As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these Funds’ shares or determined whether this prospectus is complete or accurate. To state otherwise is a crime.

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Funds’ shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Funds or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Funds or your financial intermediary electronically by following the instructions printed on this prospectus or by contacting your financial intermediary or the Funds.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. You can inform the Fund or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by following the instructions printed on this prospectus or by contacting the Funds at (866) 667-9231 or your financial intermediary. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held with your financial intermediary or with Aberdeen Funds.

The Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund (formerly, Aberdeen Focused U.S. Equity Fund) (the “U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund” or the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay when you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Aberdeen Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in the “Reduction and Waiver of Class A Sales Charges” and “Broker-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies” sections on pages 40 and 68 of the Fund’s prospectus, respectively, and in the “Additional Information on Purchases and Sales — Waiver of Class A Sales Charges” and “Reduction of Sales Charges” sections on pages 99 and 100 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, respectively. This table does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay when purchasing or selling Institutional Class shares or Institutional Service Class shares of the Fund.

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

You would pay the following expenses on the same investment if you did not sell your shares:

The U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 45.98% of the average value of its portfolio.

The U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective of long-term capital appreciation by investing in equity securities of smaller (small- and mid-capitalization) U.S. companies that the Adviser deems to have sound or improving prospects and which demonstrate that they are current or emerging sustainable leaders through their management of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) risks and opportunities in accordance with the Adviser’s criteria.

In carrying out the Fund’s investment strategies, the Adviser employs a fundamental, bottom-up equity investment process, which is based on first-hand research and disciplined company evaluation and which takes into consideration the sustainability of the business in its broadest sense and the company’s ESG performance. The Adviser’s stock analysts work closely with dedicated ESG specialists who sit within each regional investment team and provide industry-leading expertise and insight at the company level. In addition, engagement with company management is a key part of the Adviser’s research process and ongoing stewardship program.

The Adviser will identify stocks for their long-term, fundamental value based on quality and price. With respect to “quality”, the Adviser will assign each company a proprietary overall quality rating and also an ESG-quality rating ranging from 1 to 5 (1 indicating leaders and 5 indicating laggards) – enabling the Fund’s investment team to identify current and emerging sustainable leaders. Companies eligible for investment by the Fund must be rated 3 or better by the Adviser on both the overall quality rating and ESG-quality rating. In the overall quality filter, the Adviser seeks to determine whether the company has good growth prospects and a balance sheet that supports expansion. In the ESG-quality filter, the Adviser evaluates the ownership structures, governance and management quality of the companies as well as potential environmental and social risks that the companies may face.

Examples of areas under scope when assessing a company’s ESG quality include the following:

In order for a company to be considered an emerging or sustainable leader (that is, to be rated at least a 3 on the Adviser’s ESG-quality rating), at a minimum, ESG risks must be considered as principal business risks, the company must have initiatives in place to address the most material ESG risks facing such company, the company must have some key-performance-indicators/targets related to its most material ESG risks, disclosure must be in line with regulatory requirements, ESG teams must be present, and the company must have good governance and a track record of treating minority shareholders fairly as well as only minor or no related party transactions.

Binary exclusions are also applied to exclude a defined list of unacceptable activities. The Fund will not invest in companies that, based on MSCI data, have:

In carrying out its assessments of ESG quality, the Adviser’s equity analysts incorporate internal data sources, including a proprietary quantitative house score, external sources (e.g. MSCI reports), thematic expertise from the Adviser’s central ESG team and regional expertise from the Adviser’s on-desk ESG analysts. The Adviser relies heavily on its own in-depth research and analysis over third party ESG ratings.

The Fund will measure compliance with its principal investment strategies at the time of investment, except that compliance with binary exclusions is tested as frequently as MSCI data is updated, which is currently quarterly. If a company no longer meets the Adviser’s ESG criteria, the Adviser intends, but is not required, to sell such security.

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund will invest at least 80% of the value of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities issued by smaller U.S. companies that meet the Adviser’s sustainability criteria.

The Fund considers smaller companies to be companies that have market capitalizations similar to those of companies included in the Russell 2500^® Index at the time of investment. The range of the Russell 2500^® Index was $7.44 million to $18.15 billion as of July 31, 2020.

Some companies may outgrow the definition of smaller company after the Fund has purchased their securities or may no longer fall within the range of a reconstituted index. These companies continue to be considered smaller for purposes of the Fund’s minimum 80% allocation to smaller company equities.

A company is considered to be a U.S. company if Fund management determines that the company meets one or more of the following criteria:

Equity securities include, but are not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and depositary receipts.

The Fund may also invest in larger companies and non-U.S. companies, including primarily Canadian companies.

The Fund may invest in securities of any market sector and may hold a significant amount of securities of companies, from time to time, within a single sector. The Fund currently anticipates that it will have significant exposure to the information technology sector.

The Fund may invest in securities denominated in U.S. Dollars and the currencies of any foreign countries in which it is permitted to invest. The Fund typically has full currency exposure to those markets in which it invests.

The U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective.

As with any fund, the value of the Fund’s investments – and therefore, the value of Fund shares – may

fluctuate. The following is a list of the principal risks of investing in the Fund. The order of the below risk factors does not indicate the significance of any particular risk factor.

Cybersecurity Risk – Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or cause the Fund, the Adviser and/or its service providers (including, but not limited to, Fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or lose operational functionality.

Equity Securities Risk — The stock or other security of a company may not perform as well as expected, and may decrease in value, because of factors related to the company (such as poorer than expected earnings or certain management decisions) or to the industry in which the company is engaged (such as a reduction in the demand for products or services in a particular industry).

Foreign Currency Exposure Risk –The value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. Dollar fluctuates in response to market, economic, political, regulatory, geopolitical or other conditions. A decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. Dollar reduces the value in U.S. Dollars of investments denominated in that foreign currency. This risk may impact the Fund more greatly to the extent the Fund does not hedge its currency risk, or hedging techniques used by the Adviser are unsuccessful.

Foreign Securities Risk —Foreign countries in which the Fund may invest may have markets that are less liquid, less regulated and more volatile than U.S. markets. The value of the Fund’s investments may decline because of factors such as unfavorable or unsuccessful government actions, reduction of government or central bank support and political or financial instability. To the extent the Fund focuses its investments in a single country or only a few countries in a particular geographic region, economic, political, regulatory or other conditions affecting such country or region may have a greater impact on Fund performance relative to a more geographically diversified fund.

Management Risk – The Fund is subject to the risk that the Adviser may make poor security selections. The Adviser and its portfolio managers apply their own investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund and there can be no guarantee that these decisions will achieve the desired results for the Fund. In addition, the Adviser may select securities that underperform the relevant market or other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

Market Risk – Deteriorating market conditions might cause a general weakness in the market that reduces the prices, or yield, of securities in those markets in which the Fund invests.

Mid-Cap Securities Risk – Securities of medium-sized companies tend to be more volatile and less liquid than securities of larger companies.

Sector Risk – To the extent that the Fund has a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.

Information Technology Sector Risk. To the extent that the information technology sector represents a significant portion of the Fund, the Fund will be sensitive to changes in, and its performance may depend to a greater extent on, factors impacting this sector. Information technology companies face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on their profit margins. Like other technology companies, information technology companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. The products of information technology companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments, frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Companies in the information technology sector are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the profitability of these companies.

Small-Cap Securities Risk – Securities of smaller companies are usually less stable in price and less liquid than those of larger, more established companies. Therefore, they generally involve greater risk.

returns. The criteria related to the Fund’s Sustainable Leaders strategy, including the exclusion of securities of companies that engage in certain business activities, may result in the Fund forgoing opportunities to buy certain securities when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so, or selling securities for ESG reasons when it might be otherwise disadvantageous for it to do so. In addition, there is a risk that the companies identified as sustainable leaders by the Adviser do not operate as expected when addressing ESG issues. There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to have positive ESG characteristics. While the Adviser believes its definitions are reasonable, the portfolio decisions it makes may differ with other investors’ or advisers’ views.

Valuation Risk – The price the Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation methodology or a price provided by an independent pricing service. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by the Fund, and the Fund could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment. The Fund’s ability to value its investments may also be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers.

For additional information regarding the above identified risks, see “Fund Details: Additional Information about Investments, Investment Techniques and Risks” in the prospectus.

The bar chart and table below can help you evaluate potential risks of the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s annual total returns for Class C have varied from year to year. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the impact of sales charges, if any. If the applicable sales charges were included, the annual total returns would be lower than those shown. Unlike the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges. The table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns to the returns of the Russell 2500^® Index, a broad-based securities index, and the S&P 500^® Index. Effective December 1, 2020, the Russell 2500^® Index replaced the S&P 500^® Index as the Fund’s primary benchmark in connection with the change in the Fund’s investment strategy. Remember, however, that past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. For updated performance information, please visit https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/us/investor/fund-centre or call 866-667-9231.

The Fund changed its investment strategy effective December 1, 2020 from a focused U.S. equity strategy to a U.S. sustainable leaders smaller companies strategy. In connection with the change in investment strategy, the Fund changed its name from Aberdeen Focused U.S. Equity Fund to Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund. In addition, the Fund changed its investment strategy effective November 15, 2017 from a long-short equity strategy to a focused U.S. equity strategy. In connection with the change in investment strategy, the Fund changed its name from Aberdeen Equity Long-Short Fund to Aberdeen Focused U.S. Equity Fund. Performance information for periods from November 15, 2017 to December 1, 2020 and prior to November 15, 2017 reflect different investment strategies than the current investment strategy.

After-tax returns are shown in the following table for Class C shares only and will vary for other classes. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax return depends on your personal tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors in tax-deferred arrangements, such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans or certain other employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. (the “Adviser”) serves as the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund’s investment adviser.

The Fund is managed using a team-based approach, with the following team members being jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund:

The Fund reserves the right to apply or waive investment minimums under certain circumstances as described in the prospectus under the “Choosing a Share Class” section.

Fund shares may be redeemed on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. Fund shares may be sold by mail or fax, by telephone or on-line.

The Fund’s dividends and distributions are subject to federal income taxes and will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are a tax-exempt investor or invest through a qualified employee benefit plan, retirement plan or other tax-deferred account, in which case your withdrawals from such account may be taxed as ordinary income.

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and your financial advisor to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

The Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund (formerly, Aberdeen International Equity Fund) (the “Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund” or the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay when you buy and hold shares of the Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Aberdeen Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in the “Reduction and Waiver of Class A Sales Charges” and “Broker-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies” sections on pages 40 and 68 of the Fund’s prospectus, respectively, and in the “Additional Information on Purchases and Sales — Waiver of Class A Sales Charges” and “Reduction of Sales Charges” sections on pages 99 and 100 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, respectively. This table does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay when purchasing or selling Institutional Class shares or Institutional Service Class shares of the Fund.

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

You would pay the following expenses on the same investment if you did not sell your shares:

The Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 37.50% of the average value of its portfolio.

The Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective of long-term capital appreciation by investing in equity securities of emerging market companies that the Adviser deems to have sound or improving prospects and which demonstrate that they are current or emerging sustainable leaders through their management of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) risks and opportunities in accordance with the Adviser’s criteria.

Examples of areas under scope when assessing a company’s ESG quality include the following:

Binary exclusions are also applied to exclude a defined list of unacceptable activities. The Fund will not invest in companies that, based on MSCI data, have:

The Fund will measure compliance with its principal investment strategies at the time of investment except that compliance with binary exclusions is tested as frequently as MSCI data is updated, which is currently quarterly. If a company no longer meets the Adviser’s ESG criteria, the Adviser intends, but is not required, to sell such security.

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of the value of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of emerging market companies that meet the Adviser’s sustainability criteria.

An emerging market country is any country determined by the Adviser or Subadviser to have an emerging market economy, considering factors such as the country’s credit rating, its political and economic stability and the development of its financial and capital markets. Emerging market countries include every nation in the world except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most countries located in Western Europe. A company is considered to be an emerging market company if Fund management determines that the company meets one or more of the following criteria:

At times, the Fund may have a significant amount of its assets invested in a country or geographic region. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in U.S. Dollars and currencies of emerging market countries in which it is permitted to invest. The Fund typically has full currency exposure to those markets in which it invests.

The Fund will invest primarily in common stocks, but may also invest in other types of equity securities, including, but not limited to, preferred stock and depositary receipts.

The Fund may invest in securities of any market capitalization, including small and mid-cap securities.

The Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective.

As with any fund, the value of the Fund’s investments – and therefore, the value of Fund shares – may fluctuate. The following is a list of the principal risks of investing in the Fund. The order of the below risk factors does not indicate the significance of any particular risk factor.

Emerging Markets Risk – A magnification of the risks that apply to foreign investments. These risks are greater for securities of companies in emerging market countries because the countries may have less stable governments, more volatile currencies and less established markets (see “Foreign Securities Risk” below).

Foreign Securities Risk — Foreign countries in which the Fund may invest may have markets that are less liquid, less regulated and more volatile than U.S. markets. The value of the Fund’s investments may decline because of factors such as unfavorable or unsuccessful government actions, reduction of government or central bank support and political or financial instability. To the extent the Fund focuses its investments in a single country or only a few countries in a particular geographic region, economic, political, regulatory or other conditions affecting such country or region may have a greater impact on Fund performance relative to a more geographically diversified fund.

Management Risk – The Fund is subject to the risk that the Adviser or Subadviser may make poor security selections. The Adviser, Subadviser and their portfolio managers apply their own investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund and there can be no guarantee that these decisions will achieve the desired results for the Fund. In addition, the Adviser or the Subadviser may select securities that underperform the relevant market or other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

Market Risk – Deteriorating market conditions might cause a general weakness in the market that reduces the prices, or yield, of securities in those markets in which the Fund invests.

Mid-Cap Securities Risk – Securities of medium-sized companies tend to be more volatile and less liquid than securities of larger companies.

Financials Sector Risk. To the extent that the financials sector continues to represent a significant portion of the Fund, the Fund will be sensitive to changes in, and its performance may depend to a greater extent on, factors impacting this sector. Performance of companies in the financials sector may be adversely impacted by many factors, including, among others, government regulations, economic conditions, credit rating downgrades, changes in interest rates, and decreased liquidity in credit markets. The impact of more stringent capital requirements, recent or future regulation of any individual financial company, or recent or future regulation of the financials sector as a whole cannot be predicted. In recent years, cyber attacks and technology malfunctions and failures have become increasingly frequent in this sector and have caused significant losses.

Information Technology Sector Risk. To the extent that the information technology sector

represents a significant portion of the Fund, the Fund will be sensitive to changes in, and its performance may depend to a greater extent on, factors impacting this sector. Information technology companies face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on their profit margins. Like other technology companies, information technology companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. The products of information technology companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments, frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Companies in the information technology sector are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the profitability of these companies.

Sustainable Investing Risk – The Fund’s “Sustainable Leaders” strategy could cause it to perform differently compared to funds that do not have such strategy. ESG considerations may be linked to long-term rather than short-term returns. The criteria related to the Fund’s Sustainable Leaders strategy, including the exclusion of securities of companies that engage in certain business activities, may result in the Fund forgoing opportunities to buy certain securities when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so, or selling securities for ESG reasons when it might be otherwise disadvantageous for it to do so. In addition, there is a risk that the companies identified as sustainable leaders by the Adviser do not operate as expected when addressing ESG issues. There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to have positive ESG characteristics. While the Adviser believes its definitions are reasonable, the portfolio decisions it makes may differ with other investors’ or advisers’ views.

For additional information regarding the above identified risks, see “Fund Details: Additional Information about Investments, Investment Techniques and Risks” in the prospectus.

The bar chart and table below can help you evaluate potential risks of the Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s annual total returns for Class A have varied from year to year. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the impact of sales charges. If the applicable sales charges were included, the annual total returns would be lower than those shown. Unlike the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges. The table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns to the returns of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net Dividends), a broad-based securities index, and the MSCI All Country World ex U.S. Index (Net Dividends) and the MSCI All Country World ex U.S. Index (Gross Dividends). Effective December 1, 2020, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (Net Dividends) replaced the MSCI All Country Word ex U.S. Index (Net Dividends) as the Fund’s primary benchmark in connection with the Fund’s change in investment strategy. In connection with the change in investment strategy, the Fund also changed its name from the Aberdeen International Equity Fund to Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund. Performance information for periods prior to December 1, 2020 does not reflect the Fund’s current investment strategy. In addition, effective February 28, 2020, the MSCI All Country World ex U.S. Index (Net Dividends) replaced the MSCI All Country World ex U.S. Index (Gross Dividends) as the Fund’s primary benchmark. The change from a gross to a net dividend benchmark is in line with industry practice and is more appropriate for the Fund as it is calculated net of withholding taxes, to which the Fund is generally subject. Remember, however, that past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. For updated performance information, please visit https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/us/investor/fund-centre or call 866-667-9231.

After-tax returns are shown in the following table for Class A shares only and will vary for other classes. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates in effect and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax return depends on your personal tax situation and may differ from what is shown here. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors in tax-deferred arrangements, such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans or certain other employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. (the “Adviser”) serves as the Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund’s investment adviser and Aberdeen Asset

The Fund is managed using a team-based approach, with the following team members being jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund:

The Fund reserves the right to apply or waive investment minimums under certain circumstances as described in the prospectus under the “Choosing a Share Class” section.

Fund shares may be redeemed on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. Fund shares may be sold by mail or fax, by telephone or on-line.

The Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund (formerly, Aberdeen U.S. Multi-Cap Equity Fund) (the “U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund” or the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay when you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Aberdeen Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and in the “Reduction and Waiver of Class A Sales Charges” and “Broker-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies” sections on pages 40 and 68 of the Fund’s prospectus, respectively, and in the “Additional Information on Purchases and Sales — Waiver of Class A Sales Charges” and “Reduction of Sales Charges” sections on pages 99 and 100 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, respectively. This table does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay when purchasing or selling Institutional Class shares or Institutional Service Class shares of the Fund.

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. It assumes a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

You would pay the following expenses on the same investment if you did not sell your shares:

The U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 21.89% of the average value of its portfolio.

The U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective of long-term capital appreciation by investing in equity securities of U.S. companies that the Adviser deems to have sound or improving prospects and which demonstrate that they are current or emerging sustainable leaders through their management of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) risks and opportunities in accordance with the Adviser’s criteria.

Examples of areas under scope when assessing a company’s ESG quality include the following:

material ESG risks, disclosure must be in line with regulatory requirements, ESG teams must be present, and the company must have good governance and a track record of treating minority shareholders fairly as well as only minor or no related party transactions.

Binary exclusions are also applied to exclude a defined list of unacceptable activities. The Fund will not invest in companies that, based on MSCI data, have:

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund invests at least 80% of the value of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in U.S. equity securities that meet the Adviser’s sustainability criteria. Equity securities include, but are not limited to, common stock, preferred stock and depositary receipts. The Fund seeks to invest in securities of U.S. companies. A company is considered to be a U.S. company if Fund management determines that the company meets one or more of the following criteria:

The Fund may also invest in non-U.S. companies, including primarily Canadian companies.

The Fund will invest in companies across a broad spectrum of market capitalizations.

The U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment objective.

in that foreign currency. This risk may impact the Fund more greatly to the extent the Fund does not hedge its currency risk, or hedging techniques used by the Adviser are unsuccessful.

Foreign Securities Risk — Foreign countries in which the Fund may invest may have markets that are less liquid, less regulated and more volatile than U.S. markets. The value of the Fund’s investments may decline because of factors such as unfavorable or unsuccessful government actions, reduction of government or central bank support and political or financial instability. To the extent the Fund focuses its investments in a single country or only a few countries in a particular geographic region, economic, political, regulatory or other conditions affecting such country or region may have a greater impact on Fund performance relative to a more geographically diversified fund.

Market Risk – Deteriorating market conditions might cause a general weakness in the market that reduces the prices, or yield, of securities in those markets in which the Fund invests.

Mid-Cap Securities Risk – Securities of medium-sized companies tend to be more volatile and less liquid than securities of larger companies.

Valuation Risk – The price that the Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation methodology or a price provided by an independent pricing service. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by the Fund, and the Fund could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment. The Fund’s ability to value its investments may also be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers.

For additional information regarding the above identified risks, see “Fund Details: Additional Information about Investments, Investment Techniques and Risks” in the prospectus.

The bar chart and table below can help you evaluate potential risks of the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund. The bar chart shows how the Fund’s annual total returns for Class A have varied from year to year. The returns in the bar chart do not reflect the impact of sales charges. If the applicable sales charges were included, the annual total returns would be lower than those shown. Unlike the bar chart, the returns in the table reflect the maximum applicable sales charges.

The table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns to the returns of the Russell 3000^® Index, a broad-based securities index. Remember, however, that past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily indicative of how the Fund will perform in the future. For updated performance information, please visit https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/us/investor/fund-centre or call 866-667-9231.

The Fund changed its investment strategy effective December 1, 2020. In connection with the change in investment strategy, the Fund changed its name from Aberdeen U.S. Multi-Cap Equity Fund to Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund. Performance information for periods prior to December 1, 2020 do not reflect the current investment strategy.

The returns presented for the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund for periods prior to October 10, 2011 reflect the performance of a predecessor fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), a registered investment company. The U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund adopted the performance of the Predecessor Fund as the result of a reorganization on October 10, 2011 in which the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund acquired all of the assets, subject to the liabilities, of the Predecessor Fund. In connection with the reorganization, the Fund changed its name from Aberdeen U.S. Equity I Fund to Aberdeen U.S. Equity Fund. The Fund maintained the investment objective and investment strategies of the Predecessor Fund on the date of the reorganization without any changes.

Returns of the Predecessor Fund have not been adjusted to reflect the expenses applicable to the respective classes.

Institutional Service Class returns prior to the commencement of operations of Institutional Service Class of the Fund (inception date: October 10, 2011) are based on the previous performance of the Predecessor Fund’s Institutional Class shares. Excluding the effect of any fee waivers or reimbursements, this performance is substantially similar to what each individual class would have produced because all classes invest in the same portfolio of securities. Returns would only differ to the extent of the differences in expenses between the two classes.

Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. (the “Adviser”) serves as the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund’s investment adviser.

The Fund is managed using a team-based approach, with the following team members being jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund:

The Fund reserves the right to apply or waive investment minimums under certain circumstances as described in the prospectus under the “Choosing a Share Class” section.

Fund shares may be redeemed on each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. Fund shares may be sold by mail or fax, by telephone or on-line.

Investment Process. With respect to each of the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund, U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund and Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund, the Adviser employs a fundamental, bottom-up equity investment process, which is based on first-hand research and disciplined company evaluation and which takes into consideration the sustainability of the business in its broadest sense and the company’s ESG performance. The Adviser identifies stocks for their long-term, fundamental value based on quality and price.

In the price filter, the Adviser assesses the value of a company by reference to financial ratios, and estimates the value of the company relative to its market price and the valuations of other potential investments. The Adviser may sell a security when it perceives that a company’s business direction or growth potential has changed or the company’s valuations no longer offer attractive relative value.

With respect to “quality”, the Adviser assigns each company a proprietary overall quality rating and also an ESG-quality rating ranging from 1 to 5 (1 indicating leaders and 5 indicating laggards) – enabling the Fund’s investment team to identify current and emerging sustainable leaders. Companies eligible for investment by a Fund must be rated 3 or better by the Adviser on both the overall quality rating and ESG-quality rating. In the overall quality filter, the Adviser seeks to determine whether the company has good growth prospects and a balance sheet that supports expansion. In the ESG-quality filter, the Adviser evaluates the ownership structures, governance and management quality of the companies as well as potential environmental and social risks that the companies may face.

Examples of areas under scope when assessing a company’s ESG quality include the following:

In connection with the Fund’s Sustainable Leaders strategies, binary exclusions are also applied to exclude a defined list of unacceptable activities. Each Fund will not invest in companies that, based on MSCI data, have:

The Adviser’s stock analysts work closely with dedicated ESG specialists who sit within each regional investment team and provide industry-leading expertise and insight at the company level. In addition, engagement with company management is a key part of the Adviser’s research process and ongoing stewardship program.

In carrying out its assessments of ESG Quality, the Adviser’s equity analysts incorporate internal data sources, including a proprietary quantitative house

score, external sources (e.g. MSCI reports), thematic expertise from the Adviser’s central ESG team and regional expertise from the Adviser’s on-desk ESG analysts. The Adviser relies heavily on its own in-depth research and analysis and on-desk expertise over third party ESG ratings, which are widely used in the market.

Investment Objectives. The investment objective of each of the Funds is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.

Derivatives. To the extent that a Fund invests in derivatives with an underlying asset with economic characteristics similar to the investments included in the investment policies described under “Principal Strategies” of such Fund’s “Summary” section above, the market value or notional value of such derivative, depending on the exposure provided by the type of derivative, would be included to meet the applicable investment policy, except for 80% policies required by Rule 35d-1 with respect to which market value would be included.

80% Investment Policy. If a Fund changes its 80% investment policy it will notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change and, if necessary, will change the name of the Fund.

The principal investments and principal risks of each Fund are disclosed in each Fund’s Summary section. The table below and the paragraphs that follow provide more information about the principal investments and techniques that each Fund may use and the related risks. A check mark (“✓”) indicates a principal risk to which a Fund is subject.

The absence of a check mark for a Fund with respect to a particular risk does not indicate that such Fund is not exposed to such risk at all, but only that it is not a principal risk. The Statement of Additional Information contains information about additional investments in which each Fund may invest to a lesser degree and additional risks to which each Fund may be subject. The order of the below investments, investment techniques and risks does not indicate their significance.

Cybersecurity Risk — Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data (including private shareholder information), or proprietary information, or cause the Fund, the Adviser and/or its service providers (including, but not limited to, Fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption or lose operational functionality.

Emerging Markets Risk – The risks of investing in foreign securities are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets. Emerging markets are countries generally considered to be relatively less developed or industrialized. Emerging markets often face economic problems that could subject a Fund to increased volatility or substantial declines in value. Deficiencies in regulatory oversight, market infrastructure, shareholder protections and company laws could expose a Fund to risks beyond those generally encountered in developed countries. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. Countries in emerging markets are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative. A Fund may also invest in frontier markets, which involve the same risks as emerging markets, but to a greater extent since they tend to be even smaller, less developed, and less accessible than other emerging markets.

Equity Securities Risk — Although investments in equity securities, such as stocks, historically have been a leading choice for long-term investors, the values of stocks rise and fall depending on many factors. The stock or other security of a company may not perform as well as expected, and may decrease in value, because of factors related to the company (such as poorer than expected earnings or certain management decisions) or to the industry in which the company is engaged (such as a reduction in the demand for products or services in a particular industry). Market and economic factors may adversely affect securities markets generally, which could in turn adversely affect the value of a Fund’s investments, regardless of the performance or expected performance of companies in which the Fund invests. Holders of common stock generally are subject to more risks than holders of preferred stock or debt securities because the right to repayment of common stockholders’ claims is subordinated to that of preferred stock and debt securities upon the bankruptcy of the issuer.

Foreign Currency Exposure Risk – Funds that invest in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies are subject to the risk that those currencies may fluctuate in value relative to the U.S. Dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates, intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities such as the International Monetary Fund, or by the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad. These risks may impact a Fund more greatly to the extent the Fund does not hedge its currency risk. To manage currency risk, a Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge against a decline in the U.S. Dollar value of a security it already owns or against an increase in the value of an asset it expects to purchase. Not all Funds hedge currency risk. In addition, the Adviser’s use of hedging techniques does not eliminate exchange rate risk. In certain circumstances, the Adviser may hedge using a foreign currency other than the currency which the portfolio securities being hedged are denominated. This type of hedging entails greater risk because it is dependent on a stable relationship between the two currencies paired in the hedge and the relationship can be very unstable at times. If the Adviser is unsuccessful in its attempts to hedge against exchange rate risk, the Fund could be in a less advantageous position than if the Adviser did not establish any currency hedge. The Adviser may also employ strategies to increase a Fund’s exposure to certain currencies, which may result in losses from such currency positions. When deemed appropriate by the Adviser, the Adviser may from time to time seek to reduce foreign currency risk by hedging some or all of a Fund’s foreign currency exposure back into the U.S. Dollar. Losses on foreign currency transactions used for hedging purposes may be offset by gains on the assets that are the subject of a Fund’s hedge. Certain Funds may also purchase a foreign currency on a spot or forward basis in order to obtain potential appreciation of such currency relative to the U.S. Dollar or to other currencies in which a Fund’s holdings are denominated. Losses on such transactions may not be offset by gains from other Fund assets.

A Fund’s gains from its positions in foreign currencies may accelerate and/or recharacterize the Fund’s income or gains at the Fund level and its distributions to shareholders. A Fund’s losses from such positions may also recharacterize the Fund’s income and its distributions to shareholders and may cause a return of capital to Fund shareholders.

To the extent a foreign government limits or causes delays in the convertibility or repatriation of its currency, this will adversely affect the U.S. dollar value and/or liquidity of investments denominated in that currency. Such actions could severely affect security prices, impair a Fund's ability to purchase or sell foreign securities or transfer the Fund's assets back into the U.S., or otherwise adversely affect the Fund's operations.

Foreign Securities Risk – The Funds use various criteria to determine which country is deemed to have issued the securities in which the Funds invest. Because issuers often have activities and operations in several different countries, an issuer could be considered a non-U.S. issuer even though changes in the value of its securities held by a Fund are significantly impacted by its U.S. activities. Similarly, an issuer could be classified as a U.S. issuer even when the changes in the value of the issuer’s securities held by a Fund are significantly impacted by non-U.S. activities. Foreign securities may be more volatile, harder to price and less liquid than U.S. securities. Foreign investments involve some of the following risks as well:

Additional risks include the possibility that a foreign jurisdiction might impose or increase withholding taxes on income payable with respect to foreign securities; the possible seizure, nationalization or expropriation of the issuer or foreign deposits (in which a Fund could lose its entire investment in a certain market); and the possible adoption of foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls. The risks of investing in foreign securities are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets. See “Emerging Markets Risk” above.

Asian Risk. Certain Funds may invest their assets in Asian securities, and those Funds may be subject to general economic and political conditions in Asia. Certain Funds may invest a significant portion of their assets in Asian securities, and those Funds may be more volatile than a fund which is broadly diversified geographically. The Asian region may be subject to a greater degree of economic, political and social instability than is the case in the United States and Europe. Many Asian countries can be characterized as emerging markets or newly industrialized and tend to experience more volatile economic cycles than developed countries and are subject to the risks described above under “Emerging Markets Risk”. Many countries in Asia have historically experienced political uncertainty, corruption, military intervention, social unrest and natural disasters. A Fund that focuses its investments in Asia, or the Asia-Pacific region, may be more volatile than a fund which is broadly diversified geographically. Additional factors relating to Asia that an investor in a Fund should consider include the following:

For a more detailed analysis and explanation of the specific risks of investing in Asia, please see “Emerging Markets Securities - Asian Risk” in the SAI.

Asia-Pacific Region. The Asia-Pacific region generally refers to the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean. The area includes much of East Asia, South Asia, Australasia and Oceania. Parts of the Asian-Pacific region may be subject to a greater degree of economic, political and social instability, as described above under “- Asian Risk.”

China Risk. In addition to the risks listed above under “Emerging Markets Risk,” “Foreign Securities Risk” and “ - Asian Risk,” investing in China presents additional risks. Additional risks associated with investments in China and Hong Kong include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization, exchange control regulations (including currency blockage) and differing legal standards. Any spread of an infectious illness, public health threat or similar issue could reduce consumer demand or economic output, result in market closures, travel restrictions or quarantines, and generally have a significant impact on the Chinese economy, which in turn could adversely affect the Fund’s investments.

Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation and interest rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of China or Hong Kong. The Chinese government could, at any time, alter or discontinue economic reform programs implemented since 1978. Military conflicts, either in response to internal social unrest or conflicts with other countries, are an ever present consideration.

The adoption or continuation of protectionist trade policies by one or more countries (including the U.S.) could lead to decreased demand for Chinese products and have an adverse effect on the Chinese securities markets. In particular, the current political climate has intensified concerns about a potential trade war between China and the United States, as each country has recently imposed tariffs on the other country’s products. These actions may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry, which could have a negative impact on a Fund’s performance. U.S. companies that source material and goods from China and those that make large amounts of sales in China would be particularly vulnerable to an escalation of trade tensions. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of the trade tensions and the potential for a trade war could cause the U.S. dollar to decline against safe haven currencies, such as the Japanese yen and the euro. Events such as these and their consequences are difficult to predict and it is unclear whether further tariffs may be imposed or other escalating actions may be taken in the future.

Chinese authorities may intervene in the China securities market and halt or suspend trading of securities for short or even longer periods of time. Recently, the China securities market has experienced considerable volatility and been subject to relatively frequent and extensive trading halts and suspensions. These trading halts and suspensions have, among other things, contributed to uncertainty in the markets and reduced the liquidity of the securities subject to such trading halts and suspensions, which could include securities held by a Fund.

Exposure to China may be gained through investments in securities that are economically tied to China or, in some cases, through direct investment in China securities. For a more detailed analysis and explanation of the specific risks of investing in China, please see “Emerging Markets Securities – Investing in China” in the SAI.

Stock Connect. In recent years, non-Chinese investors, including the Funds, have been permitted to make investments usually only available to foreign investors through a quota license or by purchasing from specified brokers in Shanghai or other locations that have stock connect programs.

China Stock Exchange-listed securities are available via brokers in Hong Kong through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program, through the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program, and may be available in the future through additional stock connect programs as they are developed in different locations (collectively, “Stock Connect Programs”). Stock Connect is subject to a daily quota (the “Daily Quota”), which limits the maximum net purchases under Stock Connect each day and, as such, buy orders for China A Shares would be rejected once the Daily Quota is exceeded (although the Fund will be permitted to sell China A Shares regardless of the Daily Quota balance). Further, Stock Connect, which relies on the connectivity of the Shanghai or Shenzhen markets with Hong Kong, is subject to operational risk and regulations that are relatively untested and subject to change. If one or both of the Chinese and Hong Kong markets are closed on a U.S. trading day, the Fund may not be able to acquire or dispose of China A Shares through Stock Connect in a timely manner, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Additionally, investments through Stock Connect Programs are subject to various risks, including illiquidity risk, currency risk, legal and regulatory uncertainty risk, execution risk, operational risk, tax risk and credit risk.

Latin American Risk. The economies in Latin America are considered emerging market economies and are subject to the risks listed above under “Emerging Markets Risk”. Investing in Latin America imposes risks greater than, or in addition to, the risks of investing in more developed foreign markets. Latin American countries may be subject to a greater degree of political, sovereign and economic instability and may experience more volatile economic cycles than developed countries. The developing nature of

securities markets in many countries in the Latin American region may lead to a lack of liquidity. Specifically, most economies in Latin America have historically been characterized by high levels of inflation, including, in some cases, hyperinflation and currency devaluations. In the past, these conditions have led to high interest rates, extreme measures by governments to limit inflation, and limited economic growth. Although inflation in many countries has lessened, the economies of the Latin American region continue to be volatile and characterized by high interest rates and unemployment. In addition, the economies of many Latin American countries are sensitive to fluctuations in commodities prices because exports of agricultural products, minerals and metals represent a significant percentage of Latin American exports. As a result, a Fund heavily invested in Latin America may be more volatile than a fund which is broadly diversified geographically. For a more detailed analysis and explanation of the specific risks of investing in Latin America, please see “Emerging Markets Securities – Latin America” in the SAI.

Issuer Risk – The value of a security may decline for reasons directly related to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or service, 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.

Management Risk – Each Fund is subject to the risk that the Adviser or Subadviser may make poor security selections. The Adviser, Subadviser and their portfolio managers apply their own investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Funds and there can be no guarantee that these decisions will achieve the desired results for the Funds. In addition, the Adviser or the Subadviser may select securities that underperform the relevant market or other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies.

Market Risk – Deteriorating market conditions might cause a general weakness in the market that reduces the prices, or yield, of securities in that market. Developments in a particular class of bonds or the stock market could also adversely affect a Fund by reducing the relative attractiveness of bonds or stocks as an investment. Also, to the extent that a Fund emphasizes bonds or stocks from any given industry, it could be hurt if that industry does not do well. Additionally, a Fund could lose value if the individual stocks in which it maintains long positions and/or the overall stock markets on which the stocks trade decline in price. In addition, a Fund that engages in short sales could lose value if the individual stocks which they sell short increase in price. Stocks and stock markets may experience short-term volatility (price fluctuation) as well as extended periods of price decline or increase. Individual stocks are affected by many factors, including:

Stock markets are affected by numerous factors, including interest rates, the outlook for corporate profits, the health of the national and world economies, the fluctuation of other stock markets around the world, and financial, economic and other global market developments and disruptions, such as those arising from war, terrorism, market manipulation, government interventions, defaults and shutdowns, political changes or diplomatic developments, public health emergencies and natural/environmental disasters. In addition, any spread of an infectious illness, public health threat or similar issue could reduce consumer demand or economic output, result in market closures, travel restrictions or quarantines, and generally have a significant impact on the world economy, which in turn could adversely affect the Fund’s investments.

Policy and legislative changes in the United States and in other countries are affecting many aspects of financial regulation, and governmental and quasi-governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world have responded to serious economic disruptions with a variety of significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions into companies, new monetary programs and dramatically lower interest rates. The impact of these policies and legislative changes on the markets, and the practical implications for market participants, may not be fully known for some time. A reversal of these policies, or the ineffectiveness of these policies, could increase volatility in securities markets, which could adversely impact the Fund’s investments. The current market environment could make identifying investment risks and opportunities especially difficult for the Adviser.

In addition, the ongoing negotiations surrounding the future relationship between the UK and the EU following the UK’s exit from the European Union (“EU”) (“Brexit”) on January 31, 2020 have yet to provide clarity on what the outcome will be for the UK or Europe. All existing EU-derived laws and regulations will continue to apply in the UK for a transitional period until December 31, 2020. The UK’s “on-shoring” of EU legislation currently envisages no

policy changes to EU law. However, the EU has not yet provided much material cushion from the effects of Brexit for financial services as a matter of EU law.

Whether or not a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe (whether the EU, Eurozone or UK) or with significant exposure to European, EU, Eurozone or UK issuers or countries, the unavoidable uncertainties and events related to Brexit could negatively affect the value and liquidity of a Fund’s investments, increase taxes and costs of business and cause volatility in currency exchange rates and interest rates. Brexit could adversely affect the performance of contracts in existence at the date of Brexit and European, UK or worldwide political, regulatory, economic or market conditions and could contribute to instability in political institutions, regulatory agencies and financial markets. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations as a new relationship between the UK and EU is defined and as the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Any of these effects of Brexit, and others that cannot be anticipated, could adversely affect a Fund’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the risk that Standard Life Aberdeen plc, the parent of the companies that provide investment advisory, sub-advisory and administration services to the Funds and which is headquartered in the UK, fails to adequately prepare for Brexit could have significant customer, reputation and capital impacts for Standard Life Aberdeen plc and its subsidiaries, including those providing services to the Funds. Standard Life Aberdeen plc has detailed contingency plan in place to seek to manage the consequences of Brexit on the Funds and to avoid the effect of any disruption on the Funds and to the services its subsidiaries provide. Given the fluidity and complexity of the situation, however, it cannot assured that the Funds will not be adversely impacted by Brexit despite these preparations.

The illness caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has resulted in a global pandemic and major disruption to economies and markets around the world, including the United States. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and severe losses, and trading in many instruments has been disrupted. Liquidity for many instruments has been greatly reduced for periods of time. Some interest rates are very low and in some cases yields are negative. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time, and may continue to affect adversely the value and liquidity of the fund’s investments. The ultimate economic fallout from the pandemic, and the long-term impact on economies, markets, industries and individual issuers, including the Funds, are not known. Governments and central banks, including the Federal Reserve in the U.S., have taken extraordinary and unprecedented actions to support local and global economies and the financial markets. The impact of these measures, and whether they will be effective to mitigate the economic and market disruption, will not be known for some time.

Mid-Cap Securities Risk – Securities of medium-sized companies tend to be more volatile and less liquid than securities of larger companies. Compared to larger companies, mid-cap securities tend to have analyst coverage by fewer Wall Street firms and may trade at prices that reflect incomplete or inaccurate information. Medium-sized companies may have a shorter history of operations, less access to financing and a less diversified product line and be more susceptible to market pressures and therefore have more volatile prices and company performance than larger companies. During some periods, securities of medium-sized companies, as an asset class, have underperformed the securities of larger companies.

Sector Risk –To the extent that a Fund has a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. As disclosed under “Principal Risks” in the Summary section for the applicable Fund, certain Funds have a significant portion of their assets invested in securities in, and are therefore subject to the risks of, the sectors described below.

Securities Lending – A Fund may lend its portfolio securities. If a Fund lends securities, the Fund may be subject to the risk of default by the borrower. When a Fund lends its securities it will typically receive collateral, with respect to each loan of U.S. securities, equal to at least 102% of the value of the portfolio securities loaned, and, with respect to each loan of non-U.S. securities, collateral of at least 105% of the value of the portfolio securities loaned. The value of the securities loaned will be marked to market on a daily basis, and the borrower will provide additional collateral to a Fund to the extent that the value of the securities loaned exceeds the value of collateral previously received by the Fund. When a Fund lends its securities it may lose money if the borrower fails to timely return the securities loaned upon the termination of the loan and the value of the securities loaned exceeds the value of collateral received.

Small-Cap Securities Risk – In general, securities of small-cap companies trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater or more unpredictable price changes than larger cap securities or the market overall. Small-cap companies may have limited product lines or markets, be less financially secure than larger companies, or depend on a small number of key personnel. If adverse developments occur, such as due to management changes or product failure, a Fund’s investment in a small-cap company may lose substantial value. Investing in small-cap companies requires a longer term investment view and may not be appropriate for all investors. These risks may be exacerbated for micro-cap securities.

Sustainable Investing Risk – A Fund’s Sustainable Leaders strategies could cause it to perform differently compared to funds that do not have such strategy. ESG considerations may be linked to long-term rather than short-term returns. The criteria related to the Fund’s Sustainable Leaders strategy, including the exclusion of securities of companies that engage in certain business activities, may result in the Fund forgoing opportunities to buy certain securities when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so, or selling securities for ESG reasons when it might be otherwise disadvantageous for it to do so. In addition, there is a risk that the companies identified as sustainable leaders by the Adviser do not operate as expected when addressing ESG issues. There are significant differences in interpretations of what it means for a company to have positive ESG characteristics. While the Adviser believes its definitions are reasonable, the portfolio decisions it makes may differ with other investors’ or advisers’ views. In evaluating an issuer, the Adviser utilizes information and data obtained through voluntary or third-party reporting that may be incomplete, inaccurate or unavailable, which could cause the Adviser to incorrectly assess an issuer’s business practices with respect to the environment, social responsibility and corporate governance.

Temporary Investments – Generally, each Fund will be fully invested in accordance with its investment objective and strategies; however, pending investment of cash balances or for other cash management purposes or if a Fund’s management believes that business, economic, political or financial conditions warrant, a Fund may invest without limit in cash, cash equivalents or other short-term obligations, including:

The use of temporary investments prevents a Fund from fully pursuing its investment objective, and the Fund may miss potential market upswings.

In addition, pending investment of cash balances or for other cash management purposes, a Fund may invest without limit in other instruments, including but not limited to, derivatives that provide exposure to markets or companies in which the Fund may invest and in shares of other investment companies that invest in securities in which the Fund may invest, subject to the limits of the 1940 Act. For information about the risks of investing in derivatives and other investment companies, please see “Derivatives Risk” and “Exchange-Traded Fund Risk” above and

“Derivatives Risk” and “Securities of Other Investment Companies” in the SAI.

Valuation Risk - The price a Fund could receive upon the sale of any particular portfolio investment may differ from the Fund’s valuation of the investment, particularly for securities that trade in thin or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair valuation methodology or a price provided by an independent pricing service. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by a Fund, and a Fund could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment.

A Fund’s ability to value its investments may also be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers.

In addition, since foreign exchanges may be open on days when the Funds do not price their shares, the value of the securities in a Fund’s portfolio may change on days when shareholders are not be able to purchase or sell that Fund’s shares.

Commodity Pool Operator Status and/or Exclusion – Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) regulations subject registered investment companies and/or their investment advisers to regulation by the CFTC if the registered investment company invests more than a prescribed level of its net asset value (“NAV”) in commodity futures, options on commodities or commodity futures, swaps, or other financial instruments regulated under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) (“commodity interests”), or if the registered investment company markets itself as providing investment exposure to such commodity interests.

The Adviser has claimed an exclusion from the definition of “commodity pool operator” under CFTC Rule 4.5 for each Fund and therefore the Funds and the Adviser (with respect to such Funds) are not currently subject to registration, disclosure, and regulatory requirements under applicable CFTC rules. The Funds will have to reaffirm annually their eligibility for this exclusion. The Adviser intends to continue to operate each such Fund in a manner to maintain its exclusion under CFTC Rule 4.5.

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure – Each Fund posts on the Trust’s internet site, https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/us/investor/fund-centre, substantially all of its securities holdings as of the end of each month. Such portfolio holdings are available no earlier than 7 business days after the end of the previous month for the Funds. A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Funds’ SAI.

Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., a Delaware corporation formed in 1993, serves as the investment adviser to each Fund. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of each Fund’s assets on a discretionary basis.

The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (“Aberdeen PLC”), which has its registered offices at 10 Queen's Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland AB10 1YG. Aberdeen PLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Standard Life Aberdeen plc (“SLA”), which has registered offices at 1 George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland EH2 2LL. SLA, combined with its subsidiaries and affiliates, manages or administers approximately $632.4 billion in assets as of June 30, 2020 SLA provides asset management and investment solutions for clients and customers worldwide and also have a strong position in the pensions and savings market. The asset management business of SLA operates under the name and is herein referred to collectively as Aberdeen Standard Investments (“ASI”).

