in the course of business, the Fund has become potentially more susceptible to operational and informational security risks resulting from breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional cyber events that may, among other things, cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption and/or destruction, lose operational capacity, result in the unauthorized release or other misuse of confidential information, otherwise disrupt normal business operations. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding), but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). In addition, cyber security breaches involving the Fund’s third party service providers (including but not limited to advisers, administrators, transfer agents, custodians, distributors and other third parties), trading counterparties or issuers in which the Fund invests can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Moreover, cyber security breaches involving trading counterparties or issuers in which the Fund invests could adversely impact such counterparties or issuers and cause the Fund’s investment to lose value. Cyber security failures or breaches may result in financial losses to the Fund and its shareholders. These failures or breaches may also result in disruptions to business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses; interference with the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, process shareholder transactions or otherwise transact business with shareholders; impediments to trading; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines; penalties; reputational damage; reimbursement or other compensation costs; additional compliance costs and cyber security risk management costs and other adverse consequences. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in an attempt to prevent any cyber incidents in the future.

Like with operational risk in general, the Fund has established risk management systems and business continuity plans designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security. However, there are inherent limitations in these plans and systems, including that certain risks may not have been identified, in large part because different or unknown threats may emerge in the future. As such, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers in which the Fund may invest, trading counterparties or third party service providers to the Fund. There is also a risk that cyber security breaches may not be detected. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

Portfolio Turnover

The selling of the securities held by the Fund and reinvestment of the proceeds is known as “portfolio turnover.” PIMCO manages the Fund without regard generally to restrictions on portfolio turnover. High portfolio turnover (e.g., greater than 100%) involves correspondingly greater expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other

 

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transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in other securities. Trading in fixed income securities does not generally involve the payment of brokerage commissions, but does involve indirect transaction costs. Trading in equity securities involves the payment of brokerage commissions, which are transaction costs paid by the Fund. The use of futures contracts may involve the payment of commissions to futures commission merchants. The higher the rate of portfolio turnover of the Fund, the higher these transaction costs borne by the Fund generally will be. Such sales may result in realization of taxable capital gains (including short-term capital gains which are taxed when distributed to shareholders at ordinary income tax rates). See “Taxation.”

The portfolio turnover rate of the Fund is calculated by dividing (a) the lesser of purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the particular fiscal year by (b) the monthly average of the value of the portfolio securities owned by the Fund during the particular fiscal year. In calculating the rate of portfolio turnover, there is excluded from both (a) and (b) all derivatives and all securities, including options, whose maturities or expiration dates at the time of acquisition were one year or less. Proceeds from short sales and assets used to cover short positions undertaken are also excluded from both (a) and (b).

Warrants to Purchase Securities

The Fund may invest in or acquire warrants to purchase equity or fixed income securities. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specific price. Warrants are freely transferable and are often traded on major exchanges. Warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitle the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Warrants may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. If the market price of the underlying stock does not exceed the exercise price during the life of the warrant, the warrant will expire worthless. Warrants may increase the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities. Similarly, the percentage increase or decrease in the value of an equity security warrant may be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the value of the underlying common stock. Warrants may relate to the purchase of equity or debt securities. Debt obligations with warrants attached to purchase equity securities have many characteristics of convertible securities and their prices may, to some degree, reflect the performance of the underlying stock. Debt obligations also may be issued with warrants attached to purchase additional debt securities at the same coupon rate. A decline in interest rates would permit the Fund to sell the warrants at a profit. If interest rates rise, the warrants would generally expire with no value.

The Fund may from time to time use non-standard warrants, including low exercise price warrants or low exercise price options (“LEPOs”), to gain exposure to issuers in certain countries. LEPOs are different from standard warrants in that they do not give their holders the right to receive a security of the issuer upon exercise. Rather, LEPOs pay the holder the difference in price of the underlying security between the date the LEPO was purchased and the date it is sold. Additionally, LEPOs entail the same risks as other OTC derivatives, including the

 

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risks that the counterparty or issuer of the LEPO may not be able to fulfill its obligations, that the holder and counterparty or issuer may disagree as to the meaning or application of contractual terms, or that the instrument may not perform as expected. Furthermore, while LEPOs may be listed on an exchange, there is no guarantee that a liquid market will exist or that the counterparty or issuer of a LEPO will be willing to repurchase such instrument when the Fund wishes to sell it.

Loans of Portfolio Securities

Subject to certain conditions described in the Prospectus and below, the Fund may make secured loans of its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions amounting to no more than one-third of its total assets. The risks in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, include possible delay in recovery of the securities or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrowers (which typically include broker-dealers and other financial services companies) fail financially. However, such loans will be made only to borrowers that are believed by PIMCO to be of satisfactory credit standing. Securities loans are made to broker-dealers pursuant to agreements requiring that loans be continuously secured by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities, cash or cash equivalents (negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities lent. The borrower pays to the Fund, as the lender, an amount equal to any dividends or interest received on the securities lent.

The Fund may invest only the cash collateral received in interest-bearing, short-term securities or receive a fee from the borrower. In the case of cash collateral, the Fund typically pays a rebate to the lender. Although voting rights or rights to consent with respect to the loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Fund, as the lender, retains the right to call the loans and obtain the return of the securities loaned at any time on reasonable notice, and it will do so in order that the securities may be voted by the Fund if the holders of such securities are asked to vote upon or consent to matters materially affecting the investment. The Fund may also call such loans in order to sell the securities involved. The Fund’s performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned and will also reflect the receipt of either interest, through investment of cash collateral by the Fund in permissible investments, or a fee, if the collateral is U.S. Government securities.

Participation on Creditors Committees

Generally, when the Fund holds bonds or other similar fixed income securities of an issuer, the Fund becomes a creditor of the issuer. As a creditor of an issuer, the Fund may be subject to challenges related to the securities that it holds, either in connection with the bankruptcy of the issuer or in connection with another action brought by other creditors of the issuer, shareholders of the issuer or the issuer itself (collectively, “restructuring transactions”). Although under no obligation to do so, PIMCO, as adviser to the Fund, may from time to time have an opportunity to consider, on behalf of the Fund and other similarly situated clients, negotiating or otherwise participating in the restructuring of the Fund’s portfolio investment or the issuer of such investment. PIMCO, in its judgment and discretion and based on the considerations deemed by PIMCO to be relevant, may believe that it is in the best interests of the Fund to negotiate or otherwise participate in a restructuring transaction. Accordingly, and subject to applicable procedures approved by the Board of Trustees, the Fund may from time to time participate on

 

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committees formed by creditors to negotiate with the management of financially troubled issuers of securities held by the Fund. Such participation may subject the Fund to expenses such as legal fees and may make the Fund an “insider” of the issuer for purposes of the federal securities laws, and therefore may restrict the Fund’s ability to trade in or acquire additional positions in a particular security when it might otherwise desire to do so. Participation by the Fund on such committees also may expose the Fund to potential liabilities under the federal bankruptcy laws or other laws governing the rights of creditors and debtors. Further, PIMCO has the general authority, subject to the above-mentioned procedures, to represent the Fund on creditors’ committees (or similar committees) or otherwise in connection with a restructuring transaction.

Temporary Defensive Strategies

Upon PIMCO’s recommendation, for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in investment grade debt securities, including high quality, short-term debt instruments, credit-linked trust certificates and/or index futures contracts or similar derivative instruments. Such investments may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objectives.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

Fundamental Investment Restrictions

Except as described below, the Fund, as a fundamental policy, may not, without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares voting as a separate class:

 

(1) Concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that term is used in the 1940 Act and as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

(2) Purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities (including municipal bonds) secured by real estate or interests therein, or securities issued by companies that invest in real estate, or interests therein.

 

(3) Purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts or oil, gas or mineral programs. This restriction shall not prohibit the Fund, subject to restrictions described in the Prospectus and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information, from purchasing, selling or entering into futures contracts, options on futures contracts, forward contracts, or any interest rate, securities-related or other derivative instrument, including swap agreements and other derivative instruments, subject to compliance with any applicable provisions of the federal securities or commodities laws.

 

(4) Borrow money or issue any senior security, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted from time to time by regulatory authority having jurisdiction.

 

(5) Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted from time to time by regulatory authority having jurisdiction.

 

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

In addition, the Fund has adopted the following fundamental policies with respect to repurchase offers, which may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares and, if issued, preferred shares voting together as a single class, and of the holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred shares voting as a separate class:

 

(a) The Fund will make quarterly repurchase offers pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(b) The Fund will repurchase shares that are tendered by a specific date (the “Repurchase Request Deadline”), which will be established by the Board of Trustees (the “Board’) in accordance with Rule 23c-3, as amended from time to time. Rule 23c-3 requires the Repurchase Request Deadline to be no less than 21 and no more than 42 days after the Fund sends notification to shareholders of the repurchase offer.

 

(c) There will be a maximum fourteen (14) calendar day period (or the next business day if the 14th calendar day is not a business day) between the Repurchase Request Deadline and the date on which the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) applicable to the repurchase offer is determined (the “Repurchase Pricing Date”).

Other Information Regarding Investment Restrictions

Subject to the Fund’s self-imposed limitations, if any, as they may be amended from time to time, the Fund interprets its policies with respect to leverage and borrowing, issuing senior securities and lending to permit such activities as may be lawful for the Fund, to the full extent permitted by the 1940 Act or by exemption from the provisions therefrom pursuant to exemptive order of the SEC.

Currently, under the 1940 Act, the Fund may generally not lend money or property to any person, directly or indirectly, if such person controls or is under common control with the Fund, except for a loan from the Fund to a company that owns all of the outstanding securities of the Fund, except directors’ and qualifying shares.

The phrase “shareholder approval,” as used in the Prospectus and this Statement of Information, and the phrase a “majority of the outstanding,” when used with respect to particular shares of the Fund (whether voting together as a single class or voting as separate classes), means (i) 67% or more of such shares present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of such shares are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of such shares, whichever is less.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to the Fund’s investments apply only at the time of investment. Any subsequent change in the percentage of Fund’s assets invested in certain securities or other instruments resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in the Fund’s total assets, will not require the Fund to dispose of an investment.

Under the Fund’s policy in paragraph (2) above in “Fundamental Investment Restrictions,” where the Fund purchases a loan or other security secured by real estate or interests therein, in

 

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the event of a subsequent default, foreclosure, or similar event, the Fund may take possession of and hold the underlying real estate in accordance with its rights under the initial security and subsequently sell or otherwise dispose of such real estate.

Under the 1940 Act, a “senior security” does not include any promissory note or evidence of indebtedness where such loan is for temporary purposes only and in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the total assets of the issuer at the time the loan is made. A loan is presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within sixty days and is not extended or renewed.

To the extent the Fund covers its commitment under a derivative instrument by the designation of assets determined by the Investment Manager to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, equal in value to the amount of the Fund’s commitment, such instrument will not be considered a “senior security” for purposes of the Fund’s limitations on borrowings.

For purposes of applying the terms of the Fund’s policy in paragraph (1) above (the “industry concentration policy”), the Fund would be deemed to “concentrate” in a particular industry if it invested more than 25% of its total assets in that industry. For purposes of the industry concentration policy, PIMCO will, on behalf of the Fund, make reasonable determinations as to the appropriate industry classification to assign to each security or instrument in which the Fund invests. The definition of what constitutes a particular “industry” is an evolving one, particularly for industries or sectors within industries that are new or are undergoing rapid development. Some securities could reasonably fall within more than one industry category. The Fund’s industry concentration policy does not preclude it from focusing investments in issuers in a group of related industrial sectors (such as different types of utilities). For purposes of the industry concentration policy, a foreign government is considered to be an industry, although currency positions are not considered to be an investment in a foreign government for these purposes. Mortgage-related or asset-backed securities that are issued or guaranteed as to principal or interest by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities are not subject to the Fund’s industry concentration policy, by virtue of the exclusion from that test available to all U.S. Government securities. Similarly, tax-exempt municipal bonds issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies and authorities are not subject to the Fund’s industry concentration policy.

To the extent an underlying investment company in which the Fund invests has adopted an 80% policy to invest in a particular industry, the Fund will, to the extent applicable, take such policy into consideration for purposes of the Fund’s industry concentration policy.

For purposes of its investment policies and restrictions, the Fund may value derivative instruments at market value, notional value or full exposure value (i.e., the sum of the notional amount for the contract plus the market value). For example, the Fund may value credit default swaps at full exposure value for purposes of any quality guidelines because such value reflects the Fund’s actual economic exposure during the term of the credit default swap agreement. In this context, both the notional amount and the market value may be positive or negative depending on whether the Fund is selling or buying protection through the credit default swap. The manner in which certain securities or other instruments are valued by the Fund for purposes of applying investment policies and restrictions may differ from the manner in which those

 

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investments are valued by other types of investors. In this context, both the notional amount and the market value may be positive or negative depending on whether the Fund is selling or buying protection through the credit default swap. The manner in which certain securities or other instruments are valued by the Fund for purposes of applying investment policies and restrictions may differ from the manner in which those investments are valued by other types of investors.

From time to time, the Fund may voluntarily participate in actions (for example, rights offerings, conversion privileges, exchange offers, credit event settlements, etc.) where the issuer or counterparty offers securities or instruments to holders or counterparties, such as the Fund, and the acquisition is determined to be beneficial to Fund shareholders (“Voluntary Action”). Notwithstanding any percentage investment limitation listed under this “Investment Restrictions” section or any percentage investment limitation of the 1940 Act or rules thereunder, if the Fund has the opportunity to acquire a permitted security or instrument through a Voluntary Action, and the Fund will exceed a percentage investment limitation following the acquisition, it will not constitute a violation if, prior to the receipt of the securities or instruments and after announcement of the offering, the Fund sells an offsetting amount of assets that are subject to the investment limitation in question at least equal to the value of the securities or instruments to be acquired.

Unless otherwise indicated, all percentage limitations on Fund investments (as stated throughout this Statement of Additional Information or in the Prospectus) that are not: (i) specifically included in this “Investment Restrictions” section; or (ii) imposed by the 1940 Act, rules thereunder, the Code or related regulations (the “Elective Investment Restrictions”), will apply only at the time of investment unless the acquisition is a Voluntary Action. The percentage limitations and absolute prohibitions with respect to Elective Investment Restrictions are not applicable to the Fund’s acquisition of securities or instruments through a Voluntary Action.

The Fund may engage in roll-timing strategies where the Fund seeks to extend the expiration or maturity of a position, such as a forward contract, futures contract or to-be-announced (“TBA”) transaction, on an underlying asset by closing out the position before expiration and contemporaneously opening a new position with respect to the same underlying asset that has substantially similar terms except for a later expiration date. Such “rolls” enable the Fund to maintain continuous investment exposure to an underlying asset beyond the expiration of the initial position without delivery of the underlying asset. Similarly, as certain standardized swap agreements transition from OTC trading to mandatory exchange-trading and clearing due to the implementation of Dodd-Frank Act regulatory requirements, the Fund may “roll” an existing OTC swap agreement by closing out the position before expiration and contemporaneously entering into a new exchange-traded and cleared swap agreement on the same underlying asset with substantially similar terms except for a later expiration date. These types of new positions opened contemporaneous with the closing of an existing position on the same underlying asset with substantially similar terms are collectively referred to as “Roll Transactions.” Elective Investment Restrictions (defined in the preceding paragraph), which normally apply at the time of investment, do not apply to Roll Transactions (although Elective Investment Restrictions will apply to the Fund’s entry into the initial position). In addition and notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of this policy, those Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions that are considered Elective Investment Restrictions for purposes of the policy on Voluntary Actions (described in the preceding paragraph) are also Elective Investment Restrictions for purposes of this policy on Roll Transactions. The Fund will test for compliance with Elective Investment Restrictions at the time of the Fund’s initial entry into a position, but the percentage limitations and absolute prohibitions set forth in the Elective Investment Restrictions are not applicable to the Fund’s subsequent acquisition of securities or instruments through a Roll Transaction.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

Trustees and Officers

The business of the Fund is managed under the direction of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). Subject to the provisions of the Fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as may be amended from time to time (the “Declaration”), its Bylaws, as may be amended from time to time (the “Bylaws”) and Massachusetts law, the Trustees have all powers necessary and convenient to carry out their responsibilities, including the election and removal of the Fund’s officers.

Board Leadership Structure. The Board consists of eight Trustees, two of whom are not “interested persons” (within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of the Fund or of the Investment Manager (the “Independent Trustees”), which represents 75% of the Trustees that are Independent Trustees. An Independent Trustee serves as Chairman of the Board and is selected by a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees. The Chairman of the Board presides at meetings of the Board and acts as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys and other Trustees generally between meetings, and performs such other functions as may be requested by the Board from time to time.

The Board will meet regularly four times each year to discuss and consider matters concerning the Fund, and also holds special meetings to address matters arising between regular meetings. The Independent Trustees regularly meet outside the presence of management and are advised by independent legal counsel. Regular meetings generally take place in-person; other meetings may take place in-person or by telephone.

The Board has established six standing Committees to facilitate the Trustees’ oversight of the management of the Fund: the Audit Oversight Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Valuation Oversight Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Contracts Committee and the Performance Committee. The functions and role of each Committee are described below under “—Committees of the Board of Trustees.” The membership of each Committee consists of all of the Independent Trustees, which the Board believes allows them to participate in the full range of the Board’s oversight duties. In addition, the Performance Committee consists of all the Trustees.

The Board reviews its leadership structure periodically and has determined that this leadership structure, including an Independent Chairman, a supermajority of Independent Trustees and Committee membership limited to Independent Trustees (with the exception of the Performance Committee), is appropriate in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Fund. In reaching this conclusion, the Board considered, among other things, the predominant role of PIMCO in the day-to-day management of Fund affairs, the extent to which the work of the Board is conducted through the Committees, the number of funds overseen by the Board that are advised by PIMCO or have an investment adviser that is an affiliated person of PIMCO (the “Fund Complex”), the variety of asset classes those funds include, the assets of the Fund and the other funds overseen by the Board in the Fund Complex and the management, distribution and other service arrangements of the Fund and such other funds. The Board also believes that its structure, including the presence of two Trustees who are executives with PIMCO or PIMCO-affiliated entities, facilitates an efficient flow of information concerning the management of the Fund to the Independent Trustees.

 

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Risk Oversight. The Fund has retained PIMCO to provide investment advisory services and administrative services. Accordingly, PIMCO is immediately responsible for the management of risks that may arise from Fund investments and operations. Some employees of PIMCO serve as the Fund’s officers, including the Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer, chief compliance officer and chief legal officer. PIMCO and the Fund’s other service providers have adopted policies, processes and procedures to identify, assess and manage different types of risks associated with the Fund’s activities. The Board oversees the performance of these functions by PIMCO and the Fund’s other service providers, both directly and through the Committee structure it has established. The Board receives from PIMCO a wide range of reports, both on a regular and as-needed basis, relating to the Fund’s activities and to the actual and potential risks of the Fund. These include reports on investment and market risks, custody and valuation of Fund assets, compliance with applicable laws, and the Fund’s financial accounting and reporting. The Board also regularly will receive, from the Fund’s principal underwriter, reports regarding distribution, sales and marketing of the Fund’s shares, as well as related risks. In addition, the Board intends to meet periodically with the portfolio managers of the Fund or their delegates to receive reports regarding the portfolio management of the Fund and its performance, including its investment risks. In the course of these meetings and discussions with PIMCO, the Board has emphasized to PIMCO the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management programs and procedures.

In addition, the Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”). The CCO oversees the development of compliance policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to minimize the risk of violations of the federal securities laws (“Compliance Policies”). The CCO reports directly to the Independent Trustees, interacts with individuals within PIMCO’s organization, and provides presentations to the Board at its quarterly meetings and an annual report on the application of the Compliance Policies. The Board periodically discusses relevant risks affecting the Fund with the CCO at these meetings. The Board has approved the Compliance Policies and reviews the CCO’s reports. Further, the Board annually reviews the sufficiency of the Compliance Policies, as well as the appointment and compensation of the CCO.

The Board recognizes that the reports it receives concerning risk management matters are, by their nature, typically summaries of the relevant information. Moreover, the Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified in advance; that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks; that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) in seeking to achieve the Fund’s investment objectives; and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness.

The Trustees and officers of the Fund, their year of birth, the position they hold with the Fund, their term of office and length of time served, a description of their principal occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Fund Complex that the Trustee oversees and any other public company directorships held by the Trustee are listed in the two tables immediately following. Except as shown, each Trustee’s and officer’s principal occupation and business experience for the last five years have been with the employer(s) indicated, although in some cases the Trustee may have held different positions with such employer(s).

 

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Independent Trustees(4)

 

Name,

Address and  

Year of

Birth(1)

  

Position(s)

Held with

the Fund

  

Term of

Office and

Length of

Time

Served(2)

  

Principal Occupation(s) During

the Past 5 Years

  

Number of
Portfolios

in Fund

Complex

Overseen

by

Trustee(3)

  

Other

Directorships

Held by

Trustee

During the

Past 5 Years

                             

Hans W.

