485APOS 1 d485apos.htm PIMCO TOTAL RETURN EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 20, 2011

File Nos. 333-155395

811-22250

 

 

 

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form N-1A

  

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

  
   THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933    x
   Post-Effective Amendment No. 27    x
   and   
  

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

  
   THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940    x
   Amendment No. 29    x

 

 

PIMCO ETF TRUST

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

840 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, California 92660

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code

(866) 746-2606

 

 

 

Robert W. Helm, Esq.

Douglas P. Dick, Esq.

Dechert LLP

1775 I Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

 

Brent R. Harris

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

840 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, California 92660

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)  

 

 

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

¨       immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

¨       60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

x       75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)

¨       on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)

¨       on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)

¨       on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

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

 

 

 


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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 27 to the Registration Statement of PIMCO ETF Trust (the “Trust” or the “Registrant”) on Form N-1A (File No. 333-155395) (the “Amendment”) is being filed pursuant to Rule 485(a) to register the PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund, a new series of the Registrant. This amendment does not affect the currently effective prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information for series of the Trust’s shares not included herein.


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

 

Preliminary Prospectus               

 

 

Subject to Completion     April 20, 2011

 

 

PIMCO ETF Trust Prospectus

 

Actively-Managed Exchange-Traded Fund

INTERMEDIATE DURATION

 

PIMCO Total Return

Exchange-Traded Fund

TRXT

 

 

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

 

LOGO

 

LOGO

 

 

[        ], 2011


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Fund Summary

  

PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund

     1   

Summary Information About the Fund

     4   

Description of Principal Risks

     4   

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

     8   

Management of the Fund

     8   

Buying and Selling Shares

     9   

How Net Asset Value Is Determined

     11   

Fund Distributions

     12   

Tax Consequences

     12   

Characteristics and Risks of Securities and Investment Techniques

     13   

Financial Highlights

     23   

Supplemental Information

     24   

Appendix A—Description of Securities Ratings

     A-1   


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PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Fund seeks maximum total return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUND

 

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This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund:

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

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

 

Management Fee     [    ]
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1)
Fees
    N/A   
Other Expenses(1)     [    ]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses     [    ]
Expense
Reimbursement
(2)
    [    ]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement     [    ]

 

(1) “Other Expenses” reflect estimated organizational expenses for the Fund’s first fiscal year.

 

(2) [Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”) has contractually agreed, through October 31, 2012, to waive its management fee, or reimburse the Fund, to the extent that organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees exceed 0.0049% of the Fund’s average net assets (the “Expense Limit”). Under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which renews annually for a full year unless terminated by PIMCO upon at least 30 days’ notice prior to the end of the contract term, PIMCO may recoup these waivers and reimbursements in future periods, not exceeding three years, provided organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees plus such recoupment, do not exceed the Expense Limit.]

 

Example. The Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the costs of investing in other exchange-traded funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Investors may pay brokerage commissions on their purchases and sales of Fund shares, which are not reflected in the Example. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, the Example shows what your costs would be based on these assumptions.

 

     1 Year      3 Years          
    $[    ]         $[    ]      

Portfolio Turnover. The Fund pays transaction costs 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 the Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example tables, affect the Fund’s performance. The Fund had not yet commenced operations as of the most recent fiscal year end. Thus, no portfolio turnover rate is provided for the Fund.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

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The Fund invests under normal circumstances at least 65% of its total assets in a diversified portfolio of Fixed Income Instruments of varying maturities. “Fixed Income Instruments” include bonds, debt securities and other similar instruments issued by various U.S. and non-U.S. public- or private-sector entities. The average portfolio duration of this Fund normally varies within two years (plus or minus) of the duration of the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Index, which as of [    ], 2011 was [    ] years. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates.

 

The Fund invests primarily in investment-grade debt securities, but may invest up to 10% of its total assets in high yield securities (“junk bonds”) rated B or higher by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or equivalently rated by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or Fitch, Inc., or, if unrated, determined by PIMCO to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in securities denominated in foreign currencies, and may invest beyond this limit in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries. The Fund will normally limit its foreign currency exposure (from non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities or currencies) to 20% of its total assets.

 

The Fund may invest, without limitation, in mortgage- or asset-backed securities. The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis and may engage in short sales. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in preferred stock, convertible securities and other equity related securities.

 

The Fund may, without limitation, seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as buy backs or dollar rolls). The “total return” sought by the

Fund consists of income earned on the Fund’s investments, plus capital appreciation, if any, which generally arises from decreases in interest rates, foreign currency appreciation, or improving credit fundamentals for a particular sector or security.