In rendering investment advisory services, the Adviser, and Subadvisers described below, may use the resources of investment advisor subsidiaries of Standard Life Aberdeen plc. These affiliates have entered into a memorandum of understanding / personnel sharing procedures (“MOU”) pursuant to which investment professionals from each affiliate may render portfolio management and research services to U.S. clients of the Standard Life Aberdeen plc affiliates, including the Funds, as associated persons of the Adviser or Subadviser. No remuneration is paid by the Funds with regards to the MOU.

Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited (“AAML”), a Scottish Company (the “Subadviser”) serves as Subadviser to the Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund. AAML’s registered office is located at 10 Queen's Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland AB10 1YG. AAML is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund. To the extent that AAML does not have management over a specific portion of a Fund’s assets, AAML will assist the Adviser with oversight for the Fund. When a portfolio management team from AAML is allocated a specific portion of a Fund’s assets to manage, it will receive a fee from the Adviser for its investment management services. AAML is an affliate of the Adviser and wholly owned by SLA.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the investment advisory and subadvisory agreements for the Funds is available in the Funds’ Annual Report to Shareholders for the period ended October 31, 2019.

Each Fund pays the Adviser a management fee based on its average daily net assets. With respect to each Fund that has a Subadviser, the Adviser pays the Subadviser from the management fee it receives.

The total annual advisory fees each Fund pays the Adviser (as a percentage of its average daily net assets) are set forth in the following table. The actual management fee rate paid by each Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 disclosed below takes into account the expense limitation that was in effect for the Fund during the year.

The Adviser has entered into a written expense limitation agreement with the Trust on behalf of the Funds listed in the table below through February 28, 2022. The expense limitations exclude taxes, interest, brokerage fees, short-sale dividend expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, 12b-1 fees, administrative services fees and extraordinary expenses. Pursuant to such expense limitation agreement, the Adviser has contractually agreed to

waive advisory fees and, if necessary, reimburse expenses in order to limit total annual fund operating expenses, of the Funds as follows:

Under certain circumstances, the Adviser may recoup amounts reimbursed under the expense limitation agreement. Please refer to “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in the “Fund Summaries” section of this Prospectus for more information regarding the expense limitation agreements.

The Adviser and Subadviser generally use a team-based approach for the management of each Fund. Information about the Aberdeen team members jointly and primarily responsible for managing each Fund is included below.

Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund and Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund

Each of the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund and U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund is managed by the North American Equity Team. The North American Equity Team works in a truly collaborative fashion; all team members have both portfolio construction and research responsibilities. Teams work in an open floor plan environment in an effort to foster communication among all members. The Adviser does not believe in having star managers, instead preferring to have both depth and experience within the team. Depth of team members allows the Adviser to perform the diligent research required by the Adviser’s process. The experience of senior managers provides the confidence needed to take a long-term view.

The Team is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds, with the following members having the most significant responsibility for the day-to-day management of each Fund, as indicated:

The Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund is managed by the Global Emerging Markets Equity Team. The team works in a truly collaborative fashion; all team members have both portfolio construction and research responsibilities. The team works in an open floor plan environment in an effort to foster communication among all members. The Adviser and Subadviser do not believe in having star managers, instead preferring to have both depth and experience within the team. Depth of team members allows the Adviser and Subadviser to perform the diligent research required by the Adviser’s process. The experience of senior managers provides the confidence needed to take a long-term view.

The Team is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, with the following members having the most significant responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund:

The SAI provides additional information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and the portfolio manager’s ownership of securities in the Fund(s) managed by the portfolio manager, if any.

The Adviser and the Trust have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission for a multi-manager structure that allows the Adviser, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, to hire, replace or terminate a subadviser (excluding hiring a subadviser which is an affiliate of the Adviser) without the approval of shareholders. The order also allows the Adviser to revise a subadvisory agreement with an unaffiliated subadviser with the approval of the Board of Trustees, but without shareholder approval.

If a new unaffiliated subadviser is hired for a Fund, shareholders will receive information about the new subadviser within 90 days of the change. The multi-manager structure allows the Funds greater flexibility enabling them to operate more efficiently.

Under the multi-manager structure, the Adviser has ultimate responsibility, subject to oversight by the Board of Trustees, for overseeing a Fund’s subadviser(s) and recommending to the Board of Trustees the hiring, termination or replacement of a subadviser. In instances where the Adviser hires a subadviser, the Adviser performs the following oversight and evaluation services to a subadvised Fund:

The Adviser does not currently utilize un-affiliated subadvisers in reliance on this exemptive order for any of the Funds described in this Prospectus. Where the Adviser does recommend subadviser changes, the Adviser periodically provides written reports to the Board of Trustees regarding its evaluation and monitoring of the subadviser. Although the Adviser monitors the subadviser’s performance, there is no certainty that any subadviser or Fund will obtain favorable results at any given time.

Shares of the Funds have not been registered for sale outside of the United States and its territories.

The following sections provide more information about the share classes offered by a Fund, as applicable.

An investment in any share class of a Fund represents an investment in the same assets of the Fund. However, the fees, sales charges and expenses for each share class are different. The different share classes simply let you choose the cost structure that is right for you. The fees and expenses for each Fund are set forth in the Fund Summary.

Your financial advisor can help you to decide which share class is best suited to your needs and for which you qualify.

The availability of certain sales charge waivers and discounts will depend on whether you purchase your shares directly from a Fund or through a financial intermediary. Intermediaries may have different policies and procedures regarding the availability of front-end sales load waivers or contingent deferred (back-end) sales load (“CDSC”) waivers, which are discussed below. In all instances, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to notify the Fund or the purchaser’s financial intermediary at the time of purchase of any relationship or other facts qualifying the purchaser for sales charge waivers or discounts. For waivers and discounts not available through a particular intermediary, shareholders will have to purchase Fund shares directly from a Fund or through another intermediary to receive these waivers or discounts. Please see the section “Broker-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies” immediately before the back cover of this prospectus to determine any sales charge discounts and waivers that may be available to you through your financial intermediary.

Minimum investment requirements do not apply to purchases by employees of the Adviser or its affiliates (or their spouses, children or immediate relatives), or to certain retirement plans, fee-based programs or omnibus accounts. Certain endowments, non-profits, and charitable organizations may also be eligible for waiver of minimum investment requirements. If you purchase shares through an intermediary, different minimum account requirements may apply. The Trust reserves the right to waive investment minimums under certain circumstances.

Your financial intermediary may receive different compensation for selling one class of shares than for selling another class, which may depend on, among other things, the type of investor account and the policies, procedures and practices adopted by your financial intermediary. You should review these arrangements with your financial intermediary.

The table below provides a comparison of Class A and Class C shares. Class A and Class C shares are generally available to all investors; however, share class availability depends upon your financial intermediary’s policies and procedures. In addition to Class A and/or Class C, the Funds also offer Class R, Institutional Service Class and/or Institutional Class shares, as applicable. Class R, Institutional Service Class and Institutional Class shares are subject to different eligibility requirements, fees and expenses, may have different minimum investment requirements, and may be entitled to different services. For eligible investors, Class R, Institutional Service Class and Institutional Class shares may be more suitable than Class A or Class C shares. However, an investor transacting in Institutional Class shares or Institutional Service Class shares may be required to pay a commission to a broker that is not described in this prospectus. Contact your broker for more information about the commissions that your broker may charge.

Before you invest, compare the features of each share class, so that you can choose the class that is right for you. We describe each share class in detail on the following pages. Your financial advisor can help you with this decision. When you buy shares, be sure to specify the class of shares. If you do not choose a share class, your investment will be made in Class A shares. If you are not eligible for the class you have selected, your investment may be refused. However, we recommend that you discuss your investment with a financial advisor before you make a purchase to be sure that the Fund and the share class are appropriate for you. In addition, consider the

Fund’s investment objectives, principal investment strategies and principal risks to determine if a Fund and which share class is most appropriate for your situation.

If you qualify for a reduction or waiver of Class A sales charges, you must notify Customer Service, your financial intermediary or other intermediary at the time of purchase and must also provide any required evidence showing that you qualify. The value of cumulative quantity discount eligible shares equals the cost or current value of those shares, whichever is higher. The current value of shares is determined by multiplying the number of shares by their current NAV. In order to obtain a sales charge reduction, you may need to provide your financial intermediary or the Fund’s transfer agent, at the time of purchase, with information regarding shares of the Funds held in other accounts which may be eligible for aggregation. Such information may include account statements or other records regarding shares of the Funds held in (i) all accounts (e.g., retirement accounts) with the Funds and your financial intermediary; (ii) accounts with other financial intermediaries; and (iii) accounts in the name of immediate family household members (spouse and children under 21). You should retain any records necessary to substantiate historical costs because the Fund, its transfer agent, and financial intermediaries may not maintain this information. Otherwise, you may not receive the reduction or waiver. See “Reduction of Class A Sales Charges”, “Waiver of Class A Sales Charges” and “Broker-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies” sections on pages 40, 40 and 68, respectively, of the prospectus, and “Reduction of Class A Sales Charges” in the SAI for more information. Information regarding breakpoints is available free of charge by visiting https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/us/investor/fund-centre.

Investors may be able to reduce or eliminate front-end sales charges on Class A shares through one or more of these methods:

The following purchasers qualify for a waiver of front-end sales charges on Class A shares:

“Retirement Plans” do not include individual retirement vehicles, such as traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell education savings accounts, individual 401(k) plans, individual 403(b)(7) custodial accounts, one-person Keogh plans, SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs or similar accounts.

Sales charges are waived on shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions when purchasing shares of the same Fund.

The SAI lists additional information regarding investors eligible for sales charge waivers.

Purchases of $1 million or more of Class A shares have no front-end sales charge. You can purchase $1 million or more in Class A shares in one or more Aberdeen Funds (including the Funds in this prospectus) at one time. Or, you can utilize the Rights of Accumulation Discount and Letter of Intent Discount as described above. However, a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) may apply when you redeem your shares in certain circumstances (see “Contingent Deferred Sales Charges on Certain Redemptions of Class A Shares”).

A CDSC of up to 1.00% applies to purchases of $1 million or more of Class A Shares if a “finder’s fee” is paid by the Funds’ distributor or Adviser to your financial advisor or intermediary and you redeem your shares within 18 months of purchase. The CDSC covers the finder’s fee paid to the selling dealer.

A shareholder may be subject to a CDSC if he or she did not pay an up-front sales charge and redeems Class A shares within 18 months of the date of purchase. Any CDSC is based on the original purchase price or the current market value of the shares being redeemed, whichever is less. If you redeem a portion of your shares, shares that are not subject to a CDSC are redeemed first, followed by shares that you have owned the longest. This minimizes the CDSC you pay. Please see “Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges-Class A and Class C Shares” for a list of situations where a CDSC is not charged. The CDSC of Class A shares for the Funds in this prospectus are described above; however, the CDSC for Class A shares of other Funds of the Trust may be different and are described in their respective prospectuses. If you purchase more than one Fund of the Trust and subsequently redeem those shares, the amount of the CDSC is based on the specific combination of Funds purchased and is proportional to the amount you redeem from each Fund.

If a CDSC is charged when you redeem your Class C shares, and you then reinvest the proceeds in Class C shares within 30 days, shares equal to the amount of the CDSC are re-deposited into your new account.

If you qualify for a waiver of a CDSC, you must notify Customer Service, your financial advisor or intermediary at the time of purchase and must also provide any required evidence showing that you qualify. Your financial intermediary may not have the capability to waive such sales charges or may have its own sales charge waiver policies; for more complete information, see “Broker-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies” on page 68 of this prospectus.

Class C shares may be appropriate if you are uncertain how long you will hold your shares. If you redeem your Class C shares within the first year after you purchase them you must pay a CDSC of 1% unless you qualify for a waiver; however, the CDSC shall not apply to the purchases of Class C shares where the selling broker-dealer was not paid a commission at the time of purchase.

For Class C shares, the CDSC is based on the original purchase price or the current market value of the shares being redeemed, whichever is less. If you redeem a portion of your shares, shares that are not subject to a CDSC are redeemed first, followed by shares that you have owned the longest. This minimizes the CDSC that you pay. See “Waiver of Contingent Deferred Sales Charges - Class A and Class C Shares” for a list of situations where a CDSC may be waived.

The Fund’s distributor or Adviser may compensate broker-dealers and financial intermediaries for sales of Class C shares from its own resources at the rate of 1.00% of sales. Pursuant to financing arrangements with the Fund’s distributor, the Adviser may advance 1.00% of the purchase price of Class C shares, at the time of purchase, to selling brokers, dealers, or other financial intermediaries that have entered into distribution agreements with the distributor. Such advance will be from the Adviser’s own resources. During the period the CDSC is applicable with respect to such shares, the Class C Rule 12b-1 fees (as described in the section entitled “Sales Charges and Fees – Distribution and Service Fees”) attributable to those shares will be paid to the Adviser in satisfaction of the advance. If a CDSC is not (or is no longer) applicable with respect to such shares, the Class C Rule 12b-1 fees attributable to those shares will be paid to the selling broker, dealer or other financial intermediary.

Effective February 28, 2019 (the “Effective Date”), Class C shares of a Fund will automatically convert to Class A shares of the same Fund approximately 10 years from the purchase date. All conversions from Class C shares to Class A shares will be based on the per share net asset value without the imposition of any sales load, fee or other charge. The conversion from Class C shares to Class A shares is not considered a taxable event for Federal income tax purposes.

For Class C shares that have been acquired through an exchange from another Aberdeen Fund, the purchase date is calculated from the date the shares were originally purchased in the other Aberdeen Fund. When Class C shares that a shareholder acquired through a purchase or exchange convert to Class A shares, any Class C shares that the shareholder acquired through reinvestment of dividends and distributions related to the shares being converted also will convert to Class A shares on a pro rata basis.

Certain financial intermediaries currently do not have the ability to track an individual shareholder’s holding periods and, therefore, may not know how long a shareholder has held Class C shares. If a shareholder holds Class C shares through a financial intermediary in an omnibus account, it is the responsibility of the shareholder or financial intermediary to notify the Fund that the shareholder is eligible for the conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares, and the shareholder or financial intermediary may be required to provide the Fund with records that substantiate the holding period of Class C shares. In these circumstances, it is the financial intermediary’s (and not the Fund’s) responsibility to keep records and to ensure that the shareholder is credited with the proper holding period. Please consult with your financial intermediary.

Certain Funds offer Institutional Service Class and Class R shares. All of the Funds offer Institutional Class shares. Only certain types of entities and selected individuals are eligible to purchase shares of these classes.

If an institution or retirement plan has hired an intermediary and is eligible to invest in more than one class of shares, the intermediary can help determine which share class is appropriate for that retirement plan or other institutional account. Plan fiduciaries should consider their obligations under ERISA when determining which class is appropriate for the retirement plan.

Other fiduciaries should also consider their obligations in determining the appropriate share class for a customer including:

The above-referenced plans are generally small and mid-sized retirement plans that have at least $1 million in assets and shares held through omnibus accounts that are represented by an intermediary such as a broker, third-party administrator, registered investment adviser or other plan service provider.

Institutional Service Class shares are available for purchase only by the following:

Sales charges, if any, are paid to the Funds’ distributor. These fees are either kept or paid to your financial advisor or other intermediary.

Each Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 with respect to Class A, Class C and Class R shares, which permits Class A, Class C and Class R shares of the Funds (if applicable) to compensate the Funds’ distributor or any other entity approved by the Board of Trustees (collectively, “payees”) for expenses associated with the distribution-related and/or shareholder services provided by such entities. These fees are paid to the Funds’ distributor and are either kept or paid to your financial advisor or other intermediary for distribution and shareholder services. Institutional Class and Institutional Service Class shares pay no 12b-1 fees.

These 12b-1 fees are in addition to applicable sales charges and are paid from the Funds’ assets on an ongoing basis. The 12b-1 fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. As a result, 12b-1 fees increase the cost of your investment and over time may cost more than other types of sales charges. Under the Distribution Plan, Class A, Class C and Class R shares pay the Funds’ distributor annual amounts not exceeding the following:

The Funds may pay and/or reimburse administrative services fees/sub-transfer agent expenses to certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries who provide administrative support services to beneficial shareholders on behalf of the Funds (sometimes referred to as “sub-transfer agency fees”), subject to certain limitations approved by the Board of Trustees. (These fees may be in addition to the Rule 12b-1 fees described above.) Sub-transfer agency fees generally include, but are not limited to, costs associated with recordkeeping, networking, sub-transfer agency or other administrative or shareholder services.

Class A, Class R and Institutional Service Class shares of the Funds pay for such services pursuant to an Administrative Services Plan adopted by the Board of Trustees. Under the Administrative Services Plan, a Fund may pay a broker-dealer or other intermediary a maximum annual administrative services fee of 0.25% for Class A, Class R and Institutional Service Class shares (or under an amendment to the Administrative Services Plan that is in effect until at least February 28, 2022, a maximum of 0.15% for contracts with fees that are calculated as percentage of Fund assets and a maximum of $16 per account for contracts with fees that are calculated on a dollar per account basis); however, many intermediaries do not charge the maximum permitted fee or even a portion thereof. Class C and Institutional Class shares may also pay for the services described above directly and not pursuant to an Administrative Services Plan.

Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, these fees will increase the cost of your investment in such share class over time and may cost you more than paying other types of fees.

The Adviser and/or its affiliates (collectively, “Aberdeen”) may make payments for marketing, promotional or related services provided by broker-dealers, platforms and other financial intermediaries that sell shares of the Trust or which include them as investment options for their respective customers. The Adviser may also pay and/or reimburse sub-transfer agency fees or portions thereof to certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries who provide administrative support services to beneficial shareholders on behalf of the Funds, subject to certain limitations approved by the Board.

These payments, or a portion of these payments in certain instances, are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments.” The existence or level of such payments may be based on factors that include, without limitation, differing levels or types of services provided by the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the expected level of assets or sales of shares, the placing of some or all of the Funds on a recommended or preferred list and/or access to an intermediary’s personnel and other factors. Current revenue sharing payments have various structures and typically may be made in one or more of the following forms, one time payments of up to 0.25% on gross sales, asset-based payments of up to 0.23%, one time ticket charges pertaining to purchases placed through advisory platforms, flat fees or minimum aggregate fees of up to $75,000 annually. These amounts are subject to change at the discretion of Aberdeen. Revenue sharing payments are paid from Aberdeen’s own legitimate profits and other of its own resources (not from the Funds) and may be in addition to any Rule 12b-1 payments that are paid to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries. The Board of Trustees will monitor these revenue sharing arrangements as well as the payment of advisory fees paid by the Funds to ensure that the levels of such advisory fees do not involve the indirect use of the Funds’ assets to pay for marketing, promotional or related services. Because revenue sharing payments are paid by Aberdeen, and not from the Funds’ assets, the amount of any revenue sharing payments is determined by Aberdeen.

In addition to the revenue sharing payments described above, Aberdeen may offer other incentives to sell shares of the Funds in the form of sponsorship of educational or other client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training or educating an intermediary’s personnel, and/or entertainment or meals. These payments may also include, at the direction of a retirement plan’s named fiduciary, amounts to a retirement plan intermediary to offset certain plan expenses or otherwise for the benefit of plan participants and beneficiaries.

Payments may be based on current or past sales, current or historical assets or a flat fee for specific services provided. In some circumstances, such payments may create an incentive for an intermediary or its employees or associated persons to sell shares of a Fund to you instead of shares of funds offered by competing fund families.

Contact your financial intermediary for details about revenue sharing payments it may receive.

Notwithstanding the revenue sharing payments described above, the Adviser and all subadvisers to the Trust are prohibited from considering a broker-dealer’s sale of any of the Trust’s shares in selecting such broker-dealer for the execution of Fund portfolio transactions, except as may be specifically permitted by law.

Fund portfolio transactions nevertheless may be effected with broker-dealers who coincidentally may have assisted customers in the purchase of Fund shares, although neither such assistance nor the volume of shares sold of the Trust or any affiliated investment company is a qualifying or disqualifying factor in the Adviser’s or a subadviser’s selection of such broker-dealer for portfolio transaction execution.

Financial intermediaries may provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem shares of the Funds. In addition, financial intermediaries are responsible for providing to you any communication from a Fund to its shareholders, including but not limited to, prospectuses, prospectus supplements, proxy materials and notices regarding the source of dividend payments under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. They may charge additional fees not described in this prospectus to their customers for such services.

If shares of a Fund are held in a “street name” account with financial intermediary, all recordkeeping, transaction processing and payments of distributions relating to your account will be performed by the financial intermediary, and not by the Fund and its transfer agent. Since the Funds will have no record of your transactions, you should contact your financial intermediary to purchase, redeem or exchange shares, to make changes in or give instructions

concerning the account or to obtain information about your account. The transfer of shares in a “street name” account to an account with another dealer or to an account directly with a Fund involves special procedures and may require you to obtain historical purchase information about the shares in the account from your financial intermediary. If your financial intermediary’s relationship with Aberdeen is terminated, and you do not transfer your account to another financial intermediary, the Trust reserves the right to redeem your shares. The Trust will not be responsible for any loss in an investor’s account resulting from a redemption.

Financial intermediaries may be authorized to accept, on behalf of the Trust, purchase, redemption and exchange orders placed by or on behalf of their customers, and if approved by the Trust, to designate other financial intermediaries to accept such orders. In these cases:

You should contact your financial intermediary to learn whether it is authorized to accept orders for the Trust.

Customer Service Representatives are available 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday at 866-667-9231.

Automated Voice Response Call 866-667-9231, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for easy access to mutual fund information. Choose from a menu of options to:

Internet Go to www.aberdeen-asset.us/aam.nsf/usRetail/home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for easy access to your mutual fund accounts. The website provides instructions on how to select a password and perform transactions. On the website, you can:

c/o DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.
430 W. 7th Street, Ste. 219534
Kansas City, MO 64105-1407

The NAV is the value of a single share. A separate NAV is calculated for each share class of a Fund. The NAV is:

The purchase or “offering” price for Fund shares is the NAV for a particular class next determined after the order is received in good form by a Fund’s transfer agent or an authorized intermediary, plus any applicable sales charge. An order is in “good form” if the Funds’ transfer agent has all the information and documentation it deems necessary to effect your order.

Please note the following with respect to the price at which your transactions are processed:

The Funds do not calculate NAV on days when the New York Stock Exchange is regularly closed (except as described above for fixed income Funds). The New York Stock Exchange is closed on the following days:

Foreign securities may trade on their local markets on days when a Fund is closed. As a result, if a Fund holds foreign securities, its NAV may be impacted on days when investors may not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

All transaction orders must be received by the Funds’ transfer agent in Kansas City, Missouri or an authorized intermediary prior to the calculation of each Fund’s NAV to receive that day’s NAV. The Fund has the right to close your account after a period of inactivity, as determined by state law, and transfer your shares to the appropriate state.

Be sure to specify the class of shares you wish to purchase. Each Fund may reject any order to buy shares and may suspend the offering of shares at any time.

Through an authorized intermediary. The Funds or the Funds’ distributor have relationships with certain brokers and other financial intermediaries who are authorized to accept purchase, exchange and redemption orders for the Funds. Your transaction is processed at the NAV next calculated after the Funds’ transfer agent or an authorized intermediary receives your order in proper form.

By mail. Complete an application and send with a check made payable to: Aberdeen Funds. Payment must be made in U.S. Dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. The Funds do not accept cash, starter checks, third-party checks, travelers’ checks, credit card checks or money orders.

On-line. Transactions may be made through the Aberdeen Funds’ website at https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/us/investor/fund-centre. However, the Funds may discontinue on-line transactions of Fund shares at any time.

By bank wire. You may have your bank transmit funds by federal funds wire to the Funds’ custodian bank. The authorization will be in effect unless you give the Funds written notice of its termination.

●

if you choose this method to open a new account, you must call our toll-free number before you wire your investment and arrange to fax your completed application.

●

your bank may charge a fee to wire funds.

●

the wire must be received by 4:00 p.m. in order to receive the current day’s NAV.

* Exchange privileges may be amended or discontinued upon 60 days written notice to shareholders.

** A medallion signature guarantee may be required. See “Medallion Signature Guarantee” below.

By mail or fax. You may request an exchange or redemption by mailing or faxing a letter to Aberdeen Funds. The letter must include your account number(s) and the name(s) of the Fund(s) you wish to exchange from and to. The letter must be signed by all account owners. We reserve the right to request original documents for any faxed requests.

By telephone. You will have automatic telephone privileges unless you decline this option on your application. The Funds follow procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine and will not be liable for any loss, injury, damage or expense that results from executing such instructions. The Funds may revoke telephone privileges at any time, without notice to shareholders. For redemptions, shareholders who own shares in an IRA account should call 866-667-9231. It may be difficult to make telephone transactions in times of unusual economic or market conditions.

Additional information for selling shares. A check made payable to the shareholder(s) of record will be mailed to the address of record. The Funds may record telephone instructions to redeem shares, and may request redemption instructions in writing, signed by all shareholders on the account.

●	your proceeds typically will be wired to your bank on the next business day after your order has been processed.
●	Aberdeen Funds deducts a $20 service fee from the redemption proceeds for this service.
●	your financial institution may also charge a fee for receiving the wire.
●	funds sent outside the U.S. may be subject to higher fees.

By Automated Clearing House (ACH). You can fund your Aberdeen Funds’ account with proceeds from your bank via ACH on the second business day after your purchase order has been processed. A voided check must be attached to your application. Money sent through ACH typically reaches Aberdeen Funds from your bank in two business days. There is no fee for this service. The authorization will be in effect unless you give the Funds written notice of its termination.

By Automatic Investment Plan (AIP). Once your account has been opened, you may make regular investments automatically in amounts of not less than $50 per month in Class A or Class C shares of a Fund. You will need to complete the appropriate section of the Mutual Fund Application for New Accounts or contact your financial intermediary or the Funds’ transfer agent to do this. Your financial institution must be a member of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network to participate in an AIP. Any request to change or terminate your AIP should be submitted to the Funds’ transfer agent 10 days prior to effective date. Please call Aberdeen Funds at (866) 667-9231 for further information. If you redeem shares purchased via the AIP within 10 days, the Funds’ transfer agent may delay payment until it is assured that the purchase has cleared your account.

Retirement plan participants should contact their retirement plan administrator regarding transactions. Retirement plans or their administrators wishing to conduct transactions should call our toll-free number 866-667-9231. Eligible entities or individuals wishing to conduct transactions in Institutional Service Class or Institutional Class shares should call our toll-free number 866-667-9231.

By bank wire. The Funds can wire the proceeds of your redemption directly to your account at a commercial bank. A voided check must be attached to your application. The authorization will be in effect unless you give the Funds written notice of its termination.

By Automated Clearing House (ACH). Your redemption proceeds can be sent to your bank via ACH on the second business day after your order has been processed. A voided check must be attached to your application. Money sent through ACH should reach your bank in two business days. There is no fee for this service. The authorization will be in effect unless you give the Funds written notice of its termination. ACH is not an option for exchanges.

Bank wire is not an option for exchanges.

The Funds value their securities at current market value or fair value, consistent with regulatory requirements. “Fair value” is defined in the Funds’ Valuation and Liquidity Procedures as the price that could be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants without a compulsion to transact at the measurement date.

Equity securities that are traded on an exchange are valued at the last quoted sale price on the principal exchange on which the security is traded at the “Valuation Time”, subject to application, when appropriate, of the valuation factors described in the paragraph below. Under normal circumstances, the Valuation Time is as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). In the absence of a sale price, the security is valued at the mean of the bid/ask quoted at the close on the principal exchange on which the security is traded. Securities traded on NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the respective net asset value as reported by such company. The prospectuses for the registered open-end management investment companies in which a Fund invests explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing. Closed-end funds and ETFs are valued at the market price of the security at the Valuation Time.

Foreign equity securities that are traded on foreign exchanges that close prior to the Valuation Time are valued by applying valuation factors to the last sale price or the mean price as noted above. Valuation factors are provided by an independent pricing service provider. These valuation factors are used when pricing a Fund’s portfolio holdings to estimate market movements between the time foreign markets close and the time a Fund values such foreign securities. These valuation factors are based on inputs such as depositary receipts, indices, futures, sector indices/ETFs, exchange rates, and local exchange opening and closing prices of each security. When prices with the application of valuation factors are utilized, the value assigned to the foreign securities may not be the same as quoted or published prices of the securities on their primary markets. Valuation factors are not utilized if the independent pricing service provider is unable to provide a valuation factor or if the valuation factor falls below a predetermined confidence threshold.

Long-term fixed income securities are valued at the last quoted or evaluated bid price on the valuation date provided by an independent pricing service provider approved by the Funds’ Board of Trustees. If there are no current day bids, the security is valued at the previously applied bid. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional “round lot” size, and the strategies employed by the Adviser generally trade in round lot sizes. In certain circumstances, fixed income securities may be held or transactions may be conducted in smaller, “odd lot” sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower, or occasionally, higher prices than institutional round lot trades. Short-term fixed income securities (such as commercial paper and U.S. treasury bills) having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at the last quoted or evaluated bid price on the valuation date provided by an independent pricing service, or on the basis of amortized cost if it represents the best approximation for fair value.

Derivative instruments are generally valued according to the following procedures. Forward currency exchange contracts are generally valued based on the current spot exchange rates and the forward exchange rate points (ex. 1-month, 3-month) that are obtained from an approved pricing agent. Based on the actual settlement dates of the forward contracts held, an interpolated value of the forward points is combined with the spot exchange rate to derive the valuation. Futures contracts are generally valued at the most recent settlement price as of NAV determination. Swap agreements are generally valued by an approved pricing agent based on the terms of the swap agreement (including future cash flows). When market quotations or exchange rates are not readily available, or if the Adviser concludes that such market quotations do not accurately reflect fair value, the fair value of a Fund’s assets are determined in good faith in accordance with the Valuation Procedures.

In the event that a security’s market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable (for reasons other than because the foreign exchange on which it trades closed before the Valuation Time), the security is valued at fair value as determined by the Funds’ Pricing Committee, taking into account the relevant factors and surrounding circumstances using Valuation and Liquidity Procedures approved by the Funds’ Board of Trustees.

Each Fund may accept payment for shares in the form of securities that are permissible investments for the Fund.

To help the government fight 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, unless such information is collected by the broker-dealer or other financial intermediary pursuant to an agreement, the Funds must obtain the following information for each person that opens a new account:

You may also be asked for a copy of your driver’s license, passport or other identifying document in order to verify your identity. In addition, it may be necessary to verify your identity by cross-referencing your identification information with a consumer report or other electronic database. Additional information may be required to open accounts for corporations and other entities. Federal law prohibits the Funds and other financial institutions from opening a new account unless they receive the minimum identifying information listed above. After an account is opened, the Funds may restrict your ability to purchase additional shares until your identity is verified. The Funds may close your account or take other appropriate action if they are unable to verify your identity within a reasonable time. If your account is closed for this reason, your shares will be redeemed at the NAV next calculated after the account is closed. If the NAV on the redemption date is lower than the NAV on your original purchase date, you will receive less than your original investment amount when the account is closed (less any applicable CDSC).

Maintaining small accounts is costly for the Funds and may have a negative effect on performance. Shareholders are encouraged to keep their accounts above each Fund’s minimum.

If you hold Class A, Class C, Institutional Class or Institutional Service Class shares, you may exchange your Fund shares for shares of any fund of the Trust that is currently accepting new investments as long as:

The exchange privileges may be amended or discontinued upon 60 days’ written notice to shareholders.

Generally, you may exchange all or part of your shares for shares of the same class of another Aberdeen Fund without paying a front-end sales charge or CDSC at the time of the exchange. However,

For purposes of calculating a CDSC, the length of ownership is measured from the date of original purchase and is not affected by any permitted exchange.

You should obtain and carefully read the prospectus of the Fund you are acquiring before making an exchange.

A financial intermediary may exchange shares in one class held on behalf of its customers for another class of the same Fund with a lower total expense ratio, subject to any agreements between the customer and the intermediary. All such transactions are subject to

meeting any investment minimum or eligibility requirements. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser will make any representations regarding the tax implications of such exchanges.

Financial intermediaries may offer investment programs (a “Program”) to their clients that are governed by specific terms. The Program terms may permit the financial intermediary to exchange Institutional Class shares held in a client’s account for a class of shares of the same Fund with a higher expense structure. For example, if a financial intermediary client account holds Institutional Class shares and has ceased his or her participation in a Program that utilizes Institutional Class shares, or the financial intermediary has determined to utilize Class A shares rather than Institutional Class shares in its Program, or the shareholder transfers to a Program that utilizes Class A shares, the financial intermediary may exchange Institutional Class shares held in the client account for Class A shares of the same Fund. Based on the Program terms, such exchange may be on the basis of the relative NAVs of the shares, without imposition of any sales load, fee, or other charge. If the Program terms do not include a waiver of such charges, the client account may be subject to the payment of a sales load upon a transfer from Institutional Class to Class A shares. There could be tax consequences for any such exchange. Investors in such Programs should consult their tax advisor to determine if there are tax consequences if the intermediary makes such an exchange.

You may elect to automatically redeem shares in a minimum amount of $50. Complete the appropriate section of the Mutual Fund Application for New Accounts or contact your financial intermediary or the Funds’ transfer agent. Your account value must meet the minimum initial investment amount at the time the program is established. This program may reduce, and eventually deplete, your account. Generally, it is not advisable to continue to purchase Class A or Class C shares subject to a sales charge while redeeming shares using this program. A systematic withdrawal plan for Class C shares will be subject to any applicable CDSC.

This systematic exchange plan allows you to transfer $50 or more to one Aberdeen Fund from another Aberdeen Fund systematically, monthly or quarterly. Accounts participating in a systematic exchange plan have a minimum balance requirement of $5,000. You will need to complete the appropriate section of the Mutual Fund Application for New Accounts or contact your financial intermediary or the Funds’ transfer agent to do this. Dividends of any amount can be moved automatically from one Fund to another at the time they are paid. This systematic exchange plan may not be permitted by the policies and procedures of your financial intermediary. Please consult your financial advisor for more information.

You can sell, or in other words redeem, your Fund shares at any time, subject to the restrictions described below. The price you receive when you redeem your shares is the NAV (minus any applicable sales charges) next determined after the Fund’s authorized intermediary or an agent of the Fund receives your properly completed redemption request. The value of the shares you redeem may be worth more or less than their original purchase price depending on the market value of the Fund’s investments at the time of the redemption.

You may not be able to redeem your Fund shares or the Funds may delay paying your redemption proceeds if:

Generally, a Fund will issue payment for shares that you redeem the next business day after your redemption request is received in good order. The proceeds will be sent to you thereafter and delivery time may vary depending on the method by which you owned your shares (for example, directly or through a broker). Payment for shares that you recently purchased may be delayed up to 10 business days from the purchase date to allow time for your payment to clear. A Fund may delay forwarding redemption proceeds for up to seven days:

Occasionally, large shareholder redemption requests may exceed the cash balance of a Fund and result in overdraft charges to the Fund until the sale of portfolio securities to cover the redemption request settle, which is typically a few days.

If you choose to have your redemption proceeds mailed to you and the redemption check is returned as undeliverable or is not presented for payment within six months, the Funds reserve the right to reinvest the check proceeds and future distributions in shares of the particular Fund at the Fund’s then-current NAV until you give the Funds different instructions.

Under normal circumstances, each Fund expects to meet redemption requests by using cash in its portfolio or by selling portfolio securities to generate cash. During periods of stressed market conditions, when a significant portion of a Fund’s portfolio may be comprised of less-liquid investments, such Fund may be more likely to limit cash redemptions and may determine to pay redemption proceeds by borrowing under its overdraft facility, and/or by transferring some of the securities held by the Fund directly to an account holder as a redemption-in-kind of securities (instead of cash). For more about Aberdeen Funds’ ability to make a redemption-in-kind, see the SAI.

The Board of Trustees has adopted procedures for redemptions in-kind by shareholders including affiliated and unaffiliated persons of a Fund. Affiliated persons of a Fund include shareholders who are affiliates of the Adviser and shareholders of a Fund owning 5% or more of the outstanding shares of that Fund. These procedures provide that a redemption-in-kind shall be effected at approximately the affiliated shareholder’s proportionate share of the Fund’s current net assets, and are designed so that such redemptions will not favor the affiliated shareholder to the detriment of any other shareholder. Further, the procedures require that, in general, in-kind redemptions may be distributed on a pro rata basis whereby the redeeming shareholder would receive a proportionate share of every investment held by the Fund including cash. In certain circumstances, however, pro rata distribution with some adjustments may be made when the redeeming shareholder is restricted by law from taking possession of certain securities or the Fund’s Adviser believes such a distribution is in the best interests of shareholders.

A medallion signature guarantee is required for sales of shares of the Funds in any of the following instances:

A medallion signature guarantee is a certification by a bank, brokerage firm or other financial institution that a customer’s signature is valid. Medallion signature guarantees can be provided by members of the STAMP program. We reserve the right to require a medallion signature guarantee in other circumstances, without notice.

Aberdeen Funds seek to discourage short-term or excessive trading (often described as “market timing”). Excessive trading (either frequent exchanges between Funds of the Trust or sales and repurchases of Funds within a short time period) may:

Each Fund may be more or less affected by short-term trading in Fund shares, depending on various factors such as the size of the Fund, the amount of assets the Fund typically maintains in cash or cash equivalents, the dollar amount, number and frequency of trades in Fund shares and other factors. Funds that invest in foreign securities may be at greater risk for excessive trading. Investors may attempt to take advantage of anticipated price movements in securities held by the Funds based on events occurring after the close of a foreign market that may not be reflected in a Fund’s NAV (referred to as “arbitrage market timing”). Arbitrage market timing may also be attempted in funds that hold significant investments in small-cap securities, high-yield (junk) bonds and other types of investments that may not be frequently traded. There is the possibility that arbitrage market timing, under certain circumstances, may dilute the value of Fund shares if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and buying shareholders receive shares) based on NAVs that do not reflect appropriate fair value prices.

The Board of Trustees has adopted and implemented the following policies and procedures to detect, discourage and prevent excessive short-term trading in the Funds.

The Funds, through the Adviser, its subadviser(s) (if applicable) and its agents, monitor selected trades and flows of money in and out of the Funds in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities. If a shareholder is found to have engaged in excessive short-term trading, the Funds may, in their discretion, ask the shareholder to stop such activities

or refuse to process purchases or exchanges in the shareholder’s account. Despite its best efforts, the Trust may be unable to identify or deter excessive trades conducted through certain intermediaries or omnibus accounts that transmit aggregate purchase, exchange and redemption orders on behalf of their customers. In short, the Trust may not be able to prevent all market timing and its potential negative impact.

Whenever a Fund is able to identify short-term trades or traders, such Fund has broad authority to take discretionary action against market timers and against particular trades and uniformly will apply the short-term trading restrictions to all such trades that the Fund identifies. A Fund also has sole discretion to:

In general if you make an exchange equaling 1% or more of a Fund’s NAV, the exchange into another Aberdeen Fund may be rejected.

The Trust has fair value pricing procedures in place as described above in “Investing with Aberdeen Funds: Pricing of Fund Shares.”

Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property laws for certain states require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including Fund shares) to the state. Each state has its own definition of unclaimed property, and Fund shares could be considered “unclaimed property” due to account inactivity (e.g., no owner-generated activity for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned to the Fund’s transfer agent as undeliverable), or a combination of both. If your Fund shares are categorized as unclaimed, your financial advisor or the Fund’s transfer agent will follow the applicable state’s statutory requirements to contact you, but if unsuccessful, laws may require that the shares be escheated to the appropriate state. If this happens, you will have to contact the state to recover your property, which may involve time and expense. For more information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account, please contact your financial adviser or the Fund’s transfer agent.

The following information is provided to help you understand the income and capital gains you can earn while you own Fund shares, as well as the federal income taxes you may have to pay. The amount of any distribution will vary and there is no guarantee a Fund will pay either income dividends or capital gain distributions. For tax advice about your personal tax situation, please speak with your tax adviser.

Each Fund intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. As a regulated investment company, a Fund generally pays no federal income tax on the income and capital gains it distributes to you. Each of the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund, Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund and U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund expects to declare and distribute its net investment income, if any, to shareholders as dividends annually. A Fund may distribute income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on a Fund. All income and capital gain distributions are automatically reinvested in shares of the applicable Fund. You may request in writing a payment in cash if the distribution is in excess of $5.

If you choose to have dividends or capital gain distributions, or both, mailed to you and the distribution check is returned as undeliverable or is not presented for payment within six months, the Trust reserves the right to reinvest the check proceeds and future distributions in shares of the particular Fund at the Fund’s then-current NAV until you give the Trust different instructions.

If you are a taxable investor, a portion of the dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from a Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are subject to federal income tax, state taxes and possibly local taxes:

The amount and type of income dividends and the tax status of any capital gains distributed to you are reported on Form 1099-DIV, which we send to you annually during tax season (unless you hold your shares in a qualified tax-deferred plan or account or are otherwise not subject to federal income tax). A Fund may reclassify income after your tax reporting statement is mailed to you. This can result from the rules in the Internal Revenue Code that effectively prevent mutual funds, such as the Funds, from ascertaining with certainty, until after the calendar year end, and in some cases a Fund’s fiscal year end, the final amount and character of distributions the Fund has received on its investments during the prior calendar year. Prior to issuing your statement, each Fund makes every effort to search for reclassified income to reduce the number of corrected forms mailed to shareholders. However, when necessary, the Fund will send you a corrected Form 1099-DIV to reflect reclassified information.

Distributions from the Funds (both taxable dividends and capital gains) are normally taxable to you when made, regardless of whether you reinvest these distributions or receive them in cash (unless you hold your shares in a qualified tax-deferred plan or account or are otherwise not subject to federal income tax).

Dividends and other distributions by a Fund are generally treated under the Internal Revenue Code as received by the shareholders at the time the dividend or distribution is made. However, any dividend or capital gain distribution declared by a Fund in October, November or December of any calendar year and payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month shall be deemed to have been received by each shareholder on December 31 of such calendar year and to have been paid by the Fund not later than such December 31,

provided such dividend is actually paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year.

In certain situations, a Fund may, for a taxable year, defer all or a portion of its net capital loss realized after October (or if there is no net capital loss, then any net long-term or short-term capital loss) and its late-year ordinary loss (defined as the sum of the excess of post-October non-US currency and passive non-US investment company (“PFIC”) losses over post-October non-US currency and PFIC gains plus the excess of post-December ordinary losses over post-December ordinary income) until the next taxable year in computing its investment company taxable income and net capital gain, which will defer the recognition of such realized losses. Such deferrals and other rules regarding gains and losses realized after October (or December) may affect the tax character of shareholder distributions.

If more than 50% of a Fund’s total assets at the end of a fiscal year is invested in foreign securities, the Fund may elect to pass through to you your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund. If a Fund elects to do so, then any foreign taxes it pays on these investments may be passed through to you either as a deduction (in calculating U.S. taxable income, but only for investors who itemize their deductions on their personal tax returns) or as a foreign tax credit.

If you are a taxable investor and invest in a Fund shortly before the record date of a capital gains distribution, the distribution will lower the value of the Fund’s shares by the amount of the distribution and, in effect, you will receive some of your investment back in the form of a taxable distribution. This is commonly known as “buying a dividend.”

Selling your shares may result in a realized capital gain or loss, which is subject to federal income tax. For tax purposes, an exchange of one Fund of the Trust for another is the same as a sale. For individuals, any long-term capital gains you realize from selling Fund shares are currently taxed at 15% or 20% for individuals, depending on whether their income exceeds certain threshold amounts, which are adjusted annually for inflation. You or your tax adviser should track your purchases, tax basis, sales and any resulting gain or loss. If you redeem Fund shares for a loss, you may be able to use this capital loss to offset any other capital gains you have.

When you invest in a Fund through a qualified employee benefit plan, retirement plan or some other tax-deferred account, dividend and capital gain distributions generally are not subject to current federal income taxes. In general, these entities are governed by complex tax rules. You should ask your tax adviser or plan administrator for more information about your tax situation, including possible state or local taxes.

By law, you may be subject to backup withholding on a portion of your taxable distributions and redemption proceeds unless you provide your correct Social Security or taxpayer identification number and certify that (1) this number is correct, (2) you are not subject to backup withholding, and (3) you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). You may also be subject to withholding if the Internal Revenue Service instructs us to withhold a portion of your distributions and proceeds.

Distributions and gains from the sale or exchange of your Fund shares may be subject to state and local taxes, even if not subject to federal income taxes. State and local tax laws vary; please consult your tax adviser. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding at a 30% or lower treaty tax rate, U.S. estate tax and special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for capital gain dividends paid by a Fund from long-term capital gains, if any. However, notwithstanding such exemption from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income or capital gains will be subject to backup withholding if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

Under current law, the Funds serve to block unrelated business taxable income from being realized by their tax-exempt shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize unrelated business taxable income 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 IRC Section 514(b). Certain types of income received by the Fund from REITs, real estate mortgage investment conduits, taxable mortgage pools or other investments may cause the Fund to designate some or all of its distributions as “excess inclusion income.” To Fund shareholders, such excess inclusion income may (i) constitute taxable income, as “unrelated business taxable income” for those shareholders who would otherwise be tax-exempt such as individual retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, Keogh plans, pension plans and certain charitable entities; (ii) not be offset by otherwise allowable deductions for tax

purposes; (iii) not be eligible for reduced U.S. withholding for non-U.S. shareholders even from tax treaty countries; and (iv) cause the Fund to be subject to tax if certain “disqualified organizations” as defined by the IRC are Fund shareholders. If a charitable remainder annuity trust or a charitable remainder unitrust (each as defined in IRC Section 664) has UBTI for a taxable year, a 100% excise tax on the UBTI is imposed on the trust.