Kertess

1939

   Trustee & Chairman of the Board   

Since

inception.

   President, H. Kertess & Co., a financial advisory company; and Senior Adviser (formerly Managing Director), Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets (since 2004).    93    None.

Deborah A.

DeCotis

1952

   Trustee   

Since

inception.

   Advisory Director, Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. (since 1996); Member, Circle Financial Group (since 2009); and Member, Council on Foreign Relations (since 2013); Trustee, Smith College (since 2017); and Director, Watford Re (since 2017). Formerly, Co-Chair Special Projects Committee, Memorial Sloan Kettering (2005-2015); Trustee, Stanford University (2010-2015); Principal, LaLoop LLC, a retail accessories company (1999-2014); Director, Helena Rubenstein Foundation (1997-2010); and Director, Armor Holdings (2002-2010).    93    None.

Bradford K. Gallagher

1944

   Trustee   

Since

inception.

   Retired. Founder, Spyglass Investments LLC, a private investment vehicle (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman and Trustee, The Common Fund (2005-2014); Partner, New Technology Ventures Capital Management LLC, a venture capital fund (2011-2013); Chairman and Trustee, Atlantic Maritime Heritage Foundation (2007-2012); and Founder, President and CEO, Cypress Holding Company and Cypress Tree Investment Management Company (1995-2001).    93    Formerly, Chairman and Trustee, Grail Advisors ETF Trust (2009-2010); and Trustee, Nicholas-Applegate Institutional Funds (2007-2010).

 

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Name,

Address and  

Year of

Birth(1)

  

Position(s)

Held with

the Fund

  

Term of

Office and

Length of

Time

Served(2)

  

Principal Occupation(s) During

the Past 5 Years

  

Number of
Portfolios

in Fund

Complex

Overseen

by

Trustee(3)

  

Other

Directorships

Held by

Trustee

During the

Past 5 Years

                             

James A. Jacobson

1945

   Trustee    Since inception.    Retired. Trustee (since 2002) and Chairman of Investment Committee (since 2007), Ronald McDonald House of New York; and Trustee, New Jersey City University (since 2014). Formerly, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Spear, Leeds & Kellogg Specialists, LLC, a specialist firm on the New York Stock Exchange (2003-2008).    93    Formerly, Trustee, Alpine Mutual Funds Complex consisting of 18 funds.

William B. Ogden, IV

1945

   Trustee    Since inception.    Retired. Formerly, Asset Management Industry Consultant; and Managing Director, Investment Banking Division of Citigroup Global Markets Inc.    93    None.

Alan Rappaport

1953

   Trustee    Since inception.    Advisory Director (formerly Vice Chairman), Roundtable Investment Partners (since 2009); Adjunct Professor, New York University Stern School of Business (since 2011); Lecturer, Stanford University Graduate School of Business (since 2013); and Director, Victory Capital Holdings, Inc., an asset management firm (since 2013). Formerly, Member of Board of Overseers, NYU Langone Medical Center (2015-2016); Trustee, American Museum of Natural History (2005-2015); Trustee, NYU Langone Medical Center (2007-2015); Vice Chairman (formerly Chairman and President), U.S. Trust (formerly Private Bank of Bank of America, the predecessor entity of U.S. Trust) (2001-2008).    93    None.

 

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Interested Trustees

Name, Address  

and Year of

Birth

  

Position(s)

Held with

the Fund

  

Term of

Office and

Length of

Time

Served(2)

  

Principal Occupation(s) During

the Past 5 Years

  

Number of
Portfolios

in Fund

Complex

Overseen

by

Trustee(3)

  

Other

Directorships

Held by

Trustee

Craig A. Dawson5

1968

 

650 Newport

Center Drive,

Newport Beach,

CA 92660

   Trustee   

Since

inception.

   Managing Director and Head of PIMCO Europe, Middle East and Africa (since 2016). Director of a number of PIMCO’s Europeans investment vehicles and affiliates (since 2008). Formerly, Head of Strategic Business Management, PIMCO (2014-2016), head of PIMCO’s Munich office and head of European product management for PIMCO.    26    None.

John C. Maney6  

1959

 

650 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660

   Trustee   

Since

inception.

   Managing Director of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. (since January 2005), a member of the Management Board and Chief Operating Officer of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. (since November 2006) and a Non-Executive Director and a member of the Compensation Committee of PIMCO Europe Ltd (since December 2017). Formerly, Member of the Management Board of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (2007-2014) and Managing Director of Allianz Global Investors Fund Management LLC (2011-2014).    26    None.

 

(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of the persons listed above is c/o Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019.
(2) Under the Fund’s Declaration, a Trustee serves until his or her retirement, resignation or replacement.
(3) The term “Fund Complex” as used herein includes the Fund and the following registered investment companies: PIMCO Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund, PIMCO Income Opportunity Fund, PCM Fund, Inc., PIMCO Dynamic Credit and Mortgage Income Fund, PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, PIMCO High Income Fund, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II, PIMCO Global StocksPLUS®& Income Fund, PIMCO Strategic Income Fund, Inc., PIMCO Flexible Credit Income Fund, each series of PIMCO Managed Accounts Trust, PIMCO Corporate & Income Opportunity Fund, AllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund, AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund, AllianzGI Convertible & Income 2024 Target Term Fund, AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund II, AllianzGI NFJ Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund, AllianzGI Equity & Convertible Income Fund, each series of Allianz Funds, Allianz Funds Multi-Strategy Trust, AllianzGI Institutional Multi-Series Trust and Premier Multi-Series VIT.
(4) “Independent Trustees” are those Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

 

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(5) Mr. Dawson is an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, due to his affiliation with PIMCO and its affiliates.
(6) Mr. Maney is an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, due to his affiliation with Allianz Asset Management of America, L.P. and its affiliates.

Officers

 

Name,
Address

and Year of Birth            

   Position(s)
Held
with Fund
  

Term of

Office and

Length of

    Time Served+    

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During the Past 5 Years

Peter G. Strelow1

1970

   President    Since inception.    Managing Director and Co-Chief Operating Officer, PIMCO. President, PIMCO-Managed Funds, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly, Chief Administrative Officer, PIMCO

Keisha Audain-Pressley1

1975

   Chief Compliance Officer    Since inception.    Senior Vice President and Deputy Chief Compliance Officer, PIMCO. Chief Compliance Officer, PIMCO- Managed Funds.
   

Joshua D. Ratner2

1976

   Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer    Since inception.   

Executive Vice President and Senior Counsel, PIMCO. Chief Legal Officer, PIMCO Investments LLC. Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, PIMCO-Managed Funds. Vice President—Senior Counsel, Secretary, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT.

 

Trent W. Walker 1

1974

   Treasurer    Since March 2018.    Executive Vice President, PIMCO. Assistant Treasurer, PIMCO-Managed Funds. Treasurer, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT.

Ryan Leshaw1

1980

   Assistant Secretary    Since inception.    Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel, PIMCO. Assistant Secretary, PIMCO-Managed Funds, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly, Associate, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

Wu-Kwan Kit1

1981

  

Assistant

Secretary

   Since inception.    Vice President and Counsel, PIMCO. Assistant Secretary, PIMCO-Managed Funds, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly, Assistant General Counsel, VanEck Associates Corp.

Stacie D. Anctil1

1969

   Vice President    Since inception.    Senior Vice President, PIMCO. Vice President, PIMCO-Managed Funds, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT.

Eric D. Johnson1

1970

   Vice President    Since inception.    Executive Vice President, PIMCO. Vice President, PIMCO-Managed Funds, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT.

Bijal Parikh1

1978

   Vice President    Since inception.    Senior Vice President, PIMCO. Vice President, PIMCO-Managed Funds, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust and PIMCO Equity Series.

 

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Name,
Address

and Year of Birth            

   Position(s)
Held
with Fund
  

Term of

Office and

Length of

    Time Served+    

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During the Past 5 Years

William G. Galipeau1

1974

   Vice President    Since inception.    Executive Vice President, PIMCO. Treasurer, PIMCO-Managed Funds. Vice President, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT.

Erik C. Brown1

1967

   Assistant Treasurer    Since inception.    Executive Vice President, PIMCO. Assistant Treasurer, PIMCO-Managed Funds, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT.

Colleen Miller2

1980

  

Assistant

Treasurer

   Since inception.    Vice President, PIMCO. Assistant Treasurer, PIMCO-Managed Funds, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly, Vice President Cohen & Steers Capital Management.

Christopher M. Morin1

1980

   Assistant Treasurer    Since inception.    Vice President, PIMCO. Assistant Treasurer, PIMCO-Managed Funds, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly, Vice President of Operations, Standard Life Investments USA; Assistant Vice President, Brown Brothers Harriman.

Jason J. Nagler2

1982

   Assistant Treasurer    Since inception.    Vice President, PIMCO. Assistant Treasurer, PIMCO-Managed Funds, PIMCO Funds, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, PIMCO ETF Trust, PIMCO Equity Series and PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly, Head of Mutual Fund Reporting, GMO, and Assistant Treasurer, GMO Trust and GMO Series Trust Funds.

 

1 The address of these officers is Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, 650 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660.

 

2 The address of these officers is Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019.

 

+ Under the Fund’s Bylaws, an officer serves until his or her successor is elected or qualified, or until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Officers hold office at the pleasure of the Trustees.

Each of the Fund’s executive officers is an “interested person” of the Fund (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) as a result of his or her position(s) set forth in the table above.

Trustee Qualifications. The Board has determined that each Trustee is qualified to serve as such based on several factors (none of which alone is decisive). Each Trustee is knowledgeable about the Fund’s business and service provider arrangements, in part because he or she has served for several years as trustee or director to a number of other investment companies advised by PIMCO and/or its affiliates with similar arrangements to that of the Fund. Among the factors the Board considers when concluding that an individual is qualified to serve on the Board were the following: (i) the individual’s business and professional experience and accomplishments; (ii) the individual’s ability to work effectively with other members of the Board; (iii) the individual’s prior experience, if any, serving on the boards of public companies (including, where relevant, other investment companies) and other complex enterprises and organizations; and (iv) how the individual’s skills, experiences and attributes would contribute to an appropriate mix of relevant skills and experience on the Board.

In respect of each current Trustee, the individual’s substantial professional accomplishments and prior experience, including, in some cases, in fields related to the operations of the Fund, were a

 

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significant factor in the determination by the Board that the individual is qualified to serve as a Trustee of the Fund. The following is a summary of various qualifications, experiences and skills of each Trustee (in addition to business experience during the past five years set forth in the table above) that contributed to the Board’s conclusion that an individual is qualified to serve on the Board. References to qualifications, experiences and skills are not intended to hold out the Board or individual Trustees as having any special expertise or experience, and shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on any such person or on the Board by reason thereof.

Hans W. Kertess — Mr. Kertess has substantial executive experience in the investment management industry. He is the president of a financial advisory company, H. Kertess & Co. and a Senior Adviser of Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets, and formerly served as a Managing Director of Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets. He has significant expertise in the investment banking industry.

Craig A. Dawson — Mr. Dawson has substantial executive experience in the investment management industry. Mr. Dawson is a Managing Director and Head of PIMCO Europe, Middle East and Africa. In that role he is in charge of guiding PIMCO’s business initiatives in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prior to taking on this position, Mr. Dawson was PIMCO’s Head of Strategic Business Management. Mr. Dawson also serves as a Director of a number of PIMCO’s European investment vehicles and affiliates. Because of his familiarity with PIMCO and its affiliates, Mr. Dawson serves as an important information resource for the Independent Trustees and as a facilitator of communication with PIMCO.

Deborah A. DeCotis — Ms. DeCotis has substantial senior executive experience in the investment banking industry, having served as a Managing Director for Morgan Stanley. She has extensive board experience and experience in oversight of investment management functions through her experience as a former Director of the Helena Rubenstein Foundation, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Armor Holdings.

Bradford K. Gallagher — Mr. Gallagher has substantial executive and board experience in the financial services and investment management industries. He has served as director to several other investment companies. Having served on the Operating Committee of Fidelity Investments and as a Managing Director and President of Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company, he provides the Fund with significant asset management industry expertise. He also brings significant securities industry experience, having served as a developer and founder of several enterprises and private investment vehicles.

James A. Jacobson — Mr. Jacobson has substantial executive and board experience in the financial services industry. He served for more than 15 years as a senior executive at a New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) specialist firm. He has also served on the NYSE Board of Directors, including terms as Vice Chair. As such, he provides significant expertise on matters relating to portfolio brokerage and trade execution. He also provides the Fund with significant financial expertise, serves as the Audit Oversight Committee’s Chair and has been determined by the Board to be an “audit committee financial expert.”

John C. Maney — Mr. Maney has substantial executive and board experience in the investment management industry. He has served in a variety of senior-level positions with investment advisory firms affiliated with the Investment Manager. Because of his familiarity with the Investment Manager and affiliated entities, he serves as an important information resource for the Independent Trustees and as a facilitator of communication with Allianz Asset Management of America L.P., PIMCO’s U.S. parent company.

 

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William B. Ogden, IV — Mr. Ogden has substantial senior executive experience in the investment banking industry. He served as Managing Director at Citigroup, where he established and led the firm’s efforts to raise capital for, and provide mergers and acquisition advisory services to, asset managers and investment advisers. He also has significant expertise with fund products through his senior-level responsibility for originating and underwriting a broad variety of such products.

Alan Rappaport — Mr. Rappaport has substantial senior executive experience in the financial services industry. He formerly served as Chairman and President of the Private Bank of Bank of America and as Vice Chairman of U.S. Trust. He is currently an Advisory Director of an investment firm.

Committees of the Board of Trustees

Audit Oversight Committee. The Board has established an Audit Oversight Committee, currently consisting of Messrs. Gallagher, Jacobson, Kertess, Ogden, Rappaport and Ms. DeCotis, each of whom is an Independent Trustee. Mr. Jacobson is the current Chair of the Fund’s Audit Oversight Committee.

The Audit Oversight Committee provides oversight with respect to the internal and external accounting and auditing procedures of the Fund and, among other things, determines the selection of an independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund and considers the scope of the audit, approves all audit and permitted non-audit services proposed to be performed by those auditors on behalf of the Fund and approves non-audit services to be performed by the auditors for certain affiliates, including PIMCO and entities in a control relationship with PIMCO that provide services to the Fund where the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Audit Oversight Committee considers the possible effect of those services on the independence of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. Because the Fund is newly organized, the committee members did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

Nominating Committee. The Board has established a Nominating Committee composed solely of Independent Trustees, currently consisting of Messrs. Gallagher, Jacobson, Kertess, Ogden, Rappaport and Ms. DeCotis. The Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending qualified candidates to the Board in the event that a position is vacated or created or when Trustees are to be re-elected. Because the Fund is newly organized, the committee members did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

Qualifications, Evaluation and Identification of Trustee Nominees. The Nominating Committee of the Fund requires that Trustee candidates have a college degree or equivalent business experience. When evaluating candidates, the Nominating Committee may take into account a wide variety of factors including, but not limited to: (i) availability and commitment of a candidate to attend meetings and perform his or her responsibilities on the Board, (ii) relevant industry and related experience, (iii) educational background, (iv) ability, judgment and expertise and (v) overall diversity of the Board’s composition. The process of identifying nominees involves the consideration of candidates recommended by one or more of the following sources: (i) the Fund’s current Trustees, (ii) the Fund’s officers, (iii) the Fund’s investment adviser, (iv) the Fund’s shareholders and (v) any other source the Committee deems to be appropriate. The Nominating Committee may, but is not required to, retain a third-party search firm at the Fund’s expense to identify potential candidates.

 

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Consideration of Candidates Recommended by Stockholders. The Nominating Committee will review and consider nominees recommended by shareholders to serve as Trustee, provided that the recommending shareholder follows the “Procedures for Shareholders to Submit Nominee Candidates”, which are set forth as Appendix A to the Fund’s Nominating Committee Charter and attached as Appendix A to this Statement of Additional Information. Among other requirements, these procedures provide that the recommending shareholder must submit any recommendation in writing to the Fund, to the attention of the Fund’s Secretary, at the address of the principal executive offices of the Fund. Once each quarter, if any shareholder recommendations have been received by the Secretary during the quarter, the Secretary will inform the Committee of the new shareholder recommendations. Because the Fund does not hold annual or other regular meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees, the Committee will accept shareholder recommendations on a continuous basis. Any recommendation must include certain biographical and other information regarding the candidate and the recommending shareholder, and must include a written and signed consent of the candidate to be named as a nominee and to serve as a Trustee if elected. The foregoing description of the requirements is only a summary. Please refer to Appendix A to the Nominating Committee Charter, which is attached as Appendix A to this Statement of Additional Information.

The Nominating Committee has full discretion to reject nominees recommended by shareholders, and there is no assurance that any such person properly recommended and considered by the Committee will be nominated for election to the Board of Trustees.

Diversity. The Nominating Committee takes diversity of a particular nominee and overall diversity of the Board into account when considering and evaluating nominees for Trustee. While the Committee has not adopted a particular definition of diversity, when considering a nominee’s and the Board’s diversity, the Committee generally considers the manner in which each nominee’s professional experience, education, expertise in matters that are relevant to the oversight of the Fund (e.g., investment management, distribution, accounting, trading, compliance, legal), general leadership experience, and life experience are complementary and, as a whole, contribute to the ability of the Board to oversee the Fund.

Valuation Oversight Committee. The Board has established a Valuation Oversight Committee, which currently consists of currently consisting of Messrs. Gallagher, Jacobson, Kertess, Ogden and Rappaport and Ms. DeCotis. Mr. Ogden is the Chair of the Valuation Oversight Committee. The Valuation Oversight Committee has been delegated responsibility by the Board for overseeing determination of the fair value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and other assets on behalf of the Board in accordance with the Fund’s valuation procedures. The Valuation Oversight Committee reviews and approves procedures for the fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio securities and periodically reviews information from PIMCO regarding fair value determinations made pursuant to Board-approved procedures, and makes related recommendations to the full Board and assists the full Board in resolving particular fair valuation and other valuation matters. In certain circumstances as specified in the Fund’s valuation policies, the Valuation Oversight Committee may also determine the fair value of portfolio holdings after consideration of all relevant factors, which determinations shall be reported to the full Board. Because the Fund is newly organized, the committee members did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

 

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Compensation Committee. The Board has established a Compensation Committee, which currently consists of Messrs. Gallagher, Jacobson, Kertess, Ogden, Rappaport and Ms. DeCotis. The Compensation Committee meets as the Board deems necessary to review and make recommendations regarding compensation payable to the Trustees who are not directors, officers, partners or employees of PIMCO or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with PIMCO. Because the Fund is newly organized, the committee members did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

Contracts Committee. The Board of the Fund has established a Contracts Committee currently consisting of Messrs. Gallagher, Jacobson, Kertess, Ogden, Rappaport and Ms. DeCotis. Ms. DeCotis is the Chair of the Fund’s Contracts Committee. The Contracts Committee meets as the Board deems necessary to review the performance of, and the reasonableness of the fees paid to, as applicable, the Fund’s investment adviser(s) and any sub-adviser(s), administrators(s) and principal underwriters(s) and to make recommendations to the Board regarding the approval and continuance of the Fund’s contractual arrangements for investment advisory, sub-advisory, administrative and distribution services, as applicable. Because the Fund is newly organized, the committee members did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

Performance Committee. The Board has established a Performance Committee, which consists of Messrs. Gallagher, Jacobson, Kertess, Ogden, Rappaport, Maney and Dawson and Ms. DeCotis. Mr. Rappaport is the Chair of the Performance Committee. The Performance Committee’s responsibilities include reviewing the performance of the Fund and any changes in investment philosophy, approach and personnel of the Manager. Because the Fund is newly organized, the committee members did not meet during the prior fiscal year.

Securities Ownership

For each Trustee, the following table discloses the dollar range of equity securities in the Fund beneficially owned by the Trustee and, on an aggregate basis, in any registered investment companies overseen by the Trustee within the Fund’s family of investment companies as of December 31, 2017:

 

Name of Trustee   

Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in the Fund

  

Aggregate Dollar Range of

Equity Securities in All

Registered Investment

Companies Overseen by

Trustee in Family of Investment
Companies*

 

Independent Trustees            

Bradford K. Gallagher

   None    Over $100,000

James A. Jacobson

   None    Over $100,000

Hans W. Kertess

   None    Over $100,000

William B. Ogden, IV

   None    Over $100,000

Alan Rappaport Over

   None    Over $100,000

Deborah A. DeCotis

   None    Over $100,000
Interested Trustees            

John C. Maney

   None    Over $100,000

Craig A. Dawson

   None    Over $100,000

 

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  * The term “Family of Investment Companies” as used herein includes the Fund and the following registered investment companies: PIMCO Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, PIMCO Corporate & Income Opportunity Fund, PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund, PIMCO Income Opportunity Fund, PCM Fund, Inc., PIMCO Dynamic Credit and Mortgage Income Fund, PIMCO High Income Fund, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II, PIMCO Global StocksPLUS®& Income Fund and PIMCO Strategic Income Fund, Inc., PIMCO Flexible Credit Income Fund and each series of PIMCO Managed Accounts Trust.