 

 

 

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PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund

 

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

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It is possible to lose money on an investment in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its net asset value, yield and total return are:

 

 

Market Trading Risk: the risk that an active secondary trading market for Fund shares does not continue once developed, that the Fund may not continue to meet a listing exchange’s trading or listing requirements, or that Fund shares trade at prices other than the Fund’s net asset value

 

Interest Rate Risk: the risk that fixed income securities will decline in value because of an increase in interest rates; a fund with a longer average portfolio duration will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a fund with a shorter average portfolio duration

 

Credit Risk: the risk that the Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security, or the counterparty to a contract, is unable or unwilling to meet its financial obligations

 

High Yield Risk: the risk that high yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds”) are subject to greater levels of credit and liquidity risks. High yield securities are considered primarily speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments

 

Market Risk: the risk that the value of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular sectors

 

Issuer Risk: the risk that 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

 

Liquidity Risk: the risk that a particular investment may be difficult to purchase or sell and that the Fund may be unable to sell illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price or achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain sector

 

Equity Risk: the risk that the value of equity or equity-related securities may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company or to factors affecting a particular industry or industries. Equity or equity-related securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed income securities

 

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Risk: the risk of investing in mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, including interest rate risk, extension risk and prepayment risk

 

Foreign (non-U.S.) Investment Risk: the risk that investing in foreign (non-U.S.) securities may result in the Fund experiencing more rapid and extreme changes in value than a fund that invests exclusively in securities of U.S. companies, due to smaller markets, differing reporting, accounting and auditing standards, increased risk of delayed settlement of portfolio transactions or loss of certificates of portfolio securities, and the risk of unfavorable foreign government actions, including nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, or political changes or diplomatic developments. Foreign securities may also be less liquid and more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers

 

Emerging Markets Risk: the risk of investing in emerging market securities, primarily increased foreign (non-U.S.) investment risk

Currency Risk: the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and affect the Fund’s investments in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies or in securities that trade in, and receive revenues in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies

 

Leveraging Risk: the risk that certain transactions of the Fund, such as reverse repurchase agreements, loans of portfolio securities, and the use of when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment transactions, may give rise to leverage, causing the Fund to be more volatile than if it had not been leveraged

 

Management Risk: the risk that there is no guarantee that the investment techniques and risk analyses applied by PIMCO will produce the desired results, and that legislative, regulatory, or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to PIMCO and the individual portfolio manager in connection with managing the Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective

 

Short Sale Risk: the risk of entering into short sales, including the potential loss of more money than the actual cost of the investment, and the risk that the third party to the short sale may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the Fund

 

Convertible Securities Risk: as convertible securities share both fixed income and equity characteristics, they are subject to risks to which fixed income and equity investments are subject. These risks include equity risk, interest rate risk and credit risk

 

Please see “Description of Principal Risks” in the Fund’s prospectus for a more detailed description of the risks of investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

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The Fund does not have a full calendar year of performance. Thus, no bar chart or Average Annual Total Returns table is included for the Fund. Performance is updated daily and quarterly and may be obtained at www.pimcoetfs.com/fundinfo.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER/PORTFOLIO MANAGER

 

LOGO

PIMCO serves as the investment adviser for the Fund. The Fund’s portfolio is managed by William H. Gross. Mr. Gross is a Managing Director, Co-Chief Investment Officer and a founding partner of PIMCO and he has managed the Fund since inception.

 

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

 

LOGO

The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). Individual Fund shares may only be purchased and sold on a national securities exchange through a broker-dealer and may not be purchased or redeemed directly with the Fund. The price of Fund shares is based on market price, and because ETF shares trade at market prices rather than net asset value (“NAV”), shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (a premium) or less than NAV (a discount). The Fund will only issue or

 

 

 

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redeem shares at NAV that have been aggregated into blocks of [        ] shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”) with certain large institutional investors who have entered into agreements with the Fund’s Distributor (“Authorized Participants”). The Fund will issue or redeem Creation Units in return for a basket of cash and/or securities that the Fund specifies each Business Day.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

LOGO

The Fund’s taxable distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or a combination of the two, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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PIMCO ETF Trust

 

SUMMARY INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

 

This prospectus describes one ETF (the “Fund”) offered by PIMCO ETF Trust (the “Trust”). The Fund provides access to the professional investment advisory services offered by PIMCO.

 

ETFs are funds that trade like other publicly-traded securities and may be designed to track an index or to be actively managed. Unlike conventional ETFs, the Fund is not an index fund. The Fund is actively managed and does not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. Unlike shares of a mutual fund, which can be bought from and redeemed by the issuing fund by all shareholders at a price based on NAV, shares of the Fund may be directly purchased from and redeemed by the Fund at NAV solely by Authorized Participants. Also unlike shares of a mutual fund, shares of the Fund are listed on a national securities exchange and trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day.