A 3.8% Medicare contribution tax is imposed on net investment income, including, among other things, dividends and net gain from investments, of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married filing jointly), and of estates and trusts.

Additionally, a 30% withholding tax is currently imposed on fund dividends paid to (i) foreign financial institutions including non-U.S. investment funds unless they agree to collect and disclose to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders and (ii) certain other foreign entities unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners. To avoid withholding, foreign financial institutions will need to (i) enter into agreements with the IRS that state that they will provide the IRS information, including the names, addresses and taxpayer identification numbers of direct and indirect U.S. account holders, comply with due diligence procedures with respect to the identification of U.S. accounts, report to the IRS certain information with respect to U.S. accounts maintained, agree to withhold tax on certain payments made to non-compliant foreign financial institutions or to account holders who fail to provide the required information, and determine certain other information as to their account holders, or (ii) in the event that an applicable intergovernmental agreement and implementing legislation are adopted, provide local revenue authorities with similar account holder information. Other foreign entities will need to either provide the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner or certifications of no substantial U.S. ownership unless certain exceptions apply. Under some circumstances, a foreign shareholder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.

This discussion of “Distributions and Taxes” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in the Funds.

The financial highlights tables are intended to help you understand the Funds’ financial performance for the past five years or periods ended October 31 and the six months ended April 30, 2020. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in each Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and no sales charges). The information for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 was derived from the audited financial statements which were audited by KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, whose report, along with the Funds’ financial statements, is included in the Funds’ most recent annual report, which is available upon request. The Fund’s unaudited financial statements for the semi-annual period ended April 30, 2020 are included in the Fund’s most recent semi-annual report, which is available upon request.

Selected Data for Each Share of Capital Outstanding Throughout the Periods Indicated

Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Merrill Lynch platform or account will be eligible only for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or SAI.

Front-End Sales Charge Waivers for Class A Shares available at Merrill Lynch

Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Merrill Lynch: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

Front-end Sales Charge Waivers on Class A Shares available for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Transactional Brokerage Accounts

Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through a Morgan Stanley Wealth Management transactional brokerage account will be eligible only for the following front-end sales charge waivers with respect to Class A shares, which may differ from and may be more limited than those disclosed elsewhere in these Funds’ Prospectus or SAI.

Shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Raymond James platform or account, or through an introducing broker-dealer or independent registered investment adviser for which Raymond James provides trade execution, clearance, and/or custody services, will be eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s prospectus or SAI.

Front-end load discounts available at Raymond James: breakpoints, and/or rights of accumulation

Effective May 1, 2020, if you purchase fund shares through a Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”) brokerage account, you will be eligible for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”), or back-end sales charge, waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this fund’s Prospectus or SAI.

Front-end sales charge* discounts available at Janney: breakpoints, rights of accumulation, and/or letters of intent

Shareholders purchasing Fund shares through an OPCO platform or account are eligible only for the following load waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and contingent deferred, or back-end, sales charge waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this Fund’s prospectus or SAI.

Front-end load Discounts Available at OPCO: Breakpoints, Rights of Accumulation & Letters of Intent

Shareholders purchasing fund shares through a Baird platform or account will only be eligible for the following sales charge waivers (front-end sales charge waivers and CDSC waivers) and discounts, which may differ from those disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus or the SAI.

Front-End Sales Charge Discounts Available at Baird: Breakpoints and/or Rights of Accumulations

Please read this Prospectus before you invest, and keep it with your records. The following documents – which may be obtained free of charge – contain additional information about the Funds:

While this Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information of the Trust describe pertinent information about the Trust and the Funds, neither this Prospectus nor the Statement of Additional Information represents a contract between the Trust or a Fund and any shareholder or any other party.

To obtain any of the above documents free of charge, to request other information about the Funds, or to make other shareholder inquiries, contact us at the address or number listed below. You can also access and download the annual and semi-annual reports (when available) and the Statement of Additional Information at the Funds’ website https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/us/investor/fund-centre#literature.

To reduce the volume of mail you receive, only one copy of financial reports, prospectuses, other regulatory materials and other communications will be mailed to your household (if you share the same last name and address). You can call us at 866-667-9231, or write to us at the address listed below, to request (1) additional copies free of charge, or (2) that we discontinue our practice of mailing regulatory materials together.

If you wish to receive regulatory materials and/or account statements electronically, you can sign-up for our free e-delivery service. Please visit the Funds’ website at https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/us/investor/fund-centre or call 866-667-9231 for additional information.

Customer Service Representatives are available 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Call after 7 p.m. Eastern Time for closing share prices.

Also, visit the Funds’ website at https://www.aberdeenstandard.com/en-us/us/investor/fund-centre.

Aberdeen Funds (the “Trust”) is a registered open-end investment company consisting of 19 series as of the date hereof. This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) relates to the series of the Trust listed above (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). This SAI is not a prospectus but is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus for the Funds. It contains information in addition to and more detailed than that set forth in the Prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus for the Funds dated December 1, 2020.

Terms not defined in this SAI have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus. You can order copies of the Prospectus without charge by writing to Aberdeen Funds, c/o DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc. (“DST”) at 430 W. 7th Street, Ste. 219534, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 or calling (toll-free) 866-667-9231.

The Trust is an open-end management investment company formed as a statutory trust under the laws of the state of Delaware by a Certificate of Trust filed on September 27, 2007. The Trust currently consists of 19 separate series, each with its own investment objective.

Certain Funds in this SAI were formed to acquire the assets and liabilities of the corresponding Fund of the Nationwide Mutual Funds (each, a “Nationwide Predecessor Fund,” and collectively, the “Nationwide Predecessor Funds”) as shown in the chart below.

The Nationwide Predecessor Funds, for purposes of the relevant reorganization, are considered the accounting survivors and accordingly, certain financial history of the Nationwide Predecessor Funds is included in this SAI. Prior to December 1, 2020, the Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund was known as the Aberdeen International Equity Fund. Prior to December 1, 2020, the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund was known as the Aberdeen Focused U.S. Equity Fund, and prior to November 15, 2017, the Aberdeen Focused U.S. Equity Fund was known as the Aberdeen Equity Long-Short Fund.

Prior to December 1, 2020, the Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund (the “U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund”) was known as the Aberdeen U.S. Multi-Cap Equity Fund, and prior to October 31, 2015, the Aberdeen U.S. Multi-Cap Equity Fund was known as the Aberdeen U.S. Equity Fund. The Aberdeen U.S. Equity Fund (“U.S. Equity Fund”) was created to acquire the assets and liabilities of the Credit Suisse Large Cap Blend Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and a former series of the Trust with a U.S. equity strategy (“Aberdeen U.S. Equity Predecessor Fund”). The Aberdeen U.S. Equity Predecessor Fund, for purposes of the reorganization, is considered the accounting survivor and accordingly, certain financial history of the Aberdeen U.S. Equity Predecessor Fund is included in this SAI. On February 25, 2013, the U.S. Equity Fund acquired the assets of the Aberdeen U.S. Equity II Fund, another series of the Trust, which offered Class A, Class C, Class R, Institutional Class and Institutional Service Class Shares. The U.S. Equity Fund, for purposes of the reorganization, is considered the accounting survivor.

Each of the Funds is a diversified open-end management investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

The Funds invest in a variety of securities and employ a number of investment techniques that involve certain risks. The Prospectus for the Funds highlights the principal investment strategies, investment techniques and risks. This SAI contains additional information regarding the principal investment strategies for the Funds and information about non-principal investment strategies of the Funds. The following tables set forth additional information concerning permissible investments and techniques for each of the Funds and risk factors. A “•” in the table indicates that the Fund may invest in the corresponding instrument or technique or is subject to such risk factor. An empty box indicates that the Fund does not intend to invest in the corresponding instrument or follow the corresponding technique or is not subject to such risk factor.

Please review the discussions in the Prospectus for further information regarding the investment objective and policies of each Fund.

References to the “Adviser” in this section also include the Subadviser (as defined below), as applicable.

General Information about the Funds’ Portfolio Instruments and Investment Policies

The following is a description of various types of securities, instruments and techniques that may be purchased and/or used by the Funds as well as certain risks to which the Funds are subject.

Adjustable, Floating and Variable Rate Instruments. Floating, adjustable rate or variable rate obligations bear interest at rates that are not fixed, but vary with changes in specified market rates or indices, such as the prime rate, or at specified intervals. The interest rate on floating-rate securities varies with changes in the underlying index (such as the Treasury bill rate), while the interest rate on variable or adjustable rate securities changes at preset times based upon an underlying index. Certain of the floating or variable rate obligations that may be purchased by a Fund may carry a demand feature that would permit the holder to tender them back to the issuer of the instrument or to a third party at par value prior to maturity.

The interest rates paid on the adjustable rate securities in which a Fund may invest generally are readjusted at intervals of one year or less to an increment over some predetermined interest rate index. There are three main categories of indices: those based on U.S. Treasury securities, those derived from a calculated measure such as a cost of funds index and those based on a moving average of mortgage rates. Commonly used indices include the one-year, three-year and five-year constant maturity Treasury rates, the three-month Treasury bill rate, the 180-day Treasury bill rate, rates on longer-term Treasury securities, the 11th District Federal Home Loan Bank Cost of Funds, the National Median Cost of Funds, the one-month, three-month, six-month or one-year London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), the prime rate of a specific bank or commercial paper rates. Some indices, such as the one-year constant maturity Treasury rate, closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels. Others, such as the 11th Federal District Home Loan Bank Cost of Funds index, tend to lag behind changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile.

Auction rate securities are variable rate bonds whose interest rates are reset at specified intervals through a “Dutch” auction process. A “Dutch” auction is a competitive bidding process designed to determine a single uniform clearing rate that enables purchases and sales of the auction rate securities to take place at par. All accepted bids and holders of the auction rate securities receive the same rate. Auction rate securities holders rely on the liquidity generated by the auction. There is a risk that an auction will fail due to insufficient demand for the securities. If an auction fails, an auction rate security may become illiquid until a subsequent successful auction is conducted, the issuer redeems the issue, or a secondary market develops.

Demand Instruments. Demand instruments usually have a stated maturity of more than one year but contain a demand feature (or “put”) that enables the holder to redeem the investment. Variable-rate demand instruments provide for automatic establishment of a new interest rate on set dates. Floating-rate demand instruments provide for automatic adjustment of interest rates whenever a specified interest rate (e.g., the prime rate) changes. These floating and variable rate instruments are payable upon a specified period of notice which may range from one day up to one year. The terms of the instruments provide that interest rates are adjustable at intervals ranging from daily to up to one year and the adjustments are based upon the prime rate of a bank or other appropriate interest rate adjustment index as provided in the respective instruments. Variable rate

instruments include participation interests in variable- or fixed-rate municipal obligations owned by a bank, insurance company or other financial institution or affiliated organizations. Although the rate of the underlying municipal obligations may be fixed, the terms of the participation interest may result in a fund receiving a variable rate on its investment.

Because of the variable rate nature of the instruments, when prevailing interest rates decline the yield on these instruments will generally decline. On the other hand, during periods when prevailing interest rates increase, the yield on these instruments will generally increase and the instruments will have less risk of capital depreciation than instruments bearing a fixed rate of return.

Some of the demand instruments purchased by a Fund may not be traded in a secondary market and derive their liquidity solely from the ability of the holder to demand repayment from the issuer or third party providing credit support. If a demand instrument is not traded in a secondary market, a Fund will nonetheless treat the instrument as “readily marketable” for the purposes of its investment restriction limiting investments in illiquid securities unless the demand feature has a notice period of more than seven days in which case the instrument will be characterized as “not readily marketable” and therefore illiquid. Such obligations include variable rate master demand notes, which are unsecured instruments issued pursuant to an agreement between the issuer and the holder that permit the indebtedness thereunder to vary and to provide for periodic adjustments in the interest rate. A Fund will limit its purchases of floating and variable rate obligations to those of the same quality as it is otherwise allowed to purchase. Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. (“Aberdeen Standard”, “ASII” or the “Adviser”) will monitor on an ongoing basis the ability of an issuer of a demand instrument to pay principal and interest on demand. A Fund’s right to obtain payment at par on a demand instrument could be affected by events occurring between the date the Fund elects to demand payment and the date payment is due that may affect the ability of the issuer of the instrument or third party providing credit support to make payment when due, except when such demand instruments permit same day settlement. To facilitate settlement, these same day demand instruments may be held in book entry form at a bank other than a Fund’s custodian subject to a sub-custodian agreement approved by the Fund between that bank and the Fund’s custodian.

Bank Obligations. Bank obligations are obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. or foreign banks. Bank obligations, including without limitation, time deposits, bankers’ acceptances and certificates of deposit, may be general obligations of the parent bank or may be limited to the issuing branch by the terms of the specific obligations or by government regulations. Banks are subject to extensive but different governmental regulations which may limit both the amount and types of loans which may be made and interest rates which may be charged. General economic conditions as well as exposure to credit losses arising from possible financial difficulties of borrowers play an important part in the operation of the banking industry.

Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Bankers’ acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect,

unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.

The Funds may also invest in certificates of deposit issued by banks and savings and loan institutions which had, at the time of their most recent annual financial statements, total assets of less than $1 billion, provided that (i) the principal amounts of such certificates of deposit are insured by an agency of the U.S. Government, (ii) at no time will a Fund hold more than $100,000 principal amount of certificates of deposit of any one such bank, and (iii) at the time of acquisition, no more than 10% of a Fund’s assets (taken at current value) are invested in certificates of deposit of such banks having total assets not in excess of $1 billion.

Bankers’ acceptances are credit instruments evidencing the obligations of a bank to pay a draft drawn on it by a customer. These instruments reflect the obligation both of the bank and of the drawer to pay the face amount of the instrument upon maturity.

Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution for a specified period of time at a stated interest rate. Time deposits which may be held by a Fund will not benefit from insurance from the Bank Insurance Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties that vary with market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. Fixed time deposits subject to withdrawal penalties maturing in more than seven calendar days are subject to a Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities.

Borrowing. Each Fund, to the extent permitted by its fundamental investment restrictions, may borrow money from banks. Each Fund will limit borrowings to amounts not in excess of 33

% of the value of the Fund’s total assets less liabilities (other than borrowings), unless a Fund’s fundamental investment restrictions set forth a lower limit. Any borrowings that exceed this amount will be reduced within three days (not including Sundays and holidays) to the extent necessary to comply with the 33

% limitation or fundamental investment restriction. Each Fund may borrow money as a temporary measure for defensive or emergency purposes in order to meet redemption requests without immediately selling any portfolio securities. Investments in mortgage dollar roll and reverse repurchase agreements are not considered a form of borrowing where the Fund covers its exposure by segregating or earmarking liquid assets.

Certain types of borrowings by a Fund may result in the Fund being subject to covenants in credit agreements relating to asset coverage, portfolio composition requirements and other matters. It is not anticipated that observance of such covenants would impede the Adviser from managing the Fund’s portfolio in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective(s) and policies. However, a breach of any such covenants not cured within the specified cure period may result in acceleration of outstanding indebtedness and require a Fund to dispose of portfolio investments at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so.

Common Stock. Common stock is issued by companies to raise cash for business purposes and represents a proportionate interest in the issuing companies. Therefore, a Fund

participates in the success or failure of any company in which it holds stock. The market value of common stock can fluctuate significantly, reflecting the business performance of the issuing company, investor perception and general economic or financial market movements. Smaller companies are especially sensitive to these factors and may even become valueless. Despite the risk of price volatility, however, common stocks also offer a greater potential for gain on investment, compared to other classes of financial assets such as bonds or cash equivalents. A Fund may also receive common stock as proceeds from a defaulted debt security held by the Fund or from a convertible bond converting to common stock. In such situations, a Fund will hold the common stock at the Adviser’s discretion.

Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stocks and other securities which are convertible into common stock. Investments in convertible securities can provide an opportunity for capital appreciation and/or income through interest and dividend payments by virtue of their conversion or exchange features.

The convertible securities in which a Fund may invest are either fixed income or zero coupon debt securities which may be converted or exchanged at a stated or determinable exchange ratio into underlying shares of common stock. The exchange ratio for any particular convertible security may be adjusted from time to time due to stock splits, dividends, spin-offs, other corporate distributions or scheduled changes in the exchange ratio. Convertible debt securities and convertible preferred stocks, until converted, have general characteristics similar to both debt and equity securities. Although to a lesser extent than with debt securities generally, 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 or exchange feature, the market value of convertible securities typically changes as the market value of the underlying common stock changes, and, therefore, also tends to follow movements in the general market for equity securities. A unique feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock, although typically not as much as the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.

As debt securities, convertible securities are investments which provide for a stream of income (or in the case of zero coupon securities, accretion of income) with generally higher yields than common stocks. Convertible securities generally offer lower yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality because of their conversion or exchange features.

Like all debt securities, there can be no assurance of income or principal payments because the issuers of the convertible securities may default on their obligations.

Convertible securities generally are subordinated to other similar but non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right of payment to all equity securities, and convertible preferred stock is senior to common stock, of the same issuer. However, because of the subordination feature, convertible bonds and convertible preferred stock typically have lower ratings than similar non-convertible securities. Convertible securities may be issued as fixed income obligations that pay current income or as zero coupon notes and bonds, including Liquid Yield Option Notes (“LYONs”™).

Zero coupon convertible securities are debt securities which are issued at a discount to their face amount and do not entitle the holder to any periodic payments of interest prior to maturity. Rather, interest earned on zero coupon convertible securities accretes at a stated yield until the security reaches its face amount at maturity. Zero coupon convertible securities are convertible into a specific number of shares of the issuer’s common stock. In addition, zero coupon convertible securities usually have put features that provide the holder with the opportunity to sell the securities back to the issuer at a stated price before maturity. Generally, the prices of zero coupon convertible securities may be more sensitive to market interest rate fluctuations than conventional convertible securities.

Contingent Convertible Securities. Certain Funds may invest in contingent convertible securities, or “CoCos”. These securities are usually deeply subordinated instruments with long maturities that contain a conversion mechanism that is governed by the issuer’s ability to meet certain minimum financial and accounting ratios as promulgated by statutory regulatory authorities such as banking regulators or macro prudential regulatory authorities. If the issuer triggers the CoCo’s conversion mechanism, the contingent convertible security’s principal may be (1) permanently written off in total, (2) temporarily written off in total or in part with principal reinstatement contingent upon the issuer re-attaining compliance with statutorily required financial and accounting ratios, or (3) converted into common equity or into a security ranking junior to the contingent convertible security. In any or all of these circumstances, the CoCo’s value may be partially or completely impaired either temporarily or permanently.

Many, but not all, contingent convertible securities are rated as speculative or ‘High Yield’ by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”). Like many other fixed income securities, the contingent convertible security’s market value tends to decline as interest rates rise and tends to rise as interest rates fall. Because of the CoCo’s subordinated status within the issuer’s capital structure, market value fluctuations may be greater than for other more senior securities issued by the issuer. Also the contingent convertible security’s value may fluctuate more closely with the issuer’s equity than with its debt given the CoCo’s subordination and given the embedded conversion mechanism. Because most CoCo conversion mechanisms are triggered by the issuer failing to meet minimum financial and accounting thresholds due to financial stress, unforeseen economic conditions, or unforeseen regulatory changes (among others), there is risk that the contingent convertible security will lose most if not all of its value upon conversion.

In addition, some such instruments have a set stock conversion rate that would cause an automatic write-down of capital if the price of the stock is below the conversion price on the conversion date. In another version of a security with loss absorption characteristics, the liquidation value of the security may be adjusted downward to below the original par value under certain circumstances similar to those that would trigger a CoCo. The write down of the par value would occur automatically and would not entitle the holders to seek bankruptcy of the company. In certain versions of the instruments, the notes will write down to zero under certain circumstances and investors could lose everything, even as the issuer remains in business.

Currency Transactions. A Fund may engage in currency transactions as described in the prospectus or this SAI. Generally, except as provided otherwise, a Fund may engage with counterparties primarily in order to hedge, or manage the risk of the value of portfolio holdings denominated in particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value. Currency transactions

include forward currency contracts, exchange listed currency futures, exchange listed and over-the-counter (“OTC”) options on currencies, and currency swaps. A Fund may enter into currency transactions with creditworthy counterparties that have been approved by the Adviser’s Counterparty Credit Risk Department in accordance with its Credit Risk Management Policy.

Forward Currency Contracts. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are entered into in the interbank market conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers.

At or before the maturity of a forward currency contract, a Fund may either sell a portfolio security and make delivery of the currency, or retain the security and fully or partially offset its contractual obligation to deliver the currency by purchasing a second contract. If a Fund retains the portfolio security and engages in an offsetting transaction, the Fund, at the time of execution of the offsetting transaction, will incur a gain or a loss to the extent that movement has occurred in forward currency contract prices.

The precise matching of forward currency contract amounts and the value of the securities involved generally will not be possible because the value of such securities, measured in the foreign currency, will change after the foreign currency contract has been established. Thus, a Fund might need to purchase or sell foreign currencies in the spot (cash) market to the extent such foreign currencies are not covered by forward currency contracts. The projection of short-term currency market movements is extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging strategy is highly uncertain.

In general, the Funds cover their daily obligation requirements for outstanding forward foreign currency contracts by earmarking or segregating liquid portfolio securities. To the extent that a Fund is not able to cover its forward currency positions with underlying portfolio securities, the Fund segregates cash. If the value of the securities used to cover a position or the value of segregated assets declines, a Fund will find alternative cover or segregate additional cash or other liquid assets on a daily basis so that the value of the ear-marked or segregated assets will be equal to the amount of such Fund’s commitments with respect to such contracts.

Transaction hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets or liabilities of a Fund, which will generally arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the receipt of income therefrom. Position hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or generally quoted in that currency.

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

Proxy-Hedge. A Fund may also enter into a position hedge transaction in a currency other than the currency being hedged (a “proxy hedge”). A Fund may enter into a proxy hedge if the Adviser believes there is a correlation between the currency being hedged and the currency in which the proxy hedge is denominated. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which a Fund’s portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the dollar. This type of hedging entails

an additional risk beyond a direct position hedge because it is dependent on a stable relationship between two currencies paired as proxies. Overall risk to a Fund may increase or decrease as a consequence of the use of proxy hedges.

Currency Hedging. While the value of forward currency contracts, currency options, currency futures and options on futures may be expected to correlate with exchange rates, they will not reflect other factors that may affect the value of a Fund’s investments. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated bond against a decline in the yen, but will not protect a Fund against price decline if the issuer’s creditworthiness deteriorates. Because the value of a Fund’s investments denominated in foreign currency will change in response to many factors other than exchange rates, a currency hedge may not be entirely successful in mitigating changes in the value of the Fund’s investments denominated in that currency over time.

A decline in the dollar value of a foreign currency in which a Fund’s securities are denominated will reduce the dollar value of the securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. The use of currency hedges does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. In order to protect against such diminutions in the value of securities it holds, a Fund may purchase put options on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency does decline, a Fund will have the right to sell the currency for a fixed amount in dollars and will thereby offset, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on its securities that otherwise would have resulted. Conversely, if a rise in the dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated is projected, thereby potentially increasing the cost of the securities, a Fund may purchase call options on the particular currency. The purchase of these options could offset, at least partially, the effects of the adverse movements in exchange rates. Although currency hedges limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of a hedged currency, at the same time, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase.

A Fund may enter into foreign currency exchange transactions to hedge its currency exposure in specific transactions or portfolio positions. Transaction hedging is the purchase or sale of forward currency contracts with respect to specific receivables or payables of a Fund generally accruing in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities. Position hedging is the sale of forward currency contracts with respect to portfolio security positions.

The currencies of certain emerging market countries have experienced devaluations relative to the U.S. Dollar, and future devaluations may adversely affect the value of assets denominated in such currencies. In addition, currency hedging techniques may be unavailable in certain emerging market countries. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation or deflation for many years, and future inflation may adversely affect the economies and securities markets of such countries.

Position Hedge. A Fund may hedge some or all of its investments denominated in a foreign currency or exposed to foreign currency fluctuations against a decline in the value of that currency relative to the U.S. Dollar by entering into forward foreign currency contracts to sell an amount of that currency approximating the value of some or all of its portfolio securities denominated in or exposed to that currency and buying U.S. Dollars or by participating in options or future contracts with respect to the currency. Such transactions do not eliminate fluctuations caused by changes in the local currency prices of security investments, but rather, establish an exchange rate at a future date. Although such contracts are intended 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 should the value of such currencies increase. The Adviser may from time to time seek to reduce foreign currency risk by hedging some or all of a Fund’s foreign currency exposure back into the U.S. Dollar.

Currency Futures. A Fund may also seek to enhance returns or hedge against the decline in the value of a currency through use of currency futures or options thereon. Currency futures are similar to forward foreign exchange transactions except that futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts while forward foreign exchange transactions are traded in the OTC market. Currency futures involve currency risk equivalent to currency forwards.

Currency Options. A Fund that invests in foreign currency-denominated securities 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. A Fund may also write covered options on foreign currencies. For example, to hedge against a potential decline in the U.S. Dollar value of foreign currency denominated securities due to adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, a Fund could, instead of purchasing a put option, write a call option on the relevant currency. If the expected decline occurs, the option will most likely not be exercised and the decline in value of portfolio securities will be offset by the amount of the premium received. Currency options traded on U.S. or other exchanges may be subject to position limits which may limit the ability of a Fund to reduce foreign currency risk using such options. OTC options differ from exchange traded options in that they are two-party contracts with price and other terms negotiated between buyer and seller, and generally do not have as much market liquidity as exchange-traded options.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) has begun to regulate certain forward currency contracts, which may in the future limit the Funds’ ability or desire to utilize them.

Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to a Fund if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived correlation between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time that a Fund is engaging in proxy hedging. If a Fund enters into a currency hedging transaction, the Fund will comply with the asset segregation requirements described below under “Strategic Transactions, Derivatives and Synthetic Investments – Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts.”

Risks of Currency Transactions. Currency transactions are subject to risks different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These can result in losses to a Fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as

incurring transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of currency futures are subject to the same risks that apply to the use of futures generally. Further, settlement of a currency futures contract for the purchase of most currencies must occur at a bank based in the issuing nation. Trading options on currency futures is relatively new, and the ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid market which may not always be available. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to that country’s economy.

Risk Factors in Hedging Foreign Currency Risks. Hedging transactions involving currency instruments involve substantial risks, including correlation risk. While an objective of a Fund’s use of currency instruments to effect hedging strategies is intended to reduce the volatility of the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s shares, the NAV of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate. Moreover, although currency instruments will be used with the intention of hedging against adverse currency movements, transactions in currency instruments involve the risk that such currency movements may not occur and that the Fund’s hedging strategies may be ineffective. To the extent that a Fund hedges against anticipated currency movements that do not occur, the Fund may realize losses and decrease its total return as the result of its hedging transactions. Furthermore, a Fund will only engage in hedging activities from time to time and may not be engaging in hedging activities when movements in currency exchange rates occur.

In connection with its trading in forward foreign currency contracts, a Fund will contract with a foreign or domestic bank, or foreign or domestic securities dealer, to make or take future delivery of a specified amount of a particular currency. There are no limitations on daily price moves in such forward contracts, and banks and dealers are not required to continue to make markets in such contracts. There have been periods during which certain banks or dealers have refused to quote prices for such forward contracts or have quoted prices with an unusually wide spread between the price at which the bank or dealer is prepared to buy and that at which it is prepared to sell. Governmental imposition of credit controls might limit any such forward contract trading. With respect to its trading of forward contracts, if any, a Fund may be subject to the risk of bank or dealer failure and the inability of, or refusal by, a bank or dealer to perform with respect to such contracts. Any such default would deprive the Fund of any profit potential or force the Fund to cover its commitments for resale, if any, at the then market price and could result in a loss to the Fund. It may not be possible for a Fund to hedge against currency exchange rate movements, even if correctly anticipated, in the event that (i) the currency exchange rate movement is so generally anticipated that the Fund is not able to enter into a hedging transaction at an effective price, or (ii) the currency exchange rate movement relates to a market with respect to which currency instruments are not available and it is not possible to engage in effective foreign currency hedging. The cost to a Fund of engaging in foreign currency transactions varies with such factors as the currencies involved, the length of the contract period and the market conditions then prevailing. In addition, a Fund may not always be able to enter into forward contracts at attractive prices and may be limited in its ability to use these contracts to hedge Fund assets. Since transactions in foreign currency exchanges usually are conducted on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are involved.

New regulations governing certain OTC derivatives may also increase the costs of using these types of instruments or make them less effective, as described under “Strategic Transactions, Derivatives and Synthetic Investments – Risks of Strategic Transactions Inside the U.S.”

See “Commodity Pool Operator Status and/or Exclusion” in the Funds’ Prospectus for additional information about the Funds’ use of derivatives in connection with CFTC exclusions.

Custody/Sub-Custody Risk. To the extent that a Fund invests in markets where custodial and/or settlement systems are not fully developed, the Fund is subject to foreign custody/sub-custody risk. Foreign custody risk refers to the risks inherent in the process of clearing and settling trades and to the holding of securities, cash and other assets by banks, agents and depositories in securities markets that are less developed than those in the United States. Low trading volumes and volatile prices in less developed markets make trades harder to complete and settle, and governments or trade groups may compel non-U.S. agents to hold securities in designated depositories that may not be subject to independent evaluation. The laws of certain countries may place limitations on the ability to recover assets if a non-U.S. bank, agent or depository becomes insolvent or enters bankruptcy. Non-U.S. agents are held only to the standards of care of their local markets, and thus may be subject to limited or no government oversight. In general, the less developed a country’s securities market is, or the more difficult communication is with that location, the greater the likelihood of custody problems.

Cybersecurity Risk. With the increased use of technologies such as mobile devices and Web-based or “cloud” applications, and the dependence on the Internet and computer systems to conduct business, the Funds are susceptible to operational, information security and related risks. In general, cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events (arising from external or internal sources) that may cause a Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption, physical damage to a computer or network system or lose operational capacity. Cybersecurity attacks include, but are not limited to, infection by malicious software, such as malware or computer viruses or gaining unauthorized access to digital systems, networks or devices that are used to service a Fund’s operations (e.g., through “hacking,” “phishing” or malicious software coding) or other means for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cybersecurity attacks may also be carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on a Fund’s websites (i.e., efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users). In addition, authorized persons could inadvertently or intentionally release confidential or proprietary information stored on a Fund’s systems.

Cybersecurity incidents affecting the Funds’ Adviser, other service providers to a Fund or its shareholders (including, but not limited to, fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians, transfer agents and financial intermediaries) have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses to both a Fund and shareholders, interference with a Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business and of a Fund to process transactions (including fulfillment of Fund share purchases and redemptions), violations of applicable privacy and other laws (including the release of private shareholder information) and attendant breach notification and credit monitoring costs, regulatory fines, penalties, litigation costs, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, forensic investigation and remediation costs, and/or additional compliance costs. Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity incidents affecting issuers of securities in which a Fund invests, counterparties with which a Fund engages in transactions, governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions (including financial

intermediaries and other service providers ) and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred in order to safeguard against and reduce the risk of any cybersecurity incidents in the future. In addition to administrative, technological and procedural safeguards, the Adviser has established business continuity plans in the event of such cybersecurity incidents. However, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified, as well as the rapid development of new threats. Furthermore, a Fund cannot control the cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by its service providers or any other third parties whose operations may affect a Fund or its shareholders. A Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

The principal risks involved with investments in debt securities include interest rate risk, credit risk and pre-payment risk. Interest rate risk refers to the likely decline in the value of bonds as interest rates rise. Generally, longer-term securities are more susceptible to changes in value as a result of interest-rate changes than are shorter-term securities. Credit risk refers to the risk that an issuer of a bond may default with respect to the payment of principal and interest. The lower a bond is rated, the more it is considered to be a speculative or risky investment. Pre-payment risk is commonly associated with pooled debt securities, such as mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities, but may affect other debt securities as well. When the underlying debt obligations are prepaid ahead of schedule, the return on the security will be lower than expected. Pre-payment rates usually increase when interest rates are falling.

Lower-rated securities are more likely to react to developments affecting these risks than are more highly rated securities, which react primarily to movements in the general level of interest rates. Although the fluctuation in the price of debt securities is normally less than that of common stocks, in the past there have been extended periods of cyclical increases in interest rates that have caused significant declines in the price of debt securities in general and have caused the effective maturity of securities with prepayment features to be extended, thus effectively converting short or intermediate term securities (which tend to be less volatile in price) into long term securities (which tend to be more volatile in price).

Ratings as Investment Criteria. High-quality, medium-quality and non-investment grade debt obligations are characterized as such based on their ratings by NRSROs, such as S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors Services Inc. (“Moody’s”). In general, the ratings of NRSROs represent the opinions of these agencies as to the quality of securities that they rate. Such ratings, however, are relative and subjective, and are not absolute standards of quality and do not evaluate the market value risk of the securities. These ratings are used by a Fund as initial criteria for the selection of portfolio securities, but a Fund also relies upon the independent advice of the Adviser to evaluate potential investments. This is particularly important for lower-quality securities. Among the factors that will be considered is the long-term ability of the issuer to pay principal and interest and general economic trends, as well as an issuer’s capital structure, existing debt and earnings history. Appendix B to this SAI contains further information about the rating categories of NRSROs and their significance.

Subsequent to its purchase by a Fund, an issuer of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for purchase by such Fund. In addition, it is

possible that an NRSRO might not change its rating of a particular issuer to reflect subsequent events. None of these events generally will require sale of such securities, but the Adviser will consider such events in its determination of whether the Fund should continue to hold the securities. In addition, to the extent that the ratings change as a result of changes in an NRSRO or its rating systems, or due to a corporate reorganization, a Fund will attempt to use comparable ratings as standards for its investments in accordance with its investment objective and policies.

Investment Grade Debt Securities. The Funds may purchase “investment grade” bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”) or a comparable rating by another NRSRO; or, if unrated, judged to be of equivalent quality as determined by the Adviser. For the avoidance of doubt, bonds rated Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB- by S&P or BBB- by Fitch are considered to be investment grade. In general, but not always, investments in securities rated in the BBB category tend to have more risk than securities in the A, AA or AAA categories due to greater exposure to, among other things: adverse economic conditions; higher levels of debt; or more volatile industry performance. Securities within the BBB category can also experience greater market value fluctuations over time. To the extent that a Fund invests in higher-grade securities, the Fund may not be able to avail itself of opportunities for higher income that may be available at lower grades.

Lower Quality (High-Risk) Debt Securities. Non-investment grade debt or lower quality/rated securities, commonly known as junk bonds or high yield securities (hereinafter referred to as “lower-quality securities”) include (i) bonds rated below Baa3 by Moody’s or below BBB- by S&P or Fitch, (ii) commercial paper rated at or below C by S&P, Not Prime by Moody’s or Fitch 4 by Fitch; and (iii) unrated debt securities of comparable quality as determined by the Adviser. The lower the ratings of such lower-quality securities, the more their risks render them like equity securities. Securities rated D may be in default with respect to payment of principal or interest. Lower-quality securities, while generally offering higher yields than investment grade securities with similar maturities, involve greater risks, including a higher possibility of default or bankruptcy. There is more risk associated with these investments because of reduced creditworthiness and increased risk of default. Lower-quality securities generally involve greater volatility of price and risk to principal and income, and may be less liquid, than securities in the higher rating categories. Under NRSRO guidelines, lower-quality securities and comparable unrated securities will likely have some quality and protective characteristics that are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.

Lower-quality securities are also considered to be at risk of, among other things: failing to attain improved credit quality and NRSRO investment grade rating status; having a current identifiable vulnerability to default or to be in default; not having the capacity to make required interest payments and repay principal when due in the event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions; or, being in default or not current in the payment of interest or principal. They are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.

Issuers of lower-quality securities often are highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. Therefore, the risk associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally is greater than is the case with higher rated securities. For example, during an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of lower-quality securities may experience financial stress. During such

periods, such issuers may not have sufficient revenues to meet their interest payment obligations. The issuer’s ability to service its debt obligations may also be adversely affected by specific corporate developments, or the issuer’s inability to meet specific projected business forecasts, or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss from default by the issuer is significantly greater for the holders of high yield securities because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors of the issuer. Prices and yields of high yield securities will fluctuate over time and, during periods of economic uncertainty, volatility of high yield securities may adversely affect a Fund’s NAV. In addition, investments in high yield zero coupon or pay-in-kind bonds, rather than income-bearing high yield securities, may be more speculative and may be subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates.

A Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain lower-quality securities because they may have a thin trading market. Because not all dealers maintain markets in all high yield securities, a Fund anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of dealers or institutional investors. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse effect on the market price and a Fund’s ability to dispose of particular issues and may also make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing the Fund’s assets. Market quotations generally are available on many lower-quality issues only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers or prices for actual sales. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high-yield securities. These securities may also involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities and costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.

Credit quality in the lower-quality securities market can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently-issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security. For these reasons, it is generally the policy of the Adviser not to rely exclusively on ratings issued by established credit rating agencies, but to supplement such ratings with its own independent and on-going review of credit quality. The achievement of a Fund’s investment objective by investment in such securities may be more dependent on the Adviser’s credit analysis than is the case for higher quality bonds. Should the rating of a portfolio security be downgraded, the Adviser will determine whether it is in the best interests of a Fund to retain or dispose of such security.

Prices for lower-quality securities may be affected by legislative and regulatory developments. Also, Congress has from time to time considered legislation which would restrict or eliminate the corporate tax deduction for interest payments on these securities and regulate corporate restructurings. Such legislation may significantly depress the prices of outstanding securities of this type.

A portion of the lower-quality securities acquired by a Fund may be purchased upon issuance, which may involve special risks because the securities so acquired are new issues. In such instances, a Fund may be a substantial purchaser of the issue and therefore have the opportunity to participate in structuring the terms of the offering. Although this may enable a Fund to seek to protect itself against certain of such risks, the considerations discussed herein would nevertheless remain applicable.

Information Concerning Duration. Duration is a risk measure that describes how much the price of a fixed income security changes given a change in the level of interest rates. Duration was developed as a more precise alternative to the concepts of “term to maturity” or

“average dollar weighted maturity”, which had been used historically in the market as rough measures of “volatility” or “risk” associated with changes in interest rates. Duration incorporates a security’s yield, coupon interest payments, final maturity and call features into one measure.

Most debt obligations provide interest (“coupon”) payments in addition to final (“par”) payment at maturity. Some obligations also have call provisions. Depending on the relative magnitude of these payments and the nature of the call provisions, the market values of debt obligations may respond differently to changes in interest rates.

Traditionally, a debt security’s “term-to-maturity” has been used as a measure of the sensitivity of the security’s price to changes in interest rates (which is the “interest rate risk” or “volatility” of the security). However, “term-to-maturity” measures only the time until a debt security provides its final payment, taking no account of the pattern of the security’s payments prior to maturity. Average dollar weighted maturity is calculated by averaging the terms of maturity of each debt security held with each maturity “weighted” according to the percentage of assets that it represents. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a debt security on a present value basis and reflects both principal and interest payments. Duration takes the length of the time intervals between the present time and the time that the interest and principal payments are scheduled or, in the case of a callable security, expected to be received, and weights them by the present values of the cash to be received at each future point in time. For any debt security with interest payments occurring prior to the payment of principal, duration is ordinarily less than maturity. In general, all other factors being the same, the lower the stated or coupon rate of interest of a debt security, the longer the duration of the security; conversely, the higher the stated or coupon rate of interest of a debt security, the shorter the duration of the security.

There are some situations where the standard duration calculation does not properly reflect the interest rate exposure of a security. For example, floating and variable rate securities often have final maturities of ten or more years; however, their interest rate exposure corresponds to the frequency of the coupon reset. Another example where the interest rate exposure is not properly captured by duration is the case of mortgage pass-through securities. The stated final maturity of such securities is generally 30 years, but current prepayment rates are more critical in determining the securities’ interest rate exposure. In these and other similar situations, the Funds’ will use more sophisticated analytical techniques to project the economic life of a security and estimate its interest rate exposure. Since the computation of duration is based on predictions of future events rather than known factors, there can be no assurance that a Fund will at all times achieve its targeted portfolio duration.

The change in market value of U.S. Government fixed income securities is largely a function of changes in the prevailing level of interest rates. When interest rates are falling, a portfolio with a shorter duration generally will not generate as high a level of total return as a portfolio with a longer duration. When interest rates are stable, shorter duration portfolios generally will not generate as high a level of total return as longer duration portfolios (assuming that long-term interest rates are higher than short-term rates, which is commonly the case). When interest rates are rising, a portfolio with a shorter duration will generally outperform longer duration portfolios. With respect to the composition of a fixed income portfolio, the longer the duration of the portfolio, generally, the greater the anticipated potential for total return, with, however, greater attendant interest rate risk and price volatility than for a portfolio with a shorter duration.

Newly Issued Debt Securities. New issues of certain debt instruments are often offered on a when-issued or firm-commitment basis; that is, the payment obligation and the interest rate are fixed at the time the buyer enters into the commitment, but delivery and payment for the securities normally take place after the customary settlement time. The value of when-issued securities or securities purchased on a firm-commitment basis may vary prior to and after delivery depending on market conditions and changes in interest rate levels. However, a Fund will not accrue any income on these securities prior to delivery. Such Fund will maintain in a segregated account with its custodian, or earmark on its records, an amount of cash or high quality debt instruments equal (on a daily marked-to-market basis) to the amount of its commitment to purchase the when-issued securities or securities purchased on a firm-commitment basis.

Depositary Receipts. Depositary receipts include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) or other securities convertible into securities of issuers based in foreign countries. These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. Generally, ADRs, in registered form, are denominated in U.S. Dollars and are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, GDRs, in bearer form, are issued and designed for use outside the United States and EDRs (also referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts (“CDRs”)), in bearer form, may be denominated in other currencies and are designed for use in European securities markets. ADRs are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. EDRs are European receipts evidencing a similar arrangement. GDRs are receipts typically issued by non-U.S. banks and trust companies that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic securities. For purposes of a Fund’s investment policies, ADRs, GDRs and EDRs are deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they represent. Thus, an ADR, GDR or EDR representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.

A Fund may invest in depositary receipts through “sponsored” or “unsponsored” facilities. While ADRs issued under these two types of facilities are in some respects similar, there are distinctions between them relating to the rights and obligations of ADR holders and the practices of market participants.

A depositary may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or even necessarily the acquiescence of) the issuer of the deposited securities, although typically the depositary requests a letter of non-objection from such issuer prior to the establishment of the facility. Holders of unsponsored ADRs generally bear all the costs of such facilities. The depositary usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the deposited securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. Dollars, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to pass through voting rights to ADR holders in respect of the deposited securities. In addition, an unsponsored facility is generally not obligated to distribute communications received from the issuer of the deposited securities or to disclose material information about such issuer in the U.S. and thus there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the depositary receipts. Unsponsored ADRs tend to be less liquid than sponsored ADRs.

Sponsored ADR facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that the issuer of the deposited securities enters into a deposit agreement with the depositary. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the issuer, the

depositary, and the ADR holders. With sponsored facilities, the issuer of the deposited securities generally will bear some of the costs relating to the facility (such as dividend payment fees of the depositary), although ADR holders continue to bear certain other costs (such as deposit and withdrawal fees). Under the terms of most sponsored arrangements, depositaries agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings and voting instructions, and to provide shareholder communications and other information to the ADR holders at the request of the issuer of the deposited securities.

Derivatives. Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from another security, a commodity (such as gold or oil), an index or a currency (a measure of value or rates, such as the S&P 500 Index or the prime lending rate). A Fund typically uses derivatives as a substitute for taking a position or reducing exposure to underlying assets. A Fund may invest in derivative instruments including the purchase or sale of futures contracts, swaps (including credit default swaps), options (including options on futures and options on swaps), forward contracts, structured notes, and other equity-linked derivatives. A Fund may use derivative instruments for hedging (offset risks associated with an investment) purposes. A Fund may also use derivatives for non-hedging purposes to seek to enhance returns. When a Fund invests in a derivative for non-hedging purposes, the Fund will be fully exposed to the risks of loss of that derivative, which may sometimes be greater than the derivative’s cost. No Fund may use any derivative to gain exposure to an asset or class of assets that it would be prohibited by its investment restrictions from purchasing directly. Investments in derivatives in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Investments in derivatives may not correctly correlate with the price movements of the underlying instrument. As a result, the use of derivatives may expose a Fund to additional risks that it would not be subject to if it invested directly in the securities underlying those derivatives. The use of derivatives may result in larger losses or smaller gains than otherwise would be the case. A Fund may also take a short position through a derivative. A Fund may increase its use of derivatives in response to unusual market conditions.

Accounting risk – the accounting treatment of derivative instruments, including their initial recording, income recognition, and valuation, may require detailed analysis of relevant accounting guidance as it applies to the specific instrument structure.

Correlation risk – if the value of a derivative does not correlate well with the particular market or other asset class the derivative is intended to provide exposure to, the derivative may not have the anticipated effect.

Counterparty risk – the risk that the counterparty (the party on the other side of the transaction) on a derivative transaction will be unable to honor its financial obligation to the Fund.

Currency risk – the risk that changes in the exchange rate between currencies will adversely affect the value (in U.S. Dollar terms) of an investment.

Index risk – if the derivative is linked to the performance of an index, it will be subject to the risks associated with changes in that index. If the index changes, the Fund could receive lower interest payments or experience a reduction in the value of the derivative to below

what the Fund paid. Certain indexed securities may create leverage, to the extent that they increase or decrease in value at a rate that is a multiple of the changes in the applicable index.