To the Fund’s knowledge, the following table provides information regarding each class of securities owned beneficially in an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund, or a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Fund as of December 31, 2017 by Independent Trustees and their immediate family members:

 

Name of Trustee   

Name of Owners

and Relations to

Trustee

   Company    Title of Class   

Value of

Securities

  

Percent of

Class

   

Deborah A. DeCotis

   None    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A
   

Bradford K. Gallagher

   None    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A
   

James A. Jacobson

   None    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A
   

Hans W. Kertess

   None    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A
   

William B. Ogden, IV*

   None    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A
   

Alan Rappaport

   None    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A
                          

*            Mr. Ogden owns a less than 1% limited liability company interest in PIMCO Global Credit Opportunity Onshore Fund LLC, a PIMCO-sponsored private investment vehicle.

As of April 1, 2018, the Fund’s officers and Trustees as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding Common Shares.

As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the Fund could be deemed to be under control of Allianz Fund Investments, Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Manager, which had voting authority with respect to approximately 100% of the value of the outstanding interests in the Fund on such date. However, it is anticipated that Allianz Fund Investments, Inc. will no longer be a control person once the Fund commences investment operations and its Common Shares are sold to the public.

 

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Trustees’ Compensation

Each of the Independent Trustees also serves as a trustee of PIMCO Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II, PIMCO Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund III, PIMCO Corporate & Income Strategy Fund, PIMCO Corporate & Income Opportunity Fund, PIMCO High Income Fund, PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund, PIMCO Income Opportunity Fund, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund, PIMCO Income Strategy Fund II, PIMCO Global StocksPLUS® & Income Fund, PCM Fund, Inc., PIMCO Strategic Income Fund, Inc. and PIMCO Dynamic Credit and Mortgage Income Fund, each a closed-end fund for which the Investment Manager serves as investment manager (together, the “PIMCO Closed-End Funds”), PIMCO Flexible Credit Income Fund, a closed-end fund that is operated as an “interval fund” for which PIMCO serves as investment manager (together with the Fund, the “PIMCO Interval Funds”) and PIMCO Managed Accounts Trust, an open-end investment management company with multiple series for which PIMCO serves as investment adviser and administrator (the “Trust” and, together with the PIMCO Interval Funds and the PIMCO Closed-End Funds, the “PIMCO-Managed Funds”).

In addition, each of the Independent Trustees also serves as a trustee of AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund, AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund II, AllianzGI NFJ Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund, AllianzGI Equity & Convertible Income Fund, AllianzGI Diversified Income & Convertible Fund, AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund 2024 Target Term Fund, Allianz Funds, Allianz Funds Multi-Strategy Trust, AllianzGI Institutional Multi-Series Trust and Premier Multi-Series VIT, (together, the “Allianz-Managed Funds”), for which Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC, an affiliate of PIMCO, serves as investment manager. The Independent Trustees receive separate compensation from the Allianz Managed Funds in addition to amounts received for service on the Boards of the PIMCO-Managed Funds.

Each of the PIMCO-Managed Funds holds joint meetings of their Boards of Trustees whenever possible. Each Independent Trustee receives annual compensation of $225,000 for his or her service on the Boards of the PIMCO-Managed Funds, payable quarterly. The Independent Chairman of the Boards receives an additional $75,000 per year, payable quarterly. The Audit Oversight Committee Chairman receives an additional $50,000 annually, payable quarterly. Trustees are also reimbursed for meeting-related expenses.

Each Trustee’s compensation for his or her service as a Trustee on the Boards of the PIMCO-Managed Funds and other costs in connection with joint meetings of such Funds are allocated among the PIMCO-Managed Funds, as applicable, on the basis of fixed percentages as between the Fund and the PIMCO Closed-End Funds. Trustee compensation and other costs are then further allocated pro rata among the individual funds within each grouping based on each such fund’s relative net assets.

The Fund has no employees. The Fund’s officers and Interested Trustees (Mr. Dawson and Mr. Maney) are compensated by PIMCO or its affiliates, as applicable.

The Trustees do not receive any pension or retirement benefits from the Fund or the Fund Complex (see below).

 

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It is estimated that the Trustees will receive the amounts set forth in the following table from the Fund for its initial fiscal year ending December 31, 2018. For the calendar year ended December 31, 2017, the Independent Trustees received the compensation set forth in the table below for serving as trustees of the funds in the same Fund Complex as the Fund. Each officer and each Trustee who is a director, officer, partner, member or employee of the Investment Manager, or of any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Investment Manager, including any Interested Trustee, serves without any compensation from the Fund.

 

Name of Trustee

  Estimated
compensation
from the Fund
for the Fiscal
Year Ended
December 31,
2018*#
  Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund
Expenses
  Estimated Annual
Benefits Upon
Retirement
  Total Compensation
from the Fund
Complex Paid to the
Trustees for the
Calendar Year Ending
December 31, 2017**

Deborah A. DeCotis

  $1,670.99   N/A   N/A   $470,000

Bradford K. Gallagher

  $1,670.99   N/A   N/A   $460,000

James A. Jacobson

  $2,042.33   N/A   N/A   $535,000

Hans W. Kertess

  $2,227.99   N/A   N/A   $535,000

William B. Ogden, IV

  $1,670.99   N/A   N/A   $465,000

Alan Rappaport

  $1,670.99   N/A   N/A   $470,000

 

*  Since the Fund has not completed its first full year since organization, compensation is estimated based upon future payments to be made by the Fund during its current fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.

 

**  In addition to the PIMCO-Managed Funds, which are advised by the Investment Manager, during the Fund’s most recently completed calendar year, all of the Trustees (other than Messrs. Dawson and Maney) served as trustees of the Allianz-Managed Funds, which are managed by Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC. The Allianz-Managed Funds and the PIMCO-Managed Funds are considered to be in the same “Fund Complex.” Ms. DeCotis and Messrs. Kertess, Gallagher, Jacobson, Ogden and Rappaport currently serve as trustee or director of 93 funds in the Fund Complex. Messrs. Dawson and Maney currently serve as trustee or director of 26 funds in the Fund Complex. For the calendar year ended December 31, 2017, amounts received by the Trustees from PIMCO-Managed Funds were: for Mr. Kertess, $300,000; for Mr. Jacobson, $275,000; for each of Messrs. Gallagher, Ogden, and Rappaport and Ms. DeCotis, $225,000. These amounts are included in the Fund Complex totals in the table above.

 

#  Messrs. Dawson and Maney are interested Persons of the Fund and do not receive compensation from the Fund for their services as Trustees.

Codes of Ethics

The Fund, PIMCO and PIMCO Investments LLC, the Fund’s the principal underwriter, have each adopted a code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act. These codes permit personnel subject to the codes to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund. The codes of ethics can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090. The codes are also available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, and copies may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, Washington, DC, 20549-0102.

 

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Investment Manager

PIMCO, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as investment manager to the Fund pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Investment Management Agreement”) between PIMCO and the Fund. PIMCO is located at 650 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660. As of March 31, 2018, PIMCO had assets under management of approximately $1.77 trillion. As of March 31, 2018, PIMCO had third-party assets under management of approximately $1.35 trillion.

PIMCO is a majority owned subsidiary of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. (“Allianz Asset Management”) with minority interests held by Allianz Asset Management of America LLC and Allianz Asset Management U.S. Holding II LLC, each, a Delaware limited liability company, and by certain current and former officers of PIMCO. Allianz Asset Management was organized as a limited partnership under Delaware law in 1987. Through various holding company structures, Allianz Asset Management L.P. is majority owned by Allianz SE. Allianz SE is a European based, multinational insurance and financial services holding company and a publicly traded German company.

The general partner of Allianz Asset Management has substantially delegated its management and control of Allianz Asset Management to a Management Board. The Management Board of Allianz Asset Management is comprised of John C. Maney.

As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, there are no significant institutional shareholders of Allianz SE. Absent an SEC exemption or other regulatory relief, the Fund generally is precluded from effecting principal transactions with brokers that are deemed to be affiliated persons of the Fund or PIMCO, and the Fund’s ability to purchase securities being underwritten by an affiliated broker or a syndicate including an affiliated broker is subject to restrictions. Similarly, the Fund’s ability to utilize the affiliated brokers for agency transactions is subject to the restrictions of Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act. PIMCO does not believe that the restrictions on transactions with the affiliated brokers described above will materially adversely affect its ability to provide services to the Fund, the Fund’s ability to take advantage of market opportunities, or the Fund’s overall performance.

Investment Management Agreement

The Fund pays for the advisory and supervisory and administrative services it requires under what is essentially an all-in fee structure (the “unified management fee”).

PIMCO, subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for providing investment guidance and policy direction in connection with the management of the Fund, including oral and written research, analysis, advice, and statistical and economic data and information. Consistent with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions applicable to the Fund, PIMCO determines the securities and other assets to be purchased or sold by the Fund and determines what portion, consistent with any applicable investment restrictions, shall be invested in securities or other assets, and what portion, if any, should be held uninvested. Under the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund has the benefit of the investment analysis and research, the review of current economic conditions and trends and the consideration of long-range investment policy generally available to investment advisory clients of PIMCO.

 

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Under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, PIMCO is obligated to manage the Fund in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. PIMCO’s investment advisory services to the Fund are not exclusive under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement. PIMCO is free to, and does, render investment advisory services to others.

In addition, under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, subject to the general supervision of the Board of Trustees, PIMCO provides or causes to be furnished all supervisory and administrative and other services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund under the unified management fee, including but not limited to the supervision and coordination of matters relating to the operation of the Fund, including any necessary coordination among the custodian, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent, and recordkeeping agent (including pricing and valuation of the Fund), accountants, attorneys, and other parties performing services or operational functions for the Fund; the provision of adequate personnel, office space, communications facilities, and other facilities necessary for the effective supervision and administration of the Fund, as well as the services of a sufficient number of persons competent to perform such supervisory and administrative and clerical functions as are necessary for compliance with federal securities laws and other applicable laws; the maintenance of the books and records of the Fund; the preparation of all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns and reports for the Fund; the preparation, filing and distribution of any proxy materials (except as provided below), periodic reports to shareholders and other regulatory filings; the provision of administrative services to shareholders for the Fund including the maintenance of a shareholder information telephone number, the provision of certain statistical information and performance of the Fund, an internet website (if requested), and maintenance of privacy protection systems and procedures; the preparation and filing of such registration statements and other documents with such authorities as may be required to register a new class of shares of the Fund; the taking of other such actions as may be required by applicable law (including establishment and maintenance of a compliance program for the Fund); and the provision of administrative services to shareholders as necessary, including: the maintenance of a shareholder call center; shareholder transaction processing; the provision of certain statistical information and performance of the Fund; a web servicing platform and internet website; access by PIMCO representatives to databases to assist with shareholder inquiries and reports; oversight of anti-money laundering monitoring systems and procedures; repurchase fee application and monitoring systems and procedures; and processing of client registration applications.

Under the Investment Management Agreement, PIMCO will pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its obligations under the Investment Management Agreement with respect to the Fund, with the exception of certain expenses that are assumed by the Fund pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement. In addition, PIMCO is responsible for the following costs expenses: expenses of all audits by the Fund’s independent public accountants; expenses of the Fund’s transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent, and recordkeeping agent; expenses and fees paid to agents and intermediaries for sub-transfer agency, sub-accounting and other shareholder services on behalf of shareholders of Shares of the Fund (or Shares of a particular Share class) held through omnibus and networked, record shareholder accounts (together, “Sub-Transfer Agency Expenses”), except where Sub-Transfer Agency Expenses are paid pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 or similar plan adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund; expenses of the Fund’s custodial services, including any recordkeeping services provided by the custodian; expenses of obtaining quotations for calculating the value of the Fund’s net assets; expenses of maintaining the Fund’s tax records; certain expenses and fees, including legal fees, incident to meetings of the Fund’s shareholders; certain expenses associated with the preparation, printing

 

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and distribution of the Fund’s prospectuses, notices and proxy statements, press releases and reports to existing shareholders; certain expenses associated with the preparation and filing of registration statements and updates thereto and reports with regulatory bodies; expenses associated with the maintenance of the Fund’s existence and qualification to do business; expenses (including registration fees) of issuing, redeeming and repurchasing (including expenses associated with the Fund’s repurchases pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act); expenses associated with registering and qualifying for sale Common Shares with federal and state securities authorities following the initial registration of its Common Shares under the 1933 Act (i.e., that are not organizational and offering expenses of the Fund specified below) and following any registration of a new class of shares of the Fund subsequent to its initial registration; and the expense of qualifying and listing existing Common Shares with any securities exchange or other trading system; the Fund’s ordinary legal fees, including the legal fees that arise in the ordinary course of business for a Massachusetts business trust, registered as a closed-end management investment company and, as applicable, that operates as an “interval fund” pursuant to Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act, or that is listed for trading with a securities exchange or other trading system; costs of printing certificates representing Common Shares of the Fund, if any; the Fund’s pro rata portion of the fidelity bond required by Section 17(g) of the 1940 Act, or other insurance premiums; and organizational and offering expenses, including registration (including share registration) fees, legal, marketing, printing, accounting and other expenses, in connection with any registration of a new class of shares of the Fund subsequent to its initial registration.

The Fund (and not PIMCO) is responsible for certain fees and expenses that are not covered by the unified management fee under the Investment Management Agreement. These include salaries and other compensation or expenses, including travel expenses, of any of the Fund’s executive officers and employees, if any, who are not officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners or employees of PIMCO or its subsidiaries or affiliates; taxes and governmental fees, if any, levied against the Fund; brokerage fees and commissions, and other portfolio transaction expenses incurred by or for the Fund (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of outside legal counsel or third-party consultants retained in connection with reviewing, negotiating and structuring specialized loans and other investments made by the Fund, and any costs associated with originating loans, asset securitizations, alternative lending-related strategies and so-called “broken-deal costs” (e.g., fees, costs, expenses and liabilities, including, for example, due diligence-related fees, costs, expenses and liabilities, with respect to unconsummated investments)); expenses of the Fund’s securities lending (if any), including any securities lending agent fees, as governed by a separate securities lending agreement; costs, including interest expenses, of borrowing money or engaging in other types of leverage financing including, without limitation, through the use by the Fund of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, bank borrowings, credit facilities and tender option bonds; costs, including dividend and/or interest expenses and other costs (including, without limitation, offering and related legal costs, fees to brokers, fees to auction agents, fees to transfer agents, fees to ratings agencies and fees to auditors associated with satisfying ratings agency requirements for preferred shares or other securities issued by the Fund and other related requirements in the Fund’s organizational documents) associated with the Fund’s issuance, offering, redemption and maintenance of preferred shares, commercial paper or other instruments (such as the use of reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, bank borrowings, credit facilities and tender option bonds) for the purpose of incurring leverage; fees and expenses of any underlying funds or other pooled vehicles in which the Fund invests; dividend and interest expenses on short positions taken by the Fund; fees and expenses, including travel

 

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expenses, and fees and expenses of legal counsel retained for their benefit, of Trustees who are not officers, employees, partners, shareholders or members of PIMCO or its subsidiaries or affiliates; extraordinary expenses, including extraordinary legal expenses, as may arise, including, without limitation, expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings, other claims, and the legal obligations of the Fund to indemnify its Trustees, officers, employees, shareholders, distributors, and agents with respect thereto; fees and expenses, including legal, printing and mailing, solicitation and other fees and expenses associated with and incident to shareholder meetings and proxy solicitations involving contested elections of Trustees, shareholder proposals or other non-routine matters that are not initiated or proposed by Fund management; organizational and offering expenses of the Fund, including registration (including Share registration fees), legal, marketing, printing, accounting and other expenses, associated with organizing the Fund in its state of jurisdiction and in connection with the initial registration of the Fund under the 1940 Act and the initial registration of its Common Shares under the 1933 Act (i.e., through the effectiveness of the Fund’s initial registration statement on Form N-2) and fees and expenses associated with seeking, applying for and obtaining formal exemptive, no-action and/or other relief from the SEC in connection with the issuance of multiple share classes; except as otherwise provided as an expense of PIMCO, any expenses allocated or allocable to a specific class of Common Shares, including without limitation sub-transfer agency expenses and distribution and/or services fees paid pursuant to a Rule 12b-1 or similar plan adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Fund for a particular share class; and expenses of the Fund which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

PIMCO may earn a profit on the management fee paid by the Fund. Also, under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, PIMCO, and not Common Shareholders, would benefit from any price decreases in third-party services, including decreases resulting from an increase in net assets.

The Investment Management Agreement was initially approved by the Trustees of the Fund (including all of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund) on March 21, 2018 at a meeting held for such purpose. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees initial approval of the Fund’s Investment Management Agreement will be available in the Fund’s initial report to shareholders. The Investment Management Agreement will remain in full force and effect, unless sooner terminated by the Fund, for an initial two year period and shall continue thereafter on an annual basis provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the Fund’s Board of Trustees; and (ii) by the vote, cast in person at a meeting called for such purpose, of a majority of the Fund’s Independent Trustees. It can also be terminated with respect to the Fund at any time, without payment of any penalty by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by a vote of a majority of the Fund’s entire Board of Trustees on 60 days’ written notice to PIMCO, or by PIMCO on 60 days’ written notice to the Fund. Additionally, the Investment Management Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. The Investment Management Agreement may not be materially amended with respect to the Fund without a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.

Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, the Fund has agreed to pay PIMCO an annual management fee, payable on a monthly basis, at the annual rate of 0.75%% of the Fund’s average daily total managed assets. “Total managed assets” means the total assets of the Fund

 

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(including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, tender option bonds, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding, if any) minus accrued liabilities (other than liabilities representing reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, tender option bonds and borrowings). For purposes of calculating “total managed assets,” the liquidation preference of any preferred shares outstanding is not considered a liability. By way of clarification, with respect to any reverse repurchase agreement, dollar roll or similar transaction, “total managed assets” includes any proceeds from the sale of an asset of the Fund to a counterparty in such a transaction, in addition to the value of the underlying asset as of the relevant measuring date. Furthermore, to the extent applicable, assets attributable to tender option bonds would be included as assets irrespective of whether or not they are included as assets for financial reporting purposes. However, to the extent the Fund does not contribute municipal bonds to a tender option bond trust but holds residual interests issued by such trust, the tender option bonds outstanding would not be included in the calculation of “total managed assets.” In addition, for purposes of calculating “total managed assets,” the Fund’s derivative investments will be valued based on their market value. All fees and expenses are accrued daily and deducted before payment of dividends to investors.

Because the management fee received by PIMCO is based on the average daily total managed assets of the Fund (including assets attributable to any reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, tender option bonds, borrowings and preferred shares that may be outstanding), PIMCO has a financial incentive for the Fund to utilize reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, tender option bonds and borrowings or to issue preferred shares, which may create a conflict of interest between PIMCO, on the one hand, and Common Shareholders, on the other hand.

The Investment Management Agreement provides that neither PIMCO nor its members, officers, directors or employees shall be subject to any liability for, or any damages, expenses or losses incurred in connection with, any act or omission or mistake in judgment connected with or arising out of any services rendered under the Investment Management Agreement, except by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in performance of PIMCO’s duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of PIMCO’s obligations and duties under the Investment Management Agreement.

Because the Fund is newly organized, no fees were paid to the Investment Manager pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement in any prior fiscal year.

Management Fees Waived

PIMCO has contractually agreed, through July 31, 2019, to waive its management fee, or reimburse the Fund, to the extent that organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees exceed 0.10% of the Fund’s net assets (the “Expense Limit”). Under an expense limitation agreement, in any month in which the investment management agreement is in effect, PIMCO is entitled to reimbursement by the Fund of any portion of the management fee reduced as set forth above (the “Reimbursement Amount”) during the previous thirty-six months, provided that such amount paid to PIMCO will not: (1) together with any recoupment of organizational expenses and pro rata trustee fees or management fees exceed 0.10% of average net assets; (2) exceed the total Reimbursement Amount; or 3) include any amounts previously reimbursed to PIMCO. For the avoidance of doubt, any reimbursement of PIMCO’s management fee pursuant to the expense limitation agreement plus any recoupment of organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees will not exceed the lesser of (i) the expense limit in effect at the time of wavier or reimbursement and (ii) the expense limit in effect at the time of recoupment.

 

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Portfolio Managers

Other Accounts Managed. The portfolio managers who are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund also manage the other registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts indicated below. The following table identifies, as of March 31, 2018: (i) the number of other registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and other accounts managed by the portfolio managers (exclusive of the Fund); and (ii) the total assets of such other companies, vehicles and accounts, and the number and total assets of such companies, vehicles and accounts with respect to which the management fee is based on performance.