 

Once operational, shares of the Fund are listed and traded at market prices on NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”) and other secondary markets. The market price for the Fund’s shares may be different from the Fund’s NAV. The Fund issues and redeems shares at NAV only in Creation Units. Only Authorized Participants may purchase or redeem Creation Units directly with the Fund at NAV. These transactions are in exchange for cash and/or securities. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of the Fund are not redeemable securities. Shareholders who are not Authorized Participants may not purchase or redeem shares directly from the Fund.

 

An investment in the Fund alone should not constitute an entire investment program. This prospectus explains what you should know about the Fund before you invest. Please read it carefully.

 

Investors should be aware that the investments made by the Fund and the results achieved by the Fund at any given time are not expected to be the same as those made by other funds for which PIMCO acts as investment adviser, including funds with names, investment objectives and policies similar to the Fund.

 

On each business day, before commencement of trading on NYSE Arca, the Fund will disclose on www.pimcoetfs.com the identities and quantities of the Fund’s portfolio holdings that will form the basis for the Fund’s calculation of NAV at the end of the business day. Fund fact sheets provide additional information

regarding the Fund and may be requested by calling 1-888-400-4ETF (1-888-400-4383).

 

DESCRIPTION OF PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the market price of the Fund’s shares determined in the secondary market. Market price may be determined, in part, by the values of the Fund’s investments. Many factors can affect those values. The factors that are most likely to have a material effect on the Fund’s portfolio as a whole are called “principal risks.” The principal risks of the Fund are identified in the Fund Summary and are described in this section. The Fund may be subject to additional risks other than those described below because the types of investments made by the Fund can change over time. Securities and investment techniques mentioned in this section that appear in bold type are described in greater detail under “Characteristics and Risks of Securities and Investment Techniques.” That section and “Investment Objectives and Policies” in the Statement of Additional Information also include more information about the Fund, its investments and the related risks. There is no guarantee that the Fund will be able to achieve its investment objective. It is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.

 

Market Trading Risk

 

The Fund is subject to secondary market trading risks. Once operational, shares of the Fund are listed for trading on an exchange, however, there can be no guarantee that an active trading market for such shares will develop or continue. Shares of the Fund may be listed or traded on U.S. and foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges other than the Fund’s primary U.S. listing exchange. There can be no guarantee that the Fund’s shares will continue trading on any exchange or in any market or that the Fund’s shares will continue to meet the listing or trading requirements of any exchange or market. The Fund’s shares may experience higher trading volumes on one exchange as compared to another and investors are subject to the execution and settlement risks of the market where their broker directs trades.

 

Secondary market trading in the Fund’s shares may be halted by an exchange because of market conditions. Pursuant to exchange or market rules, trading in the Fund’s shares on an exchange or in any market may be subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility. There can be no guarantee that the Fund’s exchange listing or ability to trade its shares will continue or remain unchanged. In the event the Fund

 

 

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ceases to be listed on an exchange, the Fund may cease operating as an “exchange-traded” fund and operate as a mutual fund, provided that shareholders are given advance notice.

 

Shares of the Fund may trade on an exchange at prices at, above or below their most recent NAV. The per share NAV of the Fund is calculated at the end of each business day, as described below, and fluctuates with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings. The trading prices of the Fund’s shares fluctuate continuously throughout the trading day based on market supply and demand and may not closely track NAV. The trading prices of the Fund’s shares may differ significantly from NAV during periods of market volatility, which may, among other factors, lead to the Fund’s shares trading at a premium or discount to NAV.

 

Buying or selling the Fund’s shares on an exchange may require the payment of brokerage commissions. In addition, you may also incur the cost of the spread (the difference between the bid price and the ask price). The commission is frequently a fixed amount and may be a significant cost for investors seeking to buy or sell small amounts of shares. The spread varies over time for shares of the Fund based on their trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally less if the Fund has more trading volume and market liquidity and more if the Fund has less trading volume and market liquidity. Due to the costs inherent in buying or selling the Fund’s shares, frequent trading may detract significantly from investment returns. Investment in the Fund’s shares may not be advisable for investors who expect to engage in frequent trading.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed income securities will decline in value because of changes in interest rates. As nominal interest rates rise, the value of certain fixed income securities held by the Fund is likely to decrease. A nominal interest rate can be described as the sum of a real interest rate and an expected inflation rate. Fixed income securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates, usually making them more volatile than securities with shorter durations. Inflation-indexed bonds, including Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”), decline in value when real interest rates rise. In certain interest rate environments, such as when real interest rates are rising faster than nominal interest rates, inflation-indexed bonds may experience greater losses than other fixed income securities with similar durations.