Leverage risk – the risk associated with certain types of leveraged investments or trading strategies pursuant to which relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of an investment. Certain investments or trading strategies that involve leverage can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested.

Liquidity risk – the risk that certain derivative instruments may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time that the seller would like or at the price that the seller believes the instrument is currently worth.

Operational risk – derivatives may require customized, manual processing and documentation of transactions and may not fit within existing automated systems for confirmations, reconciliations and other operational processes used for (traditional) securities.

Short position risk – a Fund will incur a loss from a short position if the value of the reference asset increases after the Fund has entered into the short position. Short positions generally involve a form of leverage, which can exaggerate a Fund’s losses. If a Fund engages in a short derivatives position, it may lose more money than the actual cost of the short position and its potential losses may be unlimited. Any gain from a short position will be offset in whole or in part by the transaction costs associated with the short position.

Tax risk – derivatives raise issues under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code” or the “Internal Revenue Code”) requirements for qualifications as a regulated investment company.

Valuation risk – depending on their structure, some categories of derivatives may present special valuation challenges.

OTC risk - Derivatives may generally be traded OTC, through a swap execution facility (“SEF”), or on an exchange. Derivatives traded through a SEF or exchange must be centrally cleared through a regulated clearing agency, and derivatives traded OTC may be centrally cleared, but typically are not. OTC derivatives are agreements that are individually negotiated between parties and can be tailored to meet a purchaser’s needs. OTC derivatives are not guaranteed by a clearing agency and may be subject to increased credit risk. Funds entering in cleared or OTC derivatives must post variation margin and, with respect to cleared derivatives, initial margin as well. Starting in September 2020, rules requiring counterparties to OTC derivatives, such as the Funds, to post initial margin are expected to go into effect. The Funds currently may agree to post initial margin to counterparties even though not required as a regulatory matter. The Funds are subject to counterparty risk when trading OTC derivatives. In order to mitigate the risk that the Funds will not be able to collect amounts due to the Funds upon bankruptcy of the counterparty, the Funds continuously evaluate the creditworthiness of counterparties and enter into master netting agreements in respect to OTC derivatives that allow the Funds to close out the contracts upon the bankruptcy of the counterparty and net exposures. As a result of Title II of the Dodd-Frank Act (as defined below) and regulations imposed by the U.S. bank regulators, when transacting with

counterparties subject to regulation by the bank regulators, the Funds must enter into contractual provisions that suspend or stay the Funds’ rights to close out in cases when the counterparty is subject a resolution bankruptcy proceeding and are restricted in exercising cross-default rights and certain other default rights.

Risk of Government Regulation of Derivatives - The CFTC has substantially completed implementation of regulatory reforms relating to derivatives trading and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) is expected to establish a compliance date for staging implementation of its regulations within the next year. In addition, capital requirements imposed by all the regulators continue to increase the cost of entering into certain derivatives transactions, and require more assets of a Fund to be used for collateral in support of those derivatives. Regulations are now in effect that require dealers in derivatives subject to regulation by the CFTC (such as interest rate swaps, swaps on broad-based securities indices and swaps on broad-based indices of credit-default swaps) to post and collect variation margin (comprised of specified liquid instruments and subject to a required haircut) in connection with trading of OTC swaps with a Fund, to trade report the transactions, to clear the derivatives through a clearing agency and to comply with a number of business conduct and other requirements. As noted above, with respect to these OTC derivatives, it is expected that initial margin posting and collection requirements will come into effect for the Funds in September 2020 and requirements for posting of initial margin in connection with OTC swaps will be phased-in through at least 2021. With respect to transactions in security-based swaps that are regulated by the U.S. bank regulators, the Funds are subject to margin posting and collection. However, security-based swap dealers subject to regulation by the SEC are not yet subject to margining, trade reporting, central clearing and trading and other requirements. The SEC’s regulations are expected to go into effect over the next several years, although a compliance date has not yet been established. In addition, as noted above, regulations adopted by prudential regulators that are now in effect require certain bank-regulated counterparties and certain of their affiliates to include in certain financial contracts, including many derivatives contracts, terms that delay or restrict the rights of counterparties, such as a Fund, to terminate such contracts, foreclose upon collateral, exercise other default rights or restrict transfers of credit support in the event that the counterparty and/or its affiliates are subject to certain types of resolution or insolvency proceedings.

See “Commodity Pool Operator Status and/or Exclusion” in the Funds’ Prospectus for additional information about the Funds’ use of derivatives in connection with CFTC exclusions.

Emerging Markets Securities. Although there is no universally accepted definition, an emerging or developing country is generally considered to be a country which is in the initial stages of industrialization. Investing in emerging markets can involve unique risks in addition to and greater than those generally associated with investing in developed markets. Shareholders should be aware that investing in the equity and fixed income markets of developing countries involves exposure to unstable governments, economies based on only a few industries, and securities markets which trade a small number of securities. Securities markets of developing countries tend to be more volatile than the markets of developed countries; however, such markets have in the past provided the opportunity for higher rates of return to investors.

The value and liquidity of investments in developing countries may be affected favorably or unfavorably by political, economic, fiscal, regulatory or other developments in the particular countries or neighboring regions. The extent of economic development, political stability

and market depth of different countries varies widely. Such investments typically involve greater potential for gain or loss than investments in securities of issuers in developed countries.

The securities markets in developing countries are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than the major securities markets in the United States. A high proportion of the shares of issuers in developing countries may be held by a limited number of persons and financial institutions, which may limit the number of shares available for investment by a Fund. The small size, limited trading volume and relative inexperience of the securities markets in these countries may make investments in securities traded in emerging markets less liquid and more volatile than investments in securities traded in more developed countries. For example, limited market size may cause prices to be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions. A limited number of issuers in developing countries’ securities markets may represent a disproportionately large percentage of market capitalization and trading volume. The limited liquidity of securities markets in developing countries may also affect a Fund’s ability to acquire or dispose of securities at the price and time it wishes to do so. Accordingly, during periods of rising securities prices in the more illiquid securities markets, a Fund’s ability to participate fully in such price increases may be limited by its investment policy of investing not more than 15% of its total net assets in illiquid investments. Conversely, a Fund’s inability to dispose fully and promptly of positions in declining markets could cause the Fund’s NAV to decline as the value of the unsold positions is marked to lower prices. In addition, a Fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making investments in securities traded in emerging markets. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers of emerging market securities, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value of prospects of an investment in such securities.

Political and economic structures in many such countries may be undergoing significant evolution and rapid development, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristics of the United States. In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in emerging markets and the availability of additional investments in these markets. 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. Certain countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized or expropriated the assets of private companies. As a result, the risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, may be heightened.

Economies of developing countries may differ favorably or unfavorably from the United States’ economy in such respects as rate of growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. Certain developing countries do not have comprehensive systems of laws, although substantial changes have occurred in many such countries in this regard in recent years. Laws regarding fiduciary duties of officers and

directors and the protection of shareholders may not be well developed. Even where adequate law exists in such developing countries, it may be impossible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of such law, or to obtain enforcement of the judgment by a court of another jurisdiction.

The risk also exists that an emergency situation may arise in one or more emerging markets as a result of which trading of securities may cease or may be substantially curtailed and prices for a Fund’s securities in such markets may not be readily available. A Fund may suspend redemption of its shares for any period during which an emergency exists, as determined by the SEC. Accordingly if a Fund believes that appropriate circumstances exist, it will promptly apply to the SEC for a determination that an emergency is present. During the period commencing from a Fund’s identification of such condition until the date of the SEC action, a Fund’s securities in the affected markets will be valued at fair value determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Fund’s Board.

Certain of the foregoing risks may also apply to some extent to securities of U.S. issuers that are denominated in foreign currencies or that are traded in foreign markets, or securities of U.S. issuers having significant foreign operations.

Trading in futures contracts on foreign commodity exchanges may be subject to the same or similar risks as trading in foreign securities.

Asian Risk. Certain Funds may invest their assets in Asian securities, and those Funds may be subject to general economic and political conditions in Asia. Certain Funds may invest a significant portion of their assets in Asian securities, and those Funds may be more volatile than a fund which is broadly diversified geographically. Additional factors relating to Asia that an investor should consider include the following:

Political, Social and Economic Factors. Some parts of the Asian region may be subject to a greater degree of economic, political and social instability than is the case in the United States and Europe. Such instability may result from, among other things, the following: (i) authoritarian governments or military involvement in political and economic decision-making, including changes in government through extra-constitutional means; (ii) popular unrest associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions; (iii) internal insurgencies; (iv) hostile relations with neighboring countries; and (v) ethnic, religious and racial disaffection. Such social, political and economic instability could significantly disrupt the principal financial markets in which the Funds invest and adversely affect the value of the Funds’ assets.

Some Asian economies are reliant on exports in varying degrees as a major contribution to economic growth and as such may be affected by developments in the economies of their principal trading partners. These economies may be accordingly affected by protective trade barriers and the economic conditions of their trading partners, principally, the United States, Japan, China and the European Union. The enactment by the United States or other principal trading partners of protectionist trade legislation, reduction of foreign investment in local economies and general declines in the international securities markets could have a significant adverse effect upon the securities markets of Asia.

Some Asian economies have limited natural resources, resulting in dependence on foreign sources for certain raw materials and economic vulnerability to global fluctuations of price and supply. Other economies such as Indonesia and Malaysia, for example, are commodity exporters susceptible to world prices for their commodity exports, including crude oil.

Some governments in the Asian region are authoritarian in nature and influenced by security forces. For example, during the course of the last twenty-five years, certain governments in the region have been installed or removed as a result of military coups while others have periodically demonstrated their repressive police state nature. Disparities of wealth, among other factors, have also led to social unrest in some Asian countries accompanied, in certain cases, by violence and labor unrest. Ethnic, religious and racial disaffection, as evidenced in India, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, have created social, economic and political problems.

Several Asian countries have or in the past have had hostile relationships with neighboring nations or have experienced internal insurgency. For example, Thailand experienced border battles with Laos and India is engaged in border disputes with several of its neighbors, including China and Pakistan. An uneasy truce exists between North Korea and South Korea and the two countries technically remain in a state of war. In addition, North Korea’s nuclear weapons program has caused an increased level of risk of military conflict in the area.

There may be the possibility of expropriations, confiscatory taxation, political, economic or social instability or diplomatic developments which would adversely affect assets of the Funds held in foreign countries. Governments in certain Asian countries participate to a significant degree, through ownership interests or regulation, in their respective economies. Action by these governments could have a significant adverse effect on market prices of a Fund’s securities and its share price.

Market Characteristics. Most of the securities markets of Asia have substantially less volume than the NYSE, and equity securities of most companies in Asia are less liquid and more volatile than equity securities of U.S. companies of comparable size. Some of the stock exchanges in Asia, such as those in China, are in the early stages of their development. Many companies traded on securities markets in Asia are smaller, newer and less seasoned than companies whose securities are traded on securities markets in the United States. In some Asian countries, there is no established secondary market for securities. Therefore, liquidity in these countries is generally low and transaction costs high. Reduced liquidity often creates higher volatility, as well as difficulties in obtaining accurate market quotations for financial reporting purposes and for calculating NAVs, and sometimes also an inability to buy and sell securities. Market quotations on many securities may only be available from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids from those dealers or prices for actual sales. Additionally, market making and arbitrage activities are generally less extensive in such markets, which may contribute to increased volatility and reduced liquidity of such markets. Investments in smaller companies involve greater risk than is customarily associated with investing in larger companies. Smaller companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial or managerial resources and may be more susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Accordingly, each of these markets may be subject to greater influence by adverse events generally affecting the market, and by large investors trading significant blocks of securities, than is usual in the U.S. To the extent that any of the Asian countries experiences rapid increases in its money supply and investment in equity securities for speculative purposes, the equity securities traded in any such country may trade at price-earning multiples higher than those of comparable companies trading on securities markets in the United States, which may not be sustainable.

Brokerage commissions and other transaction costs on securities exchanges in Asia are generally higher than in the U.S. Settlement procedures in certain Asian countries are less

developed and reliable than those in the U.S. and in other developed markets, and a Fund may experience settlement delays or other material difficulties. Securities trading in certain Asian securities markets may be subject to risks due to a lack of experience of securities brokers, a lack of modern technology and a possible lack of sufficient capital to expand market operations. The foregoing factors could impede the ability of a Fund to effect portfolio transactions on a timely basis and could have an adverse effect on the NAV of shares of the Fund.

There is also less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies in the Asian countries than exists in the United States. In addition, existing laws and regulations are often inconsistently applied. As legal systems in Asian countries develop, foreign investors may be adversely affected by new laws and regulations, changes to existing laws and regulations and preemption of local laws and regulations by national laws. In circumstances where adequate laws exist, it may not be possible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of the law. Less information will, therefore, be available to a Fund than in respect of investments in the U.S. Further, in certain Asian countries, less information may be available to a Fund than to local market participants. Brokers in Asian countries may not be as well capitalized as those in the U.S., so that they are more susceptible to financial failure in times of market, political, or economic stress.

In addition, accounting and auditing standards applied in certain Asian countries frequently do not conform with the generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) used in the United States. The use of some accounting policies, such as the constant purchasing power method, can cause distortion in some cases. Also, substantially less financial information is generally publicly available about issuers in Asian countries and, where available, may not be independently verifiable.

Energy. Asia has historically depended on oil for most of its energy requirements. Almost all of its oil is imported. In the past, oil prices have had a major impact on Asian economies. Oil prices are generally subject to extreme volatility. Continuing increases in levels of worldwide oil and gas reserves and production may further depress the value of investments related to the natural resources industry. This trend is causing producers to curtail production or reduce capital spending for exploration activities. This could increase the time period a Fund would need to see a realization of its investments in the energy industry.

Natural Disasters. The Asian region has in the past experienced earthquakes, mud slides and tidal waves of varying degrees of severity (e.g., tsunamis), and the risks of such phenomena, and the damage resulting from natural disasters, continue to exist. The long-term economic effects of such geological factors on the Asian economy as a whole, and on a Fund’s investments and share price, cannot be predicted.

Investing in China. In addition to the risks listed above under “Foreign Securities,” “Investment in Companies in Developing Countries” and “Asian Risk,” investing in China presents additional risks. Investing in China involves a high degree of risk and special considerations not typically associated with investing in other more established economies or securities markets. Such risks may include: (a) the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation; (b) greater social, economic and political uncertainty (including the risk of war and social unrest); (c) dependency on exports and the corresponding importance of international trade; (d) the increasing competition from Asia’s other low-cost emerging economies; (e) greater price volatility and significantly smaller market capitalization of securities markets; (f) substantially less liquidity,

particularly of certain share classes of Chinese securities; (g) currency exchange rate fluctuations and the lack of available currency hedging instruments; (h) higher rates of inflation; (i) controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital and on a Fund’s ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. Dollars; (j) greater governmental involvement in and control over the economy, including over securities exchanges; (k) the risk that the Chinese government may decide not to continue to support the economic reform programs implemented since 1978 and could return to the prior, completely centrally planned, economy; (l) the fact that China companies, particularly those located in China, may be smaller, less seasoned and newly-organized; (m) the difference in, or lack of, auditing and financial reporting standards which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers, particularly in China; (n) the fact that statistical information regarding the economy of China may be inaccurate or not comparable to statistical information regarding the U.S. or other economies; (o) the less extensive, and still developing, regulation of the securities markets, business entities and commercial transactions; (p) the fact that the settlement period of securities transactions in foreign markets may be longer; (q) the willingness and ability of the Chinese government to support the Chinese and Hong Kong economies and markets is uncertain; (r) the risk that it may be more difficult, or impossible, to obtain and/or enforce a judgment than in other countries; and (s) the rapidity and erratic nature of growth, particularly in China, resulting in efficiencies and dislocations. In addition, any spread of an infectious illness, public health threat or similar issue could reduce consumer demand or economic output, result in market closures, travel restrictions or quarantines, and generally have a significant impact on the Chinese economy, which in turn could adversely affect the Fund’s investments.

Investment in China is subject to certain political risks. Following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) by the Communist Party in 1949, the Chinese government renounced various debt obligations incurred by China’s predecessor governments, which obligations remain in default, and expropriated assets without compensation. There can be no assurance that the Chinese government will not take similar action in the future. The political reunification of China and Taiwan is a highly problematic issue and is unlikely to be settled in the near future. This situation poses a threat to Taiwan’s economy and could negatively affect its stock market.

Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997 as a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China under the principle of “one country, two systems.” Although China is obligated to maintain the current capitalist economic and social system of Hong Kong through June 30, 2047, the continuation of economic and social freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong is dependent on the government of China. Any attempt by China to tighten its control over Hong Kong’s political, economic, legal or social policies may result in an adverse effect on Hong Kong’s markets. Uncertainty over Hong Kong’s political future arising from interactions with China has resulted in social unrest, which could in turn cause uncertainty in the markets. In addition, the Hong Kong dollar trades at a fixed exchange rate in relation to (or, is “pegged” to) the U.S. dollar, which has contributed to the growth and stability of the Hong Kong economy. However, it is uncertain how long the currency peg will continue or what effect the establishment of an alternative exchange rate system would have on the Hong Kong economy. Because the Funds’ NAV is denominated in U.S. dollars, the establishment of an alternative exchange rate system could result in a decline in a Fund’s NAV.

The Chinese economy has grown rapidly in the past but there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. In fact, the Chinese economy may experience a significant slowdown as a result of, among other things, a deterioration in global demand for Chinese exports, as well as contraction in spending on domestic goods by Chinese consumers. In addition, China may experience substantial rates of inflation or economic recessions, which would have a negative effect on the economy and securities market. Delays in enterprise restructuring, slow development of well-functioning financial markets and widespread corruption have also hindered performance of the Chinese economy. China continues to receive substantial pressure from trading partners to liberalize official currency exchange rates. Chinese authorities may intervene in the China Securities market and halt or suspend trading of securities for short or even longer periods of time. Recently, the China Securities market has experienced considerable volatility and been subject to relatively frequent and extensive trading halts and suspensions. These trading halts and suspensions have, among other things, contributed to uncertainty in the markets and reduced the liquidity of the securities subject to such trading halts and suspensions, which could include securities held by a Fund.

The current political climate has intensified concerns about a potential trade war between China and the United States, as each country has recently imposed tariffs on the other country’s products. These actions may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry, which could have a negative impact on a Fund’s performance. U.S. companies that source material and goods from China and those that make large amounts of sales in China would be particularly vulnerable to an escalation of trade tensions. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of the trade tensions and the potential for a trade war could cause the U.S. dollar to decline against safe haven currencies, such as the Japanese yen and the euro. Events such as these and their consequences are difficult to predict and it is unclear whether further tariffs may be imposed or other escalating actions may be taken in the future.

Historically, investments in stocks, bonds, and warrants listed and traded on a Mainland China stock exchange, investment companies, and other financial instruments (collectively referred to as “China Securities”) approved by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) were not eligible for investment by non-Chinese investors. However, the CSRC may grant qualified foreign institutional investor (“QFII”) licenses and renminbi qualified foreign institutional investor (“RQFII”) licenses that allow non-Chinese institutional investors to invest in China securities. Each QFII and RQFII license holder is authorized to invest in China Securities only up to a specified quota established by the Chinese State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”). The provisions regarding such quotas may be subject to change with little or notice given by SAFE. Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited (“ASIAL”), an affiliate of the Adviser and of Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited (“AAML” or the “Subadviser”), has received a QFII license and an RQFII license and specified quotas to be invested in China Securities, the QFII quota specifically referring to a nominee quota in this instance (the “QFII Quota” and “RQFII Quota” respectively).

Although China law permits the use of nominee accounts for clients of investment managers who are QFII or RQFII license holders, the Chinese regulators require the securities trading and settlement accounts to be maintained in the name of the QFII or RQFII license holder. As a result, there is a risk that creditors of ASIAL may assert that ASIAL, and not the individual

fund, is the legal owner of the securities and other assets in the accounts. ASIAL has obtained a legal opinion from Chinese counsel confirming that, as a matter of Chinese law, ASIAL as QFII license holder has no ownership interest in the assets in a Fund account held as a nominee account and the relevant Fund will be ultimately and exclusively entitled to ownership of the assets in such nominee accounts. Nonetheless, if a court upholds a creditor’s assertion that the assets held under the QFII Quota belong to ASIAL as license holder, then creditors of ASIAL could seek payment from the China Securities held under the QFII Quota.

Stock Connect. In recent years, non-Chinese investors, including certain of the Funds, have been permitted to make investments usually only available to foreign investors through a quota license or by purchasing from specified brokers in locations that have stock connect programs. China Stock Exchange-listed securities are available via brokers in Hong Kong through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program, through the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program, and may be available in the future through additional stock connect programs as they are developed in different locations (collectively, “Stock Connect Programs”). The Shenzhen and Shanghai Stock Connect Programs are securities trading and clearing programs developed between the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited and either the Shanghai Stock Exchange or the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. They facilitate foreign investment in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) via brokers in Hong Kong. Investors through Stock Connect Programs are subject to PRC regulations and Shanghai or Shenzhen Stock Exchange listing rules, among others. These could include limitations on trading or suspension of trading. The regulations governing Stock Connect Programs are relatively new, untested and subject to changes which could adversely impact a Fund’s rights with respect to the securities. As Stock Connect Programs are relatively new there are no assurances that the necessary systems to run the programs will function properly.

Stock Connect Programs are subject to aggregate and daily quota limitations on purchases and a Fund may experience delays in transacting via Stock Connect Programs. Once the daily quota is reached, the remaining orders for that day are rejected, however, the Fund would still be permitted to sell A-shares regardless of the daily quota. A-shares obtained on Stock Connect Programs may only be sold, purchased or otherwise transferred through Stock Connect Programs. Stock Connect Programs only operate when both PRC and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banking services are available in both markets for the corresponding settlement dates. If one or both of the Chinese and Hong Kong markets are closed on a U.S. trading day, the Fund may not be able to acquire or dispose of A-shares through Stock Connect in a timely manner, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Additionally, investments through Stock Connect Programs are subject to various risks, including liquidity risk, currency risk, legal and regulatory uncertainty risk, execution risk, operational risk, tax risk and credit risk.

Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan) Region. The Asia-Pacific (ex-Japan) region generally refers to the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean. The area includes much of East Asia, South Asia, Australasia and Oceania, but excludes Japan.

Latin America. The economies in Latin America are considered emerging market economies. As a result, investing in Latin America imposes risks greater than, or in addition to, the risks of investing in more developed foreign markets. Most economies in Latin America have

historically been characterized by high levels of inflation, including, in some cases, hyperinflation and currency devaluations. In the past, these conditions have led to high interest rates, extreme measures by governments to limit inflation, and limited economic growth. Although inflation in many countries has lessened, the economies of the Latin American region continue to be volatile and characterized by high interest rates and unemployment. In addition, the economies of many Latin American countries are sensitive to fluctuations in commodities prices because exports of agricultural products, minerals and metals represent a significant percentage of Latin American exports.

The economies of many Latin American countries are heavily dependent on international trade and can be adversely affected by trade barriers, exchange controls and other measures imposed or negotiated by the countries with which they trade. Since the early 1990s most governments in the Latin American region have transitioned from protectionist policies to policies that promote regional and global exposure. Many countries in the Latin American region have reduced trade barriers and are parties to trade agreements, although there is no guarantee that this trend will continue. Many countries in the Latin American region are dependent on the United States economy, and any declines in the United States economy are likely to affect the economies throughout the Latin American region. Mexico is particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in the United States economy because the majority of its exports are directed to the United States. In addition, China is a major buyer of Latin America’s commodities and a key investor in South America, and therefore, conditions in China may significantly impact the economy of the Latin American region. The Latin American region experienced a significant decline in economic activity at the end of 2008 and in 2009 as a result of the global recession. While the Latin American region’s economy had subsequently experienced solid economic growth as a result of favorable commodity prices, the Latin American region has experienced an economic slowdown since the end of 2011 as a result of uncertainties in the global economy.

Many Latin American countries are dependent on foreign loans from developed countries and several Latin American countries are among the largest debtors among emerging market economies. To the extent that there are rising interest rates, some countries may be forced to restructure loans or risk default on their obligations, which may adversely affect securities markets. Some central banks have recently eased their monetary policies in response to liquidity shortages, but Latin American countries continue to face significant economic difficulties as a result of their high level of indebtedness and dependence on foreign credit.

The economies of certain Latin American countries have experienced high interest and inflation rates, economic volatility, currency devaluations, government defaults and high unemployment rates. In addition, commodities (such as oil, gas and minerals) represent a significant percentage of the region’s exports, and many economies in this region are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. The economies of Latin American countries are heavily dependent on trading relationships with key trading partners, including the U.S., Europe, Asia and other Latin American countries. Adverse economic events in one country may have a significant adverse effect on other countries of this region. In addition, in the past, certain Latin American economies have been influenced by changing supply and demand for a particular currency, monetary policies of governments (including exchange control programs, restrictions on local exchanges or markets and limitations on foreign investment in a country or on investment by residents of a country in other countries), and currency devaluations and revaluations. For example, the government of Brazil

imposes a tax on foreign investment in Brazilian stocks and bonds, which may affect the value of the Fund’s investments in the securities of Brazilian issuers.

Structural Risk. Certain Latin American countries are subject to a considerable degree of economic, political and social instability, which could adversely affect investments in the Fund.

Economic Risk. Certain Latin American countries have experienced economic instability resulting from periods of high inflation and currency devaluations.

Political and Social Risk. Certain Latin American countries have experienced periods of instability and social unrest in the past. For example, Mexico has been destabilized by local insurrections, social upheavals and drug related violence. Disparities of wealth, the pace and success of democratization and capital market development and ethnic, religious and racial disaffection may exacerbate social unrest, violence and labor unrest in a number of Latin American countries. Certain Latin American countries experience significant unemployment in certain regions, as well as widespread underemployment.

Equity-Linked Securities. A Fund may invest in equity-linked securities, including, but not limited to, participation notes, and certificates of participation. Equity-linked securities are privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of stocks, or a single stock. To the extent that a Fund invests in equity-linked securities whose return corresponds to the performance of a foreign security index or one or more foreign stocks, investing in equity-linked securities will involve risks similar to the risks of investing in foreign securities and subject to a Fund’s restrictions on investments in foreign securities. In addition, a Fund bears the risk that the counterparty of an equity-linked security may default on its obligations under the security. If the underlying security is determined to be illiquid, the equity-linked security would also be considered illiquid and thus subject to a Fund’s restrictions on investments in illiquid securities.

Participation notes, also known as participation certificates, are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to replicate the performance of foreign companies or foreign securities markets and can be used by a Fund as an alternative means to access the securities market of a country. The performance results of participation notes will not replicate exactly the performance of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate due to transaction and other expenses. Investments in participation notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. There can be no assurance that the trading price of participation notes will equal the underlying value of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. Participation notes are generally traded over-the-counter. Participation notes are subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the broker-dealer or bank that issues them will not fulfill its contractual obligation to complete the transaction with a Fund. Participation notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them, the counterparty, and a Fund is relying on the creditworthiness of such counterparty and has no rights under a participation note against the issuer of the underlying security. Participation notes involve transaction costs. If the underlying security is determined to be illiquid, participation notes may be illiquid and therefore subject to a Fund’s percentage limitation for investments in illiquid securities. Participation notes offer a return linked to a particular underlying equity, debt or currency.

Event Risk. Event risk is the risk that a corporate event such as a restructuring, merger, leveraged buyout, takeover, or similar action may cause a decline in market value or credit quality of the issuer’s stocks or bonds due to factors including an unfavorable market response or a resulting increase in the issuer’s debt. Added debt may significantly reduce the credit quality and market value of an issuer’s bonds.

Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”). ETFs are ownership interests in investment companies, unit investment trusts, depositary receipts and other pooled investment vehicles that are traded on an exchange and that hold a portfolio of securities or other financial instruments (the “Underlying Assets”). The Underlying Assets are typically selected to correspond to the securities that comprise a particular broad based sector or international index, or to provide exposure to a particular industry sector or asset class, including precious metals or other commodities. “Short ETFs” seek a return similar to the inverse, or a multiple of the inverse, of a reference index. Short ETFs carry additional risks because their Underlying Assets may include a variety of financial instruments, including futures and options on futures, options on securities and securities indexes, swap agreements and forward contracts, and a short ETF may engage in short sales. An ETF’s losses on short sales are potentially unlimited; however, a Fund’s risk would be limited to the amount it invested in the ETF. Certain ETFs are actively managed by a portfolio manager or management team that makes investment decisions on Underlying Assets without seeking to replicate the performance of a reference index or industry sector or asset class.

Unlike shares of typical open-end management investment companies or unit investment trusts, shares of ETFs are designed to be traded throughout the trading day and bought and sold based on market price rather than net asset value. Shares can trade at either a premium or discount to net asset value. The portfolios held by ETFs are typically publicly disclosed on each trading day and an approximation of actual net asset value is disseminated throughout the trading day. Because of this transparency, the trading prices of ETFs tend to closely track the actual net asset value of the Underlying Assets and the ETF will generally gain or lose value depending on the performance of the Underlying Assets. In the future, as new products become available, a Fund may invest in ETFs that do not have this same level of transparency and, therefore, may be more likely to trade at a larger discount or premium to actual net asset values.

Gains or losses on a Fund’s investment in ETFs will ultimately depend on the purchase and sale price of the ETF. An active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained and trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange’s officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally. The performance of an ETF will be reduced by transaction and other expenses, including fees paid by the ETF to service providers. Investors in ETFs are eligible to receive their portion of income, if any, accumulated on the securities held in the portfolio, less fees and expenses of the ETF.

An investment in an ETF involves risks similar to investing directly in the Underlying Assets, including the risk that the value of the Underlying Assets may fluctuate in accordance with changes in the financial condition of their issuers, the value of securities and other financial instruments generally, and other market factors.

If an ETF is a registered investment company (as defined in the 1940 Act), the limitations applicable to a Fund’s ability to purchase securities issued by other investment companies apply absent exemptive relief. The SEC has granted orders for exemptive relief to certain

ETFs that permit investments in those ETFs by other investment companies (such as the Funds) in excess of these limits. Under the orders, other investment companies generally may acquire up to 25% of the assets of an ETF. Some ETFs are not structured as investment companies and thus are not regulated under the 1940 Act.

Focus Risk. To the extent that a Fund invests a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers, the Fund may be subject to greater volatility with respect to its investments than a fund that invests in a larger number of securities.

Foreign Commercial Paper. Commercial paper is indexed to certain specific foreign currency exchange rates. The terms of such commercial paper provide that its principal amount is adjusted upwards or downwards (but not below zero) at maturity to reflect changes in the exchange rate between two currencies while the obligation is outstanding. A Fund will purchase such commercial paper with the currency in which it is denominated and, at maturity, will receive interest and principal payments thereon in that currency, but the amount or principal payable by the issuer at maturity will change in proportion to the change (if any) in the exchange rate between two specified currencies between the date the instrument is issued and the date the instrument matures. While such commercial paper entails the risk of loss of principal, the potential for realizing gains as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rate enables a Fund to hedge or cross-hedge against a decline in the U.S. Dollar value of investments denominated in foreign currencies while providing an attractive money market rate of return. A Fund will purchase such commercial paper for hedging purposes only, not for speculation. A Fund believes that such investments do not involve the creation of a senior security, but nevertheless will establish a segregated account with respect to its investments in this type of commercial paper and maintain in such account cash not available for investment or other liquid assets having a value equal to the aggregate principal amount of outstanding commercial paper of this type.

Foreign Currencies Risk. Because investments in foreign securities usually will involve currencies of foreign countries, and because a Fund may hold foreign currencies and forward contracts, futures contracts and options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures contracts, the value of the assets of the Fund as measured in U.S. Dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations, and the Fund may incur costs and experience conversion difficulties and uncertainties in connection with conversions between various currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates may also affect the earning power and asset value of the foreign entity issuing the security.

The strength or weakness of the U.S. Dollar against these currencies is responsible for part of a Fund’s investment performance. If the U.S. Dollar falls in value relative to the Japanese yen, for example, the U.S. Dollar value of a Japanese stock held by a Fund will rise even though the price of the stock remains unchanged. Conversely, if the U.S. Dollar rises in value relative to the Japanese yen, the U.S. Dollar value of the Japanese stock will fall. Many foreign currencies have experienced significant devaluation relative to the U.S. Dollar.

Although a Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. Dollars, it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. Dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers typically do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the “spread”) between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to a Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should the Fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer. A Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions (“FX transactions”) either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into options or forward or futures contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.

In general, the FX transactions executed for the Funds are divided into two main categories: (1) FX transactions in restricted markets (“Restricted Market FX”) and (2) FX transactions in unrestricted markets (“Unrestricted Market FX”). Restricted Market FX are required to be executed by a local bank in the applicable market. Unrestricted Market FX are not required to be executed by a local bank. The Adviser or a third-party agent executes Unrestricted Market FX relating to trading decisions. The Funds’ custodian executes all Restricted Market FX because it has local banks or relationships with local banks in each of the restricted markets where custodial client accounts hold securities. Unrestricted Market FX relating to the repatriation of dividends and/or income/expense items not directly relating to trading may be executed by the Adviser or by the Funds’ custodian due to the small currency amount and lower volume of such transactions. The Funds and the Adviser have limited ability to negotiate prices at which certain FX transactions are customarily executed by the Funds’ custodian, i.e., transactions in Restricted Market FX and repatriation transactions.

Foreign Government Securities. Investment in debt issued by foreign governments can involve a high degree of risk. Debt securities issued by a foreign government are often supported by the full faith and credit of that foreign government. These foreign governments may permit their subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities to have the full faith and credit of the foreign governments. 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 such 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 (“IMF”), and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Periods of economic uncertainty may result in the illiquidity and increased price volatility of a foreign government’s debt securities. A foreign government’s default on its debt securities may cause the value of securities held by a Fund to decline significantly. A Fund may have limited recourse to compel payment in the event of a default.

Governmental entities may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad 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 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.

To the extent that a Fund invests in obligations issued by emerging market governments, these investments involve additional risks. Sovereign obligors in emerging market countries are among the world’s largest debtors to commercial banks, other governments, international financial organizations and other financial institutions. These obligors have in the past experienced substantial difficulties in servicing their external debt obligations, which led to defaults on certain obligations and the restructuring of certain indebtedness. Restructuring arrangements have included, among other things, reducing and rescheduling interest and principal payments by negotiating new or amended credit agreements, and obtaining new credit for finance interest payments. Holders of certain foreign sovereign debt securities may be requested to participate in the restructuring of such obligations and to extend further loans to their issuers. There can be no assurance that the foreign sovereign debt securities in which a Fund may invest will not be subject to similar restructuring arrangements or to requests for new credit which may adversely affect a Fund’s holdings.

Foreign Securities. Investing in foreign securities (including through the use of depositary receipts) involves certain special considerations which typically are not associated with investing in U.S. securities. Since investments in foreign companies will frequently be denominated in the currencies of foreign countries (these securities are translated into U.S. Dollars on a daily basis in order to value a Fund’s shares), and since a Fund may hold securities and funds in foreign currencies, a Fund may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency rates and in exchange control regulations, if any, and may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. There may be less information publicly available about a foreign issuer than about a U.S. issuer, and foreign issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the U.S. Most foreign stock markets, while growing in volume of trading activity, have less volume than the New York Stock Exchange, and securities of some foreign companies are less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic companies. Similarly, volume and liquidity in most foreign bond markets are less than in the United States and, at times, volatility of price can be greater than in the United States. Additionally, a foreign jurisdiction may halt trading of securities for an extended period of time, which poses liquidity, valuation and other risks. Additionally, a foreign jurisdiction may halt trading of securities for an extended period of time, which poses liquidity, valuation and other risks. Fixed commissions on foreign securities exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on United States exchanges, although each Fund endeavors to achieve the most favorable net results on its portfolio transactions. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies in foreign countries than in the United States. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations may involve certain risks (such as delay in payment or delivery of securities or in the recovery of a Fund’s assets held abroad) and expenses not present in the settlement of investments in U.S. markets. Payment for securities without delivery may be required in certain foreign markets.

In addition, foreign securities may be subject to the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of foreign currency, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic developments which could affect the value of a Fund’s investments in certain foreign countries. Governments of many countries have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over

many aspects of the private sector through the ownership or control of many companies, including some of the largest in these countries. As a result, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions which may adversely affect prices of certain portfolio securities. Foreign securities may be subject to foreign government taxes, higher custodian fees, higher brokerage costs and dividend collection fees which could reduce the yield on such securities.

Foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in various respects, including growth of gross domestic product, rates of inflation, currency depreciation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, and balance of payments positions. Many foreign securities are less liquid and their prices more volatile than comparable U.S. securities. From time to time, foreign securities may be difficult to liquidate rapidly without adverse price effects.

Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the U.S. or in other foreign countries. The laws of some foreign countries may limit a Fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers organized under the laws of those foreign countries.

Of particular importance, many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon exports, particularly to developed countries, and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the United States and other countries with which they trade. These economies also have been and may continue to be negatively impacted by economic conditions in the United States and other trading partners, which can lower the demand for goods produced in those countries.

Frontier Market Securities. The risks associated with investments in frontier market countries include all the risks described above for investments in “Foreign Securities” and “Emerging Markets Securities,” although the risks are magnified for frontier market countries. Because frontier markets are among the smallest, least mature and least liquid of the emerging markets, investments in frontier markets generally are subject to a greater risk of loss than are investments in developed markets or traditional emerging markets. Frontier market countries have smaller economies, less developed capital markets, greater market volatility, lower trading volume, more political and economic instability, greater risk of a market shutdown and more governmental limitations on foreign investments than are typically found in more developed markets.

Futures. Futures are generally bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation margin as described below. A Fund may enter into futures contracts or purchase or sell put and call options on such futures as a hedge against anticipated interest rate, currency or equity market changes, and for duration management, risk management and return enhancement purposes.

The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by a Fund, as seller, to deliver to the buyer the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price (or, with respect to index futures and Eurodollar instruments, the net cash amount). Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such position.

Futures and options on futures may be entered into for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration management) or other portfolio and return enhancement management purposes to the extent consistent with the exclusion from the registration of the Adviser as a commodity pool operator with respect to a Fund. Typically, maintaining a futures contract or selling an option thereon requires a Fund to deposit with a financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10% of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances). Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited thereafter on a daily basis as the marked to market value of the contract fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of a Fund. If a Fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the resulting futures position just as it would for any position. Futures contracts and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting transaction but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior to settlement at an advantageous price, or that delivery will occur.

Under certain circumstances, futures exchanges may establish daily limits on the amount that the price of a future or option on a futures contract can vary from the previous day’s settlement price; once that limit is reached, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond the limit. Daily price limits do not limit potential losses because prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive days with little or no trading, thereby preventing liquidation of unfavorable positions.

If a Fund were unable to liquidate a futures or option on a futures contract position due to the absence of a liquid secondary market or the imposition of price limits, it could incur substantial losses, because it would continue to be subject to market risk with respect to the position. In addition, except in the case of purchased options, a Fund would continue to be required to make daily variation margin payments and might be required to maintain the position being hedged by the future or option or to maintain cash or securities in a segregated account.

Certain characteristics of the futures market might increase the risk that movements in the prices of futures contracts or options on futures contracts might not correlate perfectly with movements in the prices of the investments being hedged. For example, all participants in the futures and options on futures contracts markets are subject to daily variation margin calls and might be compelled to liquidate futures or options on futures contracts positions whose prices are moving unfavorably to avoid being subject to further calls. These liquidations could increase price volatility of the instruments and distort the normal price relationship between the futures or options and the investments being hedged. Also, because initial margin deposit requirements in the futures markets are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities markets, there might be increased participation by speculators in the future markets. This participation also might cause temporary price distortions. In addition, activities of large traders in both the futures and securities markets involving arbitrage, “program trading” and other investment strategies might result in temporary price distortions.

The segregation requirements with respect to futures contracts and options thereon are described under “Strategic Transactions, Derivatives and Synthetic Investments – Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts.”

See “Commodity Pool Operator Status and/or Exclusion” in the Funds’ Prospectus for additional information about the Funds’ use of derivatives in connection with CFTC exclusions.

Illiquid Investments Risk. Pursuant to Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act, each Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments. An illiquid investment is any investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in the current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Illiquid investments include repurchase agreements which have a maturity of longer than seven days, time deposits maturing in more than seven days, and securities with a contractual restriction on resale (“restricted securities”) or other factors limiting the marketability of the security. Repurchase agreements subject to demand are deemed to have a maturity equal to the notice period. If a change in NAV or other external events cause a Fund’s investments in illiquid investments to exceed the limit set forth above for a Fund’s investment in illiquid investments, the Fund will act to cause the aggregate amount of such investments to come within such limit as soon as reasonably practicable. In such event, however, a Fund would not be required to liquidate any portfolio securities where the Fund would suffer a loss on the sale of such investments.

A Fund may purchase investments that are not subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, but that are deemed illiquid. Such investments may be illiquid, for example, because there is a limited trading market for them. A Fund may be unable to sell a restricted or illiquid investment. In addition, it may be more difficult to determine a market value for restricted or illiquid investments. Moreover, if adverse market conditions were to develop during the period between a Fund’s decision to sell a restricted or illiquid investment and the point at which the Fund is permitted or able to sell such investment, the Fund might obtain a price less favorable than the price that prevailed when it decided to sell. This investment practice, therefore, could have the effect of decreasing the level of liquidity of such Fund.

The Adviser employs procedures and tests using third-party and internal data inputs that seek to assess and manage the liquidity of a Fund’s portfolio holdings. These procedures and tests take into account a Fund’s investment strategy and liquidity of portfolio investments during both normal and foreseeable stressed conditions, cash-flow projections during both normal and reasonable foreseeable stressed conditions, relevant market, trading and other factors, and monitor whether liquidity should be adjusted based on changed market conditions. These procedures and tests are designed to assist a Fund in determining its ability to meet redemption requests in various market conditions. In light of the dynamic nature of markets, there can be no assurance that these procedures and tests will enable a Fund to ensure that it has sufficient liquidity to meet redemption requests.

Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Liquidity Rule”) requires the Funds to establish a liquidity risk management program. As required by the Liquidity Rule, the Funds have implemented a liquidity risk management program, including classifying each investment as a “highly liquid investment,” “moderately liquid investment,” “less liquid investment” or “illiquid investment” (the “Liquidity Program”), and the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the independent trustees, appointed the Adviser as the Liquidity Risk Program administrator. If the limitation on illiquid investments is exceeded, other than by a change in market values, the condition will be reported to the Board and, when required by the Liquidity Rule, to the SEC.

Impact of Large Redemptions and Purchases of Fund Shares. From time to time, shareholders of a Fund (which may include affiliated and/or non-affiliated registered investment companies that invest in a Fund) may make relatively large redemptions or purchases of Fund shares. These transactions may cause a Fund to have to sell securities or invest additional cash, as the case may be. While it is impossible to predict the overall impact of these transactions over time, there could be adverse effects on a Fund’s performance to the extent that the Fund may be required to sell securities or invest cash at times, or in odd-lot amounts, when it would not otherwise do so. These transactions could also accelerate the realization of taxable income if sales of securities resulted in capital gains or other income and could also increase transaction costs, which may impact a Fund’s expense ratio. In addition, large redemption requests may exceed the cash balance of a Fund and result in credit line borrowing fees or overdraft charges to the Fund until the sales of portfolio securities necessary to cover the redemption request settle, which is typically a few days.

Indexed Securities. Indexed securities differ from other types of debt securities in which a Fund may invest in several respects. First, the interest rate or, unlike other debt securities, the principal amount payable at maturity of an indexed security may vary based on changes in one or more specified reference instruments (defined below), such as an interest rate compared with a fixed interest rate or the currency exchange rates between two currencies (neither of which need be the currency in which the instrument is denominated). The reference instrument need not be related to the terms of the indexed security. For example, the principal amount of a U.S. Dollar denominated indexed security may vary based on the exchange rate of two foreign currencies. The value of indexed securities is linked to currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (“reference instruments”). An indexed security may be positively or negatively indexed; that is, its value may increase or decrease if the value of the reference instrument increases. Further, the change in the principal amount payable or the interest rate of an indexed security may be a multiple of the percentage change (positive or negative) in the value of the underlying reference instrument(s).

Investment in indexed securities involves certain risks. In addition to the credit risk of the security’s issuer and the normal risks of price changes in response to changes in interest rates, the principal amount of indexed securities may decrease as a result of changes in the value of reference instruments. Further, in the case of certain indexed securities in which the interest rate is linked to a reference instrument, the interest rate may be reduced to zero, and any further declines in the value of the security may then reduce the principal amount payable on maturity. Finally, indexed securities may be more volatile than the reference instruments underlying the indexed securities.

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”). An IPO is a type of public offering where shares of stock in a company are sold to the general public, on a securities exchange, for the first time. Through this process, a private company transforms into a public company. IPOs are used by companies to raise expansion capital, to possibly monetize the investments of early private investors, and to become publicly traded enterprises. A company selling shares is never required to repay the capital to its public investors. The availability of IPOs may be limited and a Fund may not be able to buy any shares at the offering price, or may not be able to buy as many shares at the offering price as it would like. Further, IPO prices often are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than more established stocks.