 

    

Total Number  
Other of

Accounts

 

Total Assets of  

All Other

Accounts (in

$millions)

 

Number of

Other Accounts  

Paying a

Performance

Fee

 

Total Assets of

Other Accounts  

Paying a

Performance

Fee (in

$millions)

David Hammer

               

Registered Investment Companies

  23   $6,408.15   0   $0.00

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

  0   $0.00   0   $0.00

Other Accounts

 

  14   $2,219.13   0   $0.00

Rachel Betton

               

Registered Investment Companies

  0   $0.00   0   $0.00

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

  0   $0.00   0   $0.00

Other Accounts

 

 

0

 

  $0.00

 

  0

 

  $0.00

 

Conflicts of Interest

From time to time, potential and actual conflicts of interest may arise between a portfolio manager’s management of the investments of the Fund, on the one hand, and the management of other accounts, on the other. Potential and actual conflicts of interest may also arise as a result of PIMCO’s other business activities and PIMCO’s possession of material non-public information about an issuer. Other accounts managed by a portfolio manager might have similar investment objectives or strategies as the Fund, track the same index as the Fund or otherwise hold, purchase, or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased or sold by the Fund. The other accounts might also have different investment objectives or strategies than the Fund. Potential and actual conflicts of interest may also arise as a result of PIMCO serving as investment adviser to accounts that invest in the Fund. In this case, such conflicts of interest could in theory give rise to incentives for PIMCO to, among other things, vote proxies of the Fund in a manner beneficial to the investing account but detrimental to the Fund. Conversely, PIMCO’s duties to the Fund, as well as regulatory or other limitations applicable to the Fund, may affect the courses of action available to PIMCO-advised accounts (including certain funds) that invest in the Fund in a manner that is detrimental to such investing accounts. In addition, regulatory restrictions, actual or potential conflicts of interest or other considerations may cause PIMCO to restrict or prohibit participation in certain investments.

 

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Because PIMCO is affiliated with Allianz, a large multi-national financial institution, conflicts similar to those described below may occur between the Fund and other accounts managed by PIMCO and PIMCO’s affiliates or accounts managed by those affiliates. Those affiliates (or their clients), which generally operate autonomously from PIMCO, may take actions that are adverse to the Fund or other accounts managed by PIMCO. In many cases, PIMCO will not be in a position to mitigate those actions or address those conflicts, which could adversely affect the performance of the Fund or other accounts managed by PIMCO.

Knowledge and Timing of Fund Trades. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s day-to-day management of the Fund. Because of their positions with the Fund, the portfolio managers know the size, timing and possible market impact of the Fund’s trades. It is theoretically possible that the portfolio managers could use this information to the advantage of other accounts they manage and to the possible detriment of the Fund.

Investment Opportunities. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s management of a number of accounts with varying investment guidelines. Often, an investment opportunity may be suitable for both the Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, but may not be available in sufficient quantities for both the Fund and the other accounts to participate fully. In addition, regulatory issues applicable to PIMCO or the Fund or other accounts may result in the Fund not receiving securities that may otherwise be appropriate for it. Similarly, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by the Fund and another account. PIMCO has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time.

Under PIMCO’s allocation procedures, investment opportunities are allocated among various investment strategies based on individual account investment guidelines and PIMCO’s investment outlook. PIMCO has also adopted additional procedures to complement the general trade allocation policy that are designed to address potential conflicts of interest due to the side-by-side management of the Fund and certain pooled investment vehicles, including investment opportunity allocation issues.

Conflicts potentially limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities may also arise when the Fund and other PIMCO clients invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund owns senior debt obligations of an issuer and other clients own junior tranches of the same issuer. In such circumstances, decisions over whether to trigger an event of default, over the terms of any workout, or how to exit an investment may result in conflicts of interest. In order to minimize such conflicts, a portfolio manager may avoid certain investment opportunities that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other PIMCO clients or PIMCO may enact internal procedures designed to minimize such conflicts, which could have the effect of limiting the Fund’s investment opportunities. Additionally, if PIMCO acquires material non-public confidential information in connection with its business activities for other clients, a portfolio manager may be restricted from purchasing securities or selling securities for the Fund. Moreover, the Fund or other accounts managed by PIMCO may invest in a transaction in which one or more other funds or accounts managed by PIMCO are expected to participate, or already have made or will seek to make, an investment. Such funds or accounts may have conflicting interests and objectives in connection with such investments, including, for example and without limitation, with respect to views on the operations or activities of the issuer involved, the targeted returns from the investment, and the timeframe for, and method of, exiting the investment. Additionally, a fund or other account managed by PIMCO may take an

 

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investment position or action that may be different from, or inconsistent with, an investment position or action taken by another fund or other account managed by PIMCO having similar or differing investment objectives. These positions and actions may adversely impact the Fund. For example, the Fund may buy a security and another fund or other account managed by PIMCO may establish a short position in that same security or in another security issued by the same issuer. The subsequent short sale may result in a decrease in the price of the security that the first fund holds. When making investment decisions where a conflict of interest may arise, PIMCO will endeavor to act in a fair and equitable manner as between the Fund and other clients; however, in certain instances the resolution of the conflict may result in PIMCO acting on behalf of another client in a manner that may not be in the best interest, or may be opposed to the best interest, of the Fund.

Performance Fees. A portfolio manager may advise certain accounts with respect to which the management fee is based entirely or partially on performance. Performance fee arrangements may create a conflict of interest for the portfolio manager in that the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate the investment opportunities that he or she believes might be the most profitable to such other accounts instead of allocating them to the Fund. PIMCO has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities between the Fund and certain pooled investment vehicles on a fair and equitable basis over time.

Portfolio Manager Compensation

PIMCO’s approach to compensation seeks to provide professionals with a Total Compensation Plan and process that is driven by PIMCO’s mission and values. Key Principles on Compensation Philosophy include:

 

    PIMCO’s pay practices are designed to attract and retain high performers;

 

    PIMCO’s pay philosophy embraces a corporate culture of rewarding strong performance, a strong work ethic, and meritocracy;

 

    PIMCO’s goal is to ensure key professionals are aligned to PIMCO’s long-term success through equity participation; and

 

    PIMCO’s “Discern and Differentiate” discipline guides total compensation levels.

The Total Compensation Plan consists of three components. The compensation program for portfolio managers is designed to align with clients’ interests, emphasizing each portfolio manager’s ability to generate long-term investment success for PIMCO’s clients. A portfolio manager’s compensation is not based solely on the performance of the Fund or any other account managed by that portfolio manager:

Base Salary – Base salary is determined based on core job responsibilities, positions/levels and market factors. Base salary levels are reviewed annually, when there is a significant change in job responsibilities or position, or a significant change in market levels.

Performance Bonus – Performance bonuses are designed to reward risk-adjusted performance and contributions to PIMCO’s broader investment process. The compensation process is not formulaic and the following non-exhaustive list of qualitative and quantitative criteria are considered when determining the total compensation for portfolio managers:

 

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    Performance measured over a variety of longer- and shorter-term periods, including 5- year, 4-year, 3-year, 2-year and 1-year dollar-weighted and account-weighted, pre-tax total and risk-adjusted investment performance as judged against the applicable benchmarks (which may include internal investment performance-related benchmarks) for each account managed by a portfolio manager (including the Fund) and relative to applicable industry peer groups; greatest emphasis is placed on 5-year and 3-year performance, followed by 1-year performance;

 

    Consistency of investment performance across portfolios of similar mandate and guidelines, rewarding low dispersion and consistency of outperformance;

 

    Appropriate risk positioning and risk management mindset which includes consistency with PIMCO’s investment philosophy, the Investment Committee’s positioning guidance, absence of defaults, and appropriate alignment with client objectives;

 

    Contributions to mentoring, coaching and/or supervising members of team;

 

    Collaboration, idea generation, and contribution of investment ideas in the context of PIMCO’s investment process, Investment Committee meetings, and day-to-day management of portfolios;

 

    With much lesser importance than the aforementioned factors: amount and nature of assets managed by the portfolio manager, contributions to asset retention, and client satisfaction.

PIMCO’s partnership culture further rewards strong long term risk adjusted returns with promotion decisions almost entirely tied to long term contributions to the investment process. 10- year performance can also be considered, though not explicitly as part of the compensation process.

Deferred Compensation – Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) and/or M Options are awarded to key professionals. Employees who reach a total compensation threshold are delivered their annual compensation in a mix of cash and/or deferred compensation. PIMCO incorporates a progressive allocation of deferred compensation as a percentage of total compensation, which is in line with market practices.

 

    The LTIP provides participants with deferred cash awards that appreciate or depreciate based on PIMCO’s operating earnings over a rolling three-year period. The plan provides a link between longer term company performance and participant pay, further motivating participants to make a long term commitment to PIMCO’s success.

 

    The M Unit program provides mid-to-senior level employees with the potential to acquire an equity stake in PIMCO over their careers and to better align employee incentives with the Firm’s long-term results. In the program, options are awarded and vest over a number of years and may convert into PIMCO equity which shares in the profit distributions of the Firm. M Units are non-voting common equity of PIMCO and provide a mechanism for individuals to build a significant equity stake in PIMCO over time.

Eligibility to participate in LTIP and the M Unit program is contingent upon continued employment at PIMCO and all other applicable eligibility requirements.

 

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Profit Sharing Plan. Portfolio managers who are Managing Directors of PIMCO receive compensation from a non-qualified profit sharing plan consisting of a portion of PIMCO’s net profits. Portfolio managers who are Managing Directors receive an amount determined by the Compensation Committee, based upon an individual’s overall contribution to the firm.

Securities Ownership

Because the Fund is newly organized, no shares of the Fund were owned by the portfolio managers as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

PIMCO has adopted written proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Policy”) as required by Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act. The Fund has adopted the Proxy Policy of PIMCO when voting proxies on behalf of the Fund. In addition to covering the voting of equity securities, the Proxy Policy also applies generally to voting and/or consent rights of fixed income securities, including but not limited to, plans of reorganization, and waivers and consents under applicable indentures. The Proxy Policy does not apply, however, to consent rights that primarily entail decisions to buy or sell investments, such as tender or exchange offers, conversions, put options, redemption and Dutch auctions. The Proxy Policy is designed and implemented in a manner reasonably expected to ensure that voting and consent rights (collectively, “proxies”) are exercised in the best interests of accounts.

With respect to the voting of proxies relating to equity securities, PIMCO has selected an unaffiliated third party proxy research and voting service (“Proxy Voting Service”), to assist it in researching and voting proxies. With respect to each proxy received, the Proxy Voting Service researches the financial implications of the proposals and provides a recommendation to PIMCO as to how to vote on each proposal based on the Proxy Voting Service’s research of the individual facts and circumstances and the Proxy Voting Service’s application of its research findings to a set of guidelines that have been approved by PIMCO. Upon the recommendation of the applicable portfolio managers, PIMCO may determine to override any recommendation made by the Proxy Voting Service. In the event that the Proxy Voting Service does not provide a recommendation with respect to a proposal, PIMCO may determine to vote on the proposals directly.

With respect to the voting of proxies relating to fixed income securities, PIMCO’s fixed income credit research group (the “Credit Research Group”) is responsible for researching and issuing recommendations for voting proxies. With respect to each proxy received, the Credit Research Group researches the financial implications of the proxy proposal and makes voting recommendations specific for each account that holds the related fixed income security. PIMCO considers each proposal regarding a fixed income security on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration any relevant contractual obligations as well as other relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote. Upon the recommendation of the applicable portfolio managers, PIMCO may determine to override any recommendation made by the Credit Research Group. In the event that the Credit Research Group does not provide a recommendation with respect to a proposal, PIMCO may determine to vote the proposal directly.

 

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PIMCO may determine not to vote a proxy for an equity or fixed income security if: (1) the effect on the applicable account’s economic interests or the value of the portfolio holding is insignificant in relation to the account’s portfolio; (2) the cost of voting the proxy outweighs the possible benefit to the applicable account, including, without limitation, situations where a jurisdiction imposes share blocking restrictions which may affect the ability of the portfolio managers to effect trades in the related security; or (3) PIMCO otherwise has determined that it is consistent with its fiduciary obligations not to vote the proxy.

In the event that the Proxy Voting Service or the Credit Research Group, as applicable, does not provide a recommendation or the portfolio managers of a client account propose to override a recommendation by the Proxy Voting Service, or the Credit Research Group, as applicable, PIMCO will review the proxy to determine whether there is a material conflict between PIMCO and the applicable account or among PIMCO-advised accounts. If no material conflict exists, the proxy will be voted according to the portfolio managers’ recommendation. If a material conflict does exist, PIMCO will seek to resolve the conflict in good faith and in the best interests of the applicable client account, as provided by the Proxy Policy. The Proxy Policy permits PIMCO to seek to resolve material conflicts of interest by pursuing any one of several courses of action. With respect to material conflicts of interest between PIMCO and a client account, the Proxy Policy permits PIMCO to either: (i) convene a committee to assess and resolve the conflict (the “Proxy Conflicts Committee”); or (ii) vote in accordance with protocols previously established by the Proxy Policy, the Proxy Conflicts Committee and/or other relevant procedures approved by PIMCO’s Legal and Compliance department with respect to specific types of conflicts. With respect to material conflicts of interest between one or more PIMCO-advised accounts, the Proxy Policy permits PIMCO to: (i) designate a PIMCO portfolio manager who is not subject to the conflict to determine how to vote the proxy if the conflict exists between two accounts with at least one portfolio manager in common; or (ii) permit the respective portfolio managers to vote the proxies in accordance with each client account’s best interests if the conflict exists between client accounts managed by different portfolio managers.

PIMCO will supervise and periodically review its proxy voting activities and the implementation of the Proxy Policy.

Information about how PIMCO voted the Fund’s proxies for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30th (Form N-PX) will be available no later than the following August 31st, without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at (844) 312-2113, and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES

PIMCO Investments LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as the principal underwriter in the continuous public offering of the Fund’s shares pursuant to a distribution contract (“Distribution Contract”) with the Fund, which is subject to annual approval by the Board. The Distributor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PIMCO and an indirect subsidiary of Allianz Asset Management. The Distributor does not participate in the distribution of non-PIMCO managed registered fund products. Furthermore, representatives of the Distributor may also be employees or associated persons of PIMCO. Because of these affiliations with PIMCO, the interests of the Distributor may conflict with the interests of Fund investors.

 

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The Distributor, located at 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019, is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and is a member of FINRA. All account inquiries should be mailed to the Fund’s Transfer Agent, and should not be mailed to the Distributor.

The Distribution Contract will continue in effect with respect to the Fund for successive one-year periods, provided that each such continuance is specifically approved: (i) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Contract or the Investment Management Agreement; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the entire Board cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose.

The Distributor acts as the distributor of Common Shares for the Fund on a best efforts basis, subject to various conditions, pursuant to the terms of the Distribution Contract. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any specific amount of Common Shares of the Fund.

The Fund generally does not offer or sell its shares outside of the United States, except to certain investors in approved jurisdictions and in conformity with local legal requirements.

The Fund currently offers one class of Common Shares: Institutional Class.

  Institutional Class Common Shares are offered for investment to investors such as pension and profit sharing plans, employee benefit trusts, endowments, foundations, corporations and individuals that can meet the minimum investment amount. Institutional Class Common Shares also may be offered through certain financial firms that charge their customers transaction or other fees with respect to the customer’s investment in the Fund.

Financial firms may provide or arrange for the provision of some or all of the shareholder servicing, account maintenance and other services required by specified benefit plan accounts and their participants, for which fees or expenses may be charged in addition to those described in the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.

The Fund has agreed to indemnify the Distributor and certain of the Distributor’s affiliates against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act, as amended. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Distributor has agreed to indemnify the Fund and each Trustee against certain liabilities under the Securities Act, as amended, and in connection with the services rendered to the Fund.

Additional Payments to Financial Firms

The Distributor may from time to time make payments and provide other incentives to financial firms as compensation for services such as providing the Fund with “shelf space” or a higher profile for the financial firms’ financial advisors and their customers, placing the Fund on the financial firms’ preferred or recommended fund list or otherwise identifying the Fund as being part of a complex to be accorded a higher degree of marketing support than complexes not making such payments, granting the Distributor access to the financial firms’ financial advisors (including through the firms’ intranet websites) in order to promote the Fund, promotions in communications with financial firms’ customers such as in the firms’ internet websites or in customer newsletters, providing assistance in training and educating the financial firms’ personnel, and furnishing marketing support and other specified services. The actual services provided, and any payments made for such services, may vary from firm to firm. These payments may be significant to the financial firms.

A number of factors will be considered in determining the amount of these additional payments to financial firms. On some occasions, such payments may be conditioned upon levels of sales,

 

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including the sale of a specified minimum dollar amount of the shares of the Fund and/or other funds sponsored by PIMCO or a particular class of shares, during a specified period of time. The Distributor also may make payments to one or more financial firms based upon factors such as the amount of assets a financial firm’s clients have invested in the Fund and the quality of the financial firm’s relationship with the Distributor, PIMCO and/or their affiliates.

To the extent the additional payments described above are made, such additional payments would be made from the Distributor’s own assets (and sometimes, therefore referred to as “revenue sharing”) pursuant to agreements with broker-dealers or other financial firms and would not change the price paid by investors for the purchase of the Fund’s shares or the amount the Fund will receive as proceeds from such sales. These payments may be made to financial firms (as selected by the Distributor) that have sold significant amounts of shares of the Fund.

In addition to revenue sharing payments, the Distributor may also make payments to financial firms in connection with certain transaction fees (also referred to as “ticket charges”) incurred by the financial firms.

In addition to the payments described above, the Distributor and/or PIMCO may make payments in connection with or reimburse financial firms’ sponsorship and/or attendance at conferences, seminars or informational meetings (“event support”), provide financial firms or their personnel with occasional tickets to events or other entertainment, meals and small gifts (“other non-cash compensation”), and make charitable contributions to valid charitable organizations at the request of financial firms (“charitable contributions”) to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules and regulations.

In addition, wholesale representatives of the Distributor and employees of PIMCO or their affiliates visit financial firms on a regular basis to educate financial advisors and other personnel about the Fund and to encourage the sale or recommendation of Fund shares to their clients. The Distributor and/or PIMCO may also provide (or compensate consultants or other third parties to provide) other relevant training and education to a financial firm’s financial advisors and other personnel. Although the Fund may use financial firms that sell Fund shares to effect transactions for the Fund’s portfolio, neither the Fund nor PIMCO will consider the sale of Fund shares as a factor when choosing financial firms to effect those transactions.

The Distributor also may make payments or reimbursements to financial firms or their affiliated companies , which may be used for the development, maintenance and availability of certain services including, but not limited to, platform education and communications, relationship management support, development to support new or changing products, trading platforms and related infrastructure/technology and/or legal risk management and regulatory compliance infrastructure in support of investment-related products, programs and services (collectively, “platform support”) or for various studies, surveys, industry data, research and access to information about, and contact information for, particular financial advisors who have sold, or may in the future sell, shares of the Fund (i.e., “leads”). In addition, the Distributor may pay investment consultants or their affiliated companies for certain services including sales personnel coaching and training.

Payments for items including event support, platform support, leads and consultant services (but not including certain account services, discussed below), as well as revenue sharing, may be bundled and allocated among these categories in the Distributor’s discretion. The financial firms receiving such bundled payments may characterize or allocate the payments differently from the Distributor’s internal allocation.

 

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Subject to applicable law, PIMCO and its affiliates may also provide investment advisory services to financial firms and their affiliates and may execute brokerage transactions on behalf of the Fund with such financial firms’ affiliates. These financial firms or their affiliates may, in the ordinary course of their financial firm business, recommend that their clients utilize PIMCO’s investment advisory services or invest in the Fund or in other products sponsored or distributed by the Distributor.

In addition to the payments, reimbursements and incentives described above, further amounts may be paid by PIMCO to financial firms for providing services with respect to shareholders holding Fund shares in nominee or street name, including, but not limited to, the following services: providing explanations and answering inquiries regarding the Fund and their accounts; providing recordkeeping and other administrative services, including preparing record date shareholder lists for proxy solicitation; maintaining records of and facilitating shareholder purchases and redemptions; processing and mailing transaction confirmations, periodic statements, prospectuses, shareholder reports, shareholder notices and other SEC-required communications to shareholders; providing periodic statements to certain benefit plans and participants in such plans of the Fund held for the benefit of each participant in the plan; processing, collecting and posting distributions to their accounts; issuing and mailing dividend checks to shareholders who have selected cash distributions; assisting in the establishment and maintenance of shareholder accounts; providing account designations and other information; capturing and processing tax data; establishing and maintaining automatic withdrawals and automated investment plans and shareholder account registrations; providing sub-accounting services; providing recordkeeping services related to purchase and redemption transactions, including providing such information as may be necessary to assure compliance with applicable blue sky requirements; and performing similar administrative services as requested by PIMCO to the extent that the firm is permitted by applicable statute, rule or regulation to provide such information or services. The actual services provided, and the payments made for such services, vary from firm to firm.