Interests in Publicly Traded Limited Partnerships. Publicly traded limited partnerships represent equity interests in the assets and earnings of the partnership’s trade or

business. Unlike common stock in a corporation, limited partnership interests or units have limited or no voting rights. However, many of the risks of investing in common stocks are still applicable to investments in limited partnership interests. In addition, limited partnership interests are subject to risks not present in common stock. For example, non-investment income generated from limited partnerships deemed not to be “publicly traded” will not be considered “qualifying income” under the Internal Revenue Code and may trigger adverse tax consequences. Also, since publicly traded limited partnerships are a less common form of organizational structure than corporations, the limited partnership units may be less liquid than publicly traded common stock. Also, because of the difference in organizational structure, the fair value of limited partnership units in a Fund’s portfolio may be based either upon the current market price of such units, or if there is no current market price, upon the pro rata value of the underlying assets of the partnership. Limited partnership units also have the risk that the limited partnership might, under certain circumstances, be treated as a general partnership, giving rise to broader liability exposure to the limited partners for activities of the partnership. Further, the general partners of a limited partnership may be able to significantly change the business or asset structure of a limited partnership without the limited partners having any ability to disapprove any such changes. In certain limited partnerships, limited partners may also be required to return distributions previously made in the event that excess distributions have been made by the partnership, or in the event that the general partners, or their affiliates, are entitled to indemnification.

LIBOR Risk. A Fund may invest in certain debt securities, derivatives or other financial instruments that utilize LIBOR as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various interest rate calculations. In July 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. Although financial regulators and industry working groups have suggested alternative reference rates, such as European Interbank Offer Rate (“EURIBOR”), Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate (“SONIA”) and Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), global consensus on alternative rates is lacking and the process for amending existing contracts or instruments to transition away from LIBOR remains unclear. The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect a Fund's performance and/or net asset value. Uncertainty and risk also remain regarding the willingness and ability of issuers and lenders to include revised provisions in new and existing contracts or instruments. Consequently, the transition away from LIBOR to other reference rates may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that are tied to LIBOR, fluctuations in values of LIBOR-related investments or investments in issuers that utilize LIBOR, increased difficulty in borrowing or refinancing and diminished effectiveness of hedging strategies, adversely affecting a Fund's performance. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. Because the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could occur prior to the end of 2021.

Market Events Risk. The market values of securities or other assets will fluctuate, sometimes sharply and unpredictably, due to changes in general market conditions, overall economic trends or events, governmental actions or intervention, actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks, market disruptions caused by trade disputes or other factors, political

developments, investor sentiment and other factors that may or may not be related to the issuer of the security or other asset. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are increasingly interconnected. Economic, financial or political events, trading and tariff arrangements, terrorism, natural disasters and other circumstances in one country or region could have profound impacts on global economies or markets. As a result, whether or not the fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries directly affected, the value and liquidity of the fund’s investments may be negatively affected.

COVID-19 Risk. Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, the illness caused by a novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in a global pandemic and major disruption to economies and markets around the world, including the United States. Financial markets have experienced extreme volatility and severe losses. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses. These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time, and as a result may affect adversely the value and liquidity of the Funds’ investments. To the extent the impacts of COVID-19 continue, a Fund may experience negative impacts to its business that could exacerbate other risks described in the Fund’s prospectus and this SAI, including:

● significant mark-downs in the fair value of the Fund's investments and decreases in NAV per share;

● the Fund's investments may require a workout, restructuring, recapitalization or reorganizations that involve additional investment from the Fund and/or that result in greater risks and losses to the Fund;

● operational impacts on and availability of key personnel of the Adviser, Subadviser, custodian, and/or any of the Fund's other third-party service providers, vendors and counterparties as they face changed circumstances and/or illness related to the pandemic;

● difficulty in valuing the Fund's assets in light of significant changes in the financial markets, including difficulty in forecasting discount rates and making market comparisons, and circumstances affecting the Adviser, Subadviser, and the Fund's service providers' personnel during the pandemic;

● significant changes to the valuations of pending or prospective investments; and

● limitations on the Fund's ability to make distributions or dividends, as applicable, to the Fund's common shareholders.

The rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19 on economic and market conditions, and, as a result, present uncertainty and risk with respect to a Fund and the performance of its investments and ability to pay distributions. The full extent of the impact and effects of COVID-19 will depend on future developments, including, among other factors, the duration and spread of the outbreak, along with related travel advisories, quarantines and restrictions, the recovery time of the disrupted supply chains and industries, the impact of labor market interruptions, the impact of government interventions, and uncertainty with respect to the duration of the global economic slowdown.

Europe – Recent Events. A number of countries in Europe have experienced severe economic and financial difficulties. Many non-governmental issuers, and even certain governments, have defaulted on, or been forced to restructure, their debts; many other issuers have faced

difficulties obtaining credit or refinancing existing obligations; financial institutions have in many cases required government or central bank support, have needed to raise capital, and/or have been impaired in their ability to extend credit; and financial markets in Europe and elsewhere have experienced extreme volatility and declines in asset values and liquidity. These difficulties may continue, worsen or spread within and outside Europe. Responses to the financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not work, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world.

In addition, the ongoing negotiations surrounding the future relationship between the UK and the EU following UK’s exit from the EU on January 31, 2020 (“Brexit”) have yet to provide clarity on what the outcome will be for the UK or Europe. All existing EU-derived laws and regulations will continue to apply in the UK for a transitional period until December 31, 2020. The UK’s on-shoring of EU legislation currently envisages no policy changes to EU law. However, the EU has not yet provided much material cushion from the effects of Brexit for financial services as a matter of EU law. Whether or not a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe (whether the EU, Eurozone or UK) or with significant exposure to European, EU, Eurozone or UK issuers or countries, the unavoidable uncertainties and events related to Brexit could negatively affect the value and liquidity of a Fund’s investments, increase taxes and costs of business and cause volatility in currency exchange rates and interest rates. Brexit could adversely affect the performance of contracts in existence at the date of Brexit and European, UK or worldwide political, regulatory, economic or market conditions and could contribute to instability in political institutions, regulatory agencies and financial markets. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations as a new relationship between the UK and EU is defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Any of these effects of Brexit, and other effects that cannot be anticipated, could adversely affect a Fund’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the risk that Standard Life Aberdeen plc, the parent of the companies that provide investment advisory, sub-advisory and administration services to the Funds and which is headquartered in the UK, fails to adequately prepare for Brexit could have significant customer, reputation and capital impacts for Standard Life Aberdeen plc and its subsidiaries, including those providing services to the Funds; however, Standard Life Aberdeen plc has detailed contingency planning in place to seek to manage the consequences of Brexit on the Funds and to avoid any disruption on the Funds and to the services its subsidiaries provide. Given the fluidity and complexity of the situation, however, it cannot assured that the Funds will not be adversely impacted by Brexit despite preparations.

Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected. As a result, whether or not a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in or with significant exposure to countries experiencing economic and financial difficulties, the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by such events. In addition, any spread of an infectious illness, public health threat or similar issue could reduce consumer demand or economic output, result in market closures, travel restrictions or quarantines, and generally have a significant impact on the world economy, which in turn could adversely affect the Fund’s investments.

Medium Company, Small Company and Emerging Growth Securities. Investing in securities of medium-sized companies, small-sized, including micro-capitalization companies and emerging growth companies, may involve greater risks than investing in the securities of larger, more established companies, including possible risk of loss. Also, because these securities may have limited marketability, their prices may be more volatile than securities of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. Because medium-sized, small-sized and emerging growth companies normally have fewer shares outstanding than larger companies, it may be more difficult for a Fund to buy or sell significant numbers of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Medium-sized, small-sized and emerging growth companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and may lack management depth. In addition, medium-sized, small-sized and emerging growth companies are typically subject to wider variations in earnings and business prospects than are larger, more established companies. There is typically less publicly available information concerning medium sized, small-sized and emerging growth companies than for larger, more established ones.

Money Market Instruments. Each Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in short-term investment grade money market obligations at the time of purchase. Money market instruments may include the following types of instruments:

Operational Risk. Your ability to transact with a Fund or the valuation of your investment may be negatively impacted because of the operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors and 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 or trading counterparties. Although a Fund attempts to minimize such failures through controls and oversight, it is not possible to identify all of the operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls that completely eliminate or mitigate the occurrence of such failures. A Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result.

Options. Put options and call options typically have similar structural characteristics and operational mechanics regardless of the underlying instrument on which they are purchased or sold. Thus, the following general discussion relates to each of the particular types of options discussed in greater detail below. In addition, many Strategic Transactions involving options require segregation of fund assets in special accounts, as described under “Strategic Transactions, Derivatives and Synthetic Investments – Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts.”

A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price. For instance, a Fund’s purchase of a put option on a security might be designed to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value by giving the Fund the right to sell such instrument at the option exercise price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price. A Fund’s purchase of a call option on a security, financial future, index, currency or other instrument might be intended to protect the Fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at which it may purchase such instrument. An American style put or call option may be exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior thereto. A Fund is authorized to purchase and sell exchange listed options and OTC options. Exchange listed options are issued by a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”), which guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to such options. The discussion below uses the OCC as an example, but is also applicable to other financial intermediaries.

With certain exceptions, single-name OCC-issued and exchange listed options generally settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency, although in the future cash settlement may become available. Index options and Eurodollar instruments are cash settled for the net amount, if any, by which the option is “in-the-money” (i.e., where the value of the underlying

instrument exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option is exercised. Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the underlying instrument through the process of exercising the option, listed options are closed by entering into offsetting purchase or sale transactions that do not result in ownership of the new option.

A Fund’s ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an OCC or exchange listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the option market. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid option market on an exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities including reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.

The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.

OTC options are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial institutions or other parties (“Counterparties”) through direct bilateral agreement with the Counterparty. In contrast to exchange listed options, which generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price, premium, guarantees and security, are set by negotiation of the parties. A Fund will only sell OTC options (other than OTC currency options) that are subject to a buy-back provision permitting the Fund to require the Counterparty to sell the option back to the Fund at a formula price within seven days. A Fund expects generally to enter into OTC options that have cash settlement provisions, although it is not required to do so.

Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty function in an OTC option. As a result, if the Counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying an OTC option it has entered into with a Fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, the Fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. Accordingly, the Adviser must assess the creditworthiness of each such Counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the Counterparty’s credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC option will be satisfied. The staff of the SEC currently takes the position that OTC options purchased by a Fund, and portfolio securities “covering” the amount of the Fund’s obligation pursuant to an OTC option sold by it (the cost of the sell-back plus the in-the-money amount, if any) are illiquid, and are subject to the Fund’s limitation on investing no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

If a Fund sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in the value of the underlying securities or instruments in its portfolio or will increase the Fund’s income. The sale of put options can also provide income.

A Fund may purchase and sell call options on securities including U.S. Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments that are traded on U.S. and foreign securities exchanges and in the OTC markets, and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts. All calls sold by a Fund must be “covered” (i.e., the Fund must own the securities or futures contract subject to the call) or must meet the asset segregation requirements described below as long as the call is outstanding. Even though a Fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against loss, a call sold by the Fund exposes the Fund during the term of the option to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the underlying security or instrument and may require the Fund to hold a security or instrument which it might otherwise have sold.

A Fund may purchase and sell put options on securities including U.S. Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments (whether or not it holds the above securities in its portfolio), and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts other than futures on individual corporate debt and individual equity securities. A Fund will not sell put options if, as a result, more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets would be required to be segregated to cover its potential obligations under such put options other than those with respect to futures and options thereon. In selling put options, there is a risk that a Fund may be required to buy the underlying security at a disadvantageous price above the market price.

Options Transactions. A Fund may write (sell) options to generate current income or as a hedge to reduce investment risk. A Fund will not write any call option or put option unless the option is covered and immediately thereafter the aggregate market value of all portfolio securities or currencies required to cover such options written by a Fund would not exceed 25% of its net assets at the time of purchase. A Fund realizes fees (referred to as “premiums”) for granting the rights evidenced by the call options it has written. A Fund may write straddles (combinations of put and call options on the same underlying security), which are generally a non-hedging technique used for purposes such as seeking to enhance return. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and unwind than individual options contracts. The straddle rules of the Internal Revenue Code require deferral of certain losses realized on positions of a straddle to the extent that a Fund has unrealized gains in offsetting positions at year end. The holding period of the securities comprising the straddle will be suspended until the straddle is terminated.

Options on Swaps (“Swaptions”). The purchase and sale of put and call options on swap agreements are commonly referred to as swaptions. Swaptions are highly specialized investments and are not traded on or regulated by any securities exchange or regulated by the SEC or the CFTC. A Fund may enter into such transactions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return.

The buyer of a swaption pays a non-refundable premium for the option and obtains the right, but not the obligation, to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms. The seller of a swaption, in exchange for the premium, becomes obligated (if the option is exercised) to enter into an underlying swap on agreed-upon terms.

As with other options on securities, indices, or futures contracts, the price of any swaption will reflect both an intrinsic value component, which may be zero, and a time premium

component. The intrinsic value component represents what the value of the swaption would be if it were immediately exercisable into the underlying interest rate swap. The intrinsic value component measures the degree to which an option is in-the-money, if at all. The time premium represents the difference between the actual price of the swaption and the intrinsic value.

The pricing and valuation terms of swaptions are not standardized and there is no clearinghouse whereby a party to the agreement can enter into an offsetting position to close out a contract. Swaptions must thus be regarded as inherently illiquid.

The use of swaptions, as the foregoing discussion suggests, is subject to risks and complexities beyond what might be encountered with investing directly in the securities and other traditional investments that are the referenced asset for the swap or other standardized, exchange traded options and futures contracts. Such risks include operational risks, valuation risks, credit risks, and/or counterparty risk (i.e., the risk that the counterparty cannot or will not perform its obligations under the agreement). In addition, at the time the swaption reaches its scheduled termination date, there is a risk that the Fund will not be able to obtain a replacement transaction or that the terms of the replacement will not be as favorable as on the expiring transaction. If this occurs, it could have a negative impact on the performance of the Fund.

While a Fund may utilize swaptions for hedging purposes or to seek to increase total return, their use might result in poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not engaged in any such transactions. If, for example, a Fund had insufficient cash, it might have to sell or pledge a portion of its underlying portfolio of securities in order to meet daily mark-to-market collateralization requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. There may be an imperfect correlation between a Fund’s portfolio holdings and swaptions entered into by the Fund, which may prevent the Fund from achieving the intended hedge or expose the Fund to risk of loss. Further, a Fund’s use of swaptions to reduce risk involves costs and will be subject to the Adviser’s ability to predict correctly changes in interest rate relationships or other factors. No assurance can be given that the Adviser’s judgment in this respect will be correct.

Options on Futures Contracts. There are several risks relating to options on futures contracts. The ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the existence of a liquid market. In addition, the purchase of put or call options will be based upon predictions as to anticipated trends in interest rates, commodities and securities markets by a Fund’s Adviser, which could prove to be incorrect. Even if those expectations were correct, there may be an imperfect correlation between the change in the value of the options and of the portfolio securities hedged.

Options on Interest Rate Futures Contracts. A Fund may purchase and write put and call options on interest rate futures contracts that are traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange or board of trade. These transactions may be used as a hedge against changes in interest rates and market conditions. A Fund may enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate existing positions. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected.

As contrasted with the direct investment in such a contract, the option gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a fixed income or equity security futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option. Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s

futures margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds for calls or is less than for puts the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. The potential loss related to the purchase of an option on futures contracts is limited to the premium paid for the option, plus transaction costs. Because the value of the option is fixed at the point of sale, there are no daily cash payments to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value of the option does change daily and that change would be reflected in the NAV of the Funds.

Options on Foreign Currency Futures Contracts. A Fund may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currency futures contracts that are traded on a U.S. exchange or board of trade. These transactions may be used as a hedge against changes in interest rates and market conditions. A Fund may enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate existing positions. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected.

See “Commodity Pool Operator Status and/or Exclusion” in the Funds’ Prospectus for additional information about the Funds’ use of derivatives in connection with CFTC exclusions.

Preferred Stock. Preferred stocks, like some debt obligations, are generally fixed income securities. Shareholders of preferred stocks normally have the right to receive dividends at a fixed rate when and as declared by the issuer’s board of directors, but do not participate in other amounts available for distribution by the issuing corporation. Dividends on the preferred stock may be cumulative, and all cumulative dividends usually must be paid prior to common shareholders of common stock receiving any dividends. Because preferred stock dividends must be paid before common stock dividends, preferred stocks generally entail less risk than common stocks. Upon liquidation, preferred stocks are entitled to a specified liquidation preference, which is generally the same as the par or stated value, and are senior in right of payment to common stock. Preferred stocks are, however, equity securities in the sense that they do not represent a liability of the issuer and, therefore, do not offer as great a degree of protection of capital or assurance of continued income as investments in corporate debt securities. Preferred stocks are generally subordinated in right of payment to all debt obligations and creditors of the issuer, and convertible preferred stocks may be subordinated to other preferred stock of the same issuer.

Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placement and other restricted securities include securities that have been privately placed and are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), such as unregistered securities eligible for resale without registration pursuant to Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Securities”) and privately placed securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers offered outside of the U.S. without registration with the SEC pursuant to Regulation S (“Regulation S Securities”).

Private placements may offer attractive opportunities for investment not otherwise available on the open market.

Private placements securities typically may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers (or, in the case of the initial sale of certain securities, such as those issued in collateralized debt obligations or collateralized loan obligations, to accredited investors (as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act)), or in a privately negotiated transaction or to a limited number of purchasers, or in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration. Rule 144A Securities and Regulation S Securities may be freely traded among certain qualified institutional investors, such as the Funds, but their resale in the U.S. is permitted only in limited circumstances.

Issuers of restricted securities may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. Where a registration statement is required for the resale of restricted securities, a Fund may be required to bear all or part of the registration expenses. A Fund may be deemed to be an “underwriter” for purposes of the Securities Act when selling restricted securities to the public and, in such event, the Fund may be liable to purchasers of such securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer is materially inaccurate or misleading.Private placements typically are subject to restrictions on resale as a matter of contract or under federal securities laws. Because there may be relatively few potential purchasers for such securities, especially under adverse market or economic conditions or in the event of adverse changes in the financial condition of the issuer, a Fund could find it more difficult to sell such securities when it may be advisable to do so or it may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely held. At times, it also may be more difficult to determine the fair value of such securities for purposes of computing a Fund’s net asset value due to the absence of a trading market.

Private placements and restricted securities may be considered illiquid securities, which could have the effect of increasing the level of a Fund’s illiquidity. Additionally, a restricted security that was liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid. Restricted securities that are determined to be illiquid may not exceed a Fund’s limit on investments in illiquid securities.

Disposing of illiquid investments may involve time-consuming negotiation and legal expenses, and it may be difficult or impossible for a Fund to sell them promptly at an acceptable price. A Fund may have to bear the extra expense of registering the securities for resale and the risk of substantial delay in effecting the registration. In addition, market quotations typically are less readily available for these securities.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”). REITs are pooled investment vehicles which invest primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. REITs are sometimes informally characterized as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the collection of interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the investment strategies of equity REITs and mortgage REITs.

Investment in REITs may subject a Fund to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, such as decreases in real estate values, overbuilding, increased competition and other risks related to local or general economic conditions, increases in operating costs and property taxes, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, possible environmental liabilities,

regulatory limitations on rent and fluctuations in rental income. Equity REITs generally experience these risks directly through fee or leasehold interests, whereas mortgage REITs generally experience these risks indirectly through mortgage interests, unless the mortgage REIT forecloses on the underlying real estate. Changes in interest rates may also affect the value of a Fund’s investment in REITs. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, certain mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by those REITs.

Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalizations, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of their securities. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. Like regulated investment companies such as the Funds, REITs are not taxed on income distributed to shareholders provided that they comply with certain requirements under the Internal Revenue Code. Each Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any expenses paid by REITs in which it invests in addition to the expenses paid by the Fund. REITs are dependent upon management skills, are not diversified (except to the extent the Code requires), and are subject to the risks of financing projects and illiquid markets. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code, and to maintain exemption from the registration requirements of the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. In addition, REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders. The management of a REIT may be subject to conflicts of interest with respect to the operation of the business of the REIT and may be involved in real estate activities competitive with the REIT. REITs may own properties through joint ventures or in other circumstances in which the REIT may not have control over its investments. REITs may incur significant amounts of leverage.

Real Estate Related Securities. Although no Fund may invest directly in real estate, a Fund may invest in equity securities of issuers that are principally engaged in the real estate industry.

The value of the shares of a Fund will be affected by factors affecting the value of real estate and the earnings of companies engaged in the real estate industry. These factors include, among others: (1) changes in general economic and market conditions; (2) changes in the value of real estate properties; (3) risks related to local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition; (4) increases in property taxes and operating expenses; (5) changes in zoning laws; (6) casualty and condemnation losses; (7) variations in rental income, neighborhood values or the appeal of property to tenants; and (8) changes in interest rates. Many real estate companies utilize leverage, which increases investment risk and could adversely affect a company’s operations and market value in periods of rising interest rates. The value of securities of companies in the real estate industry may go through cycles of relative under performance and out performance in comparison to equity securities markets in general.

There are also special risks associated with particular sectors of real estate investments:

Retail Properties. Retail properties are affected by the overall health of the economy and may be adversely affected by, among other things, the growth of alternative forms of retailing, bankruptcy, departure or cessation of operations of a tenant, a shift in consumer demand due to demographic changes, changes in spending patterns and lease terminations.

Office Properties. Office properties are affected by the overall health of the economy, and other factors such as a downturn in the businesses operated by their tenants, obsolescence and non-competitiveness.

Hotel Properties. The risks of hotel properties include, among other things, the necessity of a high level of continuing capital expenditures, competition, increases in operating costs which may not be offset by increases in revenues, dependence on business and commercial travelers and tourism, increases in fuel costs and other expenses of travel, and adverse effects of general and local economic conditions. Hotel properties tend to be more sensitive to adverse economic conditions and competition than many other commercial properties.

Healthcare Properties. Healthcare properties and healthcare providers are affected by several significant factors, including federal, state and local laws governing licenses, certification, adequacy of care, pharmaceutical distribution, rates, equipment, personnel and other factors regarding operations, continued availability of revenue from government reimbursement programs and competition on a local and regional basis. The failure of any healthcare operator to comply with governmental laws and regulations may affect its ability to operate its facility or receive government reimbursements.

Multifamily Properties. The value and successful operation of a multifamily property may be affected by a number of factors such as the location of the property, the ability of the management team, the level of mortgage rates, the presence of competing properties, adverse economic conditions in the locale, oversupply and rent control laws or other laws affecting such properties.

Community Centers. Community center properties are dependent upon the successful operations and financial condition of their tenants, particularly certain of their major tenants, and could be adversely affected by bankruptcy of those tenants. In some cases a tenant may lease a significant portion of the space in one center, and the filing of bankruptcy could cause significant revenue loss. Like others in the commercial real estate industry, community centers are subject to environmental risks and interest rate risk. They also face the need to enter into new leases or renew leases on favorable terms to generate rental revenues. Community center properties could be adversely affected by changes in the local markets where their properties are located, as well as by adverse changes in national economic and market conditions.

Self-Storage Properties. The value and successful operation of a self-storage property may be affected by a number of factors, such as the ability of the management team, the location of the property, the presence of competing properties, changes in traffic patterns and effects of general and local economic conditions with respect to rental rates and occupancy levels.

Development Issues. Certain real estate companies may engage in the development or construction of real estate properties. These companies in which a Fund invests (“portfolio companies”) are exposed to a variety of risks inherent in real estate development and construction, such as the risk that there will be insufficient tenant demand to occupy newly developed properties, and the risk that prices of construction materials or construction labor may rise materially during the development.

Lack of Insurance. Certain of the portfolio companies may fail to carry comprehensive liability, fire, flood, earthquake extended coverage and rental loss insurance, or insurance in place may be subject to various policy specifications, limits and deductibles. Should any type of uninsured loss occur, the portfolio company could lose its investment in, and anticipated profits and cash flows from, a number of properties and, as a result, adversely affect a Fund’s investment performance.

Financial Leverage. Global real estate companies may be highly leveraged and financial covenants may affect the ability of global real estate companies to operate effectively.

Environmental Issues. In connection with the ownership (direct or indirect), operation, management and development of real properties that may contain hazardous or toxic substances, a portfolio company may be considered an owner, operator or responsible party of such properties and, therefore, may be potentially liable for removal or remediation costs, as well as certain other costs, including governmental fines and liabilities for injuries to persons and property. The existence of any such material environmental liability could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and cash flow of any such portfolio company and, as a result, the amount available to make distributions on shares of the Fund could be reduced.

Recent Events. The value of real estate is particularly susceptible to acts of terrorism and other changes in foreign and domestic conditions.

REIT Issues. REITs are subject to a highly technical and complex set of provisions in the Code. It is possible that the Fund may invest in a real estate company which purports to be a REIT but which fails to qualify as a REIT. In the event of any such unexpected failure to qualify as a

REIT, the purported REIT would be subject to corporate level taxation, significantly reducing the return to the Fund on their investment in such company.

Financing Issues. Financial institutions in which the Fund may invest are subject to extensive government regulation. This regulation may limit both the amount and types of loans and other financial commitments a financial institution can make, and the interest rates and fees it can charge. In addition, interest and investment rates are highly sensitive and are determined by many factors beyond a financial institution’s control, including general and local economic conditions (such as inflation, recession, money supply and unemployment) and the monetary and fiscal policies of various governmental agencies such as the Federal Reserve Board. These limitations may have a significant impact on the profitability of a financial institution since profitability is attributable, at least in part, to the institution’s ability to make financial commitments such as loans. Profitability of a financial institution is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of the institution’s funds, and can fluctuate significantly when interest rates change.

Repurchase Agreements. In a repurchase agreement, a Fund acquires ownership of a security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller, typically a bank or broker/dealer.

A repurchase agreement provides a means for a Fund to earn income on funds for periods as short as overnight. It is an arrangement under which the purchaser (i.e., a Fund) acquires a security (“Obligation”) and the seller agrees, at the time of sale, to repurchase the Obligation at a specified time and price. Repurchase agreements are considered by the staff of the SEC to be loans by a Fund. Securities subject to a repurchase agreement are held in a segregated account and, as described in more detail below, the value of such securities is kept at least equal to the repurchase price on a daily basis. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to a Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to the Fund together with the repurchase price upon repurchase. In either case, the income to a Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the Obligation itself. Obligations will be held by the custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System.

It is not clear whether a court would consider the Obligation purchased by a Fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by the Fund or as being collateral for a loan by the Fund to the seller. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the Obligation before repurchase of the Obligation under a repurchase agreement, a Fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Delays may involve loss of interest or decline in price of the Obligation. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and a Fund has not perfected a security interest in the Obligation, the Fund may be required to return the Obligation to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, a Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. As with any unsecured debt Obligation purchased for a Fund, the Adviser seeks to reduce the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case the seller of the Obligation. Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the Obligation, in which case a Fund may incur a loss if the proceeds to the Fund of the sale to a third party are less than the repurchase price. However, if the market value of the Obligation subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including interest), a Fund will direct the seller of the Obligation to deliver additional securities so that the market value (including

interest) of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are repurchase agreements in which a Fund, as the seller of the securities, agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon time and price. A Fund generally retains the right to interest and principal payments on the security. Since a Fund receives cash upon entering into a reverse repurchase agreement, it may be considered a borrowing (see “Borrowing”). When required by guidelines of the SEC, a Fund will segregate or earmark permissible liquid assets to secure its obligations to repurchase the security. At the time a Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, it will establish and maintain segregated or earmarked liquid assets with an approved custodian having a value not less than the repurchase price (including accrued interest). The segregated or earmarked liquid assets will be marked-to-market daily and additional assets will be segregated or earmarked on any day in which the assets fall below the repurchase price (plus accrued interest). A Fund’s liquidity and ability to manage its assets might be affected when it sets aside cash or portfolio securities to cover such commitments. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities retained in lieu of sale may decline below the price of the securities a Fund has sold but is obligated to repurchase. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, such buyer or its trustee or receiver may receive an extension of time to determine whether to enforce a Fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities, and the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement may effectively be restricted pending such determination. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act. A Fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only when the Adviser believes that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction will be greater than the interest expense of the transaction. Such transactions may increase fluctuation in the market value of Fund assets and their yields.

Rights Issues and Warrants. Rights Issues give the right, to existing shareholders, to buy a proportional number of additional securities at a given price (generally at a discount) within a fixed period (generally on a short term period) and are offered at the company's discretion.

Warrants are securities that give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to subscribe for newly created equity issues (consisting of common and preferred stock, convertible preferred stock and warrants that themselves are only convertible into common, preferred or convertible preferred stock) of the issuing company or a related company at a fixed price either on a certain date or during a set period. Warrants are speculative and have no value if they are not exercised before the expiration date.

The equity issue underlying an equity warrant is outstanding at the time the equity warrant is issued or is issued together with the warrant. At the time a Fund acquires an equity warrant convertible into a warrant, the terms and conditions under which the warrant received upon conversion can be exercised will have been determined; the warrant received upon conversion will only be convertible into a common, preferred or convertible preferred stock. Equity warrants are generally issued in conjunction with an issue of bonds or shares, although they also may be issued as part of a rights issue or scrip issue. When issued with bonds or shares, they usually trade separately from the bonds or shares after issuance.

OTC equity warrants are usually traded only by financial institutions that have the ability to settle and clear these instruments. OTC warrants are instruments between the Fund and its counterparty (usually a securities dealer or bank) with no clearing organization guarantee. Thus, when the Fund purchases an OTC warrant, the Fund relies on the counterparty to fulfill its obligations to the Fund if the Fund decides to exercise the warrant.

Index warrants are rights created by an issuer, typically a financial institution, entitling the holder to purchase, in the case of a call, or sell, in the case of a put, an equity index at a certain level over a fixed period of time. Index warrant transactions settle in cash.

Covered warrants are rights created by an issuer, typically a financial institution, ordinarily entitling the holder to purchase from the issuer of the covered warrant outstanding securities of another company (or in some cases a basket of securities), which issuance may or may not have been authorized by the issuer or issuers of the securities underlying the covered warrants. In most cases, the holder of the covered warrant is entitled on its exercise to delivery of the underlying security, but in some cases the entitlement of the holder is to be paid in cash the difference between the value of the underlying security on the date of exercise and the strike price. The securities in respect of which covered warrants are issued are usually common stock, although they may entitle the holder to acquire warrants to acquire common stock. Covered warrants may be fully covered or partially covered. In the case of a fully covered warrant, the issuer of the warrant will beneficially own all of the underlying securities or will itself own warrants (which are typically issued by the issuer of the underlying securities in a separate transaction) to acquire the securities. The underlying securities or warrants are, in some cases, held by another member of the issuer’s group or by a custodian or other fiduciary for the holders of the covered warrants.

Interest rate warrants are rights that are created by an issuer, typically a financial institution, entitling the holder to purchase, in the case of a call, or sell, in the case of a put, a specific bond issue or an interest rate index (Bond Index) at a certain level over a fixed time period. Interest rate warrants can typically be exercised in the underlying instrument or settle in cash.

Long term options operate much like covered warrants. Like covered warrants, long term options are call options created by an issuer, typically a financial institution, entitling the holder to purchase from the issuer outstanding securities of another issuer. Long-term options have an initial period of one year or more, but generally have terms between three and five years. Unlike U.S. options, long term European options do not settle through a clearing corporation that guarantees the performance of the counterparty. Instead, they are traded on an exchange and subject to the exchange’s trading regulations. A Fund may only acquire covered warrants, index warrants, interest rate warrants and long term options that are issued by entities deemed to be creditworthy by the Adviser. Investment in these instruments involves the risk that the issuer of the instrument may default on its obligation to deliver the underlying security or warrants to acquire the underlying security (or cash in lieu thereof).

Secondary Offerings. A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in shares secondary offerings. A secondary offering is a registered offering of a large block of a security that has been previously issued to the public. A secondary offering can occur when an investor sells to the public a

large block of stock or other securities it has been holding in its portfolio. In a sale of this kind, all of the profits go to the seller rather than the issuer. Secondary offerings can also originate when the issuer issues new shares of its stock over and above those sold in its IPO, usually in order to raise additional capital. However, because an increase in the number of shares devalues those that have already been issued, many companies make a secondary offering only if their stock prices are high or they are in need of capital. Secondary offerings may have a magnified impact on the performance of a Fund with a small asset base. Secondary offering shares frequently are volatile in price. Therefore, a Fund may hold secondary offering shares for a very short period of time. This may increase the portfolio turnover rate of a Fund and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. In addition, secondary offering shares can experience an immediate drop in value if the demand for the securities does not continue to support the offering price.

Securities Lending. A Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions, provided it receives collateral, with respect to each loan of U.S. and non-U.S. securities, equal to at least 100% of the value of the portfolio securities loaned. Typically, a Fund will receive collateral, with respect to each loan of U.S. securities, equal to at least 102% of the value of the portfolio securities loaned, and, with respect to each loan of non-U.S. securities, collateral of at least 105% of the value of the portfolio securities loaned. At all times thereafter, the borrower shall be required to mark to market such collateral on a daily basis so that the market value of such collateral does not fall below 100% of the market value of the portfolio securities so loaned. By lending its portfolio securities, a Fund can increase its income through the investment of the collateral. For the purposes of this policy, a Fund considers collateral consisting of cash, U.S. Government securities or letters of credit issued by banks whose securities meet the standards for investment by the Fund to be the equivalent of cash. From time to time, a Fund may return to the borrower or a third party which is unaffiliated with it, and which is acting as a “placing broker,” a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral received for securities loaned.

The SEC currently requires that the following conditions must be met whenever portfolio securities are loaned: (1) the fund must receive from the borrower collateral equal to at least 100% of the value of the portfolio securities loaned; (2) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities loaned rises above the level of such collateral; (3) the fund must be able to terminate the loan at any time; (4) the fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions payable on the loaned securities, and any increase in market value; (5) the fund may pay only reasonable custodian fees in connection with the loan; and (6) while any voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, the fund’s board of directors/trustees must be able to terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs. These conditions may be subject to future modifications.

Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the other party including possible delays or restrictions upon a Fund’s ability to recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan. In addition, there is the possibility of losses resulting from the investment of collateral where the market value of the collateral falls below 100%. Such losses may include, but are not limited to, losses associated with deterioration in the credit of the investments of collateral. These losses generally would be borne by the Fund lending its portfolio securities, which would have a negative impact on the lending Fund’s performance.

Cash received as collateral through loan transactions may be invested in other securities eligible for purchase by the Fund. The investment of cash collateral subjects that investment, as well as the securities loaned, to market appreciation or depreciation. The Fund is obligated to return the collateral to the borrower at the termination of the loan. A Fund could suffer a loss in the event the Fund must return the cash collateral and there are losses on investments made with cash collateral. A Fund’s securities lending program may be temporarily suspended if the Board and/or the Adviser determine it to be in the best interests of a Fund’s shareholders.

The collateral received from a borrower as a result of a Fund’s securities lending activities will be used to purchase both fixed income securities and other securities with debt-like characteristics that are rated A1 or P1 (except as noted below) on a fixed rate or floating rate basis, including but not limited to: (a) bank obligations, such as bank bills, bank notes, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, deposit notes, loan participations, medium term notes, mortgage backed securities, structured liquidity notes, and time deposits; (b) corporate obligations, such as commercial paper, corporate bonds, investment agreements, funding agreements, or guaranteed investment contracts entered into with, or guaranteed by, an insurance company, loan participations, master notes, medium term notes, and second tier commercial paper (which must have a minimum rating of two of the following: A-2, P-2 and F-2); (c) sovereigns, such as commercial paper, U.S. Government securities (including securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, instrumentalities, establishments or the like), sovereign obligations of non-U.S. countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development of the European Union (including securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the sovereign, its agencies, instrumentalities, establishments or the like) and supranational issuers; and (d) repurchase agreements, including reverse repurchase agreements (which permitted collateral, in most cases, must have an investment grade rating from at least two NRSROs). Except for the investment agreements, funding agreements or guaranteed investment contracts guaranteed by an insurance company, master notes, and medium term notes (which are described below), these types of investments are described elsewhere in the SAI. Collateral may also be invested in a money market mutual fund or short-term collective investment trust.

Investment agreements, funding agreements, or guaranteed investment contracts entered into with, or guaranteed by, an insurance company are agreements where an insurance company either provides for the investment of a Fund’s assets or provides for a minimum guaranteed rate of return to the investor.

Master notes are promissory notes issued usually with large, creditworthy broker-dealers on either a fixed rate or floating rate basis. Master notes may or may not be collateralized by underlying securities. If the master note is issued by an unrated subsidiary of a broker-dealer, then an unconditional guarantee is provided by the issuer’s parent.

Medium term notes are unsecured, continuously offered corporate debt obligations. Although medium term notes may be offered with a maturity from one to ten years, in the context of securities lending collateral the maturity of the medium term note will not generally exceed two years.

Securities of Investment Companies. To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, a Fund may generally invest up to 10% of its total assets, calculated at the time of investment, in the securities of other investment companies. No more than 5% of a Fund’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one investment company nor may it acquire more than 3% of the voting

securities of any other investment company. For purposes of these limitations, a Fund would aggregate its investments in any private placements with its investment company holdings, which would include ETF holdings unless an exemption applies (as described in “Exchange-Traded Funds” above).

To the extent a Fund invests in another investment company, the Fund indirectly will bear its proportionate share of any management fees paid by an investment company in which it invests in addition to the advisory fee paid by the Fund. Some of the countries in which a Fund may invest may not permit direct investment by outside investors. Investments in such countries may only be permitted through foreign government-approved or government-authorized investment vehicles, which may include other investment companies. Each Fund may not acquire securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.

“Special Situations” Companies Risk. “Special situations” with respect to a portfolio company include a change in management or management policies, the acquisition of a significant equity position in the company by others, a merger or reorganization, or the sale or spin-off of a division or subsidiary which, if resolved favorably, would improve the value of the company’s stock. If the actual or prospective situation does not materialize as anticipated, the market price of the securities of a special situation company may decline significantly. There can be no assurance that a special situation that exists at the time of its investment will be consummated under the terms and within the time period contemplated. Investments in “special situations” companies can present greater risks than investments in companies not experiencing special situations.

Strategic Transactions, Derivatives and Synthetic Investments. A Fund may, but is not required to, utilize various other investment strategies as described below for a variety of purposes, such as hedging various market risks, managing the effective maturity or duration of the fixed income securities in the Fund’s portfolio or enhancing potential gain. These strategies may be executed through the use of derivative contracts. In certain circumstances, a Fund may wish to obtain the price performance of a security without actually purchasing the security in circumstances where, for example, the security is illiquid, or is unavailable for direct investment or available only on less attractive terms. In such circumstances, a Fund may invest in synthetic or derivative alternative investments (“Synthetic Investments”) that are based upon or otherwise relate to the economic performance of the underlying securities. Synthetic Investments may include swap transactions, notes or units with variable redemption amounts, and other similar instruments and contracts. Synthetic Investments typically do not represent beneficial ownership of the underlying security, usually are not collateralized or otherwise secured by the counterparty and may or may not have any credit enhancements attached to them.

In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, a Fund may purchase and sell exchange-listed and OTC put and call options on securities, equity and fixed income indices and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps, floors, collars, currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies, or currency futures and various other currency transactions (collectively, all the above are called “Strategic Transactions”). In addition, strategic transactions may also include new techniques, instruments or strategies that are permitted as regulatory changes occur. Strategic Transactions may be used subject to certain limits imposed by

the 1940 Act to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased for a Fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations, to protect a Fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of a Fund’s portfolio, or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities. Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any time and in any combination, and there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous variables including market conditions. The ability of a Fund to utilize these Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Adviser’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. A Fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these strategies, techniques and instruments. Strategic Transactions will not be used to alter fundamental investment purposes and characteristics of a Fund, and a Fund will segregate assets (or as provided by applicable regulations, enter into certain offsetting positions) to cover its obligations under options, futures and swaps to limit leveraging of the Fund.

Strategic Transactions, including derivative contracts and Synthetic Investments, have risks associated with them including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Adviser’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of such Strategic Transactions could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. Synthetic Investments also involve exposure to the creditworthiness of the issuer of the underlying security, changes in exchange rates and future governmental actions taken by the jurisdiction in which the underlying security is issued, and counterparties involved. Use of put and call options may result in losses to a Fund, force the sale or purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than (in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of call options) current market values, limit the amount of appreciation a Fund can realize on its investments or cause a Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. The use of currency transactions can result in a Fund incurring losses as a result of a number of factors including the imposition of exchange controls, suspension of settlements, or the inability to deliver or receive a specified currency. The use of options and futures transactions entails certain other risks. In particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of futures contracts and price movements in the related portfolio position of a Fund creates the possibility that losses on the hedging instrument may be greater than gains in the value of the Fund’s position. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances and certain OTC options may have no markets. As a result, in certain markets, a Fund might not be able to close out a transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of futures and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an increase in value of such position. Finally, the daily variation margin posting and collection requirements for futures contracts and swaps would allow for greater exposure to leverage and operational risks than would purchases of options, where the exposure generally is limited to the cost of the initial premium. On the other hand, the out-of-pocket cost of purchasing near term options can often be substantially greater than entering into swaps or futures contracts. Losses resulting from the use of Strategic Transactions would reduce NAV, and possibly income, and such losses can be greater than if the Strategic Transactions had not been utilized. In some cases, strategic transactions also may not provide the exposure or risk management benefits sought.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, enacted on July 21, 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), resulted in a comprehensive regulatory regime for derivatives that qualify as “swaps”, which are generally regulated by the CFTC, and “security-based swaps”, which are generally regulated by the SEC. Foreign exchange forwards and spot foreign exchange are generally exempt from this regulation. The Dodd-Frank Act created a new clearing and exchange-trading requirements for OTC derivatives that are swap or security-based swaps. The Dodd-Frank Act also requires the CFTC, SEC and banking or prudential regulators, to establish capital requirements for certain regulated counterparties (such as swap dealers), as well as requirements for such regulated counterparties to collect margin from and post margin to counterparties, such as the Funds, to uncleared derivatives and to impose clearing and central trading requirements, that also require margin posting by the Funds. The CFTC and banking or prudential regulators have adopted margin rules for uncleared swaps and, in the case of prudential regulators, security-based swaps as well. Variation margin requirements have been implemented by the CFTC and prudential regulators and initial margin requirements are expected to go into effect for the Funds in 2020. These regulations generally are consistent with regulations implemented into the EU over swaps and security-based swaps. The SEC has also adopted a set of regulations that apply to security-based swaps, including dealer registration, central clearing, business conduct and margin requirements but has not yet established a compliance date for implementation of these regulations. The SEC has indicated that after adoption of cross-border requirements and record-keeping rules for security-based swap dealers, it will set an implementation date by which firms must come into compliance with the SEC. The Funds may incur additional costs in complying with the SEC rules because many of those rules differ from the rules adopted for swaps by the CFTC and the prudential regulators.

As described above, the Fund may also trade in physically-settled currency forward contracts. There is less protection against defaults in the forward trading of currencies since such forward contracts are currently not guaranteed by an exchange or clearing house and are not subject to the margin requirements applicable to swaps as well as the mandatory clearing and exchange trading requirements applicable to swaps. The Dodd-Frank Act includes in the definition of “swaps” that are regulated by the CFTC most types of currency derivatives including cash-settled or non-deliverable foreign currency forwards.

Risks of Strategic Transactions Outside the U.S. When conducted outside the U.S., Strategic Transactions may not be regulated as rigorously as in the U.S. (which may depend on whether the Fund is executing trades with a CFTC or SEC registered dealer), may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the U.S. of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in a Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the U.S., (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the U.S., and (v) lower trading volume and liquidity.

Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts. Many Strategic Transactions, in addition to other requirements, require that a Fund segregate cash or liquid assets with its custodian to the extent fund obligations are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by a

Fund to pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by the securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to any regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid assets at least equal to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated with the custodian. The segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. For example, a call option written or sold by a Fund will require the Fund to hold the securities deliverable under the call upon exercise (or securities convertible into the needed securities without additional consideration) or to segregate cash or liquid assets sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities or deliver the cash strike price if the call is exercised. A cash-settled call option sold by a Fund on an index will require the Fund to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price on a current basis. A physically-settled put option written or sold by a Fund requires the Fund to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the exercise price.

Except when a Fund enters into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a particular currency, which requires no segregation, a currency contract which obligates the Fund to buy or sell currency will generally require the Fund to hold an amount of that currency or liquid assets denominated in that currency equal to the Fund’s obligations or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of the Fund’s obligation.

OTC options entered into by a Fund, including those on securities, currency, financial instruments or indices and OCC-issued and exchange listed index options, may provide for cash settlement. As a result, when a Fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to its accrued net obligations, as there is no requirement for payment or delivery of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will equal the in-the-money amount plus any sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or call. In addition, when a Fund sells a cash-settled call option on an index at a time when the in-the-money amount exceeds the exercise price, the Fund will segregate, until the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents equal in value of such excess. OCC-issued and exchange listed options sold by a Fund that settle with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement, will require the Fund to segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to the full value of the cash securities or commodities deliverable under the option by the seller on exercise. Holders of long options are not required to segregate assets. OTC options settling with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement, will be treated the same as other options settling with physical delivery.

In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon, a Fund must deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin in addition to segregating cash or liquid assets sufficient to meet its obligation under the contracts. Such liquid assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.

With respect to swaps, a Fund will accrue the net amount of the excess, if any, of its obligations (including any pre-payment penalties and premium payments) over its entitlements with respect to each swap on a daily basis and will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets having a value equal to the accrued excess. A Fund’s obligation to segregate the accrued excess of its obligations over its entitlements with respect to a CDS it buys (for example, the cost to the Fund to unwind the CDS, enter into an offsetting CDS, or pay a third-party to relieve the Fund of its obligation) may be equal to the notional value of the CDS. When the Fund is a seller of the CDS,

the Fund will segregate the notional value of the CDS. Caps, floors and collars require segregation of assets with a value equal to the Fund’s net obligation, if any.

Strategic Transactions may be covered by other means when consistent with applicable regulatory policies. A Fund may also enter into offsetting transactions so that its combined position, coupled with any segregated assets, equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and Strategic Transactions. For example, a Fund could purchase a put option if the strike price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of a put option sold by the Fund. Moreover, instead of segregating cash or liquid assets if a Fund held a futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held. Other Strategic Transactions may also be offset in combinations. If the offsetting transaction terminates at the time of or after the primary transaction, no segregation is required, but if it terminates prior to such time, cash or liquid assets equal to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.

Combined Transactions. A Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate transactions (“component” transactions), instead of a single Strategic Transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of the Adviser, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered into based on the Adviser’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.

Close-out Risk for Qualified Financial Contracts. Regulations adopted by the prudential regulators require counterparties of the banks and other financial intermediaries that are part of U.S. or foreign global systemically important banking organizations to include contractual restrictions on close-out and cross-default in agreements relating to qualified financial contracts. Qualified financial contracts include agreements relating to swaps, currency forwards and other derivatives as well as repurchase agreements and securities lending agreements. The restrictions prevent a Fund from closing out a qualified financial contract during a specified time period if the counterparty is subject to resolution proceedings and prohibit the Fund from exercising default rights due to a receivership or similar proceeding of an affiliate of the counterparty. These requirements may increase credit and other risks to the Funds.

U.S. Government Securities. There are two broad categories of U.S. Government-related debt instruments: (a) direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, and (b) securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies.

Examples of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury are Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds and other debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. These instruments are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the United States. They differ primarily in interest rates, the length of maturities and the dates of issuance. Treasury bills have original maturities of one year or less. Treasury notes have original maturities of one to ten years and Treasury bonds generally have original maturities of greater than ten years.

Some agency securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (such as Maritime Administration Title XI Ship Financing Bonds and Agency for International Development Housing Guarantee Program Bonds) and others are backed only by the rights of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury (such as Federal Home Loan Bank Bonds and Fannie Mae Bonds), while still others, such as the securities of the Federal Farm Credit Bank, are supported only by the credit of the issuer. With respect to securities supported only by the credit of the issuing agency or by an additional line of credit with the U.S. Treasury, there is no guarantee that the U.S. Government will provide support to such agencies and such securities may involve risk of loss of principal and interest. U.S. Government Securities may include “zero coupon” securities that have been stripped by the U.S. Government of their unmatured interest coupons and collateralized obligations issued or guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency or instrumentality.

Interest rates on U.S. Government obligations may be fixed or variable. Interest rates on variable rate obligations are adjusted at regular intervals, at least annually, according to a formula reflecting then current specified standard rates, such as 91-day U.S. Treasury bill rates. These adjustments generally tend to reduce fluctuations in the market value of the securities.

The government guarantee of the U.S. Government Securities in a Fund’s portfolio does not guarantee the NAV of the shares of the Fund. There are market risks inherent in all investments in securities and the value of an investment in a Fund will fluctuate over time. Normally, the value of investments in U.S. Government Securities varies inversely with changes in interest rates. For example, as interest rates rise the value of investments in U.S. Government Securities will tend to decline, and as interest rates fall the value of a Fund’s investments will tend to increase. In addition, the potential for appreciation in the event of a decline in interest rates may be limited or negated by increased principal prepayments with respect to certain mortgage-backed securities, such as Government National Mortgage Association Certificates. Prepayments of high interest rate mortgage-backed securities during times of declining interest rates will tend to lower the return of a Fund and may even result in losses to the Fund if some securities were acquired at a premium. Moreover, during periods of rising interest rates, prepayments of mortgage-backed securities may decline, resulting in the extension of a Fund’s average portfolio maturity. As a result, a Fund’s portfolio may experience greater volatility during periods of rising interest rates than under normal market conditions.

TIPS Bonds. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) are fixed income securities issued by the U.S. Treasury whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. The U.S. Treasury uses a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Inflation-indexed securities issued by the U.S. Treasury have maturities of five, ten or thirty years, although it is possible that securities with other maturities will be issued in the future. TIPS bonds typically pay interest on a semi-annual basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted amount. For example, if a 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 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 U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds, even during a period of deflation. However, the current market value of the bonds is not guaranteed and will fluctuate.

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 inflation were to rise 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 increased 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 be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation (for example, due to changes in currency exchange rates), investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the bond’s inflation measure.

The periodic adjustment of U.S. inflation-indexed bonds is tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”), 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. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services.

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.

When-Issued Securities and Delayed-Delivery. A Fund may purchase equity and debt securities on a “when-issued,” “delayed delivery” or “forward delivery” basis. The price of such securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities takes place at a later date. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by a Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. When a Fund purchases such securities, it immediately assumes the risks of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation. Failure to deliver a security purchased on this basis may result in a loss or missed opportunity to make an alternative investment.

To the extent that assets of a Fund are held in cash pending the settlement of a purchase of securities, the Fund would earn no income. While such securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, each Fund intends to purchase them with the purpose of actually acquiring them unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons. At the time a Fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on this basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its NAV. The market value of the securities may be more or less than the purchase price. A Fund will establish a segregated account in which it will maintain cash and liquid assets equal in value to commitments for such securities.

When a Fund agrees to purchase when-issued or delayed-delivery securities, to the extent required by the SEC, its custodian will set aside permissible liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a segregated account. Normally, the custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment, and in such a case a Fund may be required subsequently

to place additional assets in the segregated account in order to ensure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that a Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash. In addition, because a Fund will set aside cash or liquid assets to satisfy its purchase commitments in the manner described above, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability of the Adviser or Subadviser to manage it might be affected by its commitments to purchase “when-issued” securities. When a Fund engages in when-issued or delayed-delivery transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of the seller to do so may result in a Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price considered to be advantageous.

When a Fund enters into a delayed delivery transaction, a when-issued transaction or a forward transaction, the Fund may be required to provide collateral to cover potential losses of the counterparty, due to changes in the value of the security, in the event that the event that the transaction is unable to settle (e.g., in the event of a default on the Fund). Similarly, the counterparty may be required to provide collateral to cover the potential losses of the Fund, due to changes in the value of the security, in the event that the transaction is unable to settle (e.g., the seller fails to deliver the security). A Fund may reduce the amount of liquid assets it will segregate to the extent it provides such collateral.

There can be no assurance that the securities subject to a standby commitment will be issued and the value of the security, if issued, on the delivery date may be more or less than its purchase price. Since the issuance of the security underlying the commitment is at the option of the issuer, the Fund may bear the risk of a decline in the value of such security and may not benefit from appreciation in the value of the security during the commitment period if the security is not ultimately issued.

The purchase of a security subject to a standby commitment agreement and the related commitment fee will be recorded on the date on which the security can reasonably be expected to be issued, and the value of the security will thereafter be reflected in the calculation of the Fund’s NAV. The cost basis of the security will be adjusted by the amount of the commitment fee. In the event the security is not issued, the commitment fee will be recorded as income on the expiration date of the standby commitment.

The portfolio turnover rate for a Fund is calculated by dividing the lesser of purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the year by the monthly average value of the portfolio securities, excluding securities whose maturities at the time of purchase were one year or less. Portfolio turnover may involve the payment by a Fund of brokerage and other transaction costs, on the sale of securities, as well as on the investment of the proceeds in other securities. The greater the portfolio turnover, the greater the transaction costs to a Fund, which could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s total rate of return. In addition, funds with high portfolio turnover rates may be more likely than low-turnover funds to generate capital gains that must be distributed to shareholders as taxable income.

The table below shows the Funds’ portfolio turnover rates for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020 and 2019.

The following are fundamental investment restrictions of each Fund which cannot be changed without the vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund for which a change is proposed. The vote of the majority of the outstanding shares means the vote of (A) 67% or more of the voting securities present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities are present or represented by proxy or (B) a majority of the outstanding voting securities, whichever is less.

U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies, Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund and U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund:

For purposes of the fundamental policy restricting investments in an issuer if, as a result, 25% or more of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of issuers, the principal activities of which are in the same industry, each of the Funds will, as a non-fundamental policy, consider commercial mortgage and residential mortgage to be a single industry (notwithstanding the statement defining separate industries contained in the policy). In addition, notwithstanding the statement defining separate industries contained in the policy, each of the Funds may elect to consider certain of such industries as part of the same industry to be consistent with a third party industry classification system (e.g., BICS, GICS or Barclays Live), and may otherwise define industries consistent with applicable law and SEC guidance. Further, each of the Funds will endeavor to consider the concentration policy of underlying investment companies when determining the Fund’s compliance with its concentration policy.

The Following are the Non-Fundamental Operating Policies of the Funds Listed Below Which May Be Changed by the Board of Trustees of the Trust Without Shareholder Approval:

If any percentage restriction or requirement described above is satisfied at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in such percentage resulting from a change in NAV will not constitute a violation of such restriction or requirement. However, should a change in NAV or other external events cause a Fund’s investments in illiquid securities including repurchase agreements with maturities in excess of seven days, to exceed the limit set forth above for such Fund’s investment in illiquid securities, a Fund will act to cause the aggregate amount of such securities to come within such limit as soon as reasonably practicable. In such event, however, such Fund would not be required to liquidate any portfolio securities where a Fund would suffer a loss on the sale of such securities.

The investment objective of each Fund is not fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval.

In addition to the investment restrictions above, each Fund must be diversified according to Code requirements. Specifically, at each tax quarter end, each Fund’s holdings must be diversified so that (a) at least 50% of the market value of its total assets is represented by cash, cash items (including receivables), U.S. Government securities, securities of other U.S. regulated investment companies, and other securities, such other securities limited so that no one issuer has a value greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that the Fund holds no more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets is invested in the securities (other than those of the U.S. Government or other U.S. regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers of which the Fund holds 20% or more of the voting stock and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (defined as a partnership whose interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market, unless 90% or more of such partnership’s gross income is derived from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies).

The Board has adopted a policy on selective disclosure of portfolio holdings in accordance with regulations that seek to ensure that disclosure of information about portfolio securities is in the best interest of Fund shareholders and to address the conflicts between the interests of Fund shareholders and its service providers. The policy provides that divulging non-public portfolio holdings information to selected parties is permissible only when a Fund has legitimate business purposes for doing so and the recipients are subject to a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the non-public information. In addition, the disclosure of a Fund’s portfolio securities is permitted only where it is consistent with the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws and the Trust’s or the Adviser’s or Subadviser’s fiduciary duties. The Trust, the Adviser, Subadviser or any agent, or any employee thereof (a “Fund Representative”) may not disclose a Fund’s portfolio holdings information to any person other than in accordance with the policy. For purposes of the policy, “portfolio holdings information” means a Fund’s actual portfolio holdings, as well as non-public information about its trading strategies or pending transactions. Neither a Fund nor a Fund Representative may solicit or accept any compensation or other consideration in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information. A Fund Representative may provide portfolio holdings information to third parties if such information has been included in the Fund’s public filings with the SEC or is disclosed on the Funds’ publicly accessible website. The parties receiving such information may include ratings agencies, individual or institutional investors, or intermediaries that sell shares of a Fund.

Each Fund posts onto the Trust’s internet site its securities holdings and its top ten portfolio holdings as of the end of each month. Such portfolio holdings are available no earlier than 7 business days after the end of the previous month. Each Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the second and fourth quarters of each fiscal year are included in the Fund’s semi-annual and annual reports to shareholders. Each Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC quarterly. Each Fund’s full portfolio holdings as of its first and third fiscal quarters will be made publicly available 60 days after the end of each quarter on www.sec.gov.

If a Fund Representative seeks to disclose portfolio holdings information that is not publicly available to specific recipients pursuant to circumstances not specifically addressed by the policy, the Fund Representative must obtain approval from the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer prior to such disclosure. Exceptions to the portfolio holdings release policy described above can only be authorized by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer and will be made only when:

In connection with providing services to the Funds, the Funds’ service providers may receive portfolio holdings information in advance of general release on an as needed basis. The

service providers that may receive portfolio holdings information include the Adviser and administrator (Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc.); Subadviser (Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited); independent registered public accounting firm (KPMG LLP); custodian, fund accountant, sub-administrator (State Street Bank and Trust Company); transfer agent (DST Asset Manager Solutions); securities lending agent to the Funds and provider of certain middle- and back-office services to the Adviser and Subadviser (BNP Paribas Security Services); providers of certain middle-and back-office services to the Adviser and Subadviser (Citibank NA and its affiliates); legal counsel (Dechert LLP); legal counsel to the independent Trustees (Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP); financial printers (Merrill Corporation) and proxy voting service (if applicable). The service providers are subject to express or implied duties to keep all portfolio holdings information that is not publicly available confidential and not to trade on such information. In addition, non-public portfolio holdings information may be provided to mutual fund rating or ranking services or portfolio analytics services prior to such information becoming publicly available so long as (i) such disclosure is subject to confidentiality agreement and trading restrictions or (ii) the entity to which portfolio holdings information will be provided (a) has adopted policies and/or procedures that seek to ensure that such information will remain confidential and restrict the entity and its employees from trading on the information and (b) prior to disclosure, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer receives in writing a copy of such policies and/or procedures and determines they are acceptable.

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer conducts periodic reviews of compliance with the policy and provides annually a report to the Board regarding the operation of the policy, exceptions and waivers granted under the policy and any material changes recommended as a result of such review. Additionally, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will provide quarterly reports to the Board listing persons or entities with whom the Trust or the Adviser has entered into Confidentiality Agreements with respect to Trust business during the quarter. The policy also provides that in the event of a violation of the policy, the Board will receive a report at its next quarterly meeting about any disclosures that were made concerning the Trust’s portfolio holdings which will describe to whom and under what circumstances such disclosure was made.

The business and affairs of the Trust are managed under the direction of its Board of Trustees subject to the laws of the State of Delaware and the Trust’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust. The Board of Trustees sets and reviews policies regarding the operation of the Trust, and directs the officers to perform the daily functions of the Trust.

The Board believes that each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that the Trustee possesses the requisite experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to serve on the Board. The Board believes that the Trustees’ ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them; to interact effectively with the Adviser, Subadviser, other service providers, counsel and independent auditor; and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties, support this conclusion. The Board has also considered the contributions that each Trustee can make to the Board and the Funds. A Trustee’s ability to perform his duties effectively may have been attained through the Trustee’s executive, business, consulting, and/or legal positions; experience from service as a Trustee of the Trust and other funds/portfolios in the Aberdeen fund complex, other investment funds, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations; educational background or professional training or practice; and/or other life experiences. In this regard, the following specific experience, qualifications, attributes and/or skills apply as to each Trustee in addition to the information set forth in the table above: Ms. Ajmera, financial services, investment management and executive experience and board experience with investment management and fund companies; Mr. Gilbert, investment management experience as the Chairman of Aberdeen Standard Investments and former Co-Chief Executive Officer of Standard Life Aberdeen plc and director roles within the Aberdeen complex, board experience with other public companies and investment trusts; Mr. Malone, legal background and public service leadership experience, board experience with other public and private companies, and executive and business consulting experience; Mr. Miles, financial services, investment management and executive experience and board experience with various Australian public and private companies; Mr. Porter, financial, accounting and executive experience with other companies and board experience with investment management and fund companies; Mr. Rappaport, financial services, investment management and executive experience with private investment firms and board experience with other public and private companies, including fund companies; and Mr. Smith, experience as managing editor and director of a financial publications firm.

The Board believes that the significance of each Trustee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills is an individual matter (meaning that experience important for one Trustee may

not have the same value for another) and that these factors are best evaluated at the Board level, with no single Trustee, or particular factor, being indicative of Board effectiveness. In its periodic self-assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the Trust. References to the qualifications, attributes and skills of Trustees are pursuant to requirements of the SEC, do not constitute holding out the Board or any Trustee 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.

The Board of Trustees is composed of six Independent Trustees and one Interested Trustee, Martin J. Gilbert. The Board has appointed Mr. Malone, an Independent Trustee, as Chairman. The Chairman presides at meetings of the Trustees, participates in the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the Board, and acts as a liaison between the Independent Trustees and the Trust’s management between Board meetings. Except for any duties specified herein, the designation of the Chairman does not impose on such Trustee any duties, obligations or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations or liability imposed on such person as a member of the Board, generally.

The Board holds regular quarterly meetings each year to consider and address matters involving the Trust and its Funds. The Board also may hold special meetings to address matters arising between regular meetings. The Independent Trustees also meet outside the presence of management in executive session at least quarterly and have engaged separate, independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.

The Board has established a committee structure that includes an Audit and Valuation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (each discussed in more detail below) to assist the Board in the oversight and direction of the business affairs of the Funds, and from time to time may establish informal ad hoc committees or working groups to review and address the practices of the Funds with respect to specific matters. The Committee system facilitates the timely and efficient consideration of matters by the Trustees, and facilitates effective oversight of compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and of the Funds’ activities and associated risks. The standing Committees currently conduct an annual review of their charters, which includes a review of their responsibilities and operations. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board as a whole also conduct an annual evaluation of the performance of the Board, including consideration of the effectiveness of the Board’s committee structure. Each Committee is comprised entirely of Independent Trustees. The Board reviews its structure regularly and believes that its leadership structure, including having a super-majority of Independent Trustees, coupled with an Independent Trustee as Chairman, is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over the matters under its purview and it allocates areas of responsibility among the Committees and the full Board in a manner that enhances efficient and effective oversight.

The Audit and Valuation Committee is comprised of Messrs. Malone, Miles, Porter, Rappaport and Smith. Mr. Porter serves as Chair of the Audit and Valuation Committee as well as the Audit and Valuation Committee Financial Expert. The purposes of the Audit and Valuation Committee are to: (a) annually select, retain or terminate the Trust’s independent auditor and, in connection therewith, to evaluate the terms of the engagement and the qualifications and independence of the independent auditor; (b) review in advance, and consider approval of, any and all proposals by management or the Adviser that the Trust, Adviser or their affiliated persons, employ the independent auditor to render permissible non-audit services to the Trust and to consider whether such services are consistent with the independent auditor’s independence; (c) meet annually with the Trust’s independent auditor as necessary to consider, among other things, (i) the Trust’s annual audited financial statements and semi-annual financial statements, (ii) any matters of concern relating to the Trust’s financial statements; (iii) the performance of the independent auditor; and (iv) the independent auditor’s comments regarding the Trust’s financial policies, procedures and internal accounting controls and management’s responses thereto; (d) review and discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management; (e) review annually with management and the independent auditor their separate evaluations of the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s system of internal controls; (f) develop, establish and periodically review procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Trust from any source regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; (g) review and resolve any disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting; and (h) investigate improprieties or suspected improprieties in Trust operations and other matters within the scope of its duties, as they are presented to the Committee or brought to the attention of the Committee. The function of the Audit and Valuation Committee is oversight; it is management’s responsibility to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal control, and the independent auditor’s responsibility to plan and carry out a proper audit. The independent auditor is ultimately accountable to the Board and the Audit and Valuation Committee, as representatives of the Trust’s shareholders. Each of the members have a working knowledge of basic finance and accounting matters and are not interested persons of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act.

The purpose of the Audit and Valuation Committee is also to oversee the implementation and operation of the Trust’s Valuation and Liquidity Procedures. The Audit and Valuation Committee has the following powers and responsibilities, among others, to: (a) review periodically the actions taken by the Adviser’s pricing committee including its determination regarding the fair value of securities for which market quotations are not readily available, not readily determinable or unreliable and the methodology for fair valuing portfolio securities; (b) recommend pricing services to the Board and periodically review the performance of pricing services; and (c) review pricing errors and the Trust’s Net Asset Value Error Correction Policy and recommend corrective action if necessary and appropriate. The Audit and Valuation Committee met 5 times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (“Nominating Committee”) is comprised of Messrs. Malone and Smith. Mr. Malone serves as Chair of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee has the following powers and responsibilities: (1) selection and nomination of all persons for election or appointment as Trustees of the Trust (provided that nominees for independent Trustee are recommended for selection and approval by all of the incumbent independent Trustees then serving on the Board); (2) periodic review of the composition of the Board to determine whether it may be appropriate to add individuals with different

backgrounds or skills from those already on the Board; (3) implementing an annual evaluation of the performance of the Board and its committees; (4) periodic review of the compensation paid to the Board; and (5) periodic review of Board governance procedures (including the Board’s effectiveness, Trustee retirement, Trustee investment in the Funds, the role of the independent trustees and committees and the relationship between the Board and management). The Nominating Committee reports to the full Board with recommendations of any appropriate changes to the Board.

The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders. When considering whether to add additional or substitute Trustees to the Board of Trustees of the Trust, the Trustees take into account any proposals for candidates that are properly submitted to the Trust’s Secretary. Shareholders wishing to present one or more candidates for Trustee for consideration may do so by submitting a signed written request to the Trust’s Secretary at attn: Secretary, Aberdeen Funds, 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, which includes the following information: (i) name and address of shareholder and, if applicable, name of broker or record holder; (ii) number of shares owned; (iii) name of Fund(s) in which shares are owned; (iv) whether the proposed candidate(s) consent to being identified in any proxy statement utilized in connection with the election of Trustees; (v) the name and background information of the proposed candidates and (vi) a representation that the candidate or candidates are willing to provide additional information about themselves, including assurances as to their independence. The Nominating Committee met 1 time during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.

The Funds are subject to a number of risks, including, among others, investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks. Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Funds and is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. The Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies and procedures designed to address these risks. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed with respect to different types of risks. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of the Adviser, who carries out the Trust’s investment management and business affairs, and also by the Fund’s Subadviser, as applicable, and other service providers in connection with the services they provide to the Funds. Each of the Adviser, Subadviser and other service providers have their own, independent interest in risk management, and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models. As part of its regular oversight of the Trust, the Board, directly and/or through a Committee, interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, the Adviser, Subadviser, and the Trust’s other service providers (including the Trust’s distributor and transfer agent), the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel to the Trust, and internal auditors, as appropriate, relating to the operations of the Trust. The Board also requires the Adviser to report to the Board on other matters relating to risk management on a regular and as-needed basis. The Board recognizes that it may not be possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Trust or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.

As of December 31, 2019, the Trustees held shares of the Funds and of the Aberdeen Family of Investment Companies as indicated below.

***Mr. Sacks resigned from the Board pursuant to the Trust’s retirement policy as a Trustee effective immediately following the meeting of the Board held on June 17, 2020.

As of October 31, 2020, the Officers and Trustees, as a group, owned of record and beneficially less than 1% of each Fund’s shares.

The Compensation Table below sets forth the total compensation that each Trustee received from the Trust and the Fund Complex (as defined below) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.

* As of October 31, 2020, the Aberdeen Fund Complex consisted of the Trust, which contained 19 portfolios, as well as Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc., The India Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc., Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, Aberdeen Global Premier Properties Fund, Aberdeen Total Dynamic Dividend Fund, Aberdeen Standard Global Infrastructure Income Fund, Aberdeen Investment Funds (consisting of 4 portfolios) and Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs (consisting of 2 portfolios).

***Mr. Sacks resigned from the Board as a Trustee effective immediately following the meeting of the Board held on June 17, 2020.

The Trust does not maintain any pension or retirement plans for the Officers or Trustees of the Trust.

Class A shares may be sold at NAV without payment of any sales charge to Trustees and retired Trustees of the Trust and to directors, officers and employees (including retired directors, officers and employees and immediate family members of Aberdeen and its affiliates). The sales load waivers are due to the nature of the investors and the reduced sales effort and expenses that are needed to obtain such investment. See “Waiver of Class A Sales Charges” for more information.

Federal law requires the Trust, the Adviser and Subadviser and its principal underwriter to adopt codes of ethics which govern the personal securities transactions of their respective personnel. Accordingly, each such entity has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to which their respective personnel may invest in securities for their personal accounts (including securities that may be purchased or held by the Trust). Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC and are available to the public.

Regulations under the federal securities laws require the Trust, the Adviser and Subadviser to adopt procedures for voting proxies (“Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures”) and to provide a summary of those Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures used to vote the securities held by

the Funds. The Trust has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures that delegate the responsibility for proxy voting to the Adviser and Subadviser, as applicable. The Adviser and Subadviser seek to vote the Funds’ shares in a manner consistent with the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders. The Adviser and Subadviser implement voting policies based on their proprietary environmental, social and governance investment guidelines when voting shares of companies held by the Funds. The Adviser and Subadviser have adopted proxy voting policies and procedures, which have been reviewed and approved by the Funds’ Board, to ensure the proper and timely voting of the proxies on behalf of the Funds. Moreover, the Adviser will assist the Funds in the preparation of the Funds’ complete proxy voting record on Form N-PX for the twelve-month period ended June 30, which must be filed with the SEC by no later than August 31 of each year. Any material changes to the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Funds or the Adviser and Subadviser will be submitted to the Board for approval or review, as the case may be. For additional information, please see the summary of the Adviser’s and Subadviser’s proxy voting policies and procedures attached hereto as Appendix C.

Information about how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12 month period ended June 30 is available after August 31 of the relevant year (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 866-667-9231 and (2) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Trust pays the compensation of the Trustees who are not employees of Aberdeen Standard, or its affiliates, and all expenses (other than those assumed by the Adviser), including governmental fees, interest charges, taxes, membership dues in the Investment Company Institute allocable to the Trust; investment advisory fees and any Rule 12b-1 fees; fees under the Trust’s Fund Administration and Transfer Agency Agreements, which includes the expenses of calculating the Funds’ NAVs; fees and expenses of independent certified public accountants and legal counsel to the Trust and to the independent Trustees; expenses of preparing, printing, and mailing shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements, and reports to governmental offices and commissions; expenses connected with the execution, recording, and settlement of portfolio security transactions; short sale dividend expenses; insurance premiums; administrative services fees under an Administrative Services Plan; fees and expenses of the custodian for all services to the Trust; expenses of shareholder meetings; and expenses relating to the issuance, registration, and qualification of shares of the Trust. The Adviser may, from time to time, agree to voluntarily or contractually waive advisory fees, and if necessary reimburse expenses, in order to limit total operating expenses for each Fund and/or classes, as described below.

Under the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Trust, ASII manages the Funds in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Trustees.

Except as described below, the Adviser manages the day-to-day investments of the assets of the Funds. For the Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund, the Adviser also provides

investment management evaluation services in initially selecting and monitoring on an ongoing basis the performance of the Subadviser who manages the investment portfolio of the Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund. The Adviser is also authorized to select and place portfolio investments on behalf of such subadvised Fund; however, the Adviser does not intend to do so as a routine matter at this time.

The Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund is subadvised by Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited (“AAML”), an affiliate of the Adviser. The Adviser and AAML are each wholly-owned subsidiaries of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (“Aberdeen PLC”). As of August 14, 2017, Aberdeen PLC became a direct subsidiary of Standard Life plc as a result of a merger of the two companies. The combined company changed its name to Standard Life Aberdeen plc and manages or administers approximately $632.4 billion in assets as of June 30, 2020. Standard Life Aberdeen plc and its affiliates provide asset management and investment solutions for clients and customers worldwide and have a strong position in the pensions and savings market. The investment advisory business of Standard Life Aberdeen plc is referred to as Aberdeen Standard Investments or “ASI”.

In rendering investment advisory services, the Adviser and AAML may use the resources of investment adviser subsidiaries of Standard Life Aberdeen plc. These affiliates have entered into a memorandum of understanding/personnel sharing procedures pursuant to which investment professionals from each affiliate may render portfolio management and research services to U.S. clients of the Standard Life Aberdeen plc affiliates, including the Funds, as associated persons of the Adviser or AAML. No remuneration is paid by the Funds with respect to the memorandum of understanding/personnel sharing arrangements.

Aberdeen pays the compensation of the officers of the Trust employed by Aberdeen. Aberdeen also furnishes, at its own expense, all necessary administrative services, office space, equipment, and clerical personnel for servicing the investments of the Trust and maintaining its investment advisory facilities, and executive and supervisory personnel for managing the investments and effecting the portfolio transactions of the Trust. In addition, Aberdeen pays, out of its legitimate profits, broker-dealers, trust companies, transfer agents and other financial institutions in exchange for their selling of shares of the Trust’s series or for recordkeeping or other shareholder related services.

The Investment Advisory Agreement also specifically provides that Aberdeen, including its directors, officers, and employees, shall not be liable for any error of judgment, or mistake of law, or for any loss arising out of any investment, or for any act or omission in the execution and management of the Trust, except for willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Agreement. The Agreement continues in effect for an initial period of no more than two years, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive annual periods provided such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, and, in either case, by a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Agreement or interested persons of any such party. The Agreement terminates automatically in the event of its “assignment,” as defined under the 1940 Act. It may be terminated

as to a Fund without penalty by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund, or by either party, on not less than 60 days’ written notice. The Agreement further provides that Aberdeen may render similar services to others.

Aberdeen Standard, located at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, is indirectly owned by Standard Life Aberdeen plc. Martin Gilbert, Trustee of the Trust, was the Vice Chairman of Standard Life Aberdeen plc and Chairman of Aberdeen Standard Investments until September 30, 2020 when he left the company.

For services provided under the Investment Advisory Agreement, Aberdeen receives an annual fee paid monthly based on average daily net assets of the applicable Fund according to the following schedule:

In the interest of limiting the expenses of the Funds, Aberdeen Standard may from time to time waive some or all of its investment advisory fee or reimburse other fees for any of the Funds. In this regard, Aberdeen Standard has entered into a written expense limitation agreements with the Trust on behalf of the Funds. Pursuant to the expense limitation agreements, Aberdeen Standard has agreed to waive or limit its fees and to assume other expenses to the extent necessary, subject to certain exclusions, to limit the total annual operating expenses of each Class of each such Fund to the limits described below. This limit excludes certain Fund expenses, including any taxes, interest, brokerage fees, short sale dividend expenses, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, 12b-1 fees, administrative services fees, transfer agent out-of-pocket expenses for Class A shares, Class R shares and Institutional Service Class shares and extraordinary expenses for a Fund. Please note that the waiver of fees will cause the total return and yield of a Fund to be higher than they would otherwise be in the absence of such a waiver.

Aberdeen Standard may request and receive reimbursement from a Fund of the advisory fees waived and other expenses reimbursed pursuant to the expense limitation agreements at a later date not to exceed three years from the fiscal year in which the corresponding reimbursement to the Fund was made. No reimbursement will be made unless: (i) the total annual expense ratio of the class making such reimbursement is less than the limit set forth below; and (ii) the payment of such reimbursement is approved by the Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis (the “Reimbursement Requirements”). If the Board approves any changes in the waiver terms or limitations, reimbursements are only permitted to the extent that the terms of the expense limitation agreement that were in effect at the time of the waiver are met at the time that reimbursement is

approved. Except as provided for in the expense limitation agreement, reimbursement of amounts previously waived or assumed by Aberdeen is not permitted.

ASII has agreed contractually to waive, through February 28, 2022, advisory fees and, if necessary, reimburse expenses in order to limit total annual fund operating expenses of the Trust, excluding certain expenses as described above, as follows:

* The Expense Limitation was effective as of February 28, 2020 and may not be terminated before February 28, 2022 without the approval of the Independent Trustees.

The table below shows the investment advisory fees paid by each Fund to the Adviser (which includes amounts paid by the Adviser to the affiliated Subadviser, as applicable) and the fees waived, if any, by the Adviser for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (or for the life of the Fund if shorter).

AAML, a Scottish Company, serves as Subadviser to the Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund. AAML is an affiliates of the Adviser. AAML’s registered office is located at 10 Queen's Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland AB10 1YG.

Under the subadvisory agreement among the Trust, the Adviser and the Subadviser, and subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Trustees, the Subadviser manages the assets of the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. The Subadviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and in connection with such investment decisions places purchase and sell orders for securities.

The subadvisory fees for the Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund are paid by the Adviser from the management fee it receives. For the investment management services it provides to the Fund, the Subadviser is entitled to 90% of the advisory fee received after fee waivers and expense reimbursements, if any, by the Adviser.

On September 22, 2008, the Adviser and the Trust received an exemptive order from the SEC for a multi-manager structure which allows the Adviser, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, to hire, replace or terminate unaffiliated subadvisers without the approval of shareholders. The order also allows the Adviser to revise a subadvisory agreement with an unaffiliated subadviser without shareholder approval. If a new unaffiliated subadviser is hired, the change would be communicated to shareholders within 90 days of such change, and all changes would be approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust or the Adviser. The multi-manager structure is intended to facilitate the efficient operation of the Funds and afford the Trust increased management flexibility.

The Adviser provides investment management evaluation services to the Funds principally by performing initial due diligence on prospective subadvisers for the Fund and thereafter monitoring the performance of the subadviser through quantitative and qualitative analysis as well as periodic in-person, telephonic and written consultations with the subadviser. The Adviser has responsibility for communicating performance expectations and evaluations to the subadviser and ultimately recommending to the Trust’s Board of Trustees whether the subadviser’s contract should be renewed, modified or terminated; however, the Adviser does not expect to recommend frequent changes of subadvisers. The Adviser will regularly provide written reports to the Trust’s Board of Trustees regarding the results of its evaluation and monitoring functions. Although the Adviser will monitor the performance of the subadvisers, there is no certainty that the subadviser or the Funds will obtain favorable results at any given time. The Adviser does not currently rely on the manager of managers order with respect to its management of the Funds.

Appendix A contains the following information regarding the portfolio managers identified in the Funds’ Prospectus: (i) a description of the portfolio manager’s compensation structure and (ii) information regarding other accounts managed by the portfolio manager and

potential conflicts of interest that might arise from the management of multiple accounts. Information relating to each portfolio manager’s ownership in the Funds contained in this SAI that he or she manages, as part of the team, as of October 31, 2020, is set forth in the chart below.

The Trust and Aberdeen Fund Distributors LLC (the “distributor” or “AFD”) have entered into a distribution agreement whereby AFD will act as principal underwriter for the Trust’s shares. The principal business address of AFD is 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. AFD is affiliated with the Funds’ Adviser.

Under the distribution agreement, the distributor must use reasonable efforts, consistent with its other business, in connection with the continuous offering of shares of the Trust. The distributor has no obligation to sell any specific quantity of Fund shares. Unless otherwise terminated, the distribution agreement has an initial term of two years and thereafter will remain in effect from year to year for successive annual periods if approved at least annually by (i) the Trust’s Board of Trustees or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of that Fund, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Trustees of the Trust who are not parties to the distribution agreement or interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any party to the distribution agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The distribution agreement may be terminated in the event of any assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act.

The distributor may enter into arrangements with various financial institutions through which a shareholder may purchase or redeem shares. The distributor may enter into agreements with selected broker-dealers, banks or other financial institutions for distribution of shares of the Funds. If applicable to a class of the Trust’s Shares as described below, the distributor may receive distribution fees from certain of the Funds as authorized by the Distribution and Service Plan described below.

The distributor also receives the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges imposed on certain redemptions of Class C shares (and certain Class A shares).

The distributor reallows to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority registered dealers: 5.00% of sales charges on Class A shares of the Funds and 1.00% on Class C shares of the Funds.

The information presented below for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018 reflects the amounts received in underwriting commissions from a portion of the front end sales charge of certain classes of the Funds, all of which is retained by AFD.

AFD also received the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges imposed on certain redemptions of Class C shares (and certain Class A shares). The tables below reflect contingent deferred sales charges paid to AFD on redemptions of the Funds’ shares for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.

The Funds have adopted a Distribution Plan (the “Plan”) under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act with respect to certain classes of shares. The Plan permits the Funds to compensate the Funds’ distributor for expenses associated with the distribution of certain classes of shares of the Funds. Although actual distribution expenses may be more or less, under the Plan the Funds pay the distributor an annual fee in an amount that will not exceed the following amounts:

As required by Rule 12b-1, the Plan was approved by the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Plan (the “Plan Trustees”). The Plan was approved for the Funds by the Board of Trustees,

and may be amended from time to time upon approval by vote of a majority of the Trustees, including a majority of the Plan Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. The Plan may be terminated as to a Class of a Fund by vote of a majority of the Plan Trustees, or by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of that Class. Any change in the Plan that would materially increase the distribution cost to a Class requires shareholder approval. The Trustees will review, quarterly, a written report of such costs and the purposes for which such costs have been incurred. The Plan may be amended by vote of the Trustees, including a majority of the Plan Trustees, cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. For so long as the Plan is in effect, selection and nomination of those Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust shall be committed to the discretion of such disinterested persons. All agreements with any person relating to the implementation of the Plan may be terminated at any time on 60 days’ written notice without payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Plan Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding shares of the applicable Class. The Plan will continue in effect for successive one-year periods, provided that each such continuance is specifically approved (i) by the vote of a majority of the Plan Trustees, and (ii) by a vote of a majority of the entire Board of Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. The Board of Trustees has a duty to request and evaluate such information as may be reasonably necessary for them to make an informed determination of whether the Plan should be implemented or continued. In addition the Trustees in approving the Plan as to a Fund must determine that there is a reasonable likelihood that the Plan will benefit such Fund and its shareholders.

The Board of Trustees of the Trust believes that the Plan is in the best interests of the Funds since it encourages Fund growth and maintenance of Fund assets. As the Funds grow in size, certain expenses, and therefore total expenses per share, may be reduced and overall performance per share may be improved.

The distributor will enter into, from time to time, agreements with selected dealers pursuant to which such dealers will provide certain services in connection with the distribution and shareholder servicing of a Fund’s shares including, but not limited to, those discussed above. The Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser may pay additional amounts from its own resources to dealers or other financial intermediaries, for aid in distribution or for aid in providing administrative services to shareholders.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, AFD earned the following distribution fees under the Plan for the Funds:

*Effective April 7, 2020, the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund stopped offering Class R shares.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, the following expenditures were made using the 12b-1 fees received by AFD with respect to the Funds:

¹ Printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current Fund shareholders.

The Funds may pay and/or reimburse administrative services fees/sub-transfer agency expenses to certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries who provide administrative support services to beneficial shareholders on behalf of the Funds (sometimes referred to as “sub-transfer agency fees”), subject to certain limitations approved by the Board. Sub-transfer agency fees may be in addition to the Rule 12b-1 fees described in the Funds’ Prospectus. Sub-transfer agency fees generally include, but are not limited to, costs associated with omnibus accounting, recordkeeping, networking, sub-transfer agency or other administrative or shareholder services. The Funds may pay and/or reimburse sub-transfer agency fees on an average-net-assets basis or on a per-account-per-year basis for services to the Funds and its shareholders, including on certain non-omnibus accounts. Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, these fees will increase the cost of an investment in a share class over time and may cost more than other types of fees.

Class A, Class R and Institutional Service Class shares of the Fund(s) pay for such services pursuant to an Administrative Services Plan adopted by the Board of Trustees. Under the terms of the Administrative Services Plan, a Fund is permitted to enter into Servicing Agreements with servicing organizations, such as broker-dealers and financial institutions, who agree to provide certain administrative support services in connection with the Class A, Class R and Institutional Service Class shares of the Fund(s) (as applicable). Such administrative support services include, but are not limited to, the following: establishing and maintaining shareholder accounts, processing purchase and redemption transactions, arranging for bank wires, performing shareholder sub-accounting, answering inquiries regarding the Funds, providing periodic statements showing the account balance for beneficial owners or for plan participants or contract holders of insurance company separate accounts, transmitting proxy statements, periodic reports, updated prospectuses and other communications to shareholders and, with respect to meetings of shareholders, collecting, tabulating and forwarding to the Trust executed proxies and obtaining such other information and performing such other services as may reasonably be required. With respect to the Class R shares, these types of administrative support services will be exclusively provided for retirement plans and their plan participants.

As authorized by the particular Administrative Services Plan for the Funds, the Trust has entered into Servicing Agreements for the Funds pursuant to which the contracted servicing agent for the Funds has agreed to provide certain administrative support services in connection with the applicable Fund shares held beneficially by its customers. In consideration for providing administrative support services, the servicing agent with whom the Trust may enter into Servicing Agreements will receive a fee, computed at the annual rate of up to 0.25% for Class A, Class R and

Institutional Service Class shares of the average daily net assets of the Class A, R or Institutional Service Class shares of each Fund (as applicable) (or under an amendment to the Administrative Services Plan that is in effect until at least February 28, 2022 with respect to the Funds, a maximum of 0.15% for contracts with fees that are calculated as percentage of Fund assets and a maximum of $16 per account for contracts with fees that are calculated on a dollar per account basis).

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, the following administrative services fees were paid from the Funds:

*Effective April 7, 2020, the U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund stopped offering Class R shares.

Class C and Institutional Class shares may also pay for sub-transfer agency services directly and not pursuant to an Administrative Services Plan.

Under the terms of a Fund Administration Agreement, ASII provides various administrative and accounting services, including daily valuation of the Funds’ shares, preparation of financial statements, tax returns, and regulatory reports, and presentation of quarterly reports to the Board of Trustees. ASII is located at 1900 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. The Trust shall pay fees to ASII, as set forth directly below, for the provision of services to the Funds. Fees will be computed daily and payable monthly on the first business day of each month, or as otherwise set forth below.

The asset-based fees are subject to an annual minimum fee equal to the number of Funds of the Trust (excluding those funds for which ASII does not serve as administrator) multiplied by $25,000.

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Funds paid fund administration fees as indicated in the table below.

The Trust has entered into a Transfer Agency and Service Agreement with Boston Financial Data Services Inc., now named DST Asset Manager Solutions (“DST”), 333 West 11^th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105, whereby DST provides transfer agent and dividend disbursement agent services.

The Trust has entered into an Amended and Restated Master Custodian Agreement (the “Custody Agreement”) with State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), which is located at 1 Heritage Drive, 3rd Floor, North Quincy, MA 02171, whereby State Street provides custody and fund accounting services for the Funds. Aberdeen has entered into a Sub-Administration Agreement with State Street whereby State Street will provide certain administration services to the Funds. For the administration services provided by State Street to the Funds, Aberdeen pays State Street an asset-based fee that is calculated based on the assets of certain registered and unregistered funds and segregated accounts advised by the Adviser and its affiliates, plus certain out-of-pocket expenses, subject to a minimum fee.

Pursuant to a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, BNP Paribas acting through its New York branch (“BNP”), acts as securities lending agent for the Funds. During the most recent fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, the services BNP may provide to the Funds, pursuant to the agreement, primarily included the following:

The following tables show the dollar amounts of income and fees/compensation related to the securities lending activities of each Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.

Dechert, LLP, 1900 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006-1110, serves as the Trust’s legal counsel. Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, One Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as legal counsel to the Independent Trustees.

The Adviser (or the Subadviser) is responsible for decisions to buy and sell securities and other investments for the Funds, the selection of brokers and dealers to effect the transactions and the negotiation of brokerage commissions, if any. In transactions on stock and commodity exchanges in the United States, these commissions are negotiated, whereas on foreign stock and commodity exchanges these commissions are generally fixed and are generally higher than

brokerage commissions in the United States. In the case of securities traded on the OTC markets or for securities traded on a principal basis, there is generally no commission, but the price includes a spread between the dealer’s purchase and sale price. This spread is the dealer’s profit. In underwritten offerings, the price includes a disclosed, fixed commission or discount. Most short term obligations are normally traded on a “principal” rather than agency basis. This may be done through a dealer (e.g., a securities firm or bank) who buys or sells for its own account rather than as an agent for another client, or directly with the issuer.

Except as described below, the primary consideration in portfolio security transactions is best execution of the transaction (i.e., execution at a favorable price and in the most effective manner possible). “Best execution” encompasses many factors affecting the overall benefit obtained by the client account in the transaction including, but not necessarily limited to price, transaction costs, reasonableness of commissions, speed, efficiency, knowledge of particular securities, likelihood of execution and settlement, size and type of transaction, settlement capabilities, reputation, nature and any other consideration relevant to the best execution of that order. Therefore, “best execution” does not necessarily mean obtaining the best price alone but is evaluated in the context of all the execution services provided. Both the Adviser and the Subadviser (if applicable) have complete freedom as to the markets in and the broker-dealers through which they seek this result.

Subject to the primary consideration of seeking best execution and as discussed below, securities may be bought or sold through broker-dealers who have furnished statistical, research, corporate access, and other information or services to the Adviser or Subadviser (if applicable). SEC regulations provide a “safe harbor” that allows an investment adviser to pay for research and brokerage services with commission dollars generated by client transactions. Effective with the implementation of MiFID II, ASI will absorb all research costs and will generally no longer rely on the “safe harbor” under Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act.

There may be occasions when portfolio transactions for a Fund are executed as part of concurrent authorizations to purchase or sell the same security for trusts or other accounts (including other mutual funds) served by the Adviser or Subadviser (if applicable) or by an affiliated company thereof. Although such concurrent authorizations potentially could be either advantageous or disadvantageous to a Fund, they are affected only when the Adviser or the Subadviser (if applicable) believes that to do so is in the interest of the Fund. When such concurrent authorizations occur, the executions will be allocated in an equitable manner.

In purchasing and selling investments for the Funds, it is the policy of the Adviser and the Subadviser (if applicable) to seek best execution through responsible broker-dealers. The determination of what may constitute best execution in a securities transaction by a broker involves a number of considerations, including the overall direct net economic result to the Fund (involving both price paid or received and any commissions and other costs paid), the efficiency with which the transaction is effected, the ability to effect the transaction at all when a large block is involved, the availability of the broker to stand ready to execute possibly difficult transactions in the future, the professionalism of the broker, and the financial strength and stability of the broker. These considerations are judgmental and are weighed by the Adviser and the Subadviser (if applicable) in determining the overall reasonableness of securities executions and commissions paid. In selecting broker-dealers, the Adviser and the Subadviser (if applicable) will consider various relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the size and type of the transaction; the nature and character of the markets for the security or asset to be purchased or sold; the execution efficiency, settlement

capability, and financial condition of the broker-dealer’s firm; the broker-dealer’s execution services, rendered on a continuing basis; and the reasonableness of any commissions.