For these services, PIMCO may pay: an annual fee based on a per annum percentage of the value of the assets in the relevant accounts; or annual per account charges. These payments are made out of PIMCO’s own resources. Such resources may include the management fees paid to PIMCO under the Fund’s Investment Management Agreement. These payments, taken together in the aggregate, may be material to financial firms relative to other compensation paid by the Fund and/or PIMCO (as applicable) and may be in addition to any (i) marketing support, revenue sharing or “shelf space” fees; and (ii) event support, other non-cash compensation and charitable contributions disclosed above and paid to or at the request of such financial firms or their personnel. The additional servicing payments and set-up fees described above may vary from amounts paid to the Fund’s transfer agent for providing similar services to other accounts.

If investment advisers, distributors or affiliated persons of registered investment companies make payments and provide other incentives in differing amounts, financial firms and their financial advisors may have financial incentives for recommending a particular fund over other funds. In addition, depending on the arrangements in place at any particular time, a financial firm and its financial advisors also may have a financial incentive for recommending a particular share class, to the extent applicable, over other share classes. Because financial firms and plan recordkeepers

 

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may be paid varying amounts per class for sub-accounting and related recordkeeping services, the service requirements of which also may vary by class, this may create an additional incentive for financial firms and their financial advisors to favor one fund complex over another or one fund share class over another, to the extent applicable. You should review carefully any disclosure by the financial firm or plan recordkeepers as to its compensation.

In certain circumstances, the Distributor or its affiliates may pay or reimburse financial firms for distribution and/or shareholder services out of the Distributor’s or its affiliates’ own assets. These payments and reimbursements may be made from profits received by the Distributor or its affiliates from other fees paid by the Fund. Such activities by the Distributor or its affiliates may provide incentives to financial firms to purchase or market shares of the Fund. Additionally, these activities may give the Distributor or its affiliates additional access to sales representatives of such financial firms, which may increase sales of Fund shares. The payments described in this paragraph may be significant to payors and payees.

Purchasing Shares

The following section provides basic information about how to purchase Common Shares of the Fund.

The Fund typically does not offer or sell its shares to non-U.S. residents. For purposes of this policy, a U.S. resident is defined as an account with (i) a U.S. address of record and (ii) all account owners residing in the U.S. at the time of sale. Eligible investors may purchase Institutional Class Common Shares in the following ways:

Through your broker-dealer or other financial firm. Your broker-dealer or other financial firm may establish different minimum investment requirements than the Fund and may also independently charge you transaction fees and additional amounts (which may vary) in return for its services, which will reduce your return. Shares you purchase through your broker-dealer or other financial firm will normally be held in your account with that firm.

Through the Distributor. You should discuss your investment with your financial advisor before you make a purchase to be sure the Fund is appropriate for you. If you do not list a financial advisor and his/her brokerage firm on the Account Application, the Distributor is designated as the broker of record, but solely for purposes of acting as your agent to purchase shares. Investors who wish to invest direct may obtain an Account Application online at pimco.com or by calling 844.312.2113. The completed Account Application may be submitted using the following methods:

Facsimile: 844.643.0432

Overnight Mail:

PIMCO Interval Funds

C/O DST Systems, Inc.

430 W. 7th Street

Suite 219993

Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

Regular Mail:

PIMCO Interval Funds

P.O. Box 219993

Kansas City, MO 64121-9993

 

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E-mail: pimcoaltprocessing@dstsystems.com

For inquiries, please call 844.312.2113.

Payment for the purchase of Common Shares may be made by check payable to the PIMCO Interval Funds and sent to the Regular Mail address above; or by wiring federal funds to:

PIMCO Interval Funds

United Missouri Bank

928 Grand Blvd.

Kansas City, MO 64106

ABA: 1010-00695-5

DDA: 98-7229-174-3

ACCT: Your PIMCO Account Number

FFC: Shareholder Name and Fund Identifier

Before wiring federal funds, the investor must provide order instructions to the transfer agent by facsimile at 844.643.0432 or by e-mail at pimcoaltprocessing@dstsystems.com. In order to receive the current day’s NAV, order instructions must be received in good order prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) (“NYSE Close”). Instructions must include the name and signature of an appropriate person designated on the Account Application (“Authorized Person”), account name, account number, name of the Fund and dollar amount. Failure to send the accompanying payment on the same day may result in the cancellation of the order. Payments received without order instructions could result in a processing delay or a return of wire.

An investor may place a purchase order for Common Shares without first wiring federal funds if the purchase amount is to be derived from an advisory account managed by PIMCO or one of its affiliates, or from an account with a broker-dealer or other financial firm that has established a processing relationship with the Fund on behalf of its customers.

Investment Minimums

 

    Institutional Class Common Shares. The following investment minimums apply for purchases of Institutional Class Common Shares:

 

Initial Investment

 

Subsequent Investments

$1 million per account   None

The initial investment minimums may be modified for certain financial firms that submit orders on behalf of their customers. The Fund or the distributor may lower or waive the initial investment minimums for certain categories of investors at their discretion. The minimum initial investment may also be modified for the Trustees and certain employees and their extended family members of PIMCO and its affiliates. For these purposes, “extended family members” shall include such person’s spouse or domestic partner, as recognized by applicable state law, children, siblings, current brother/sister-in-laws, parents, and current father/mother-in-laws. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for details.

 

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    Additional Investments. An investor may purchase additional Institutional Class Common Shares of the Fund at any time by sending a facsimile or e-mail as outlined above. If you invest through a broker-dealer, contact your financial firm for information on purchasing additional Institutional Class Common Shares.

 

    Other Purchase Information. Purchases of the Fund’s Institutional Class Common Shares will be made in full and fractional shares.

Additional Information about Purchases. Shares may be purchased at a price equal to their net asset value per share next determined after receipt of an order, plus any applicable sales chare. All purchase orders received by the Fund or its designee prior to the NYSE Close on a regular business day are processed at that day’s offering price. However, orders received by the Fund or its designee after the offering price is determined that day from financial firms or certain retirement plans will receive such offering price if the orders were received by the financial firm or retirement plan from its customer or participant prior to such offering price determination and were transmitted to and received by the Fund or its designee prior to such time as agreed upon by the Distributor or Investment Manager in accordance with an agreement or as allowed by applicable law. Purchase orders will be accepted only on days on which the Fund is open for business. If a purchase order is received on a day when the Fund is not open for business, it will be processed on the next succeeding day the Fund is open for business (according to the succeeding day’s net asset value). The Fund is “open for business” on each day the NYSE is open for trading, which excludes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. If the NYSE is closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, the Fund reserves the right to treat such day as a Business Day and accept purchase orders and calculate the Fund’s NAV, in accordance with applicable law. The Fund reserves the right to close if the primary trading markets of the Fund’s portfolio instruments are closed and the Fund’s management believes that there is not an adequate market to meet purchase requests. On any business day when the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the securities markets close trading early, the Fund may close trading early.

Broker-dealers and other financial firms are obligated to transmit purchase orders promptly. The Fund and the Distributor each reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to accept or reject any order for purchase of Fund shares. The sale of shares may be suspended on any day on which the NYSE is closed and, if permitted by the rules of the SEC, when trading on the NYSE is restricted or during an emergency that makes it impracticable for the Fund to dispose of its securities or to determine fairly the value of its net assets, or during any other period as permitted by the SEC for the protection of investors.

Signature Validation. When a signature validation is called for, a Medallion signature guarantee or Signature validation program (“SVP”) stamp may be required. A Medallion signature guarantee is intended to provide signature validation for transactions considered financial in nature, and an SVP stamp is intended to provide signature validation for transactions non-financial in nature. In certain situations, a notarized signature may be used instead of a Medallion signature guarantee or an SVP stamp. A Medallion signature guarantee or SVP stamp may be obtained from a domestic bank or trust company, broker, dealer, clearing agency, savings association or other financial institution which is participating in a Medallion program or Signature validation program recognized by the Securities Transfer Association. When a Medallion signature guarantee or SVP

 

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stamp is required, signature validations from financial institutions which are not participating in one of these programs will not be accepted. Please note that financial institutions participating in a recognized Medallion program may still be ineligible to provide a signature validation for transactions of greater than a specified dollar amount. The Fund may change the signature validation requirements from time to time upon notice to shareholders, which may be given by means of a new or supplemented prospectus. Shareholders should contact the Fund for additional details regarding the Fund’s signature validation requirements.

Account Registration and Privilege Changes. Changes in registration or account privileges may be made in writing. Signature validation may be required. See “Signature Validation” above. All correspondence must include the account number and may be submitted using the following methods:

Facsimile: 844.643.0432

Overnight Mail:

PIMCO Interval Funds

C/O DST Systems, Inc.

430 W. 7th Street

Suite 219993

Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

Regular Mail:

PIMCO Interval Funds

P.O. Box 219993

Kansas City, MO 64121-9993

Email: pimcoaltprocessing@dstsystems.com

For inquiries, please call 844.312.2113.If you invest through a broker-dealer, contact your financial firm for information on changes in registration or account privileges.

Information for Shares of the Fund. Broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase Fund shares. Some may establish higher minimum investment requirements than set forth above. Firms may arrange with their clients for other investment or administrative services and may independently establish and charge transaction fees and/or other additional amounts to their clients for such services, which charges would reduce clients’ return. Firms also may hold Fund shares in nominee or street name as agent for and on behalf of their customers. In such instances, the Fund’s Transfer Agent will have no information with respect to or control over accounts of specific shareholders. Such shareholders may obtain access to their accounts and information about their accounts only from their broker. In addition, certain privileges with respect to the purchase and redemption of shares or the reinvestment of dividends may not be available through such firms. Some firms may participate in a program allowing them access to their clients’ accounts for servicing including, without limitation, transfers of registration and dividend payee changes; and may perform functions such as generation of confirmation statements and disbursement of cash dividends.

Request for Multiple Copies of Shareholder Documents

To reduce expenses, it is intended that only one copy of the Fund’s Prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report, when available, will be mailed to those addresses shared by two or more

 

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accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents and your shares are held in the Fund’s account, call the Fund at 844.312.2113. You will receive the additional copy within 30 days after receipt of your request by the Fund. Alternatively, if your shares are held through a financial institution, please contact the financial institution.

REPURCHASE OF COMMON SHARES

In order to provide some liquidity to shareholders, the Fund makes quarterly offers to repurchase between 5% and 25% of its outstanding Common Shares at net asset value. Although the policy permits repurchases of between 5% and 25% of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares, for each quarterly repurchase offer, the Fund currently expects to offer to repurchase 10% of the Fund’s outstanding Common Shares at NAV, subject to approval of the Board. Notices of each quarterly repurchase offer are sent to shareholders at least 21 days before the “Repurchase Request Deadline” (i.e., the date by which shareholders can tender their Common Shares in response to a repurchase offer). The Fund determines the NAV applicable to repurchases no later than the 14 days after the Repurchase Request Deadline (or the next business day, if the 14th day is not a business day)(the “Repurchase Pricing Date”). The Fund expects to distribute payment to shareholders between one and three business days after the Repurchase Pricing Date and will distribute such payment no later than 7 calendar days after such date. The Fund’s Common Shares are not listed on any securities exchange, and the Fund anticipates that no secondary market will develop for its Common Shares. Investors should consider Common Shares of the Fund to be an illiquid investment. Accordingly, you may not be able to sell Common Shares when and/or in the amount that you desire. Thus, Common Shares are appropriate only as a long-term investment. In addition, the Fund’s repurchase offers may subject the Fund and shareholders to special risks.

The section entitled “Periodic Repurchase Offers” in the Prospectus discusses the type and timing of notice for repurchase offers, the effects of oversubscribed repurchase offers, the determination of the repurchase price, payment by the Fund for Common Shares tendered in a repurchase offer, the effect of repurchase policies on the liquidity of the Fund, the consequences of repurchase offers and other details regarding the repurchase offers, including associated risks. The Fund’s fundamental policies with respect to repurchase offers are discussed in “Investment Restrictions” in this Statement of Additional Information.

See “Risks – Repurchase Offers Risk” in the Prospectus for a description of the risks associated with the Fund’s repurchase offers. In addition, the repurchase of Common Shares by the Fund will be a taxable event to shareholders. For a discussion of these tax consequences, see “Taxation” below.

In addition to the Fund’s policy to make periodic repurchase offers as described above, the Board may consider additional repurchases of its Common Shares on the open market or in private transactions, the making of a tender offer for such shares, or the conversion of the Fund to an open-end investment company (described below). The Fund cannot assure you that its Board will decide to take or propose any of these actions.

Subject to its investment limitations, the Fund may borrow to finance the repurchase of shares or to make a tender offer. Interest on any borrowings to finance share repurchase transactions or the accumulation of cash by the Fund in anticipation of share repurchases or tenders will reduce the Fund’s net income and gains. Any share repurchase, tender offer or borrowing that might be approved by the Board would have to comply with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and other applicable law.

 

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The Fund does not currently intend to charge a repurchase fee. However, the Fund may charge a repurchase fee of up to 2.00%, which the Fund would retain to help offset non-de minimis estimated costs related to the repurchase incurred by the Fund, directly or indirectly, as a result of repurchasing Common Shares, thus allocating estimated transaction costs to the shareholder whose Common Shares are being repurchased. The Fund may introduce, or modify the amount of, a repurchase fee at any time. The Fund may also waive or reduce the repurchase fee if PIMCO determines that the repurchase is offset by a corresponding purchase or if for other reasons the Fund will not incur transaction costs or will incur reduced transaction costs.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

Investment Decisions and Portfolio Transactions

Investment decisions for the Fund and for the other investment advisory clients of PIMCO are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives. Investment decisions are the product of many factors in addition to basic suitability for the particular client involved (including the Fund). Some securities considered for investments by the Fund also may be appropriate for other clients served by PIMCO. Thus, a particular security may be bought or sold for certain clients even though it could have been bought or sold for other clients at the same time, including accounts in which PIMCO, its affiliates and its employees may have a financial interest. If a purchase or sale of securities consistent with the investment policies of the Fund and one or more of these clients served by PIMCO is considered at or about the same time, transactions in such securities will be allocated among the Fund and other clients pursuant to PIMCO’s trade allocation policy, as applicable, that is designed to ensure that all accounts, including the Fund, are treated fairly, equitably, and in a non-preferential manner, such that allocations are not based upon fee structure or portfolio manager preference. PIMCO may acquire on behalf of its clients (including the Fund) securities or other financial instruments providing exposure to different aspects of the capital and debt structure of an issuer, including without limitation those that relate to senior and junior/subordinate obligations of such issuer. In certain circumstances, the interests of those clients exposed to one portion of the issuer’s capital and debt structure may diverge from those clients exposed to a different portion of the issuer’s capital and debt structure. PIMCO may advise some clients or take actions for them in their best interests with respect to their exposures to an issuer’s capital and debt structure that may diverge from the interests of other clients with different exposures to the same issuer’s capital and debt structure.

PIMCO may aggregate orders for the Fund with simultaneous transactions entered into on behalf of its other clients when, in its reasonable judgment, aggregation may result in an overall economic benefit to the Fund and the other clients in terms of pricing, brokerage commissions or other expenses. When feasible, PIMCO allocates trades prior to execution. When pre-execution allocation is not feasible, PIMCO promptly allocates trades following established and objective procedures. Allocations generally are made at or about the time of execution and before the end of the trading day. As a result, one account may receive a price for a particular transaction that is different from the price received by another account for a similar transaction on the same day. In general, trades are allocated among portfolio managers on a pro rata basis (to the extent a portfolio manager decides to participate fully in the trade), for further allocation by each

 

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portfolio manager among that manager’s eligible accounts. In allocating trades among accounts, portfolio managers generally consider a number of factors, including, but not limited to, each account’s deviation (in terms of risk exposure and/or performance characteristics) from a relevant model portfolio, each account’s investment objectives, restrictions and guidelines, its risk exposure, its available cash, and its existing holdings of similar securities. Once trades are allocated, they may be reallocated only in unusual circumstances due to recognition of specific account restrictions. In some cases, PIMCO may sell a security on behalf of a client, including the Fund, to a broker-dealer that thereafter may be purchased for the accounts of one or more other clients, including the Fund, from that or another broker-dealer. PIMCO have adopted procedures they believe are reasonably designed to obtain the best execution for the transactions by each account.

Brokerage and Research Services

There is generally no stated commission in the case of fixed-income securities, which are often traded in the OTC markets, but the price paid by the Fund usually includes an undisclosed dealer commission or mark-up. In underwritten offerings, the price paid by the Fund includes a disclosed, fixed commission or discount retained by the underwriter or dealer. Transactions on U.S. stock exchanges and other agency transactions involve the payment by the Fund 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 the payment of fixed brokerage commissions, which are generally higher than those in the United States. Transactions in fixed income securities on certain foreign exchanges may involve commission payments.

PIMCO places all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, options, futures contracts, swap agreements and other instruments for the Fund and buys and sells such securities, options, futures, swap agreements and other instruments for the Fund through a substantial number of brokers and dealers. In so doing, PIMCO uses its best efforts to obtain for the Fund the best execution available, except to the extent it may be permitted to pay higher brokerage commissions as described below. In seeking best execution, PIMCO, having in mind the Fund’s best interests, considers all factors it deems relevant, including, by way of illustration, price, the size of the transaction, the nature of the market for the security, the amount of the commission, the timing of the transaction taking into account market prices and trends, the reputation, experience and financial stability of the broker-dealer involved and the quality of service rendered by the broker-dealer in other transactions. Changes in the aggregate amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Fund from year-to-year may be attributable to changes in the asset size of the Fund, the volume of the portfolio transactions effected by the Fund, the types of instruments in which the Fund invests, or the rates negotiated by PIMCO on behalf of the Fund. Because the Fund is newly organized, it did not pay any brokerage commissions in a prior fiscal year.

PIMCO places orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio investments for the Fund’s account with brokers or dealers selected by it in its discretion. In effecting purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the account of the Fund, PIMCO will seek the best price and execution of the Fund’s orders. In doing so, the Fund may pay higher commission rates than the lowest available when PIMCO believes it is reasonable to do so in light of the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the broker effecting the transaction, as discussed below.

 

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It has for many years been a common practice in the investment advisory business for advisers of investment companies and other institutional investors to receive research and brokerage products and services (together, “services”) from broker-dealers that execute portfolio transactions for the clients of such advisers. Consistent with this practice, PIMCO may receive research services from many broker-dealers with which PIMCO places the Fund’s portfolio transactions. PIMCO also may receive research or research related credits from brokers that are generated from underwriting commissions when purchasing new issues of fixed-income securities or other assets for the Fund. These services, which in some cases may also be purchased for cash, include such matters as general economic and security market reviews, industry and company reviews, evaluations of securities and recommendations as to the purchase and sale of securities and services related to the execution of securities transactions. Some of these services are of value to PIMCO in advising various of its clients (including the Fund), although not all of these services are necessarily useful and of value in managing the Fund. Conversely, research and brokerage services provided to the Fund by broker-dealers in connection with trades executed on behalf of other clients of PIMCO may be useful to PIMCO in managing the Fund, although not all of these services may be necessarily useful and of value to PIMCO in managing such other clients.

In reliance on the “safe harbor” provided by Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act, as amended, PIMCO may cause the Fund to pay broker-dealers which provide them with “brokerage and research services” (as defined in the Exchange Act) an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction for the Fund in excess of the commission which another broker-dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction if PIMCO determines in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided by the broker-dealer viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or PIMCO’s overall responsibilities to the advisory accounts for which PIMCO exercises investment discretion.

PIMCO may place orders for the purchase and sale of exchanged-listed portfolio securities with a broker-dealer that is an affiliate of PIMCO where, in the judgment of PIMCO, such firm will be able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as other qualified broker-dealers.

Pursuant to rules of the SEC, a broker-dealer that is an affiliate of PIMCO may receive and retain compensation for effecting portfolio transactions for the Fund on a national securities exchange of which the broker-dealer is a member if the transaction is “executed” on the floor of the exchange by another broker which is not an “associated person” of the affiliated broker-dealer, and if there is in effect a written contract between PIMCO and the Fund expressly permitting the affiliated broker-dealer to receive and retain such compensation.

SEC rules further require that commissions paid to such an affiliated broker dealer, or PIMCO by the Fund on exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary brokerage commissions.” The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.”

Because the Fund is newly organized, it did not pay any commissions to affiliated brokers in a prior fiscal year.

 

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Holdings of Securities of the Fund’s Regular Brokers and Dealers

The Fund is newly-organized and did not acquire or hold any securities of its regular broker-dealers in a prior fiscal year.

DISTRIBUTIONS

See “Distributions” in the Prospectus for information relating to distributions to Fund shareholders.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND SHARES

The following is a brief description of the anticipated capital structure of the Fund. This description does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Declaration and the Fund’s Bylaws, as amended and restated through the date hereof (the “Bylaws”). The Declaration and Bylaws are each exhibits to the registration statement of which this Statement of Additional Information is a part.

The Fund is an unincorporated voluntary association with transferable shares of beneficial interest (commonly referred to as a “Massachusetts business trust”) established under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts by the Declaration. The Declaration provides that the Trustees of the Fund may authorize separate classes of shares of beneficial interest. Preferred shares may be issued in one or more series, with such par value and with such rights as determined by the Board, by action of the Board without the approval of the Common Shareholders.

Common Shares

The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of Common Shares. The Common Shares will be issued with a par value of $0.00001 per share. The Fund is currently offering one class of Common Shares: Institutional Class. The fees and expenses for the Fund are set forth in “Summary of Fund Expenses” above.

Common Shareholders will be entitled to the payment of dividends and other distributions when, as and if declared by the Board. All Common Shares have equal rights to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation. Common Shares will, when issued, be fully paid and, subject to matters discussed in “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust,” non-assessable, and will have no pre-emptive or conversion rights or rights to cumulative voting. Upon liquidation of the Fund, after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities of the Fund and the liquidation preference with respect to any outstanding preferred shares, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining assets of the Fund among the Fund’s Common Shareholders.

The Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders. If the Fund does hold a meeting of shareholders, Common Shares of the Fund entitle their holders to one vote for each Common Share held. Each fractional share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote, except as otherwise provided by the Declaration, Bylaws, or required by applicable law.

The Fund will send unaudited reports at least semiannually and audited financial statements annually to all of its Common Shareholders.

 

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The Common Shares are not, and are not expected to be, listed for trading on any national securities exchange nor is there expected to be any secondary trading market in the Common Shares.

Preferred Shares

The Declaration authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of preferred shares. Preferred shares may be issued in one or more classes or series, with such par value and rights as determined by the Board of Trustees, by action of the Board of Trustees without the approval of the Common Shareholders.

Subject to authorization by the Board of Trustees, it is expected that the Fund may issue preferred shares within one year of the date of this Statement of Additional Information. Any such decision is subject to market conditions and to the Board of Trustees and PIMCO’s continuing belief that leveraging the Fund’s capital structure through the issuance of preferred shares is likely to achieve benefits to the Common Shareholders as described in the Prospectus. See “Leverage.” Although the terms of the preferred shares will be determined by the Board of Trustees (subject to applicable law and the Fund’s Declaration) if and when it authorizes a preferred shares offering, it is expected that the preference on distribution, liquidation preference, voting rights and certain redemption provisions of the preferred shares will likely be as stated below.

Limited Issuance of Preferred Shares. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund may issue preferred shares with an aggregate liquidation value of up to one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets, including any liabilities associated with borrowings, measured immediately after issuance of the preferred shares. “Liquidation value” means the original purchase price of the shares being liquidated plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its Common Shares unless the liquidation value of the preferred shares is less than one-half of the value of the Fund’s total net assets (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend or distribution) immediately after the distribution.

Distribution Preference. Preferred shares would have complete priority over the Common Shares as to distribution of assets.

Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up. Preferred shares would pay dividend distributions at a stated rate, which rate would be based on the assumption that such dividend distributions would consist entirely of “exempt-interest dividends” (as defined below under “Taxation—Exempt-Interest Dividends”). The terms of the preferred shares will provide further that, in the event less than the entire amount of any particular dividend distribution paid pursuant to the stated rate were to consist of “exempt-interest dividends”, the amount of such dividend would increase by by an amount (the “Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up”) such that the after-tax amount of such increased dividend would equal the total amount the holder of such preferred shares would have received if the dividend at the stated rate had consisted entirely of “exempt-interest dividends. . Any Preferred Shareholder Gross-Up will reduce the amount that would otherwise be distributable to Common Shareholders.

Liquidation Preference. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Fund, holders of preferred shares would be entitled

 

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to receive a preferential liquidating distribution (expected to equal the original purchase price per share plus accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned or declared) before any distribution of assets is made to Common Shareholders.

Voting Rights. Preferred shares are required to be voting shares and to have equal voting rights with Common Shares. Except as otherwise indicated in the Prospectus or this Statement of Additional Information, and except as otherwise required by applicable law, preferred shares would vote together with Common Shareholders as a single class.

If the Fund issues preferred shares as currently anticipated, it is expected that holders of preferred shares voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect two of the Fund’s trustees (following the establishment of the Fund by an initial trustee, the Declaration provides for a total of no less than three trustees). The remaining trustees will be elected by Common Shareholders and holders of preferred shares, if issued in the future, voting together as a single class. In the unlikely event that two full years of accrued dividends are unpaid on the preferred shares the holders of all outstanding preferred shares voting as a separate class, would be entitled to elect a majority of the Fund’s trustees until all dividends in arrears have been paid or declared and set apart for payment. In order for the Fund to take certain actions or enter into certain transactions, a separate class vote of holders of preferred shares would be required, in addition to the single class vote of the holders of preferred shares and Common Shares.

Redemption, Purchase and Sale of Preferred Shares. The terms of any preferred shares provide that they may be redeemed by the issuer at certain times, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price per share plus accumulated dividends. Any redemption or purchase of preferred shares by the Fund will reduce the leverage applicable to Common Shares, while any issuance of shares by the Fund would increase such leverage.

If the Fund issues preferred shares as currently anticipated, it is expected that the Fund would apply for and obtain ratings for such shares from one or more nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations (“NRSROs”). As long as any preferred shares are outstanding, the composition of the Fund’s portfolio would reflect guidelines established by such NRSROs. Based on previous guidelines established by such NRSROs for the securities of other issuers, the Fund anticipates that the guidelines may impose asset coverage or portfolio composition requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. However, at this time, no assurance can be given as to the nature or extent of the guidelines that may be imposed in connection with obtaining a rating of any preferred shares.

ANTI-TAKEOVER AND OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST

Anti-Takeover Provisions

The Declaration and the Bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status.

As described below, the Declaration grants special approval rights with respect to certain matters to members of the Board who qualify as “Continuing Trustees,” which term means a Trustee who either (i) has been a member of the Board for a period of at least thirty-six months (or since the commencement of the Fund’s operations, if less than thirty-six months) or (ii) was nominated to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees by a majority of the Continuing Trustees then members of the Board.

 

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The Declaration requires the affirmative vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Board of Trustees and holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund’s shares to authorize certain Fund transactions not in the ordinary course of business, including a merger or consolidation or share exchange, any shareholder proposal as to specific investment decisions made or to be with respect to the assets of the Fund or issuance or transfer by the Fund of the Fund’s shares having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more (except as may be made pursuant to a public offering, the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan or upon exercise of any stock subscription rights), unless the transaction is authorized by both a majority of the Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (in which case no shareholder authorization would be required by the Declaration, but may be required in certain cases under the 1940 Act). The Declaration also requires the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund’s shares entitled to vote on the matter to authorize a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, unless the conversion is authorized by both a majority of the Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (in which case shareholders would have only the minimum voting rights required by the 1940 Act with respect to the conversion). Also, the Declaration provides that the Fund may be terminated at any time by vote or consent of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the Fund’s shares or, alternatively, by vote or consent of both a majority of the Trustees and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees.

The Trustees may from time to time grant other voting rights to shareholders with respect to these and other matters in the Bylaws, certain of which are required by the 1940 Act.

The overall effect of these provisions is to render more difficult the accomplishment of a merger or the assumption of control of the Fund by a third party. These provisions also provide, however, the advantage of potentially requiring persons seeking control of the Fund to negotiate with its management regarding the price to be paid and facilitating the continuity of the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. The Board of Trustees of the Fund has considered the foregoing anti-takeover provisions and concluded that they are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, including Common Shareholders.

The foregoing is intended only as a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Declaration and the Bylaws, both of which are on file with the SEC.

Shareholder Liability

Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, in certain circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. However, the Declaration contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for debts or obligations of the Fund and requires that notice of such limited liability be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by the Fund or the Trustees. The Declaration further provides for indemnification out of the assets and property of the Fund for all loss and expense of any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Fund. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances in which the Fund would be unable to meet its obligations. The Fund believes that the likelihood of such circumstances is remote.

Liability of Trustees

The Declaration provides that the obligations of the Fund are not binding upon the Trustees of the Fund individually, but only upon the assets and property of the Fund, and that the Trustees

 

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shall not be liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. Nothing in the Declaration, however, protects a Trustee against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND

The Fund’s Board may also from time to time consider submitting to the Fund’s shareholders a proposal to convert the Fund to an open-end investment company. In determining whether to exercise its sole discretion to submit this issue to shareholders, the Board would consider all factors then relevant, including the size of the Fund, the extent to which shareholders have adequate liquidity thorough repurchase offers, the extent to which the Fund’s capital structure is leveraged and the possibility of re-leveraging (if any) and general market and economic conditions.

The Declaration requires the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of each class of the Fund’s shares entitled to vote on the matter to authorize a conversion of the Fund from a closed-end to an open-end investment company, unless the conversion is authorized by both a majority of the Board and seventy-five percent (75%) of the Continuing Trustees (as defined above under “Anti-Takeover and Other Provisions in the Declaration of Trust — Anti-Takeover Provisions”). This seventy-five percent (75%) shareholder approval requirement is higher than is required under the 1940 Act. In the event that a conversion is approved by the Trustees and the Continuing Trustees as described above, the minimum shareholder vote required under the 1940 Act would be necessary to authorize the conversion. Currently, the 1940 Act would require approval of the holders of a “majority of the outstanding” voting shares of the Fund in order to authorize a conversion.

Shareholders of an open-end investment company may require the company to redeem their shares on any business day (except in certain circumstances as authorized by or under the 1940 Act) at their net asset value, less such redemption charge, if any, as might be in effect at the time of redemption, where as the Fund currently makes only quarterly offers to repurchase its Common Shares (typically 5% per quarter), and shareholders do not have the right to otherwise have shares redeemed. Open-end companies are thus subject to more frequent periodic out-flows that can complicate portfolio management in comparison to the Fund. As described above, the Fund, like an open-end company, intends to engage in a continuous offering of its shares.

NET ASSET VALUE

As described in the Prospectus under the heading “Net Asset Value,” the NAV of the Fund’s Common Shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding of the Fund. The Prospectus further notes that Common Shares are valued on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open (a “Business Day”), and describes the time (the “Valuation Time”) as of which Common Shares are valued each Business Day. The Fund expects that the holidays upon which the New York Stock Exchange will be closed are as follows: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. In accordance with regulations governing registered investment companies, the Fund’s transactions in securities and purchases and sales of Common Shares (which bear upon the number of Common Shares outstanding) are generally not reflected in NAV determined for the Business Day on which the transactions are effected (the trade date), but rather on the following Business Day.

 

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The Board has delegated primary responsibility for determining or causing to be determined the value of the Fund’s securities and other assets (including any fair value pricing) and the NAV of the Common Shares to PIMCO, in its capacity as Investment Manager, pursuant to valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board (the “Valuation Procedures”). The Investment Manager has, in turn, delegated various of these responsibilities to State Street Bank & Trust Co., as the Fund’s custodian, the Investment Manager, and other agents. The Trustees have established a Valuation Oversight Committee of the Board to which they have delegated the responsibility of overseeing determination of the fair value of the Fund’s portfolio securities and other assets on behalf of the Board in accordance with the Valuation Procedures.

As described in the Prospectus, portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotations are readily available are valued at market value. Market value is generally determined on the basis of last reported sales prices, or if no sales prices are reported, as is the case for most securities traded OTC, on the basis of either: (i) the mean between representative bid and ask quotations obtained from a quotation reporting system or from established market makers; or (ii) prices (including evaluated prices) supplied by the Fund’s approved pricing services, quotation reporting systems and other third-party sources (together, “Pricing Services”). For exchange-traded securities, market value also may be determined on the basis of the exchange’s Official Closing Price or Settlement instead of the last reported sales prices. Certain exchange-traded equity options may be valued using evaluations from Pricing Services. Fixed income securities, including those to be purchased under firm commitment agreements, are normally valued on the basis of quotes obtained from brokers and dealers or prices provided by Pricing Services, which may take into account appropriate factors such as, without limitation, institutional-sized trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other market data.

TAXATION

The following discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences of investment in Common Shares of the Fund is based on the Code, U.S. Treasury regulations, and other applicable authority, as of the date of this Statement of Additional Information. These authorities are subject to change by legislative or administrative action, possibly with retroactive effect. The following discussion is only a summary of some of the important U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to investments in Common Shares of the Fund. This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to an investment in Common Shares of the Fund. There may be other tax considerations applicable to particular shareholders. For example, except as otherwise specifically noted herein, we have not described certain tax considerations that may be relevant to certain types of holders subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including shareholders subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, pension plans and trusts, regulated investment companies, dealers in securities, shareholders holding Common Shares through tax-advantaged accounts (such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts), financial institutions, shareholders holding Common Shares as part of a hedge, straddle, or conversion transaction, entities that are not organized under the laws of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, and persons who are neither citizens nor residents of the United States. This summary assumes that investors hold Common Shares as capital assets

 

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(within the meaning of the Code). Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their particular situation and the possible application of federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other tax laws, and any proposed tax law changes.

Taxation of the Fund

The Fund intends to elect to be treated and intends to qualify as and to be treated 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, the 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 gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies and (ii) net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (as 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 value of the Fund’s total assets consists of 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 a value 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, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, (x) in the securities (other than those of 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 qualified publicly traded partnerships (as defined below); 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 the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and any 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 that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the regulated investment company. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (a partnership (x) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof and (y) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in paragraph (a)(i) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In general, such entities will be treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes because they meet the passive income requirement under Code section 7704(c)(2). In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

For purposes of the diversification test in (b) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership. Also, for purposes of the diversification test in (b) above, the identification of the issuer (or, in some cases, issuers) of a particular Fund investment can depend on the terms and conditions of that investment. In some cases, identification of the issuer (or issuers) is uncertain under current law,

 

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and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to issuer identification for a particular type of investment may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to meet the diversification test in (b) above.

If the Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on income or gains distributed in a timely manner to Common Shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below). If the Fund were to fail to meet the income, diversification, or distribution tests described above, the Fund could in some cases cure such failure, including by paying the Fund-level tax, paying interest, making additional distributions, or disposing of certain assets. If the Fund were ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure for any year, or were otherwise to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company accorded special tax treatment for such year, the Fund would be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, would be taxable to Common Shareholders as ordinary income. Some portions of such distributions may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders and may be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income” in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals, provided, in both cases, that the shareholder meets certain holding period and other requirements in respect of the Fund’s Common Shares (as described below). In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before re-qualifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.

The Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, all or substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends-paid deduction), its net tax-exempt income (if any) and its net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss, in each case determined with reference to any loss carryforwards). Any taxable income including any net capital gain retained by the Fund will be subject to tax at the Fund level at regular corporate rates. In the case of net capital gain, the Fund is permitted to designate the retained amount as undistributed capital gain in a timely notice to its shareholders who would then, in turn, (i) be required to include in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as long-term capital gain, their share of such undistributed amount, and (ii) be entitled to credit their proportionate shares of the tax paid by the Fund on such undistributed amount against their U.S. federal income tax liabilities, if any, and to claim refunds on a properly filed U.S. tax return to the extent the credit exceeds such liabilities. If the Fund makes this designation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the tax basis of Common Shares owned by a shareholder of the Fund will be increased by an amount equal to the difference between the amount of undistributed capital gains included in the shareholder’s gross income under clause (i) of the preceding sentence and the tax deemed paid by the shareholder under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence. The Fund is not required to, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will, make this designation if it retains all or a portion of its net capital gain in a taxable year.

As described under “Leverage” in the Prospectus, if at any time when preferred shares or other senior securities are outstanding the Fund does not meet applicable asset coverage requirements, it will be required to suspend distributions to Common Shareholders until the requisite asset coverage is restored. Any such suspension may cause the Fund to pay a U.S. federal income and excise tax on undistributed income or gains and may, in certain circumstances, prevent the Fund from qualifying for treatment as a regulated investment company. The Fund may repurchase, prepay, or otherwise retire preferred shares or other senior securities, as applicable, in an effort to comply with the distribution requirement applicable to regulated investment companies.

 

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Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against the Fund’s net investment income. Instead, potentially subject to certain limitations, the Fund may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to subsequent taxable years to offset capital gains, if any, realized during such subsequent taxable years. Capital loss carryforwards are reduced to the extent they offset current-year net realized capital gains, whether the Fund retains or distributes such gains. The Fund may carry net capital losses forward to one or more subsequent taxable years without expiration. The Fund must apply such carryforwards first against gains of the same character.

In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a Capital Gain Dividend (as defined below), its taxable income and its earnings and profits, a regulated investment company generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to such portion of the taxable year) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.

If the Fund were to fail to distribute in a calendar year at least an amount equal to the sum of 98% of its ordinary income for such year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income recognized for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (or November 30 or December 31 of that year if the Fund is permitted to elect and so elects), plus any such amounts retained from the prior year, the Fund would be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the undistributed amounts. For purposes of the required excise tax distribution, a regulated investment company’s ordinary gains and losses from the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of property that would otherwise be taken into account after October 31 (or November 30 of that year if the regulated investment company makes the election described above) generally are treated as arising on January 1 of the following calendar year; in the case of a regulated investment company with a December 31 year end that makes the election described above, no such gains or losses will be so treated. Also, for these purposes, the Fund will be treated as having distributed any amount on which it is subject to corporate income tax for the taxable year ending within the calendar year. The Fund intends generally to make distributions sufficient to avoid imposition of the 4% excise tax, although there can be no assurance that it will be able to or will do so.

Fund Distributions

The Fund intends to declare income dividends daily and distribute them to Common Shareholders quarterly. Unless a shareholder elects otherwise, all distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional Common Shares of the Fund pursuant to the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in Common Shares under the Plan will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having received an amount in distribution equal to the fair market value of the Common Shares issued to the shareholder, which amount will also be equal to the net asset value of such shares. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, all distributions are generally taxable in the manner described below, whether a shareholder takes them in cash or they are reinvested pursuant to the Plan in additional shares of the Fund.

 

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Fund distributions generally will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received. See the discussion below regarding distributions declared in October, November or December for further information. Distributions received by tax-exempt shareholders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent permitted under applicable tax law.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income other than exempt-interest dividends (described below) are generally taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Fund owned (or is deemed to have owned) the investments that generated the gains, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her Common Shares. In general, the Fund will recognize long-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for more than one year, and short-term capital gain or loss on investments it has owned (or is deemed to have owned) for one year or less. Tax rules can alter the Fund’s holding period in investments and thereby affect the tax treatment of gain or loss in respect of such investments. Distributions of net capital gain that are properly reported by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gains includible in net capital gain and taxed to individuals at reduced rates relative to ordinary income. Distributions of net short-term capital gain (as reduced by any net long-term capital loss for the taxable year) will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions of investment income reported by the Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to net capital gain, provided the holding period and other requirements described below are met at both the shareholder and Fund levels.

Distributions of investment income reported by the Fund as “qualified dividend income” received by an individual will be taxed at the reduced rates applicable to net capital gain. In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be qualified dividend income, the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the Fund’s shares. In general, a dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, on the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.

In general, distributions of investment income reported by the Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares.

 

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Subject to any future regulatory guidance to the contrary, any distribution of income attributable to qualified REIT dividends or qualified publicly traded partnership income from the Fund’s investment in a REIT or master limited partnership, as applicable, will ostensibly not qualify for the deduction that would be available to a non-corporate shareholder were the shareholder to own such REIT or master limited partnership directly.

In general, dividends of net investment income received by corporate shareholders of the Fund will qualify for the dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations only to the extent of the amount of eligible dividends received by the Fund from domestic corporations for the taxable year if certain holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund levels. The Fund does not expect a significant portion of distributions to be eligible for the dividends-received deduction.

Any distribution of income that is attributable to (i) income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction or (ii) dividend income received by the Fund on securities it temporarily purchased from a counterparty pursuant to a repurchase agreement that is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a loan by the Fund, will not constitute qualified dividend income to non-corporate shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction for corporate shareholders.

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) currently requires a regulated investment company that the IRS recognizes as having two or more “classes” of stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes to allocate to each such class proportionate amounts of each type of its income (such as ordinary income and capital gains) based upon the percentage of total dividends distributed to each class for the tax year. Accordingly, if the Fund issues one or more series of preferred shares, the Fund will allocate Capital Gain Dividends for each tax year between and among its Common Shares and each such series of its preferred shares in proportion to the total dividends paid to each class with respect to such tax year, and in a manner intended to comply with both applicable IRS rules and SEC requirements regarding the frequency of distributions of capital gains. Dividends qualifying for the dividends received deduction or as qualified dividend income will be allocated between and among Common Shares and each such series of preferred shares separately from dividends that do not so qualify, in each case in proportion to the total dividends paid to each share class for the Fund’s tax year.

The Code generally imposes a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on the net investment income of certain individuals, trusts and estates to the extent their income exceeds certain threshold amounts. For these purposes, “net investment income” generally includes, among other things, (i) distributions paid by the Fund of net investment income (other than exempt-interest dividends, described below) and capital gains as described above, and (ii) any net gain from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Fund shares. Common Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this additional tax on their investment in the Fund.