As discussed under “General Information about the Funds’ Portfolio Instruments and Investment Policies – Foreign Currencies” above, with respect to FX transactions, different considerations or circumstances may apply, particularly with respect to Restricted Market FX. FX transactions executed for the Funds are divided into two main categories: (1) Restricted Market FX and (2) Unrestricted Market FX. Restricted Market FX are required to be executed by a local bank in the applicable market. Unrestricted Market FX are not required to be executed by a local bank. The Adviser, Subadviser (if applicable) or third-party agent execute Unrestricted Market FX relating to trading decisions. The Funds’ custodian executes all Restricted Market FX because it has local banks or relationships with local banks in each of the restricted markets where custodial client accounts hold securities. Unrestricted Market FX relating to the repatriation of dividends and/or income/expense items not directly relating to trading may be executed by the Adviser or Subadviser or by the Funds’ custodian due to the small currency amount and lower volume of such transactions. The Funds, the Adviser and the Subadviser (if applicable) have limited ability to negotiate prices at which certain FX transactions are customarily executed by the Funds’ custodian, i.e., transactions in Restricted Market FX and repatriation transactions.

The Adviser and Subadviser (if applicable) may cause a Fund to pay a broker-dealer a commission that is in excess of the commission another broker-dealer would have received for executing the transaction if it is determined to be consistent with the Adviser’s or Subadviser’s (if applicable) obligation to seek best-execution pursuant to the standards described above.

Under the 1940 Act, “affiliated persons” of a Fund are prohibited from dealing with it as a principal in the purchase and sale of securities unless an exemptive order allowing such transactions is obtained from the SEC. However, each Fund may purchase securities from underwriting syndicates of which Subadviser (if applicable) or any of its affiliates, as defined in the 1940 Act, is a member under certain conditions, in accordance with Rule 10f-3 under the 1940 Act.

Each of the Funds contemplate that, consistent with the policy of seeking to obtain best execution, brokerage transactions may be conducted through “affiliated brokers or dealers,” as defined in rules under the 1940 Act. Under the 1940 Act, commissions paid by a Fund to an “affiliated broker or dealer” in connection with a purchase or sale of securities offered on a securities exchange may not exceed the usual and customary broker’s commission. Accordingly, it is the Funds’ policy that the commissions to be paid to an affiliated broker-dealer must, in the judgment of the Adviser or the Subadviser (if applicable), be (1) at least as favorable as those that would be charged by other brokers having comparable execution capability and (2) at least as favorable as commissions contemporaneously charged by such broker or dealer on comparable transactions for the broker’s or dealer’s unaffiliated customers. The Adviser and the Subadviser (if applicable) do not necessarily deem it practicable or in the Funds’ best interests to solicit competitive bids for commissions on each transaction. However, consideration regularly is given to information concerning the prevailing level of commissions charged on comparable transactions by other brokers during comparable periods of time.

Neither the Funds nor the Adviser has an agreement or understanding with a broker-dealer, or other arrangements to direct the Funds’ brokerage transactions to a broker-dealer because of the research services such broker provides to a Fund or the Adviser. While the Adviser does not have arrangements with any broker-dealers to direct such brokerage transactions to them because of

research services provided, the Adviser may receive research services from such broker-dealers. The dollar amount of transactions and related commissions for transactions paid to a broker from which the Adviser and Subadviser also received research services for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 are summarized in the table below:

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the following brokerage commissions were paid by the Funds:

* Any material differences between the commissions paid during the past fiscal year and the two preceding fiscal years are due to a variety of factors including, primarily, cash flows into and out of the Funds.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, the following Funds held investments in securities of their regular broker-dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 under the 1940 Act) as follows:

Shares of the Funds have not been registered for sale outside of the United States and its territories. However, the Funds may accept investments from non-U.S. affiliates of the Adviser.

The charts below show the Class A sales charges, which decrease as the amount of your investment increases.

Using the NAV per share as of October 31, 2020, the maximum offering price of each Fund’s Class A shares would be as follows:

You may qualify for a reduced Class A sales charge if you own or are purchasing shares of the Funds. You may also qualify for a waiver of the Class A sales charges. To receive the reduced or waived sales charge, you must inform Customer Service or your broker or other financial intermediary at the time of your purchase that you qualify for such a reduction or waiver. If you do not inform Customer Service or your financial intermediary that you are eligible for a reduced or waived sales charge, you may not receive the discount or waiver that you are entitled to. You may have to produce evidence that you qualify for a reduced sales charge or waiver before you will receive it.

The sales charge applicable to Class A shares may be waived for shares sold to financial intermediaries who have entered into an agreement with a Fund’s distributor to offer shares to self-directed investment brokerage accounts that may or may not charge a transaction fee to its customers. Certain waivers and fee reductions may be available to customers of certain financial intermediaries, as described under “Broker-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies” in the Prospectus.

The sales charge applicable to Class A shares may be waived for the following purchases:

non-qualified deferred compensation plans, employer sponsored benefit plans (including health savings accounts), other similar employer-sponsored retirement and benefit plans.

(Individual retirement vehicles, such as traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell education savings accounts, individual 401(k) plans, individual 403(b)(7) custodial accounts, one person Keogh plans, SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs or similar accounts do not qualify for the waiver.)

Shareholders can reduce or eliminate Class A shares’ initial sales charge through one or more of the discounts described below:

There are no front-end sales charges for purchases of Class A shares of the Funds of $1 million or more. An investor may purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares in one or more of the Aberdeen Funds and avoid the front-end sales charge. However, unless an investor is otherwise eligible to purchase Class A shares without a sales charge, the investor will pay a CDSC if he or she redeems such Class A shares within 18 months of the date of purchase. With respect to such purchases, the distributor or the Funds’ Adviser may pay dealers a finders’ fee (as described below) on investments made in Class A shares with no initial sales charge. The CDSC covers the finder’s fee paid by the distributor or the Adviser to the selling dealer. For the selling dealer to be eligible for the finders’ fee, the following requirements apply:

The CDSC will equal the amount of the finder’s fee paid out to the dealer as described in the chart below. The applicable CDSC will be determined on a pro rata basis according to the amount of the redemption from each particular Fund. The Class A CDSC will not exceed the aggregate amount of the finder’s fee the distributor or Adviser paid to the selling dealer on all purchases of Class A shares of all Funds an investor made that were subject to the Class A CDSC.

You will pay a CDSC of 1.00% if you sell your Class C shares within the first year after you purchased the shares; however, the CDSC shall not apply to redemptions of Class C shares that were purchased through a financial intermediary that was not paid a commission by the Fund’s distributor or Adviser at the time of purchase. The distributor or the Funds’ Adviser compensates broker-dealers and financial intermediaries for sales of Class C shares from its own resources at the rate of 1.00% of sales of Class C shares of the Funds. The CDSC is never imposed on dividends, whether paid in cash or reinvested, or on appreciation over the initial purchase price. The CDSC applies only to the lesser of the original investment or current market value.

In addition to the dealer commissions and payments under its 12b-1 Plan, from time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may make payments for distribution and/or shareholder servicing activities out of their past profits and other of their own resources. The Adviser may also pay and/or reimburse sub-transfer agency expenses to certain broker-dealers and financial intermediaries who provide administrative support services to beneficial shareholders on behalf of the Funds, subject to certain limitations approved by the Board. Sub-transfer agency expenses generally include, but are not limited to, costs associated with recordkeeping, networking or other administrative services. The Adviser and/or its affiliates may make payments for marketing, promotional, or related services provided by dealers, platforms and other financial intermediaries, and may be in exchange for factors that include, without limitation, differing levels or types of services provided by the intermediary, the expected level of assets or sales of shares, the placing of some or all of the Funds of the Trust on a preferred or recommended list, access to an intermediary’s personnel, and other factors. The amount of these payments is determined by the Adviser.

In addition to these payments described above, the Adviser or its affiliates may offer other sales incentives in the form of sponsorship of educational or client seminars relating to current products and issues, assistance in training and educating the intermediary’s personnel, and/or entertainment or meals. These payments also may include, at the direction of a retirement plan’s named fiduciary, amounts to intermediaries for certain plan expenses or otherwise for the benefit of plan participants and beneficiaries. As permitted by applicable law, the Adviser or its affiliates may pay or allow other incentives or payments to intermediaries.

The payments described above are often referred to as “revenue sharing payments.” The recipients of such payments may include:

Payments may be based on current or past sales; current or historical assets; one-time ticket charges or a flat fee for specific services provided. In some circumstances, such payments may

create an incentive for an intermediary or its employees or associated persons to recommend or sell shares of a Fund to you instead of shares of funds offered by competing fund families.

Class R shares generally are available only to 401(a) plans, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, 403(b) plans, profit sharing and money purchase pension plans, defined benefit plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans and other retirement accounts (collectively, “retirement plans”) whereby the retirement plan or the retirement plan’s financial service firm has an agreement with the Funds’ distributor to utilize Class R shares in certain investment products or programs. Class R shares are generally available to small and mid-sized retirement plans having at least $1 million in assets. In addition, Class R shares also are generally available only to retirement plans where Class R shares are held on the books of the Funds through omnibus accounts (either at the plan level or at the level of the financial services firm) and where the plans are introduced by an intermediary, such as a broker, third party administrator, registered investment adviser or other retirement plan service provider. Class R shares are not available to retail or institutional non-retirement accounts, traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, SEPs, SAR-SEPs, one person Keogh plans, SIMPLE IRAs, individual 403(b) plans, or through 529 Plan accounts.

A retirement plan’s intermediaries can help determine which class is appropriate for that retirement plan. If a retirement plan qualifies to purchase other shares of a Fund, one of these other classes may be more appropriate than Class R shares. Specifically, if a retirement plan eligible to purchase Class R shares is otherwise qualified to purchase Class A shares at NAV or at a reduced sales charge or to purchase Institutional Service Class or Institutional Class shares, one of these classes may be selected where the retirement plan does not require the distribution and administrative support services typically required by Class R share investors and/or the retirement plan’s intermediaries have elected to forgo the level of compensation that Class R shares provide. Plan fiduciaries should consider their obligations under ERISA in determining which class is an appropriate investment for a retirement plan. A retirement plan’s intermediaries may receive different compensation depending upon which class is chosen.

Generally, a Fund will pay you for shares that redeem one day after your redemption request is received, however, a Fund may take three days in certain circumstances. A Fund may delay forwarding redemption proceeds for up to seven days (i) if the investor redeeming shares is engaged in excessive trading, or (ii) if the amount of the redemption request otherwise would be disruptive to efficient portfolio management or would adversely affect the Fund.

The Funds generally plan to redeem their shares for cash with the following exceptions. As described in the Prospectus, each Fund reserves the right, in circumstances where in its sole discretion it determines that cash redemption payments would be undesirable, taking into account the best interests of all Fund shareholders, to honor any redemption request by transferring some of the securities held by the Fund directly to you (an “in-kind redemption”). The Funds may process a shareholder’s redemption request with an in-kind distribution at any time, subject to the conditions

outlined below, but may be more likely to do so under stressed conditions where a Fund is unable to distribute cash, or for redemptions to large institutional investors that are equipped to receive the in-kind distribution in a way that does not adversely affect either such shareholder, the Fund or the remaining shareholders.

The Trust has elected to be governed by Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which the Trust is obligated to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the specific Fund’s NAV during any 90-day period for any one shareholder.

The Trust’s Board of Trustees has adopted procedures for redemptions in-kind by a shareholder including affiliated and unaffiliated persons of a Fund. Affiliated persons of a Fund include shareholders who are affiliates of the Adviser and shareholders of a Fund owning 5% or more of the outstanding shares of that Fund. These procedures provide that a redemption in-kind shall be effected at approximately the shareholder’s proportionate share of the distributing Fund’s current net assets, so that redemptions will not result in the dilution of interests of the remaining shareholders. The procedures also require that the distributed securities be valued in the same manner as they are valued for purposes of computing the distributing Fund’s NAV and that any redemption in-kind made by an affiliated party does not favor such affiliate to the detriment of any other shareholder. Use of the redemption in-kind procedures will allow a Fund to avoid having to sell significant portfolio assets to raise cash to meet the shareholder’s redemption request - thus limiting the potential adverse effect on the distributing Fund’s NAV.

A medallion signature guarantee is required if: (1) the redemption check is made payable to anyone other than the registered shareholder; (2) the redemption proceeds are mailed to an address other than the address of record; (3) your account address has changed within the past 15 calendar days; (4) the redemption proceeds are being wired or sent by ACH to a bank for which instructions are currently not on your account; (5) the redemption proceeds are being wired or sent by ACH to a bank account that has been added or changed within the past 15 calendar days; or (6) ownership is being changed on your account. The distributor reserves the right to require a medallion signature guarantee in other circumstances, without notice. Based on the circumstances of each transaction, the distributor reserves the right to require that your signature be guaranteed by an authorized agent of an “eligible guarantor institution,” which includes, but is not limited to, certain banks, credit unions, savings associations, and member firms of national securities exchanges. A medallion signature guarantee is designed to protect the shareholder by helping to prevent an unauthorized person from redeeming shares and obtaining the proceeds. A notary public is not an acceptable guarantor. In certain special cases (such as corporate or fiduciary registrations), additional legal documents may be required to ensure proper authorizations. If the distributor decides to require signature guarantees in all circumstances, shareholders will be notified in writing prior to implementation of the policy. The distributor, at its discretion, may waive the requirement for a signature guarantee.

If the value of your account falls below $1,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation, you are generally subject to a $5 quarterly fee (with an annual maximum of $20 per

account), which is deposited into the applicable Fund to offset the expenses of small accounts. We will sell shares from your account quarterly to cover the fee.

Listed below are certain cases in which the Funds have elected, in their discretion, not to assess the Minimum Balance Fee. These exceptions are subject to change:

We reserve the right to sell the rest of your shares and close your account if you make a sale that reduces the value of your account to less than $1,000. Before the account is closed, we will give you notice and allow you 60 days to purchase additional shares to avoid this action. We do this because of the high cost of maintaining small accounts.

Under normal circumstances, the NAV per share for each Fund is determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) (usually 4 p.m. Eastern Time) on each day that the Exchange is open (a “Business Day”) and on such other days as the Board of Trustees determines (together, the “Valuation Time”). However, to the extent that a Fund’s investments are traded in markets that are open when the Exchange is closed, the value of the Fund’s investments may change on days when shares cannot be purchased or redeemed.

The Funds will not compute NAV on customary business holidays, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, or the days when such holidays are observed and other days when the Exchange is regularly closed. Fixed income Fund shares may be priced on days that the Exchange is closed if the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) recommends that the bond markets remain open for all or part of the day. On any business day when the SIFMA recommends that the bond markets close early, a fixed income Fund reserves the right to close at or prior to the SIFMA recommended closing time. If a fixed income Fund does so, it will cease granting same business day credit for purchase and redemption orders received after the Fund’s closing time and credit will be given to the next business day.

Each Fund reserves the right not to determine its NAV when: (i) a Fund has not received any orders to purchase, sell or exchange shares and (ii) changes in the value of that Fund’s portfolio do not affect that Fund’s NAV.

Under normal circumstances, the offering price for orders received in good form before the close of the Exchange, on each business day the Exchange is open for trading, will be based upon calculation of the NAV at the close of regular trading on the Exchange. For orders received in good form after the close of regular trading on the Exchange, or on a day on which the

Exchange is not open for trading, the offering price is based upon NAV at the close of the Exchange on the next day thereafter on which the Exchange is open for trading. The NAV of a share of a Fund on which offering and redemption prices are based is the Total Net Assets (“TNA”) of the Fund, divided by the number of shares outstanding, with the result adjusted to the nearer cent. The TNA of the Funds is determined by subtracting the liabilities of the Funds from the value of its assets (chiefly composed of investment securities). The NAV per share of a class is computed by adding the value of all securities and other assets in a Fund’s portfolio allocable to such class, deducting any liabilities allocable to such class and any other liabilities charged directly to that class and dividing by the number of shares outstanding in such class.

The Funds value their securities at current market value or fair value, consistent with regulatory requirements. “Fair value” is defined in the Funds’ valuation and liquidity procedures as the price that could be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants without a compulsion to contract at the measurement date.

Equity securities that are traded on an exchange are valued at the last quoted sale price on the principal exchange on which the security is traded at the “Valuation Time”, subject to application, when appropriate, of the valuation factors described in the paragraph below. The Valuation Time is as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). In the absence of a sale price, the security is valued at the mean of the bid/ask quoted at the close on the principal exchange on which the security is traded. Securities traded on NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Open-end mutual funds are valued at the respective net asset value as reported by such company. The prospectuses for the registered open-end management investment companies in which a Fund invests explain the circumstances under which those companies will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing. Closed-end funds and ETFs are valued at the market price of the security at the Valuation Time.

Long-term fixed income securities are valued at the last quoted or evaluated bid price on the valuation date provided by an independent pricing service provider approved by the Funds’ Board of Trustees. If there are no current day bids, the security is valued at the previously applied bid. Pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional “round lot” size, and the strategies employed by the Adviser generally trade in round lot sizes. In certain circumstances, fixed income securities may be held or transactions may be conducted in smaller, “odd lot” sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower or occasionally higher prices than institutional round lot trades. Short-term fixed income securities (such as commercial paper and U.S. treasury bills) having a remaining maturity of 60 days or less are valued at the last quoted or evaluated bid price on the

valuation date provided by an independent pricing service, or on the basis of amortized cost if it represents the best approximation for fair value.

In the event that a security’s market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable (for reasons other than because the foreign exchange on which it trades closed before the Valuation Time), the security is valued at fair value as determined by the Funds’ Pricing Committee, taking into account the relevant factors and surrounding circumstances using valuation policies and procedures approved by the Funds’ Board of Trustees.

The time at which transactions and Fund shares are priced and the time by which orders must be received may be changed in case of an emergency or if regular trading on the Exchange and/or the bond markets are stopped at a time other than their regularly scheduled closing time. In the event the Exchange and/or the bond markets do not open for business, the Trust may, but is not required to, open one or more Funds for purchase, redemption and exchange transactions if the Federal Reserve wire payment system is open.

The Trust may suspend the right of redemption for such periods as are permitted under the 1940 Act and under the following unusual circumstances: (a) when the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than weekends and holidays) or trading is restricted; (b) when an emergency exists, making disposal of portfolio securities or the valuation of net assets not reasonably practicable; or (c) during any period when the SEC has by order permitted a suspension of redemption for the protection of shareholders.

Depending on the policies and procedures of your financial intermediary, some or all of the systematic investment strategies described below may not be available to you. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

Automatic Investment Plan - This is a systematic investment strategy which combines automatic monthly transfers from your personal checking account to your mutual fund account with the concept of Dollar Cost Averaging. With this strategy, you invest a fixed amount monthly over an extended period of time, during both market highs and lows. Dollar Cost Averaging can allow you to achieve a favorable average share cost over time since your fixed monthly investment buys more shares when share prices fall during low markets, and fewer shares at higher prices during market highs. However, no formula can assure a profit or protect against loss in

a declining market. Once you have opened an account with at least $1,000, you can contribute to an Automatic Investment Plan for as little as $50 a month in a Fund.

Systematic Exchange Plan and Dividend Moves - This plan allows you to transfer $50 or more to one Fund from another Fund systematically, monthly or quarterly. Accounts participating in a systematic exchange plan have a minimum balance requirement of $5,000. The money is transferred on the 25th day of the month as selected or on the preceding business day. Dividends of any amount can be moved automatically from one Fund to another at the time they are paid. This strategy can provide investors with the benefits of Dollar Cost Averaging through an opportunity to achieve a favorable average share cost over time. With this plan, your fixed monthly or quarterly transfer from the Fund to any other Fund you select buys more shares when share prices fall during low markets and fewer shares at higher prices during market highs. However, no formula can assure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan (“SWP”) ($50 or More) - You may have checks for any fixed amount of $50 or more automatically sent bi-monthly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually, to you (or anyone you designate) from your account. Complete the appropriate section of the New Account Form or contact your financial intermediary or the Fund. Your account value must meet the minimum initial investment amount at the time the program is established. This program may reduce and eventually deplete your account. Generally, it is not advisable to continue to purchase Class A or Class C shares subject to a sales charge while simultaneously redeeming shares under the program. The $50 minimum is waived for required minimum distributions from individual retirement accounts.

NOTE: If you are withdrawing more shares than your account receives in dividends, you will be decreasing your total shares owned, which will reduce your future dividend potential.

The Funds offer the following privileges to shareholders. Additional information may be obtained by calling toll free 866-667-9231. However, the following privileges may not be permitted by the policies and procedures of a financial intermediary through which you may purchase shares of the Funds. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

No Sales Charge On Reinvestments - All dividends and capital gains will be automatically reinvested free of charge in the form of additional shares within the same Fund and class or another specifically requested Fund (but the same class) unless you have chosen to receive them in cash on your application. Unless requested in writing by the shareholder, the Trust will not mail checks for dividends and capital gains of less than $5 but instead they will automatically be reinvested in the form of additional shares.

Exchange Privilege - With respect to other Classes of the Funds, the exchange privilege is a convenient way to exchange shares from one Fund to another Fund in order to respond to changes in your goals or in market conditions. The registration of the account to which you are making an exchange must be exactly the same as that of the Fund account from which the exchange is made, and the amount you exchange must meet the applicable minimum investment of the Fund being purchased. The exchange privilege may be limited due to excessive trading or market timing of Fund shares.

Exchanges Among Funds - Exchanges may be made among any of the funds of the Trust within the same class of shares (except for any other Fund not currently accepting purchase orders), so long as both accounts have the same registration, and your first purchase in the new Fund meets the new Fund’s minimum investment requirement.

Because Class R shares of the Funds are held within retirement plans, exchange privileges with other Class R shares of the Aberdeen Funds may not be available unless the Class R shares of the other Aberdeen Funds are also available within a plan. Please contact your retirement plan administrator for information on how to exchange your Class R shares within your retirement plan.

Generally, you may exchange all or part of your shares for shares of the same class of another Aberdeen Fund without paying a front-end sales charge or CDSC at the time of the exchange. If you exchange your Class A shares of a Fund that are subject to a CDSC into another Aberdeen Fund and then redeem those Class A shares within 18 months of the original purchase (within 12 months of the original purchase of the Intermediate Municipal Income Fund, Short Duration High Yield Municipal Fund and Ultra Short Municipal Income Fund), the applicable CDSC will be the CDSC for the original Fund.

If you wish to purchase shares of a Fund or class for which the exchange privilege does not apply, you will pay any applicable CDSC at the time you redeem your shares and pay any applicable front-end load on the new Fund you are purchasing unless a sales charge waiver otherwise applies.

Automated Voice Response System - You can automatically process exchanges for the Funds by calling 866-667-9231, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, if you declined the option on the application, you will not have this automatic exchange privilege. This system also gives you quick, easy access to mutual fund information. Select from a menu of choices to conduct transactions and hear fund price information, mailing and wiring instructions as well as other mutual fund information. You must call our toll free number by the Valuation Time to receive that day’s closing share price. The Valuation Time is the close of regular trading of the Exchange, which is usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Customer Service Line - By calling 866-667-9231, you may exchange shares by telephone. Requests may be made only by the account owner(s). You must call our toll free number by the Valuation Time to receive that day’s closing share price.

The Funds may record all instructions to exchange shares. The Funds reserve the right at any time without prior notice to suspend, limit or terminate the telephone exchange privilege or its use in any manner by any person or class.

The Funds will employ the same procedure described under “Buying, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares” in the Prospectus to confirm that the instructions are genuine.

The Funds will not be liable for any loss, injury, damage, or expense as a result of acting upon instructions communicated by telephone reasonably believed to be genuine, and the Funds will be held harmless from any loss, claims or liability arising from its compliance with such

instructions. These options are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus and all telephone transaction calls may be recorded. The Funds reserve the right to revoke this privilege at any time without notice to shareholders and request the redemption in writing, signed by all shareholders.

By Mail or Fax - Write by regular mail to Aberdeen Funds, P.O. Box 219534, Kansas City MO 64121-9534 or by overnight mail to Aberdeen Funds c/o DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc., 430 W. 7th Street, Ste. 219534, Kansas City, MO 64105-1407 02021or fax to 866-923-4269. Please be sure that your letter or facsimile is signed exactly as your account is registered and that your account number and the Fund from which you wish to make the exchange are included. For example, if your account is registered “John Doe and Mary Doe,” “Joint Tenants With Right of Survivorship,” then both John Doe and Mary Doe must sign the exchange request. The exchange will be processed effective the date the signed letter or fax is received. Fax requests received after the Valuation Time will be processed as of the next business day. The Funds reserve the right to require the original document if you use the fax method.

By On Line Access - Log on to our website, www.aberdeen-asset.us/aam.nsf/usRetail/home, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for easy access to your mutual fund accounts. Once you have reached the website, you will be instructed on how to select a password and perform transactions. You can choose to receive information on all Funds as well as your own personal accounts. You may also perform transactions, such as purchases, redemptions and exchanges. The Funds may terminate the ability to buy Fund shares on its website at any time, in which case you may continue to exchange shares by mail, wire or telephone pursuant to the Prospectus.

Automated Voice Response System - Our toll free number 866-667-9231 will connect you 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the system. Through a selection of menu options, you can conduct transactions, hear fund price information, mailing and wiring instructions and other mutual fund information.

Toll Free Information and Assistance - Customer service representatives are available to answer questions regarding the Funds and your account(s) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern Time (Monday through Friday).

Retirement Plans (Not available with the Intermediate Municipal Income Fund and Ultra Short Municipal Income Fund) - Shares of the Funds may be purchased for Self-Employed Retirement Plans, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Roth IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, IRAs, Simplified Employee Pension Plans, Corporate Pension Plans, Profit Sharing Plans and Money Purchase Plans.

Shareholder Confirmations - You will receive a confirmation statement each time a requested transaction is processed. However, no confirmations are mailed on certain pre-authorized, systematic transactions, or IRAs. Instead, these will appear on your next consolidated statement.

Consolidated Statements - Shareholders of the Funds receive quarterly statements as of the end of March, June, September and December. Please review your statement carefully and notify us immediately if there is a discrepancy or error in your account.

For shareholders with multiple accounts, your consolidated statement will reflect all your current holdings in the Funds. Your accounts are consolidated by social security number and zip code. Accounts in your household under other social security numbers may be added to your statement at your request. Only transactions during the reporting period will be reflected on the statements. An annual summary statement reflecting all calendar-year transactions in all your Funds will be sent after year-end.

Average Cost Statement - This statement may aid you in preparing your tax return and in reporting capital gains and losses to the IRS. If you redeemed any shares during the calendar year, a statement reflecting your taxable gain or loss for the calendar year (based on the average cost you paid for the redeemed shares) will be mailed to you following each year-end. Average cost can only be calculated on accounts opened on or after January 1, 1984. Fiduciary accounts and accounts with shares acquired by gift, inheritance, transfer, or by any means other than a purchase cannot be calculated.

Average cost is one of the IRS approved methods available to compute gains or losses. You may wish to consult a tax advisor on the other methods available.

Shareholder Reports - All shareholders will receive reports semi-annually detailing the financial operations of the Funds.

Summary Prospectus - An updated summary prospectus will be mailed to you at least annually.

Undeliverable Mail - If mail from the Funds to a shareholder is returned as undeliverable on two or more consecutive occasions, the Funds will not send any future mail to the shareholder unless it receives notification of a correct mailing address for the shareholder. With respect to any redemption checks or dividend/capital gains distribution checks that are returned as undeliverable or not presented for payment within six months, the Trust reserves the right to reinvest the check proceeds and any future distributions in shares of the particular Fund at the then-current NAV of such Fund until the Funds receive further instructions from the shareholder.

The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of full and fractional shares of beneficial interest of each Fund and to divide or combine such shares into a greater or lesser number of shares without thereby exchanging the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust. Each share of a Fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that Fund with each other share. The Trust reserves the right to create and issue a number of different funds. Shares of each Fund would participate equally in the earnings, dividends, and assets of that particular fund. Upon liquidation of a Fund, shareholders are entitled to share pro rata in the net assets of such Fund available for distribution to shareholders.

The Trust presently consists of the following 19 series of shares of beneficial interest, without par value and with the various classes listed:

You have an interest only in the assets of the Fund whose shares you own. Shares of a particular class are equal in all respects to other shares of that class. In the event of liquidation of a Fund, shares of the same class will share pro rata in the distribution of the net assets of the Fund with all other shares of that class. All shares are without par value and when issued and paid for, are fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. Shares may be exchanged or converted as described in this

Statement of Additional Information and in the Prospectus but will have no other preference, conversion, exchange or preemptive rights.

Shareholders of each class of shares have one vote for each share held and a proportionate fractional vote for any fractional share held. An annual or special meeting of shareholders to conduct necessary business is not required by the Declaration of Trust, the 1940 Act or other authority except, under certain circumstances, to amend the Declaration of Trust, the Investment Advisory Agreement, fundamental investment objectives, fundamental investment policies and fundamental investment restrictions, to elect and remove Trustees, to reorganize the Trust or any series or class thereof and to act upon certain other business matters. In regard to sale of assets; the change of fundamental investment objectives, policies and restrictions; the approval of an Investment Advisory Agreement; or any other matter for which a shareholder vote is sought, the right to vote is limited to the holders of shares of the particular Fund affected by the proposal. In addition, holders of shares subject to a Rule 12b-1 fee will vote as a class and not with holders of any other class with respect to the approval of the Distribution Plan.

To the extent that such a meeting is not required, the Trust does not intend to have an annual or special meeting of shareholders.

The information discussed in this section applies generally to all of the Funds that are described in this SAI.

If you are a taxable investor and invest in a Fund shortly before the record date of a taxable distribution, the distribution will lower the value of the Fund’s shares by the amount of the distribution, and you will in effect receive some of your investment back, but in the form of a taxable distribution.

Funds with multiple classes of shares calculate dividends and capital gain distributions the same way for each class. The amount of any dividends per share will differ, however, generally due to the difference in the distribution and service (Rule 12b-1) and administrative services fees applicable to each class.

The Fund may earn taxable income from many sources, including income from temporary investments, discount from stripped obligations or their coupons, income from securities loans or other taxable transactions, and ordinary income from the sale of market discount bonds. If

you are a taxable investor, any distributions by the Fund from this income will be taxable to you as ordinary income, whether you receive them in cash or in additional shares.

Each Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on its investments. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of a Fund, constitutes its net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a taxable investor, any distributions by a Fund from such income (other than qualified dividend income received by individuals) will be taxable to you at ordinary income tax rates, whether you receive them in cash or in additional shares. Distributions from qualified dividend income will be taxable to individuals at long-term capital gain rates, provided certain holding period requirements are met by you and the Fund. See the discussion below under the heading, “Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals.”

A Fund may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions paid from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in a Fund. Any net short-term or long-term capital gain realized by a Fund (net of any capital loss carryovers) generally will be distributed once each year, and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Fund.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each Fund is generally permitted to carry forward a net capital loss in any taxable year to offset its own capital gains. These amounts are available to be carried forward to offset future capital gains to extent permitted by the Code and applicable tax regulations. In the event that the Fund were to experience an ownership change as defined for federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s loss carryforwards may be subject to limitation.

As of October 31, 2020, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the following Funds have capital loss carryforwards available to offset capital gains, if any, to the extent provided by the Treasury regulations, which expire in the years set forth below:

*Amounts are estimated as of the date of this SAI and may not tie to the amounts to be set forth in the Fund's annual report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.

A 3.8 percent Medicare contribution tax will be imposed on net investment income, among other things, including interest, dividends, and net gain from investments, of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 (or $250,000 if married filing jointly), and of estates and trusts.

If a Fund’s distributions exceed its taxable income and capital gains realized during a taxable year, all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution generally will not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in a Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold. Any return of capital in excess of your basis, however, is taxable as a capital gain.

The next three paragraphs describe tax considerations that are applicable to Funds that invest in foreign securities.

Effect of foreign withholding taxes. A Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign securities. This, in turn, could reduce a Fund’s distributions paid to you.

Effect of foreign debt investments on distributions. Realized gains and losses from the sale of debt securities are treated as ordinary income or loss for federal income tax purposes by a Fund, to the extent attributable to foreign exchange gains or losses. These gains when distributed are taxable to you as ordinary income, and any losses reduce a Fund’s ordinary income otherwise available for distribution to you. This treatment could increase or decrease a Fund’s ordinary income distributions to you and may cause some or all of a Fund’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits. If more than 50% of a Fund’s total assets at the end of a fiscal year is invested in foreign securities or, at the close of each quarter, is at least 50% invested in other regulated investment companies, the Fund may elect to pass through to you your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Fund. If this election is made, a Fund may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes. You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income (if you itemize your income tax deductions) or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). A Fund will provide you with the information necessary to complete your personal income tax return if it makes this election. The amount of any foreign tax credits available to you (as a result of the pass-through to you of your pro rata share of foreign taxes by paid by a Fund) will be reduced if you receive foreign dividends from a Fund reported as qualified dividend income subject to taxation at long-term capital gain rates. Shareholders in these circumstances should talk with their personal tax advisors about their foreign tax credits and the procedures that they should follow to claim these credits on their personal income tax returns. A Fund engaging in securities lending with respect to a security paying income subject to foreign taxes may not be able to pass through to its shareholders the ability to take a foreign tax credit for those taxes. In addition, a shareholder of a Fund may lose the ability to use foreign tax credits passed through by the Fund if the Fund shares are loaned pursuant to a securities lending agreement.

PFIC securities. A Fund may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”). In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, each Fund intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of the Fund’s fiscal and excise (described below) tax years. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that a Fund is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security would cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends for individuals when distributed to you by a Fund. In addition, if a Fund is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the Fund may be subject to U.S. federal income tax (the effect of which could be mitigated by making a mark-to-market election in a year prior to the sale) on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Fund to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on a Fund in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains.

Each Fund will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income and capital gain dividends at the time they are paid and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the end of each calendar year, including the portion of the distributions that on average are comprised of exempt-interest income, taxable income and the portion of exempt-interest income that is a tax preference item when determining the alternative minimum tax. If you have not held Fund shares for a full year, a Fund may report and distribute to you, as exempt-interest income, taxable income, or capital gains a percentage of income that may not be equal to the actual amount of this type of income earned during the period of your investment in the Fund. Taxable distributions declared by a Fund in December to shareholders of record in such month but paid in January are taxable to you as if they were paid in December.

Each Fund intends to elect or has elected to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. Each Fund has qualified as a regulated investment company for its most recent fiscal year and intends to continue to qualify during the current fiscal year. As a regulated investment company, a Fund generally is not subject to entity-level federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. The Board of Trustees reserves the right not to distribute a Fund’s net long-term capital gain or not to maintain the qualification of a Fund as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders. If net long-term capital gain is retained, a Fund would be taxed on the gain at the highest corporate tax rate, and the shareholders of the Fund would be notified that they are entitled to a credit or refund for the tax paid by the Fund. If a Fund fails to qualify as a regulated investment company, the Fund would be subject to federal and possibly state corporate taxes on its taxable

income and gain, and distributions to you would be taxed as dividend income to the extent of the Fund’s earnings and profits.

In order to qualify as a regulated investment company for federal income tax purposes, each Fund must meet certain asset diversification, income, and distribution specific requirements, including:

(i) a Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to securities loans and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, 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 net income derived from interests in “qualified publicly traded partnerships” (i.e., partnerships that are traded on an established securities market or tradable on a secondary market, other than partnerships that derive 90% of their income from interest, dividends, capital gains, and other traditionally permitted mutual fund income);

(ii) a Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (a) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s assets is represented by cash, securities of other regulated investment companies, U.S. Government securities and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the Fund’s assets and not greater than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities or securities of other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer, any two or more issuers of which 20% or more of the voting stock is held by the Fund and that are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses or in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships; and

(iii) a Fund must distribute to its shareholders at least the sum of (i) 90% of its “investment company taxable income” (i.e., income other than its net realized long-term capital gain over its net realized short-term capital loss), plus or minus certain adjustments, and (ii) 90% of its net tax-exempt income for the taxable year. The Fund will be subject to income tax at regular corporation rates on any taxable income or gains that it does not distribute to its shareholders.

To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires a Fund to distribute to you by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98.2% of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. Each Fund intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which case you must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Sales, exchanges, and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) of Fund shares are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you sell your Fund shares, whether you receive cash or exchange them for shares of a different Fund, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your sale or exchange. If you owned your shares as a capital asset, any gain or loss that you realize generally is a capital gain or loss, and is long-term or short-term, depending on how long you owned your shares. Any redemption/exchange fees you incur on shares redeemed or exchanged within 90 days after the date they were purchased will decrease the amount of any capital gain (or increase any capital loss) you realize on the sale or exchange.

Redemption at a Loss Within Six Months of Purchase. Any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of Fund shares owned for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends paid to you with respect to your Fund shares, and any remaining will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gains distributed to you by the Fund on those shares.

Wash Sales. All or a portion of any loss that you realize on the sale of your Fund shares is disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Fund (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your sale. Any loss disallowed under these rules is added to your tax basis in the new shares.

Deferral of Basis – Class A shares only. In reporting gain or loss on the sale of your Fund shares, you may be required to adjust your basis in the shares you sell under the following circumstances:

In reporting any gain or loss on your sale, all or a portion of the sales charge that you paid for your original shares is excluded from your tax basis in the shares sold and added to your tax basis in the new shares.

Cost Basis Reporting. A Fund’s administrative agent will be required to provide you with cost basis information on the sale of any of your shares in a Fund, subject to certain exceptions. This cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased in a Fund on or after January 1, 2012.

The income earned on certain U.S. Government securities is exempt from state and local personal income taxes if earned directly by you. States also grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on these securities, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by a Fund. The income on Fund investments in certain securities, such as repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government obligations, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporations.

For individual shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by a Fund may be qualified dividends eligible for taxation at long-term capital gain rates. This reduced rate generally is available for dividends paid by a Fund out of dividends earned on the Fund’s investment in stocks of domestic corporations and qualified foreign corporations. Dividends from PFICs are not eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. Either none or only a nominal portion of the dividends paid by certain Funds will be qualified dividend income because they invest primarily in non-qualified foreign securities. Income dividends earned by the Funds on non-qualified foreign securities will continue to be taxed at the higher ordinary income tax rate. A Fund’s entry into securities lending transactions may cause the replacement income earned on the loaned securities to fall outside the definition of qualified dividend income. In addition, if a Fund’s shares are loaned pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, dividends paid while the shares are held by the borrower may not be qualified dividend income.

Both a Fund and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Fund dividends for this treatment. Specifically, a Fund must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Fund shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Fund distribution goes ex-dividend. The ex-dividend date is the first date following the declaration of a dividend on which the purchaser of stock is not entitled to receive the dividend payment. When counting the number of days you held your Fund shares, include the day you sold your shares but not the day you acquired these shares.

While the income received in the form of a qualified dividend is taxed at the same rates as long-term capital gains, such income will not be considered as a long-term capital gain for other federal income tax purposes. For example, you will not be allowed to offset your long-term capital losses against qualified dividend income on your federal income tax return. Any qualified dividend income that you elect to be taxed at these reduced rates also cannot be used as investment income in determining your allowable investment interest expense. For other limitations on the amount of or use of qualified dividend income on your income tax return, please contact your personal tax advisor.

After the close of its fiscal year, a Fund will report the portion of its ordinary dividend income that meets the definition of qualified dividend income taxable at reduced rates. If

95% or more of a Fund’s income is from qualified sources, it will be allowed to report 100% of its ordinary income distributions as qualified dividend income.

For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by a Fund may qualify for the dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by a Fund that qualifies for the corporate dividends-received deduction will be reported each year in a notice mailed to the Fund’s shareholders, and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Fund from domestic (U.S.) corporations that would have qualified for the dividends-received deduction in the hands of the Fund if the Fund was a regular corporation. Either none or only a nominal portion of the dividends paid by certain Funds will be eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction because they invest primarily in foreign securities. A Fund’s entry into securities lending transactions may cause the replacement income earned on the loaned securities to fail to qualify for the dividends received deduction. In addition, if a Fund’s shares are loaned pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, dividends paid while the shares are held by the borrower may not qualify for the dividends received deduction.

The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions imposed under the Code on the corporation claiming the deduction. The amount that a Fund may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Fund were debt-financed or held by the Fund for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Fund shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Fund dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated.

For tax years beginning before January 1, 2026, a Fund may report “section 199A dividends” eligible for a 20% “qualified business income” deduction for non-corporate US shareholders to the extent the Fund’s income is derived from ordinary REIT dividends, reduced by allocable Fund expenses. In order for a Fund’s dividends to be eligible for the qualified business income deduction, the Fund must meet certain holding period requirements with respect to the shares on which the Fund received the eligible dividends, and the shareholder must meet certain holding period requirements with respect to the Fund shares.

Interest on certain private activity bonds, while exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax, is a preference item for you when determining your alternative minimum tax under the Code and under the income tax provisions of several states. Private activity bond interest could subject non-corporate shareholders to or increase their liability under the federal and state alternative minimum taxes, depending on their tax position. If you are a person defined in the Code as a substantial user (or person related to a user) of a facility financed by private activity bonds, you should consult with your tax adviser before buying shares of the Fund.

Interest on debt you incur to buy or hold Fund shares may not be deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Indebtedness may be allocated to shares of a Fund even though not directly traceable to the purchase of such shares.

Failure of the issuer of a tax-exempt security to comply with certain legal or contractual requirements relating to the security could cause interest on the security, as well as Fund distributions derived from this interest, to become taxable, perhaps retroactively to the date the security was issued. In such a case, the Fund may be required to report to the IRS and send to shareholders amended Forms 1099 for a prior taxable year in order to report additional taxable income. This, in turn, could require shareholders to file amended federal and state income tax returns for such prior year to report and pay tax and interest on their pro rata share of the additional amount of taxable income.

Each Fund may invest in complex securities (e.g., futures, options, forward currency contracts, short-sales, PFICs, etc.) that may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect whether gain or loss recognized by a Fund is treated as ordinary or capital, or as interest or dividend income. These rules could also accelerate the recognition of income to a Fund (possibly causing the Fund to sell securities to raise the cash for necessary distributions). These rules could defer a Fund’s ability to recognize a loss, and, in limited cases, subject a Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain foreign securities. These rules could, therefore, affect the amount, timing, or character of the income distributed to you by a Fund. For example:

Derivatives. A Fund may be permitted to invest in certain options, futures or forward currency contracts to hedge a Fund’s portfolio or for any other permissible purposes consistent with that Fund’s investment objective. If a Fund makes these investments, it could be required to mark-to-market these contracts and realize any unrealized gains and losses at its fiscal year end even though it continues to hold the contracts. Under these rules, gains or losses on the contracts generally would be treated as 60% long-term and 40% short-term gains or losses, but gains or losses on certain foreign currency contracts would be treated as ordinary income or losses. In determining its net income for excise tax purposes, a Fund also would be required to mark-to-market these contracts annually as of October 31 (for capital gain net income and ordinary income arising from certain foreign currency contracts), and to realize and distribute any resulting income and gains.

Tax straddles. A Fund’s investment in options, futures, forwards, or foreign currency contracts (or in substantially similar or related property) in connection with certain hedging transactions could cause it to hold offsetting positions in securities. If a Fund’s risk of loss with respect to specific securities in its portfolio is substantially diminished by the fact that it holds other securities, the Fund could be deemed to have entered into a tax “straddle” or to hold a “successor position” that would require any loss realized by it to be deferred for tax purposes.

Short sales and securities lending transactions. A Fund’s entry into a short sale transaction or an option or other contract could be treated as the “constructive sale” of an “appreciated financial position,” causing it to realize gain, but not loss, on the position. Additionally, a Fund’s entry into securities lending transactions may cause the replacement income earned on the loaned securities to fall outside of the definition of qualified dividend income and to fail to qualify for the dividends received deduction. This replacement income generally will not be eligible for reduced rates of taxation on qualified dividend income, and, to the extent that debt securities are loaned, will generally not qualify as qualified interest income for foreign withholding tax purposes.

Convertible debt. Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a “single property” consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt.

Securities purchased at discount. Certain Funds may be permitted to invest in securities issued or purchased at a discount such as zero coupon, deferred interest or payment-in-kind (PIK) bonds that could require it to accrue and distribute income not yet received. Similar requirements may apply to securities purchased with market discount. If it invests in these securities, a Fund could be required to sell securities in its portfolio that it otherwise might have continued to hold in order to generate sufficient cash to make these distributions.

Credit default swap agreements. A Fund may be permitted to enter into credit default swap agreements. The rules governing the tax aspects of swap agreements that provide for contingent nonperiodic payments of this type are in a developing stage and are not entirely clear in certain aspects. Accordingly, while a Fund intends to account for such transactions in a manner deemed to be appropriate, the IRS might not accept such treatment. The Funds intend to monitor developments in this area. Certain requirements that must be met under the Code in order for a Fund to qualify as a regulated investment company may limit the extent to which a Fund will be able to engage in credit default swap agreements.

Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income). The Funds may invest in U.S.-REITs that hold residual interests in real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs) or which are, or have certain wholly-owned subsidiaries that are, “taxable mortgage pools.” A portion of a Fund’s income from a U.S.-REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a REMIC or equity interests in a taxable mortgage pool (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a 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 REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) to entities (including a qualified pension plan, an individual retirement account, a 401(k) plan, a Keogh plan or other tax-exempt

entity) subject to tax on UBTI, thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a non-U.S. shareholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities and tax-exempt organizations that are not subject to tax on UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations.

The rules concerning excess inclusion income are complex and unduly burdensome in their current form, and the Funds are awaiting further guidance from the IRS on how these rules are to be implemented. Shareholders should talk to their tax advisors about whether an investment in a Fund is a suitable investment given the potential tax consequences of the Fund’s receipt and distribution of excess inclusion income.

Investments in securities of uncertain tax character. A Fund may invest in securities the U.S. federal income tax treatment of which may not be clear or may be subject to recharacterization by the IRS. To the extent the tax treatment of such securities or the income from such securities differs from the tax treatment expected by a Fund, it could affect the timing or character of income recognized by the Fund, requiring the Fund to purchase or sell securities, or otherwise change its portfolio, in order to comply with the tax rules applicable to regulated investment companies under the Code. In the event that the Fund were to experience an ownership change as defined under the Code, the Fund’s loss carryforwards if any may be subject to limitation.

By law, each Fund must withhold 24% of your taxable distributions and redemption proceeds unless you provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number, certify that this number is correct, certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). A Fund also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors are described under the “Non-U.S. Investors” heading below.

Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.

In general. The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by a Fund, but not on capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the

proceeds from the sale of your Fund shares, will be subject to backup withholding if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

Exempt-interest dividends. In general, exempt-interest dividends reported by the Fund and paid from net tax-exempt income are not subject to U.S. withholding tax.

Capital gain dividends. In general, a capital gain dividend reported by a Fund and paid from its net long-term capital gains, other than long- or short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below), are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.

Investment in U.S. real property. A Fund may invest in equity securities of corporations that invest in U.S. real property, including U.S. Real Estate Investment Trusts (“U.S.-REITs”). The sale of a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) by a Fund, or by a U.S.-REIT in which the Fund invests, may trigger special tax consequences to the Fund’s non-U.S. shareholders.

In general, U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to any gain or income realized by a non-U.S. shareholder in respect of any distributions of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses, exempt-interest dividends, or upon the sale or other disposition of Fund shares.

Distributions that a Fund reports as “short-term capital gain dividends” or “long-term capital gain dividends” will not be treated as such to a recipient foreign shareholder if the distribution is attributable to gain received from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property or an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation and a Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property exceeded certain levels. Instead, if the foreign shareholder has not owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of a Fund at any time during the one year period ending on the date of distribution, such distributions will be subject to 30% withholding by a Fund and will be treated as ordinary dividends to the foreign shareholder; if the foreign shareholder owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of a Fund at any time during the one year period ending on the date of the distribution, such distribution will be treated as real property gain subject to 21% withholding tax and could subject the foreign shareholder to U.S. filing requirements. Additionally, if a Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property were to exceed certain levels, a foreign shareholder realizing gains upon redemption from a Fund could be subject to the 21% withholding tax and U.S. filing requirements unless more than 50% of a Fund’s shares were owned by U.S. persons at such time or unless the foreign person had not held more than 5% of a Fund’s outstanding shares throughout either such person’s holding period for the redeemed shares or, if shorter, the previous five years.

In addition, the same rules apply with respect to distributions to a foreign shareholder from a Fund and redemptions of a foreign shareholder’s interest in a Fund attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property or an interest in a U.S. real property holding corporation, if a Fund’s direct or indirect interests in U.S. real property were to exceed certain levels.

The rules laid out in the previous two paragraphs, other than the withholding rules, will apply notwithstanding a Fund’s participation in a wash sale transaction or its payment of a substitute dividend.

Provided that 50% or more of the value of a Fund’s stock is held by U.S. shareholders, distributions in kind of U.S. real property interests (including securities in a U.S. real property holding corporation, unless such corporation is regularly traded on an established securities market and the Fund has held 5% or less of the outstanding shares of the corporation during the five-year period ending on the date of distribution), in redemption of a foreign shareholder’s shares of the Fund will cause the Fund to recognize gain. If the Fund is required to recognize gain, the amount of gain recognized will equal to the fair market value of such interests over the Fund’s adjusted bases to the extent of the greatest foreign ownership percentage of the Fund during the five-year period ending on the date of redemption.

Shares of a Fund held by a non-U.S. shareholder at death will be considered situated within the United States and subject to the U.S. estate tax, if applicable.

Because each Fund expects to invest less than 50% of its assets at all times, directly or indirectly, in U.S. real property interests, the Funds expect that neither gain on the sale or redemption of Fund shares nor Fund dividends and distributions would be subject to the reporting and tax withholding rules described above.

U.S tax certification rules. Special U.S. tax certification requirements apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. backup withholding and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder’s country of residence. In general, a non-U.S. shareholder must provide a Form W-8BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect.

Withholding. A 30% withholding tax is currently imposed on dividends and certain other types of income paid to (i) foreign financial institutions including non-U.S. investment funds unless they agree to collect and disclose to the IRS information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. account holders and (ii) certain other foreign entities, unless they certify certain information regarding their direct and indirect U.S. owners. To avoid withholding, foreign financial institutions will need to (i) enter into agreements with the IRS that state that they will provide the IRS information, including the names, addresses and taxpayer identification numbers of direct and indirect U.S. account holders, comply with due diligence procedures with respect to the identification of U.S. accounts, report to the IRS certain information with respect to U.S. accounts maintained, agree to withhold tax on certain payments made to non-compliant foreign financial institutions or to account holders who fail to provide the required information, and determine certain other information as to their account holders, or (ii) in the event that an intergovernmental agreement and implementing legislation is adopted, provide local revenue authorities with similar account

holder information. Other foreign entities will need to either provide the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner or certifications of no substantial U.S. ownership unless certain exceptions apply.

The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a Fund, including the applicability of foreign tax.

If a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases exempted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not exempted. 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.

The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this Statement of Additional Information. In addition, future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder's particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in a Fund.

This discussion of “ADDITIONAL GENERAL TAX INFORMATION FOR THE FUNDS” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice and does not purport to deal with all U.S. federal tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances before making an investment in a Fund.

Persons or organizations beneficially owning more than 25% of the outstanding shares of a Fund are presumed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. As a result, those persons or organizations could have the ability to take action with respect to a Fund without the consent or approval of other shareholders. As of October 31, 2020, there were no shareholders shown in the Trust’s records as owning more than 25% of a Fund’s shares.

As of October 31, 2020, the following shareholders were shown in the Trust’s records as owning 5% or more of any class of each Fund’s shares. The Trust does not know of any other person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of a Fund’s shares except as set forth below.

Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. (“Adviser”), Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited (“AAML”) and Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited (“ASIAL”) (collectively referred to as “Aberdeen Standard Investments” or “ASI”)

ASI’s remuneration policies are designed to support its business strategy as a leading international asset manager. The objective is to attract, retain and reward talented individuals for the delivery of sustained, superior returns for ASI’s clients and shareholders. ASI operates in a highly competitive international employment market, and aims to maintain its strong track record of success in developing and retaining talent.

ASI’s policy is to recognize corporate and individual achievements each year through an appropriate annual bonus scheme. The bonus is a single, fully discretionary variable pay award. The aggregate value of awards in any year is dependent on the group’s overall performance and profitability. Consideration is also given to the levels of bonuses paid in the market. Individual awards, which are payable to all members of staff, are determined by a rigorous assessment of achievement against defined objectives.

The variable pay award comprises a mixture of cash and a deferred award based on the size of the award. Deferred awards are by default Standard Life Aberdeen shares, with an option to put up to 50% of deferral into funds. Overall compensation packages are designed to be competitive relative to the investment management industry.

ASI’s policy is to pay a fair salary commensurate with the individual’s role, responsibilities and experience, and having regard to the market rates being offered for similar roles in the asset management sector and other comparable companies. Any increase is generally to reflect inflation and is applied in a manner consistent with other ASI employees; any other increases must be justified by reference to promotion or changes in responsibilities.

The Remuneration Committee determines the key performance indicators that will be applied in considering the overall size of the bonus pool. In line with practices amongst other asset management companies, individual bonuses are not subject to an absolute cap. However, the aggregate size of the bonus pool is dependent on the group’s overall performance and profitability. Consideration is also given to the levels of bonuses paid in the market. Individual awards are determined by a rigorous assessment of achievement against defined objectives, and are reviewed and approved by the Remuneration Committee.

ASI has a deferral policy which is intended to assist in the retention of talent and to create additional alignment of executives’ interests with ASI’s sustained performance and, in

respect of the deferral into funds, managed by ASI, to align the interest of asset managers with our clients.

Staff performance is reviewed formally at least once a year. The review process evaluates the various aspects that the individual has contributed to ASI, and specifically, in the case of portfolio managers, to the relevant investment team. Discretionary bonuses are based on client service, asset growth and the performance of the respective portfolio manager. Overall participation in team meetings, generation of original research ideas and contribution to presenting the team externally are also evaluated.

In the calculation of a portfolio management team’s bonus, ASI takes into consideration investment matters (which include the performance of funds, adherence to the company investment process, and quality of company meetings) as well as more subjective issues such as team participation and effectiveness at client presentations through KPI scorecards. To the extent performance is factored in, such performance is not judged against any specific benchmark and is evaluated over the period of a year - January to December. The pre- or after-tax performance of an individual account is not considered in the determination of a portfolio manager’s discretionary bonus; rather the review process evaluates the overall performance of the team for all of the accounts the team manages.

Portfolio manager performance on investment matters is judged over all of the accounts the portfolio manager contributes to and is documented in the appraisal process. A combination of the team’s and individual’s performance is considered and evaluated.

Although performance is not a substantial portion of a portfolio manager’s compensation, ASI also recognizes that fund performance can often be driven by factors outside one’s control, such as (irrational) markets, and as such pays attention to the effort by portfolio managers to ensure integrity of our core process by sticking to disciplines and processes set, regardless of momentum and ‘hot’ themes. Short-terming is thus discouraged and trading-oriented managers will thus find it difficult to thrive in the ASI environment. Additionally, if any of the aforementioned undue risks were to be taken by a portfolio manager, such trend would be identified via ASI’s dynamic compliance monitoring system.

In rendering investment management services, the Adviser may use the resources of additional investment adviser subsidiaries of Standard Life Aberdeen plc. These affiliates have entered into a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) pursuant to which investment professionals from each affiliate may render portfolio management, research or trading services to Aberdeen clients. Each investment professional who renders portfolio management, research or trading services under a MOU or personnel sharing arrangement (“Participating Affiliate”) must comply with the provisions of the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the laws of states or countries in which the Adviser does business or has clients. No remuneration is paid by the Fund with respect to the MOU/personnel sharing arrangements.

The following chart summarizes information regarding accounts for which each portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities. Accounts are grouped into the following three categories: (1) registered investment companies; (2) other pooled investment vehicles; and (3) other accounts. To the extent that any of these accounts pay advisory fees that are based on account performance (“performance-based fees”), information on those accounts is provided separately. The figures in the chart below for the category of “registered investment companies” do not include the Funds listed under each portfolio manager’s name in the opposite column. The “Other Accounts Managed” represents the accounts managed by the teams of which the portfolio manager is a member.

Aberdeen Standard Investments (Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. and Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited)

The portfolio managers’ management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of a Fund's investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby the portfolio manager could favor one account over another. However, the Adviser believes that these risks are mitigated by the fact that: (i) accounts with like investment strategies managed by a particular portfolio manager are generally managed in a similar fashion, subject to exceptions to account for particular investment restrictions or policies applicable only to certain accounts, differences in cash flows and account sizes, and similar factors; and (ii) portfolio manager personal trading is monitored to avoid potential conflicts. In addition, the Adviser has adopted trade allocation procedures that require equitable allocation of trade orders for a particular security among participating accounts.

In some cases, another account managed by the same portfolio manager may compensate Aberdeen based on the performance of the portfolio held by that account. The existence of such a performance-based fee may create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time, resources and investment opportunities.

Another potential conflict could include instances in which securities considered as investments for the Fund also may be appropriate for other investment accounts managed by the Adviser or its affiliates. Whenever decisions are made to buy or sell securities by the Fund and one or more of the other accounts simultaneously, the Adviser may aggregate the purchases and sales of the securities and will allocate the securities transactions in a manner that it believes to be equitable under the circumstances. As a result of the allocations, there may be instances where the Fund will not participate in a transaction that is allocated among other accounts. While these aggregation and allocation policies could have a detrimental effect on the price or amount of the securities available to the Fund from time to time, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the benefits from the policies outweigh any disadvantage that may arise from exposure to simultaneous transactions. The Trust has adopted policies that are designed to eliminate or minimize conflicts of interest, although there is no guarantee that procedures adopted under such policies will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

With respect to non-discretionary model delivery accounts, Aberdeen will deliver model changes subsequent to commencing trading on behalf of discretionary accounts. Model changes are typically delivered on a security by security basis. The timing of such delivery is determined by Aberdeen and will depend on the anticipated market impact of trading. Market impact includes, but is not limited to, factors such as liquidity and price impact. When minimal market impact is anticipated, Aberdeen typically delivers security level model changes after such time when approximately two-thirds of the full discretionary order has been executed. Although Aberdeen anticipates delivering model changes of such securities after approximately two-thirds of the discretionary order has been executed, Aberdeen may deliver model changes prior to or substantially after two-thirds have been executed depending on prevailing market conditions and

trader discretion. With respect to securities for which Aberdeen anticipates a more significant market impact, Aberdeen intends to withhold model deliver changes until such time when the entire discretionary order has been fully executed. Anticipated market impact on any given security is determined at the sole discretion of Aberdeen based on prior market experience and current market conditions. Actual market impact may vary significantly from anticipated market impact. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, Aberdeen may provide order instructions simultaneously or prior to completion of trading for other accounts if the trade represents a relatively small proportion of the average daily trading volume of the particular security or other instrument.

Aberdeen does not trade for non-discretionary model delivery clients. Because model changes may be delivered to non-discretionary model clients prior to the completion of Aberdeen’s discretionary account trading, Aberdeen may compete against these clients in the market when attempting to execute its orders for its discretionary accounts. As a result, discretionary clients may experience negative price and liquidity impact due to multiple market participants attempting to trade in a similar direction on the same security.

Timing delays or other operational factors associated with the implementation of trades may result in non-discretionary and model delivery clients receiving materially different prices relative to other client accounts. This may create performance dispersions within accounts with the same or similar investment mandate.

Investment decisions for strategies that have model delivery clients may cause a Fund to compete against such model delivery clients that hold and trade in a same security as the Fund.

Where clients appoint Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) to vote proxies on their behalf policies have been established to vote these proxies in the best interests of our clients.

We employ ISS as a service provider to deliver our voting decisions efficiently to companies. We require ISS to provide recommendations based on our own set of parameters tailored to ASI’s assessment and approach, but remain conscious always that all voting decisions are our own on behalf of our clients. We consider ISS’s recommendations and those based on our custom parameters as input to our voting decisions.

An ASI analyst will assess the resolutions at general meetings in our active investment portfolios. This analysis will be based on our knowledge of the company, but will also make use of the custom and standard recommendations provided by ISS as described above. The product of this analysis will be a final voting decision instructed through ISS and applied to all funds for which ASI have been appointed to vote.

There may be certain circumstances where ASI may take a more limited role in voting proxies. We will not vote proxies for client accounts in which the client contract specifies that ASI will not vote. We may abstain from voting a client proxy if the voting is uneconomic or otherwise not in clients’ best interests. For companies held only in passively managed portfolios the ASI custom recommendations provided by ISS will be used to automatically apply our voting approach; we have scope to intervene to test that this delivers appropriate results, and will on occasions intrude to apply a vote more fully in clients’ best interests. If voting securities are part of a securities lending program, we may be unable to vote while the securities are on loan. However, we have the ability to recall shares on loan or to restrict lending when required, in order to ensure all shares have voted. In addition, certain jurisdictions may impose share-blocking restrictions at various times which may prevent ASI from exercising our voting authority.

We recognize that there may be situations in which we vote at a company meeting where we encounter a conflict of interest. Such situations include:

In order to manage such conflicts of interests, we have established procedures to escalate decision-making so as to ensure that our voting decisions are based on our clients’ best interests and are not impacted by any conflict.

Clients may obtain a free copy of ASI Inc.’s proxy voting policies and procedures and/or proxy voting records for their account by contacting us at (215) 405-5700. ASI publishes Stewardship Principles, which describe our approach to investment analysis, shareholder engagement and proxy voting across companies worldwide. They are published on our website.

Clients that have not granted ASI Inc. voting authority over securities held in their accounts will receive their proxies in accordance with the arrangements they have made with their service providers.

Summary	Page

Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund	1
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund	9
Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund	17

Additional Information about Principal Strategies	23
Additional Information about Investments, Investment Techniques and Risks	25

Fund Management	33

Investment Adviser	33
Subadvisers	33
Management Fees	33
Portfolio Management	34
Multi-Manager Structure	36

Investing with Aberdeen Funds	38

Share Classes	38
Sales Charges and Fees	44
Contacting Aberdeen Funds	46
Buying, Exchanging and Selling Shares	48
Unclaimed Share Accounts	54

Distributions and Taxes	55

Income and Capital Gain Distributions	55
Tax Considerations	55
Selling and Exchanging Shares	56
Tax Status for Retirement Plans and Other Tax-Deferred Accounts	56
Backup Withholding	56
Other	56

Financial Highlights	58
Broker-Defined Sales Charge Waiver Policies	68

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)	Class A Shares			Class C Shares			Class R Shares			Institutional Class Shares			Institutional Service Class Shares
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed upon purchases (as a percentage of offering price)		5.75	%		None			None			None			None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of offering or sale price, whichever is less)		1.00	%(1)		1.00	%(2)		None			None			None
Small Account Fee(3)	$	20		$	20			None		$	20		$	20
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fees		0.75	%		0.75	%		0.75	%		0.75	%		0.75	%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees		0.25	%		1.00	%		0.50	%		None			None
Other Expenses		1.13	%		1.09	%		1.07	%		1.19	%		1.18	%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		2.13	%		2.84	%		2.32	%		1.94	%		1.93	%
Less: Amount of Fee Limitations/Expense Reimbursements(4)		0.89	%		0.94	%		0.89	%		1.04	%		0.89	%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Limitations/Expense Reimbursements		1.24	%		1.90	%		1.43	%		0.90	%		1.04	%

	1 Year		3 Years		5 Years		10 Years
Class A shares	$	694	$	1,123	$	1,576	$	2,829
Class C shares	$	293	$	791	$	1,416	$	3,099
Class R shares	$	146	$	639	$	1,159	$	2,587
Institutional Class shares	$	92	$	508	$	950	$	2,180
Institutional Service Class shares	$	106	$	520	$	959	$	2,182

		1 Year			3 Years			5 Years			10 Years
Class C shares		$	193		$	791		$	1,416		$	3,099

	1 Year			5 Years			10 Years
Class A shares – Before Taxes		26.78	%		6.92	%		4.94	%
Class C shares – Before Taxes		32.28	%		7.44	%		4.83	%
Class C shares – After Taxes on Distributions		24.93	%		0.44	%		0.65	%
Class C shares – After Taxes on Distributions and Sales of Shares		23.13	%		4.62	%		3.11	%
Class R shares – Before Taxes		33.98	%		7.80	%		5.18	%
Institutional Class shares – Before Taxes		35.02	%		8.55	%		5.90	%
Institutional Service Class shares – Before Taxes		34.75	%		8.36	%		5.70	%
Russell 2500^® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)		27.77	%		8.92	%		12.58	%
S&P 500^® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)		31.49	%		11.70	%		13.56	%

Name	Title	Served on the Fund Since
Ralph Bassett, CFA^®	Head of North American Equities		2008
Jason Kotik, CFA^®	Investment Director		2004*
Timothy Skiendzielewski, CFA^®	Investment Director		2012
Qie Zhang, CFA^®	Investment Director		2008

CLASS A and CLASS C SHARES
To open an account	$	1,000
To open an IRA account	$	1,000
Additional investments	$	50
To start an Automatic
Investment Plan	$	1,000
Additional Investments
(Automatic Investment Plan)	$	50

CLASS R SHARES
To open an account		No Minimum
Additional investments		No Minimum

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES
To open an account	$	1,000,000
Additional investments		No Minimum

INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE CLASS SHARES
To open an account	$	1,000,000
Additional investments		No Minimum

Name	Title	Served on the Fund Since
Fiona Manning, CFA^®	Investment Director	2020
William Scholes, CFA^®	Investment Director	2020
David A. Smith, CFA^®	Head of Corporate Governance, Asia	2020

	U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund	U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund	Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund
Cybersecurity Risk	✓	✓	✓
Emerging Markets Risk			✓
Equity Securities Risk	✓	✓	✓
Foreign Currency Exposure Risk	✓	✓	✓
Foreign Securities Risk	✓	✓	✓
Issuer Risk	✓	✓	✓
Management Risk	✓	✓	✓
Market Risk	✓	✓	✓
Mid-Cap Securities Risk	✓	✓	✓
Sector Risk	✓	✓	✓
Securities Lending	✓	✓	✓
Small-Cap Securities Risk	✓	✓	✓
Sustainable Investing Risk	✓	✓	✓
Temporary Investments	✓	✓	✓
Valuation Risk	✓	✓	✓

Fund Assets	Management Fee			Actual Rate for Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2020
Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund
On assets up to $500 million		0.75	%		0.00	%
On assets of $500 million up to $2 billion		0.70	%
On assets of $2 billion and more		0.65	%
Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund
On assets up to $500 million		0.75	%		0.68	%
On assets of $500 million up to $2 billion		0.70	%
On assets of $2 billion and more		0.65	%
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund
On all assets		0.80	%		0.78	%

Name of Fund/Class	Expense Limitation
Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund		0.90	%
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund		1.10	%
Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund		0.90	%

Front-end sales charge up to 5.75% for Class A Shares.	The offering price of the shares includes a front-end sales charge which means that a portion of your initial investment goes toward the sales charge and is not invested.

Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) up to 1.00% (1)	Reduction and waivers of sales charges may be available.

Annual service and/or 12b-1 fee of 0.25% Administrative services fee of up to 0.25%	Total annual operating expenses are lower than Class C expenses which means higher dividends and/or NAV per share. No conversion feature. No maximum investment amount.

Class C Shares
No front-end sales charge.	No front-end sales charge means your full investment immediately goes toward buying shares.

CDSC of 1.00% (2)	No reduction of CDSC, but waivers may be available. The CDSC declines to zero after one year.

Annual service and/or 12b-1 fee of 1.00% No administrative services fee	Total annual operating expenses are higher than Class A expenses, which means lower dividends and/or NAV per share. Converts to Class A shares after approximately 10 years. Maximum investment amount of $1,000,000 (3). Larger investments may be rejected.

	Sales Charge as a Percentage of						Dealer Commission
				Net Amount Invested			as Percentage of
Amount of Purchase	Offering Price*			(Approximately)			Offering Price
Less than $50,000		5.75	%		6.10	%		5.00	%
$50,000 up to $100,000		4.75			4.99			4.00
$100,000 up to $250,000		3.50			3.63			3.00
$250,000 up to $500,000		2.50			2.56			2.00
$500,000 up to $1 million		2.00			2.04			1.75
$1 million or more		None			None			None**

Amount of Purchase	Amount of CDSC
$1 Million up to $4 Million		1.00	%
$4 Million up to $25 Million		0.50	%
$25 Million or More		0.25	%

	As a % of
Class	Daily Net Assets
Class A		0.25	%
		(distribution or service fee)
Class C		1.00	%
		(0.25% service fee)
Class R		0.50	%
(0.25% of which will be a distribution fee and 0.25% of which will be a service fee)

			Investment Activities									Distributions
	Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period		Net Investment Income (Loss) (a)			Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments			Total from Investment Activities			Net Investment Income			Net Realized Gains			Total Distributions			Net Asset Value, End of Period		Total Return (b)(c)
Class A Shares
Six Months Ended April 30, 2020*	$	7.59	$	(0.01	)	$	0.10		$	0.09		$	–	(i)	$	(0.46	)	$	(0.46	)	$	7.22		0.87	%
Year Ended October 31, 2019		6.85		0.01			1.09			1.10			–			(0.36	)		(0.36	)		7.59		17.62	%
Year Ended October 31, 2018		8.52		0.02			0.62			0.64			–			(2.31	)		(2.31	)		6.85		8.32	%
Year Ended October 31, 2017		8.81		(0.12	)		0.90			0.78			–			(1.07	)		(1.07	)		8.52		9.69	%
Year Ended October 31, 2016		10.30		(0.15	)		(0.04	)		(0.19	)		–			(1.30	)		(1.30	)		8.81		(1.68	%)
Year Ended October 31, 2015		12.26		(0.13	)		0.26			0.13			–			(2.09	)		(2.09	)		10.30		1.18	%
Class C Shares
Six Months Ended April 30, 2020*		2.08		(0.01	)		0.05			0.04			(0.01	)		(0.46	)		(0.47	)		1.65		0.29	%
Year Ended October 31, 2019		2.17		(0.01	)		0.28			0.27			–			(0.36	)		(0.36	)		2.08		17.22	%
Year Ended October 31, 2018		4.22		(0.01	)		0.27			0.26			–			(2.31	)		(2.31	)		2.17		7.45	%
Year Ended October 31, 2017		4.92		(0.09	)		0.46			0.37			–			(1.07	)		(1.07	)		4.22		8.89	%
Year Ended October 31, 2016		6.38		(0.12	)		(0.04	)		(0.16	)		–			(1.30	)		(1.30	)		4.92		(2.35	%)
Year Ended October 31, 2015		8.43		(0.13	)		0.17			0.04			–			(2.09	)		(2.09	)		6.38		0.51	%
Class R Shares
Six Months Ended April 30, 2020*		6.73		(0.02	)		0.09			0.07			–			(0.46	)		(0.46	)		6.34		0.63	%
Year Ended October 31, 2019		6.13		(0.01	)		0.97			0.96			–			(0.36	)		(0.36	)		6.73		17.39	%
Year Ended October 31, 2018		7.88		–	(i)		0.56			0.56			–			(2.31	)		(2.31	)		6.13		7.89	%
Year Ended October 31, 2017		8.25		(0.13	)		0.83			0.70			–			(1.07	)		(1.07	)		7.88		9.35	%
Year Ended October 31, 2016		9.76		(0.17	)		(0.04	)		(0.21	)		–			(1.30	)		(1.30	)		8.25		(2.01	%)
Year Ended October 31, 2015		11.77		(0.16	)		0.24			0.08			–			(2.09	)		(2.09	)		9.76		0.74	%
Institutional Service Class Shares
Six Months Ended April 30, 2020*		7.92		–	(i)		0.10			0.10			(0.01	)		(0.46	)		(0.47	)		7.55		0.93	%
Year Ended October 31, 2019		7.11		0.03			1.14			1.17			–			(0.36	)		(0.36	)		7.92		17.96	%
Year Ended October 31, 2018		8.75		0.04			0.63			0.67			–			(2.31	)		(2.31	)		7.11		8.50	%
Year Ended October 31, 2017		9.00		(0.10	)		0.92			0.82			–			(1.07	)		(1.07	)		8.75		9.96	%
Year Ended October 31, 2016		10.48		(0.14	)		(0.04	)		(0.18	)		–			(1.30	)		(1.30	)		9.00		(1.54	%)
Year Ended October 31, 2015		12.44		(0.12	)		0.25			0.13			–			(2.09	)		(2.09	)		10.48		1.16	%
Institutional Class Shares
Six Months Ended April 30, 2020*		8.20		0.01			0.10			0.11			(0.01	)		(0.46	)		(0.47	)		7.84		1.03	%
Year Ended October 31, 2019		7.34		0.04			1.18			1.22			–			(0.36	)		(0.36	)		8.20		18.10	%
Year Ended October 31, 2018		8.95		0.05			0.65			0.70			–			(2.31	)		(2.31	)		7.34		8.69	%
Year Ended October 31, 2017		9.17		(0.10	)		0.95			0.85			–			(1.07	)		(1.07	)		8.95		10.12	%
Year Ended October 31, 2016		10.64		(0.13	)		(0.04	)		(0.17	)		–			(1.30	)		(1.30	)		9.17		(1.40	%)
Year Ended October 31, 2015		12.56		(0.10	)		0.27			0.17			–			(2.09	)		(2.09	)		10.64		1.52	%

*	Unaudited
(a)	Net investment income/(loss) is based on average shares outstanding during the period.

(b)	Excludes sales charge.
(c)	Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(d)	Annualized for periods less than one year.
(e)	During the period, certain fees were waived and/or reimbursed. If such waivers/reimbursements had not occurred, the ratios would have been as indicated.
(f)	Indicates the dividend expense charged for the period to average net assets.

		Ratios/Supplemental Data
Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)		Ratio of Expenses (Net of Reimbursements/ Waivers) to Average Net Assets (d)			Ratio of Expenses (Prior to Reimbursements) to Average Net Assets (d)(e)			Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets (d)			Dividend Expense (f)(g)			Portfolio Turnover (c)(h)
$	7,017		1.25	%(j)		2.11	%(j)		(0.20	%)		–			19.02	%
	8,481		1.25	%		2.09	%		0.20	%		–			54.04	%
	7,466		1.32	%(j)		2.03	%(j)		0.34	%		0.04	%		112.97	%
	9,479		2.80	%(j)		3.22	%(j)		(1.39	%)		1.18	%		35.38	%
	11,397		3.04	%		3.28	%		(1.70	%)		1.45	%		36.34	%
	16,869		2.93	%(j)		3.12	%(j)		(1.21	%)		1.36	%		14.04	%

	4,493		1.90	%(j)		2.84	%(j)		(0.86	%)		–			19.02	%
	4,734		1.90	%		2.83	%		(0.48	%)		–			54.04	%
	1,345		1.97	%(j)		2.77	%(j)		(0.32	%)		0.04	%		112.97	%
	1,837		3.47	%(j)		4.09	%(j)		(2.05	%)		1.21	%		35.38	%
	3,430		3.69	%		4.02	%		(2.33	%)		1.44	%		36.34	%
	7,480		3.61	%(j)		3.80	%(j)		(1.90	%)		1.35	%		14.04	%

	1,792		1.55	%(j)		2.41	%(j)		(0.51	%)		–			19.02	%
	1,924		1.55	%		2.39	%		(0.09	%)		–			54.04	%
	1,895		1.69	%(j)		2.40	%(j)		(0.04	%)		0.04	%		112.97	%
	2,269		3.14	%(j)		3.56	%(j)		(1.72	%)		1.18	%		35.38	%
	2,633		3.34	%		3.58	%		(2.01	%)		1.44	%		36.34	%
	3,202		3.35	%(j)		3.54	%(j)		(1.65	%)		1.34	%		14.04	%

	485		1.07	%(j)		1.93	%(j)		(0.03	%)		–			19.02	%
	480		1.05	%		1.89	%		0.45	%		–			54.04	%
	679		1.07	%(j)		1.79	%(j)		0.55	%		0.04	%		112.97	%
	840		2.62	%(j)		3.04	%(j)		(1.21	%)		1.17	%		35.38	%
	693		2.85	%		3.10	%		(1.54	%)		1.43	%		36.34	%
	789		2.86	%(j)		3.05	%(j)		(1.13	%)		1.35	%		14.04	%

	3,317		0.90	%(j)		1.93	%(j)		0.17	%		–			19.02	%
	4,580		0.90	%		1.89	%		0.58	%		–			54.04	%
	5,583		0.98	%(j)		1.83	%(j)		0.63	%		0.06	%		112.97	%
	12,413		2.56	%(j)		3.07	%(j)		(1.13	%)		1.30	%		35.38	%
	52,527		2.71	%		3.01	%		(1.36	%)		1.46	%		36.34	%
	92,887		2.61	%(j)		2.80	%(j)		(0.89	%)		1.36	%		14.04	%

(g)	Dividend expense ratio includes broker related expenses for securities sold short.
(h)	Portfolio turnover is calculated on the basis of the Fund as a whole without distinguishing among the classes of shares.
(i)	Less than $0.005 per share.
(j)	Includes interest expense that amounts to less than 0.01% for Class A, Class C, Class R, Institutional Service Class and Institutional Class for the six months ended April 30 2020. Includes interest expense that amounts to less than 0.01% for Class A, Class C, Class R, Institutional Service Class and Institutional Class for the year ended October 31, 2018 and October 31, 2015. Includes interest expense that amounts to

			Ratios/Supplemental Data
Total Return (b)(c)			Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)		Ratio of Expenses (Net of Reimbursements/ Waivers) to Average Net Assets (d)			Ratio of Expenses (Prior to Reimbursements) to Average Net Assets (d)(e)			Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets (d)			Portfolio Turnover (c)(f)

	(6.75	%)	$	19,785		1.52	%(g)		1.52	%(g)		0.20	%		16.55	%
	13.13	%		24,719		1.52	%(h)		1.52	%(h)		0.89	%		28.30	%
	(10.93	%)		24,957		1.38	%		1.38	%		0.99	%		20.75	%
	20.05	%		39,619		1.39	%		1.39	%		1.09	%		13.11	%
	1.76	%		47,736		1.39	%(g)		1.39	%(g)		1.49	%		27.99	%
	(14.02	%)		91,902		1.32	%(g)(i)		1.35	%(g)		1.65	%(i)		14.52	%

	(6.99	%)		3,113		2.10	%(g)		2.23	%(g)		(0.40	%)		16.55	%
	12.43	%(j)		4,330		2.12	%(h)		2.24	%(h)		0.21	%		28.30	%
	(11.54	%)		8,074		2.10	%		2.10	%		0.27	%		20.75	%
	19.27	%		12,375		2.10	%		2.18	%		0.35	%		13.11	%
	0.97	%		14,400		2.10	%(g)		2.12	%(g)		0.70	%		27.99	%
	(14.61	%)		22,999		2.01	%(g)(i)		2.04	%(g)		0.97	%(i)		14.52	%

	(6.88	%)		3,192		1.81	%(g)		1.81	%(g)		(0.09	%)		16.55	%
	12.80	%		3,992		1.79	%(h)		1.79	%(h)		0.58	%		28.30	%
	(11.14	%)		5,041		1.64	%		1.64	%		0.74	%		20.75	%
	19.70	%		7,335		1.70	%		1.70	%		0.75	%		13.11	%
	1.42	%		7,647		1.67	%(g)		1.67	%(g)		1.08	%		27.99	%
	(14.32	%)		14,095		1.62	%(g)(i)		1.65	%(g)		1.34	%(i)		14.52	%

	(6.48	%)		75,647		1.17	%(g)		1.17	%(g)		0.57	%		16.55	%
	13.49	%(j)		85,934		1.16	%(h)		1.16	%(h)		1.23	%		28.30	%
	(10.58	%)		84,902		1.06	%		1.06	%		1.31	%		20.75	%
	20.46	%		106,424		1.08	%		1.08	%		1.35	%		13.11	%
	2.01	%		101,655		1.14	%(g)		1.14	%(g)		1.62	%		27.99	%
	(13.97	%)		156,489		1.15	%(g)(i)		1.18	%(g)		1.89	%(i)		14.52	%

	(6.51	%)		92,883		1.10	%(g)		1.15	%(g)		0.65	%		16.55	%
	13.55	%(j)		99,475		1.12	%(h)		1.13	%(h)		1.21	%		28.30	%
	(10.56	%)		272,152		1.02	%		1.02	%		1.37	%		20.75	%
	20.47	%		367,341		1.02	%		1.02	%		1.43	%		13.11	%
	2.14	%	$	286,659		1.04	%(g)		1.04	%(g)		1.75	%		27.99	%
	(13.80	%)		332,542		1.01	%(g)(i)		1.04	%(g)		2.04	%(i)		14.52	%

			Ratios/Supplemental Data
Total Return (b)(c)			Net Assets at End of Period (000’s)	Ratio of Expenses (Net of Reimbursements/ Waivers) to Average Net Assets (d)		Ratio of Expenses (Prior to Reimbursements) to Average Net Assets (d)(e)		Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets (d)		Portfolio Turnover (c)(f)
1.05	%	$	237,075	1.19	%	1.26	%	(0.23	%)	21.89	%
17.60	%		247,926	1.19	%	1.27	%	0.06	%	47.13	%
6.63	%		233,717	1.19	%(g)	1.25	%(g)	0.14	%	38.68	%
21.13	%		242,085	1.19	%(g)	1.26	%(g)	0.29	%	33.79	%
2.25	%		225,723	1.19	%(g)	1.28	%(g)	0.21	%	63.11	%
0.50	%		247,549	1.17	%(g)	1.25	%(g)	0.87	%	16.92	%

0.68	%		1,208	1.90	%	2.11	%	(0.93	%)	21.89	%
16.75	%		1,428	1.90	%	2.11	%	(0.58	%)	47.13	%
5.88	%		2,963	1.90	%(g)	2.07	%(g)	(0.56	%)	38.68	%
20.26	%		3,544	1.90	%(g)	2.09	%(g)	(0.40	%)	33.79	%
1.56	%		5,883	1.90	%(g)	2.08	%(g)	(0.50	%)	63.11	%
(0.27	%)		7,134	1.90	%(g)	1.98	%(g)	0.15	%	16.92	%

1.18	%		108,647	0.97	%	1.04	%	–	(i)	21.89	%
17.84	%		113,600	0.97	%	1.05	%	0.29	%	47.13	%
6.90	%		106,337	0.97	%(g)	1.03	%(g)	0.36	%	38.68	%
21.33	%		109,418	0.98	%(g)	1.05	%(g)	0.49	%	33.79	%
2.52	%		101,549	1.00	%(g)	1.09	%(g)	0.40	%	63.11	%
0.59	%		109,288	0.99	%(g)	1.07	%(g)	1.06	%	16.92	%

1.27	%		8,543	0.90	%	1.02	%	0.07	%	21.89	%
17.90	%		8,839	0.90	%	1.03	%	0.34	%	47.13	%
6.99	%		6,801	0.90	%(g)	1.01	%(g)	0.43	%	38.68	%
21.45	%		6,507	0.90	%(g)	1.01	%(g)	0.59	%	33.79	%
2.63	%		6,742	0.90	%(g)	1.02	%(g)	0.50	%	63.11	%
0.68	%		7,059	0.90	%(g)	0.98	%(g)	1.13	%	16.92	%

		Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of rights of accumulation calculation only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

	●	Letters of intent which allow for breakpoint discounts based on anticipated purchases within a fund family, over a 13-month time period. Eligible fund family assets not held at Raymond James may be included in the calculation of letters of intent only if the shareholder notifies his or her financial advisor about such assets.

GENERAL INFORMATION	1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PORTFOLIO INSTRUMENTS AND INVESTMENT POLICIES	2
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS	66
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS	68
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST	70
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES	81
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION	93
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PURCHASES AND SALES	96
VALUATION OF SHARES	103
SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT STRATEGIES	105
INVESTOR PRIVILEGES	106
INVESTOR SERVICES	108
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	109
ADDITIONAL GENERAL TAX INFORMATION FOR ALL FUNDS	113
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS	127
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	127
APPENDIX A - PORTFOLIO MANAGERS	A-1
APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES	B-1

*Fund*		Corresponding Predecessor Fund
*Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund (“Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund”)*		Nationwide International Growth Fund
*Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund (“U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund”)*		Nationwide U.S. Growth Leaders Long-Short Fund

Type of Investment, Technique or Risk Factor	U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund	U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund	Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund
Adjustable, Floating and Variable Rate Instruments	•	•	•
Bank Obligations	•	•	•
Borrowing	•	•	•
Common Stock	•	•	•
Convertible Securities	•	•	•
Currency Transactions	•	•	•
Custody/Sub-Custody Risk	•	•	•
Cybersecurity Risk	•	•	•
Debt Securities	•	•	•
Depositary Receipts	•	•	•
Derivatives	•	•	•
Emerging Markets Securities	•	•	•
Equity-Linked Securities			•
Event Risk	•	•	•
Exchange-Traded Funds	•	•	•
Focus Risk	•	•
Foreign Commercial Paper			•
Foreign Currencies Risk	•	•	•
Foreign Government Securities			•
Foreign Securities	•	•	•
Frontier Market Securities			•
Futures	•	•	•
Illiquid Investments Risk	•	•	•
Impact of Large Redemptions and Purchases of Fund Shares	•	•	•

Fund	2020			2019
U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund		45.98	%		54.04	%
Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund		37.50	%		28.30	%
U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund		21.89	%		47.13	%

		subparticipations, assignments, and structured securities, (iii) make loans secured by mortgages on real property, (iv) enter into repurchase agreements, and (v) make time deposits with financial institutions and invest in instruments issued by financial institutions, and enter into any other lending arrangement as and to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or any rule, order or interpretation thereunder.
	●	May not purchase or sell real estate, except that each Fund may (i) acquire real estate through ownership of securities or instruments and sell any real estate acquired thereby, (ii) purchase or sell instruments secured by real estate (including interests therein), and (iii) purchase or sell securities issued by entities or investment vehicles that own or deal in real estate (including interests therein).

	options on futures contracts, transactions in currencies or other derivative instruments shall not constitute purchasing securities on margin.
●	Purchase or otherwise acquire any security if, as a result, more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in securities that are illiquid.

TRUSTEES WHO ARE NOT INTERESTED PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN THE 1940 ACT) OF THE TRUST (“INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES”)
NAME, ADDRESS, AND YEAR OF BIRTH	POSITION(S) HELD, LENGTH OF TIME SERVED AND TERM OF OFFICE*	PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING PAST 5 YEARS	NUMBER OF PORTFOLIOS IN FUND COMPLEX OVERSEEN BY TRUSTEE**	OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD BY TRUSTEE DURING PAST 5 YEARS***
Radhika Ajmera**** Year of Birth: 1964	Trustee since February 2020	Ms. Ajmera has been an independent non-executive director of Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company since 2015 and of Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund since 2014 where she was appointed chair, effective December 2017. Ms. Ajmera has over twenty years’ experience in fund management, predominantly in emerging markets. She has also held a number of UK closed-end fund non-executive directorships.	21	None
P. Gerald Malone**** Year of Birth: 1950	Trustee since December 2007 Chairman of the Board	Mr. Malone is, by profession, a lawyer of over 40 years. Currently, Mr. Malone is a non-executive director of a number of U.S. companies, including Medality Medical (medical technology company) (since 2019) and Bionik Laboratories Corp. (US healthcare company) (since 2018). He is also Chairman of many of the open and closed-end funds in the Fund Complex. He previously served as Independent Chairman of UK companies, Crescent OTC Ltd (pharmaceutical services) until February 2018; and fluidOil Ltd. (oil services) until June 2018; U.S. company Rejuvenan llc (wellbeing services) until September 2017 and as Chairman of UK company, Ultrasis plc (healthcare software services company) until October 2014. Mr. Malone was previously a Member of Parliament in the UK from 1983 to 1997 and served as Minister of State for Health in the UK government from 1994 to 1997.	28	Director of Bionik Laboratories Corporation since 2018.
Neville J. Miles**** Year of Birth: 1946	Trustee since December 2011	Mr. Miles is a non-executive director of a number of Australian and overseas companies and serves as Chairman of Ballyshaw Pty. Ltd. (share trading, real estate development and investment).	22	None.
Rahn K. Porter**** Year of Birth: 1954	Trustee since September 2016	Mr. Porter is the Principal at RPSS Enterprises (consulting) since 2019. He was the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of The Colorado Health Foundation from 2013 to 2019 and served as Director of BlackRidge Financial Inc. from 2004 to 2019.	21	Director of CenturyLink Investment Management Company.
Steven N. Rappaport**** Year of Birth: 1948	Trustee since September 2016	Mr. Rappaport has been a Partner of Lehigh Court, LLC (private investment firm) and RZ Capital LLC (private investment firm) since 2004.	20	Director of iCAD, Inc., since 2006; Director of Credit Suisse Funds (9) since 1999; Director of Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc. since 2005

		Investments ETFs (consisting of 2 portfolios).
	***	Directorships held in (1) any other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act, (2) any company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or (3) any company subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Name	Fund/Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned	Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned in Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in the Family of Investment Companies*
Radhika Ajmera**	None	None
P. Gerald Malone	Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund $1 - $10,000	$10,001 - $50,000
Neville J. Miles	None	$10,001 - $50,000
Rahn K. Porter	None	$10,001 - $50,000
Steven N. Rappaport	Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund $10,001 - $50,000 Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund $10,001 - $50,000	$100,001-$500,000
Peter D. Sacks***	Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund $1 - $10,000 Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund $1 - $10,000	$10,001 - $50,000
Warren C. Smith	None	$10,001 - $50,000
INTERESTED TRUSTEE
Name	Fund/Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned	Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned in Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in the Family of Investment Companies*
Martin Gilbert	None	None

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Name of Trustee	Aggregate Compensation from the Trust	Pension Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Trust Expenses	Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement	Total Compensation from the Fund Complex*
Radhika Ajmera**	$69,681	None	None	$160,481
P. Gerald Malone	$112,500	None	None	$495,548
Rahn K. Porter	$106,750	None	None	$198,750
Steven N. Rappaport	$98,000	None	None	$161,000
Peter D. Sacks***	$59,522	None	None	$220,272
Neville J. Miles	$98,000	None	None	$255,500
Warren C. Smith	$98,000	None	None	$144,500
INTERESTED TRUSTEE
Name of Trustee	Aggregate Compensation from the Trust	Pension Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Trust Expenses	Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement	Total Compensation from the Fund Complex*
Martin Gilbert	None	None	None	None

Fund	Asset	Investment Advisory Fee
Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund	$0 up to $500 million $500 million up to $2 billion $2 billion and more	0.75% 0.70% 0.65%
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund	All Assets	0.80%
Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund	$0 up to $500 million $500 million up to $2 billion $2 billion and more	0.75% 0.70% 0.65%

Name of Fund/Class	2020 Expense Limitation*
Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Smaller Companies Fund		0.90	%
Aberdeen Emerging Markets Sustainable Leaders Fund		1.10	%
Aberdeen U.S. Sustainable Leaders Fund		0.90	%