If, in and with respect to any taxable year, the Fund makes a distribution in excess of its current and accumulated “earnings and profits,” the excess distribution will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a shareholder’s tax basis in his or her Common Shares, and thereafter as

 

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capital gain. A return of capital is not taxable, but it reduces a shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, thus reducing any loss or increasing any gain on a subsequent taxable disposition by the shareholder of such shares. If the Fund issues one or more series of preferred shares, where one or more such distributions occur in and with respect to any taxable year of the Fund, the available earnings and profits will be allocated first to the distributions made to the holders of such preferred shares, and only thereafter to distributions made to holders of Common Shares. In such case, the holders of preferred shares will receive a disproportionate share of the distributions, if any, treated as dividends, and the holders of the Common Shares will receive a disproportionate share of the distributions, if any, treated as a return of capital.

A distribution by the Fund will be treated as paid on December 31 of any calendar year if it is declared by the Fund in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.

As required by federal law, detailed federal tax information with respect to each calendar year will be furnished to shareholders early in the succeeding year.

Dividends and distributions on Common Shares are generally subject to U.S. 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 economically represent a return of a particular shareholder’s investment. Such distributions are likely to occur in respect of Common Shares purchased at a time when the Fund’s net asset value reflects unrealized gains or income or gains that are realized but not yet distributed. Such realized income and gains may be required to be distributed even when the Fund’s net asset value also reflects unrealized losses.

If the Fund holds, directly or indirectly, one or more “tax credit bonds” issued on or before December 31, 2017, such as Build America Bonds issued before January 1, 2011 on one or more applicable dates during a taxable year, it is possible that the Fund will elect to permit its shareholders to claim a tax credit on their income tax returns equal to each shareholder’s proportionate share of tax credits from the applicable bonds that otherwise would be allowed to the Fund. In such a case, a shareholder will be deemed to receive a distribution of money with respect to its Fund shares equal to the shareholder’s proportionate share of the amount of such credits and be allowed a credit against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability equal to the amount of such deemed distribution, subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code on the credits involved. Even if the Fund is eligible to pass through tax credits to shareholders, the Fund may choose not to do so.

If for any taxable year the Fund were not a “publicly offered” regulated investment company within the meaning of Code Section 67(c)(2)(B), certain of the Fund’s direct and indirect expenses would be subject to special “pass-through” rules. Very generally, pursuant to Treasury Department regulations, expenses of a regulated investment company that is not “publicly offered,” except those specific to its status as a regulated investment company or separate entity (e.g., registration fees or transfer agency fees), are subject to special “pass-through” rules. These expenses (which include direct and certain indirect advisory fees) are treated as additional dividends to certain Fund shareholders (generally including other regulated investment companies that are not “publicly offered,” individuals and entities that compute their taxable income in the same manner as an individual) and, under current law, are not deductible by those shareholders that are individuals (or entities that compute their taxable income in the same manner as an individual).

 

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Exempt-Interest Dividends

The Fund will be qualified to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders if, at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, at least 50% of the total value of the Fund’s assets consists of obligations the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax under Section 103(a) of the Code. Distributions that the Fund reports as exempt-interest dividends are treated as interest excludable from shareholders’ gross income for federal income tax purposes but may be taxable for federal alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) purposes and for state and local purposes.

Part or all of the interest on indebtedness, if any, incurred or continued by a shareholder to purchase or carry shares of the Fund paying exempt-interest dividends is not deductible. The portion of interest that is not deductible is equal to the total interest paid or accrued on the indebtedness, multiplied by the percentage of the Fund’s total distributions (not including distributions from net long-term capital gains) paid to the shareholder that are exempt-interest dividends. Under rules used by the IRS to determine when borrowed funds are considered used for the purpose of purchasing or carrying particular assets, the purchase of shares may be considered to have been made with borrowed funds even though such funds are not directly traceable to the purchase of shares.

A shareholder who receives Social Security or railroad retirement benefits should consult his or her tax adviser to determine what effect, if any, an investment in the Fund may have on the federal taxation of such benefits. Exempt-interest dividends generally are included in income for purposes of determining the amount of benefits that are taxable.

In general, exempt-interest dividends, if any, attributable to interest received on certain private activity obligations and certain industrial development bonds will not be tax-exempt to any shareholders who are “substantial users” of the facilities financed by such obligations or bonds or who are “related persons” of such substantial users.

The Fund will notify its shareholders in a written statement of the portion of distributions for the taxable year that constitutes exempt-interest dividends.

 

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Exempt-interest dividends may be taxable for purposes of the federal AMT. For individual shareholders, exempt-interest dividends that are derived from interest on private activity bonds that are issued after August 7, 1986 (other than a “qualified 501(c)(3) bond,” as such term is defined in the Code) generally must be included in an individual’s tax base for purposes of calculating the shareholder’s liability for U.S. federal AMT. Corporate shareholders will be required to include all exempt-interest dividends in determining their federal AMT for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2017. The AMT calculation for corporations is based, in part, on a corporation’s earnings and profits for the year. A corporation must include all exempt-interest dividends in calculating its earnings and profits for the year.

Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions of Shares

The sale, exchange or repurchase of Fund shares may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares treated as a sale or exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, such gain or loss on the taxable disposition of Fund shares will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less (i) will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares and (ii) generally will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends received by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed under the Code’s “wash sale” rule if other substantially identical shares of the 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 repurchase by the Fund of a shareholder’s shares pursuant to a repurchase offer (as described in the Prospectus) generally will be treated as a sale or exchange of the shares by a shareholder provided that either (i) the shareholder tenders, and the Fund repurchases, all of such shareholder’s shares, thereby reducing the shareholder’s percentage ownership of the Fund, whether directly or by attribution under Section 318 of the Code, to 0%, (ii) the shareholder meets numerical safe harbors under the Code with respect to percentage voting interest and reduction in ownership of the Fund following completion of the repurchase offer, or (iii) the repurchase offer otherwise results in a “meaningful reduction” of the shareholder’s ownership percentage interest in the Fund, which determination depends on a particular shareholder’s facts and circumstances.

If a tendering shareholder’s proportionate ownership of the Fund (determined after applying the ownership attribution rules under Section 318 of the Code) is not reduced to the extent required under the tests described above, such shareholder will be deemed to receive a distribution from the Fund under Section 301 of the Code with respect to the shares held (or deemed held under Section 318 of the Code) by the shareholder after the repurchase offer (a “Section 301 distribution”). The amount of this distribution will equal the price paid by the Fund to such shareholder for the shares sold, and will be taxable as a dividend, i.e., as ordinary income, to the extent of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits allocable to such distribution, with the excess treated as a return of capital reducing the shareholder’s tax basis in the shares held after the repurchase offer, and thereafter as capital gain. Any Fund shares held by a shareholder after a repurchase offer will be subject to basis adjustments in accordance with the provisions of the Code.

 

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Provided that no tendering shareholder is treated as receiving a Section 301 distribution as a result of selling shares pursuant to a particular repurchase offer, shareholders who do not sell shares pursuant to that repurchase offer will not realize constructive distributions on their shares as a result of other shareholders selling shares in the repurchase offer. In the event that any tendering shareholder is deemed to receive a Section 301 distribution, it is possible that shareholders whose proportionate ownership of the Fund increases as a result of that repurchase offer, including shareholders who do not tender any shares, will be deemed to receive a constructive distribution under Section 305(c) of the Code in an amount equal to the increase in their percentage ownership of the Fund as a result of the repurchase offer. Such constructive distribution will be treated as a dividend to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits allocable to it.

Use of the Fund’s cash to repurchase shares may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to satisfy the distribution requirements for treatment as a regulated investment company described above. The Fund may also recognize income in connection with the sale of portfolio securities to fund share purchases, in which case the Fund would take any such income into account in determining whether such distribution requirements have been satisfied.

The foregoing discussion does not address the tax treatment of tendering shareholders who do not hold their shares as a capital asset. Such shareholders should consult their own tax advisors on the specific tax consequences to them of participating or not participating in the repurchase offer.

Original Issue Discount, Payment-in-Kind Securities, Market Discount, Preferred Securities and Commodity-Linked Notes

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance (and zero-coupon debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance) will be treated as debt obligations that are issued originally at a discount. Generally, the amount of the original issue discount (“OID”) is treated as interest income and is included in the Fund’s income and required to be distributed over the term of the debt obligation, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt obligation. Increases in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will generally be treated as OID.

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of more than one year from the date of issuance that are acquired by the Fund in the secondary market may be treated as having “market discount.” Very generally, market discount is the excess of the stated redemption price of a debt obligation (or in the case of an obligation issued with OID, its “revised issue price”) over the purchase price of such obligation. Subject to the discussion below regarding Section 451 of the Code, (i) generally, any gain recognized on the disposition of, and any partial payment of principal on, a debt obligation having market discount is treated as ordinary income to the extent the gain, or principal payment, does not exceed the “accrued market discount” on such debt obligation, (ii) alternatively, the Fund may elect to accrue market discount currently, in which case the Fund will be required to include the accrued market discount on such debt obligations in the Fund’s income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt

 

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obligations, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt obligations, and (iii) the rate at which the market discount accrues, and thus is included in the Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects. The Fund reserves the right to revoke such an election at any time pursuant to applicable IRS procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, effective for taxable years beginning after 2017, Section 451 of the Code generally requires any accrual method taxpayer to take into account items of gross income no later than the time at which such items are taken into account as revenue in the taxpayer’s financial statements. The application of Section 451 to the accrual of market discount is currently unclear. If Section 451 applies to the accrual of market discount, the Fund must include in income any market discount as it takes the same into account on its financial statements. In the case of higher-risk securities, the amount of market discount may be unclear. See “Higher-Risk Securities.”

From time to time, a substantial portion of the Fund’s investments in loans and other debt obligations could be treated as having OID and/or market discount, which, in some cases could be significant. 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.

A portion of the OID accrued on certain high yield discount obligations may not be deductible to the issuer and will instead be treated as a dividend paid by the issuer for purposes of the dividends-received deduction. In such cases, if the issuer of the high yield discount obligations is a domestic corporation, dividend payments by the Fund may be eligible for the dividends-received deduction to the extent attributable to the deemed dividend portion of such OID.

Some debt obligations with a fixed maturity date of one year or less from the date of issuance may be treated as having OID or, in certain cases, “acquisition discount” (very generally, the excess of the stated redemption price over the purchase price). The Fund will be required to include the OID or acquisition discount in income (as ordinary income) and thus distribute it over the term of the debt obligation, even though payment of that amount is not received until a later time, upon partial or full repayment or disposition of the debt obligation. The rate at which OID or acquisition discount accrues, and thus is included in the Fund’s income, will depend upon which of the permitted accrual methods the Fund elects.

Some preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer the payment of distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer. If the Fund owns a preferred security that is deferring the payment of its distributions, the Fund may be required to report income for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of any such deferred distributions even though the Fund has not yet actually received the cash distribution.

In addition, pay-in-kind obligations will, and commodity-linked notes may, give rise to income which is required to be distributed and is taxable even though the Fund receives no interest payment in cash on the security during the year.

If the Fund holds the foregoing kinds of obligations, or other obligations subject to special rules under the Code, the Fund may be required to pay out as an income distribution each year an amount which is greater than the total amount of cash interest the Fund actually received. Such distributions may be made from the cash assets of the Fund or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary (including when it is not advantageous to do so). The Fund may realize

 

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gains or losses from such liquidations, including short-term capital gains taxable as ordinary income. In the event the Fund realizes net capital gains from such transactions, its shareholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution than they might otherwise receive in the absence of such transactions.

Higher-Risk Securities

The Fund may invest in debt obligations that are in the lowest rating categories or are unrated, including debt obligations of issuers not currently paying interest or who are in default. Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present special tax issues for the Fund. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether or to what extent the Fund should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, OID or market discount, when and to what extent the Fund may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how the Fund should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and 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 federal income or excise tax.

Securities Purchased at a Premium

Very generally, where the Fund purchases a bond at a price that exceeds the redemption price at maturity (i.e., a premium), the premium is amortizable over the remaining term of the bond. In the case of a taxable bond, if the Fund makes an election applicable to all such bonds it purchases, which election is irrevocable without consent of the IRS, the Fund reduces the current taxable income from the bond by the amortized premium and reduces its tax basis in the bond by the amount of such offset; upon the disposition or maturity of such bonds acquired on or after January 4, 2013, the Fund is permitted to deduct any remaining premium allocable to a prior period. In the case of a tax-exempt bond, tax rules require the Fund to reduce its tax basis by the amount of amortized premium.

Catastrophe Bonds

The proper tax treatment of income or loss realized by the retirement or sale of certain catastrophe bonds is unclear. The Fund will report such income or loss as capital or ordinary income or loss in a manner consistent with any IRS position on the subject following the publication of such a position.

Passive Foreign Investment Companies

Equity investments by the Fund in certain “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could subject the Fund to a U.S. federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the PFIC or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the PFIC. This tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (i.e., make a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund will be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company. Under proposed Treasury regulations, any such income or net capital gain of the PFIC that is required to be included in the Fund’s gross income would be qualifying income to the extent that the PFIC

 

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timely distributes to the Fund an amount at least equal to such inclusion. If the PFIC were to fail to make such a distribution or distributions, the failure could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a regulated investment company. The Fund also 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 gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require the Fund to sell 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. Because it is not always possible to identify a foreign corporation as a PFIC, the Fund may incur the tax and interest charges described above in some instances. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.”

Certain Investments in REITs

Any investment by the Fund in equity securities of REITs may result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to Fund shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investments in REIT equity securities also may require the Fund to accrue and to distribute income not yet received. 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. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income.

Foreign Currency Transactions

The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. Any such net gains could require a larger dividend toward the end of the calendar year. Any such net losses will generally reduce and potentially require the recharacterization of prior ordinary income distributions and may accelerate Fund distributions to shareholders and increase the distributions taxed to shareholders as ordinary income. Any net ordinary losses so created cannot be carried forward by the Fund to offset income or gains earned in subsequent taxable years.

Options, Futures, and Forward Contracts, Swap Agreements, and other Derivatives

In general, option premiums received by the Fund are not immediately included in the income of the Fund. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the Fund transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g. through a closing transaction). If a call option written by the Fund is exercised and the Fund sells or delivers the underlying stock, the Fund generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) the sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the Fund minus (b) the Fund’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon

 

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the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by the Fund pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the Fund will generally subtract the premium received for purposes of computing its cost basis in the stock purchased. Gain or loss arising in respect of a termination of the Fund’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option will be short-term capital gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the Fund is greater or less than the amount paid by the Fund (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund generally will recognize short-term capital gain equal to the premium received.

The Fund’s options activities may include transactions constituting straddles for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that is, that trigger the U.S. federal income tax straddle rules contained primarily in Section 1092 of the Code. Such straddles include, for example, positions in a particular security, or an index of securities, and one or more options that offset the former position, including options that are “covered” by the Fund’s long position in the subject security. Very generally, where applicable, Section 1092 requires (i) that losses be deferred on positions deemed to be offsetting positions with respect to “substantially similar or related property” to the extent of unrealized gain in the latter, and (ii) that the holding period of such a straddle position that has not already been held for the long-term holding period be terminated and begin anew once the position is no longer part of a straddle. Options on single stocks that are not “deep in the money” may constitute qualified covered calls, which generally are not subject to the straddle rules; the holding period on stock underlying qualified covered calls that are “in the money” although not “deep in the money” will be suspended during the period that such calls are outstanding. Thus, the straddle rules and the rules governing qualified covered calls could cause gains that would otherwise constitute long-term capital gains to be treated as short-term capital gains, and distributions that would otherwise constitute “qualified dividend income” or qualify for the dividends-received deduction to fail to satisfy the holding period requirements and therefore to be taxed as ordinary income or to fail to qualify for the dividends received deduction, as the case may be.

The tax treatment of certain positions entered into by the Fund, including regulated futures contracts, certain foreign currency positions and certain listed non-equity options, will be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, section 1256 contracts held by the Fund at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable.

Derivatives, Hedging, and Other Transactions

In addition to the special rules described above in respect of futures and options transactions, the Fund’s transactions in other derivatives instruments (e.g., forward contracts and swap agreements), as well as any of its hedging, short sale, securities loan or similar transactions may be subject to one or more special tax rules (e.g., notional principal contract, straddle, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary or capital, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the Fund, defer losses to the Fund, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the

 

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Fund’s securities, thereby affecting, among other things, whether capital gains and losses are treated as short-term or long-term. These rules could, therefore, affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders.

Because these and other tax rules applicable to these types of transactions are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether the Fund has made sufficient distributions, and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements, to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid the Fund-level tax.

Commodities and Commodity-Linked Instruments

The Fund’s investments in commodities and commodity-linked instruments, if any, will potentially be limited by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company, and will potentially limit the Fund’s ability to so qualify. Income and gains from commodities and certain commodity-linked instruments do not constitute qualifying income to a regulated investment company for purposes of the 90% gross income test described above. In addition, the tax treatment of some other commodity-linked instruments in which the Fund might invest is not certain, in particular with respect to whether income or gains from such instruments constitute qualifying income to a regulated investment company. If the Fund were to treat income or gain from a particular instrument as qualifying income and the income or gain were later determined not to constitute qualifying income, and, together with any other nonqualifying income, caused the Fund’s nonqualifying income to exceed 10% of its gross income in any taxable year, the Fund would fail to qualify as a regulated investment company unless it is eligible to and does pay a tax at the Fund level.

Book-Tax Differences

Certain of the Fund’s investments in derivative instruments and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and any of the Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, are likely to produce a difference between its book income and the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any). If such a difference arises, and the Fund’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment and to avoid an entity-level tax. In the alternative, if the Fund’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income (including realized capital gains) and net tax-exempt 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.

Short Sales

If the Fund participates in a short sale and, on the date of such short sale, the Fund either (i) does not hold securities substantially identical to those sold short or (ii) has held such substantially identical securities for one year or less, the character of gain or loss realized on such a short sale generally will be short-term. If the Fund participates in a short sale and, on the date of such short sale, the Fund has held substantially identical securities for more than one year, the character of gain realized on such short sale will be determined by reference to the Fund’s holding period in

 

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the property actually used to close the short sale; the character of loss realized on such short sale generally will be long term, regardless of the holding period of the securities actually used to close such short sale. Because net short-term capital gain (after reduction by any long-term capital loss) is generally taxed at ordinary income rates, the Fund’s short sale transactions can increase the percentage of the Fund’s gains that are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income.

Mortgage-Related Securities

The Fund may invest directly or indirectly in real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) (including by investing in residual interests in CMOs with respect to which an election to be treated as a REMIC is in effect) or equity interests in taxable mortgage pools (“TMPs”). Under a notice issued by the IRS in October 2006 and Treasury regulations that have yet to be issued but may apply retroactively, a portion of the Fund’s income (including income allocated to the Fund from a REIT or other pass-through entity) that is attributable to a residual interest in a REMIC or an equity interest in a TMP — referred to in the Code as an “excess inclusion”— will be subject to U.S. federal income tax 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 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 interest directly. As a result, the Fund may not be a suitable investment for charitable remainder trusts, as noted below.

In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income and otherwise might not be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return, to file such a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. A shareholder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such inclusions notwithstanding any exemption from such income tax otherwise available under the Code.

Foreign (non-U.S.) Taxation

Income, proceeds and gains received by the Fund from sources within foreign countries may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by such countries. Tax treaties between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes. Shareholders generally will not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes incurred by the Fund. This will decrease the Fund’s yield on securities subject to such taxes.

If, at the close of its taxable year, more than 50% of the Fund’s assets consists of the securities of foreign corporations, including for this purpose foreign governments, the Fund will be permitted to make an election under the Code that will allow shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns for their pro rata portions of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries in respect of foreign securities that 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 an offsetting foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of such foreign taxes is subject to certain limitations imposed

 

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by the Code, which may result in the shareholder’s not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. Shareholders who do not itemize on their U.S. federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but not a deduction) for such foreign taxes. If the Fund does not qualify for or chooses not to make such an election, shareholders will not be entitled separately to claim a credit or deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund; in that case the foreign tax will nonetheless reduce the Fund’s taxable income. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in the Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through individual retirement accounts or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund.Tax-Exempt Shareholders

If a tax-exempt entity were to acquire shares of the Fund, income of the Fund that would be UBTI if earned directly by such tax-exempt entity will not generally be attributed as UBTI to such tax-exempt shareholder of the Fund. Notwithstanding this “blocking” effect, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize 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). A tax-exempt shareholder may also recognize UBTI if the Fund recognizes “excess inclusion income” derived from direct or indirect investments in residual interests in REMICs or equity interests in TMPs as described above, if the amount of such income recognized by the Fund exceeds the Fund’s investment company taxable income (after taking into account deductions for dividends paid by the Fund).

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 equity interests in TMPs. Under legislation enacted in December 2006, if a charitable remainder trust (“CRT”), as defined in Section 664 of the Code, realizes any UBTI for a taxable year, a 100% excise tax is imposed on such UBTI. Under IRS guidance issued in October 2006, a CRT will not recognize UBTI solely as a result of investing in a regulated investment company that recognizes “excess inclusion income.” Rather, if at any time during any taxable year a CRT (or one of certain other tax-exempt shareholders, such as the United States, a state or political subdivision, or an agency or instrumentality thereof, and certain energy cooperatives) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company that recognizes “excess inclusion income,” then the regulated investment company 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, the Fund may elect to specially allocate any such tax to the applicable CRT, or other shareholder, and thus reduce such shareholder’s distributions for the year by the amount of the tax that relates to such shareholder’s interest in the Fund. CRTs and other tax-exempt shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of investing in the Fund.

Non-U.S. Shareholders

Distributions by the Fund to shareholders that are not “United States persons” within the meaning of the Code (“foreign shareholders”) properly reported by the Fund as (1) Capital Gain Dividends, (2) short-term capital gain dividends, (3) interest-related dividends, each as defined and subject to certain conditions described below, or (4) exempt-interest dividends generally are not subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax (except that exempt-interest dividends may be subject to backup withholding).

 

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In general, the Code defines (1) “short-term capital gain dividends” as distributions of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses and (2) “interest-related dividends” as distributions from U.S. source interest income of types similar to those not subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign shareholder, in each case to the extent such distributions are properly reported as such by the Fund in a written notice to shareholders. The exceptions to withholding for Capital Gain Dividends and short-term capital gain dividends do not apply to (A) distributions to an individual foreign shareholder who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution and (B) distributions attributable to gain that is effectively connected with the conduct by the foreign shareholder of a trade or business within the United States under special rules regarding the disposition of U.S. real property interests as described below. If the Fund invests in a regulated investment company that pays such distributions to the Fund, such distributions retain their character as not subject to withholding if properly reported when paid by the Fund to foreign shareholders. The exception to withholding for interest-related dividends does not apply to distributions to a foreign shareholder (A) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a United States person, (B) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign shareholder is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (C) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (D) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign shareholder and the foreign shareholder is a controlled foreign corporation.

The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. In the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold even if the Fund reports all or a portion of a payment as an interest-related or short-term capital gain dividend to shareholders.

Foreign shareholders should contact their intermediaries regarding the application of withholding rules to their accounts.

Distributions by the Fund to foreign shareholders other than Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends, interest-related dividends, or exempt-interest dividends (e.g., dividends attributable to dividend and foreign-source interest income or to short-term capital gains or U.S. source interest income to which the exception from withholding described above does not apply) are generally subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate).

A foreign shareholder 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 unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the foreign shareholder of a trade or business within the United States, (ii) in the case of a foreign shareholder that is an individual, the shareholder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the special rules relating to gain attributable to the sale or exchange of “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”) apply to the foreign shareholder’s sale of shares of the Fund (as described below).

Foreign shareholders with respect to whom income from the Fund is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the foreign shareholder within the United States will in general be

 

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subject to U.S. federal income tax on the income derived from the Fund at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents or domestic corporations, whether such income is received in cash or reinvested in shares of the Fund and, in the case of a foreign corporation, may also be subject to a branch profits tax. If a foreign 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. More generally, foreign shareholders who are residents in a country with an income tax treaty with the United States may obtain different tax results than those described herein, and are urged to consult their tax advisors.

Special rules would apply if the Fund were a qualified investment entity (“QIE”) because it is either a “U.S. real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) or would be a USRPHC but for the operation of certain exceptions to the definition thereof. Very generally, a USRPHC is a domestic corporation that holds USRPIs the fair market value of which equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market values of the corporation’s USRPIs, interests in real property located outside the United States, and other trade or business assets. USRPIs are generally defined as any interest in U.S. real property and any interest (other than solely as a creditor) in a USRPHC or, very generally, an entity that has been a USRPHC in the last five years. A regulated investment company that holds, directly or indirectly, significant interests in REITs may be a USRPHC. Interests in domestically controlled QIEs, including REITs and regulated investment companies that are QIEs, not-greater-than-10% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in REITs and not-greater-than-5% interests in publicly traded classes of stock in regulated investment companies generally are not USRPIs, but these exceptions do not apply for purposes of determining whether the Fund is a QIE.

If an interest in the Fund were a USRPI, the Fund would be required to withhold U.S. tax on the proceeds of a share redemption by a greater-than-5% foreign shareholder or any foreign shareholder if shares of the Fund are not considered regularly traded on an established securities market, in which case such foreign shareholder generally would also be required to file a U.S. tax return and pay any additional taxes due in connection with the redemption.

If the Fund were a QIE, under a special “look-through” rule, any distributions by the Fund to a foreign shareholder (including, in certain cases, distributions made by the Fund in redemption of its shares) attributable directly or indirectly to (i) distributions received by the Fund from a lower-tier regulated investment company or REIT that the Fund is required to treat as USRPI gain in its hands, or (ii) gains realized by the Fund on the disposition of USRPIs would retain their character as gains realized from USRPIs in the hands of the Fund’s foreign shareholders, and would be subject to U.S. withholding tax. In addition, such distributions could result in the foreign shareholder being required to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax on the distributions at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. The consequences to a foreign shareholder, including the rate of such withholding and character of such distributions (e.g., as ordinary income or USRPI gain), would vary depending upon the extent of the foreign shareholder’s current and past ownership of the Fund.

The Fund generally does not expect that it will be a QIE. Foreign shareholders should consult their tax advisers and, if holding shares through intermediaries, their intermediaries, concerning the application of these rules to their investment in the Fund.

 

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Foreign shareholders also may be subject to “wash sale” rules to prevent the avoidance of the tax-filing and -payment obligations discussed above through the sale and repurchase of Fund shares.

In order for a foreign shareholder 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, a foreign shareholder must comply with special certification and filing requirements relating to its non-U.S. status (including, in general, furnishing an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or substitute form). Foreign shareholders should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

Special rules (including withholding and reporting requirements) apply to foreign partnerships and those holding Fund shares through foreign partnerships. Additional considerations may apply to foreign trusts and estates. Investors holding Fund shares through foreign entities should consult their tax advisers about their particular situation.

A foreign shareholder may be subject to state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the U.S. federal income tax referred to above.

A beneficial holder of shares who is a non-U.S. person may be subject to state and local tax and to the U.S. federal estate tax in addition to the U.S. federal tax on income referred to above.

Backup Withholding

The Fund is generally required to withhold and remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of taxable distributions and redemption proceeds paid to any individual shareholder who fails to properly furnish the Fund with a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify to the Fund that he or she is not subject to such withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations

Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS 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 of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Other Reporting and Withholding Requirements

Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “FATCA”) generally require the Fund to obtain information sufficient to identify

 

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the status of each of its shareholders under FATCA or under an applicable intergovernmental agreement (an “IGA”) between the United States and a foreign government. If a shareholder fails to provide the requested information or otherwise fails to comply with FATCA or an IGA, the Fund may be required to withhold under FATCA at a rate of 30% with respect to that shareholder on ordinary dividends, and, on or after January 1, 2019, 30% of the gross proceeds of sales or exchanges and certain Capital Gain Dividends it pays. If a payment by the Fund is subject to FATCA withholding, the Fund is required to withhold even if such payment would otherwise be exempt from withholding under the rules applicable to foreign shareholders described above (e.g., Capital Gain Dividends, short-term capital gain dividends and interest-related dividends).

Shareholders that are U.S. persons and own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the Fund could be required to report annually their “financial interest” in the Fund’s foreign financial accounts,” if any, on FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). Shareholders should consult a tax advisor, and persons investing in the Fund through an intermediary should contact their intermediary, regarding the applicability to them of this reporting requirement.

Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax adviser regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.

Shares Purchased Through Tax-Qualified Plans

Special tax rules apply to investments through defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax advisers to determine the suitability of shares of the Fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of an investment on their particular tax situation.

PERFORMANCE RELATED AND COMPARATIVE INFORMATION

The Fund may quote certain performance-related information and may compare certain aspects of its portfolio and structure to other substantially similar closed-end funds as categorized by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), Morningstar Inc. or other independent services. Comparison of the Fund to an alternative investment should be made with consideration of differences in features and expected performance. The Fund may obtain data from sources or reporting services, such as Bloomberg Financial and Broadridge, that the Fund believes to be generally accurate.

The Fund, in its advertisements, may refer to pending legislation from time to time and the possible effect of such legislation on investors, investment strategy and related matters. At any time in the future, yields and total return may be higher or lower than past yields and there can be no assurance that any historical results will continue.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. At the time Common Shareholders redeem their shares, they may be worth more or less than their original investment.

 

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CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT AND DIVIDEND DISBURSEMENT AGENT

State Street Bank and Trust company serves as the primary custodian for assets of the Fund. State Street Bank and Trust Company’s principal business address is One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111. The primary custodian performs custodial and fund accounting services. UMB Bank, n.a. also serves as a custodian of the Fund for the purpose of processing investor subscriptions and repurchases. UMB Bank, n.a.’s principal business address is 1010 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64106.

DST Systems, Inc. serves as the Transfer Agent, and dividend disbursement agent for the Common Shares, as well as agent for the Dividend Reinvestment Plan relating to the Common Shares.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

[    ], [    ], (“[    ]”), serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. [    ] provides audit services, tax assistance and consultation in connection with the review of SEC and IRS filings.

COUNSEL

Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02199, passes upon certain legal matters in connection with shares offered by the Fund, and also acts as counsel to the Fund.

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

A Registration Statement on Form N-2, including any amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the Common Shares of the Fund offered hereby, has been filed by the Fund with the SEC, Washington, D.C. The Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information are parts of, but do not contain all of the information set forth in, the Registration Statement, including any exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Fund and the Common Shares offered or to be offered hereby, reference is made to the Fund’s Registration Statement. Statements contained in the Prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to 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 Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. Copies of the Registration Statement may be inspected without charge at the SEC’s principal office in Washington, D.C., and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained from the SEC upon the payment of certain fees prescribed by the SEC.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

[TO BE ADDED BY AMENDMENT]

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

[TO BE ADDED BY AMENDMENT]

PIF001SAI_053118

 

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APPENDIX A - PROCEDURES FOR SHAREHOLDERS TO SUBMIT NOMINEE CANDIDATES

(Appendix A to the Fund’s Nominating Committer Charter)

A shareholder of a Fund must follow the following procedures in order to submit properly a nominee recommendation for the Committee’s consideration.

 

  1.

The shareholder must submit any such recommendation (a “Shareholder Recommendation”) in writing to a Fund, to the attention of the Secretary, at the address of the principal executive offices of the Fund. Once each quarter, if any Shareholder Recommendations have been received by the Secretary during the quarter, the Secretary will inform the Committee of the new Shareholder Recommendations. Because the Fund does not hold annual or other regular meetings of shareholders for the purpose of electing Trustees, the Committee will accept Shareholder Recommendations on a continuous basis.

 

  2.

All Shareholder Recommendations properly submitted to a Fund will be held by the Secretary until such time as (i) the Committee convenes to consider candidates to fill Board vacancies or newly created Board positions (a “Trustee Consideration Meeting”) or (ii) the Committee instructs the Secretary to discard a Shareholder Recommendation following a Trustee Consideration Meeting or an Interim Evaluation (as defined below).

 

  3.

At a Trustee Consideration Meeting, the Committee will consider each Shareholder Recommendation then held by the Secretary. Following a Trustee Consideration Meeting, the Committee may instruct the Secretary to discard any or all of the Shareholder Recommendations currently held by the Secretary.

 

  4.

A Committee may, in its discretion and at any time, convene to conduct an evaluation of validly submitted Shareholder Recommendations (each such meeting, an “Interim Evaluation”) for the purpose of determining which Shareholder Recommendations will be considered at the next Trustee Consideration Meeting. Following an Interim Evaluation, the Committee may instruct the Secretary to discard any or all of the Shareholder Recommendations currently held by the Secretary.

 

  5.

The Shareholder Recommendation must include: (i) a statement in writing setting forth (A) the name, date of birth, business address, residence address and nationality of the person recommended by the shareholder (the “candidate”); (B) the number of shares of (and class, if any) of the Fund(s) owned of record or beneficially by the candidate, as reported to such shareholder by the candidate; (C) any other information regarding the candidate called for with respect to director nominees by paragraphs

 

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(a), (d), (e) and (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K or paragraph (b) of Item 22 of Rule 14a-101 (Schedule 14A) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (or the corresponding provisions of any regulation or rule subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency applicable to the Trust); (D) any other information regarding the candidate that would be required to be disclosed if the candidate were a nominee in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the election of Trustees or directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (E) whether the recommending shareholder believes that the candidate is or will be an “interested person” of the Fund (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) and, if not an “interested person,” information regarding the candidate that will be sufficient for the Fund to make such determination; (ii) the written and signed consent of the candidate to be named as a nominee and to serve as a Trustee if elected; (iii) the recommending shareholder’s name as it appears on the Fund’s books; (iv) the number of shares of (and class, if any) of the Fund(s) owned beneficially and of record by the recommending shareholder; and (v) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the recommending shareholder and the candidate and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made by the recommending shareholder. In addition, the Committee may require the candidate to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require or deem necessary to determine the eligibility of such candidate to serve on the Board or to satisfy applicable law.

 

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PART C—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 25: Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

  1. Financial Statements:

The Registrant has not conducted any business as of the date of this filing, other than in connection with its organization. Financial Statements indicating that the Registrant has met the net worth requirements of Section 14(a) of the 1940 Act will be filed as part of the Statement of Additional Information.

 

  2. Exhibits:

 

  a. Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 21, 2018, filed herewith.

 

  b. Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant dated March 21, 2018, filed herewith.

 

  c. None.

 

  d.1 Article III (Shares) and Article V (Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings) of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, filed herewith.

 

  d.2 Article 10 (Shareholders’ Voting Powers and Meetings) of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant, filed herewith.

 

  d.3 Form of Share Certificate of the Common Shares, filed herewith.

 

  e. Dividend Reinvestment Plan, filed herewith.

 

  f. None.

 

  g. Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”), filed herewith.

 

  h.1 Distribution Contract, filed herewith.

 

  h2. Form of Sales Agreement, filed herewith.

 

  h.3 Form of Addendum to Sales Agreement, filed herewith.

 

  h.4 Form of Amendment to Sales Agreement, filed herewith.

 

  i. None.

 

  j.1 Custody and Investment Accounting Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), filed herewith.

 

  j.2 Supplement to Custody and Investment Accounting Agreement between Registrant and State Street, filed herewith.

 

  j.3 Custody Agreement between PIMCO and UMB Bank, n.a., filed herewith.

 

  j.4 Amendment No. 1 to Custody Agreement between PIMCO and UMB Bank, n.a.*

 

  j.5 Amendment No. 2 to Custody Agreement between PIMCO and UMB Bank, n.a.*

 

  k.1 Agency Agreement between Registrant and DST Systems, Inc., filed herewith.


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  k.2 Adoption Agreement among Registrant, PIMCO, and DST Systems, Inc., filed herewith.

 

  k.3 Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement relating to the PIMCO Flexible Municipal Income Fund, filed herewith.

 

  k.4 Amended and Restated Sub-Administration Agreement between PIMCO, on behalf of Registrant, and State Street, filed herewith.
 
  k.5 Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Sub-Administration Agreement between PIMCO, on behalf of Registrant, and State Street, filed herewith.

 

  l. Opinion and consent of Ropes & Gray LLP.*

 

  m. None.

 

  n. Consent of Registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm.*

 

  o. None.
 
  p. Subscription Agreement between Registrant and Allianz Fund Investments, Inc.*

 

  q. None.

 

  r.1 Code of Ethics of Registrant, filed herewith.
 
  r.2 Code of Ethics of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC and PIMCO Investment LLC, filed herewith.
 
  r.3 Code of Ethics Pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers, filed herewith.

 

  s.1 Powers of Attorney for Powers of Attorney for Deborah A. DeCotis, Bradford K. Gallagher, James A. Jacobson, Hans W. Kertess, John C. Maney, William B. Ogden, IV, Alan Rappaport and Craig A. Dawson, filed herewith.

 

  s.2 Power of Attorney for Peter G. Strelow, filed herewith.

 

  s.3 Power of Attorney for Trent W. Walker, filed herewith.

 

* To be completed by amendment.

Item 26: Marketing Arrangements

See Distribution Agreement, filed herwith.

Item 27: Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

Securities and Exchange Commission Fees

      

$124,500

Printing and engraving expenses

       $90,000

Legal fees

       $550,000

Accounting expenses

       $17,500
      

 

Total

       $782,000

Item 28: Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant


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Not applicable.

Item 29: Number of Holders of Securities

Set forth below is the number of record holders as of April 1, 2018 of each class of securities of the Registrant.

 

Title of Class    Number of Record Holders

Common shares of beneficial interest,

$0.00001 par value per share

   1

Item 30: Indemnification

Reference is made to Article VIII, Sections 1 through 4, of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, its Bylaws or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and, therefore, is unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by trustees, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, officers or controlling persons in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Item 31: Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”) is an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act. The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of PIMCO, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by PIMCO pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-48187).

Item 32: Location of Accounts and Records

The account books and other documents required to be maintained by the Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder will be maintained at the offices of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, 1633 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 or the Registrant’s custodian, State Street Bank and Trust Company, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.

Item 33: Management Services

Not applicable.

Item 34: Undertakings

 

1. Not applicable.

 

2. Not applicable.

 

3. Not applicable.


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4. (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act; (ii) to reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(d) Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under the 1933 Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A under the 1933 Act, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(e) That for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the 1933 Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:

(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act;

(2) the portion of any advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the 1933 Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(3) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

 

5. Not applicable.

 

6. The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information.


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NOTICE

A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of PIMCO Flexible Municipal Income Fund (the “Fund”), together with all amendments thereto, is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and notice is hereby given that this instrument is executed on behalf of The Fund by any officer or Trustee of the Fund as an officer or Trustee and not individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees of the Fund or shareholders of the Fund individually, but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Fund.


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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 Registrant has duly caused this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, and the State of New York on the 2nd day of May, 2018.

 

PIMCO FLEXIBLE MUNICIPAL INCOME FUND
By:   Peter G. Strelow*                            
Name:   Peter G. Strelow
Title:   President

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Name    Capacity    Date

Peter G. Strelow*

  

Trustee and President (Principal

Executive Officer)

   May 2, 2018
Peter G. Strelow      

Trent W. Walker*

   Treasurer (Principal Financial & Accounting Officer)    May 2, 2018
Trent W. Walker      

Craig A. Dawson*

   Trustee    May 2, 2018
Craig A. Dawson      

Deborah A. DeCotis*

   Trustee    May 2, 2018
Deborah A. DeCotis      

Bradford K. Gallagher*

   Trustee    May 2, 2018
Bradford K. Gallagher      

James A. Jacobson*

   Trustee    May 2, 2018
James A. Jacobson      

Hans W. Kertess*

   Trustee    May 2, 2018
Hans W. Kertess      

John C. Maney*

   Trustee    May 2, 2018
John C. Maney


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William B. Ogden, IV*

   Trustee    May 2, 2018
William B. Ogden, IV      

Alan Rappaport*

   Trustee    May 2, 2018
Alan Rappaport      

 

*By:   /s/ David C. Sullivan
 

David C. Sullivan

as attorney-in-fact

 

*Pursuant  to powers of attorney filed herewith.


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INDEX OF EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit   

Exhibit Name

 

a.    Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated March 21, 2018
b    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant dated March 21, 2018.
d.3    Form of Share Certificate of the Common Shares.
e.    Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
g.    Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC.
h.1    Distribution Contract.
h.2    Form of Sales Agreement
h.3    Form of Addendum to Sales Agreement.
h.4    Form of Amendment to Sales Agreement.
j.1    Custody and Investment Accounting Agreement between Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”).
j.2    Supplement to Custody and Investment Accounting Agreement between Registrant and State Street.
j.3    Custody Agreement between PIMCO and UMB Bank, n.a.
k.1    Agency Agreement between Registrant and DST Systems, Inc.
k.2    Adoption Agreement among Registrant, PIMCO, and DST Systems, Inc.
k.3    Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement relating to the PIMCO Flexible Municipal Income Fund.
k.4    Amended and Restated Sub-Administration Agreement between PIMCO, on behalf of Registrant, and State Street.
k.5    Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Sub-Administration Agreement between PIMCO, on behalf of Registrant, and State Street.
r.1    Code of Ethics of Registrant.
r.2    Code of Ethics of Pacific Investment Management Company LLC and PIMCO Investment LLC.
r.3    Code of Ethics Pursuant to Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers.
s.1    Powers of Attorney for Craig A. Dawson, Deborah A. DeCotis, Bradford K. Gallagher, James A. Jacobson, Hans W. Kertess, John C. Maney, William B. Ogden, IV, Alan Rappaport and Craig A. Dawson.
s.2    Power of Attorney for Peter G. Strelow.
s.3    Power of Attorney for Trent W. Walker.