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

 

Credit Risk

 

The Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a fixed income security (including a security purchased with securities lending collateral), or the counterparty to a repurchase agreement or a loan of portfolio securities is unable or unwilling, or is perceived (whether by market participants, ratings agencies, pricing services or otherwise) as unable or unwilling, to make timely principal and/or interest payments, or to otherwise honor its obligations. The downgrade of the credit of a security held by the Fund may decrease its value. Securities are subject to varying degrees of credit risk, which are often reflected in credit ratings. Municipal bonds are subject to the risk that litigation, legislation or other political events, local business or economic conditions, or the bankruptcy of the issuer could have a significant effect on an issuer’s ability to make payments of principal and/or interest.

 

High Yield Risk

 

Funds that invest in high yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk bonds”) may be subject to greater levels of credit and liquidity risk than funds that do not invest in such securities. These securities are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal and interest payments. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for these securities and reduce the Fund’s ability to sell these securities (liquidity risk). If the issuer of a security is in default with respect to interest or principal payments, the Fund may lose its entire investment. Because of the risks involved in investing in high yield securities, an investment in a fund that invests in such securities should be considered speculative.

 

 

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Market Risk

 

The market price of securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The value of a security may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value simultaneously.

 

Issuer Risk

 

The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets.

 

Liquidity Risk

 

Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. Illiquid securities are securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value at which the Fund has valued the securities. The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities, if any, may reduce the returns of the Fund because it may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price. Additionally, the market for certain investments may become illiquid under adverse market or economic conditions independent of any specific adverse changes in the conditions of a particular issuer. In such cases, the Fund, due to limitations on investments in illiquid securities and the difficulty in purchasing and selling such securities or instruments, may be unable to achieve its desired level of exposure to a certain sector. To the extent that the Fund’s principal investment strategies involve foreign (non-U.S.) securities or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk, the Fund will tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk.

 

Equity Risk

 

Equity securities represent an ownership interest, or the right to acquire an ownership interest, in an issuer.

Equity securities also include, among other things, preferred stocks, convertible stocks and warrants. The values of equity securities, such as common stocks and preferred stocks, may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a

particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry

or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed income securities.

 

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Risk

 

Mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities often involve risks that are different from or more acute than risks associated with other types of debt instruments. Generally, rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of fixed rate mortgage-related securities, making them more sensitive to changes in interest rates. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, if the Fund holds mortgage-related securities, it may exhibit additional volatility. This is known as extension risk. In addition, adjustable and fixed rate mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund may have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. The Fund’s investments in other asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-related securities, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets.

 

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk

 

A fund that invests in foreign (non-U.S.) securities may experience more rapid and extreme changes in value than a fund that invests exclusively in securities of U.S. companies. The securities markets of many foreign countries are relatively small, with a limited number of companies representing a small number of industries. Additionally, issuers of foreign securities are usually not subject to the same degree of regulation as U.S. issuers. Reporting, accounting and auditing standards of foreign countries differ, in some cases significantly, from U.S. standards. Also, nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, political changes or diplomatic developments could adversely affect the Fund’s investments in a foreign country. In the event of nationalization, expropriation or other

 

 

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confiscation, the Fund could lose its entire investment in foreign securities. Adverse conditions in a certain region can adversely affect securities of other countries whose economies appear to be unrelated. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in a specific geographic region, the Fund will generally have more exposure to regional economic risks associated with foreign investments.

 

Emerging Markets Risk

 

Foreign (non-U.S.) investment risk may be particularly high to the extent the Fund invests in emerging market securities. Emerging market securities may present market, credit, currency, liquidity, legal, political and other risks different from, and potentially greater than, the risks of investing in securities and instruments economically tied to developed foreign countries. To the extent the Fund invests in emerging market securities that are economically tied to a particular region, country or group of countries, the Fund may be more sensitive to adverse political or social events affecting that region, country or group of countries. Economic, business, political, or social instability may affect emerging market securities differently. Accordingly, a fund that invests in a wide range of emerging market securities (e.g., different regions or countries, asset classes, issuers, sectors or credit qualities) may perform differently in response to such instability than a fund investing in a more limited range of emerging market securities. For example, a fund that focuses its investments in multiple asset classes of emerging market securities may have a limited ability to mitigate losses in an environment that is adverse to emerging market securities in general. Emerging market securities may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to value than securities economically tied to developed foreign countries. The systems and procedures for trading and settlement of securities in emerging markets are less developed and less transparent and transactions may take longer to settle. The Fund may not know the identity of trading counterparties, which may increase the possibility of the Fund not receiving payment or delivery of securities in a transaction.

 

Currency Risk

 

If the Fund invests directly in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies or in securities that trade in, and receive revenues in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies, it will be subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency being hedged.

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 United States or abroad. As a result, the Fund’s investments in foreign currency-denominated securities may reduce the returns of the Fund.

 

Leveraging Risk

 

Certain transactions may give rise to a form of leverage. Such transactions may include, among others, reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, loans of portfolio securities and the use of when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment transactions. To mitigate leveraging risk, PIMCO will segregate or “earmark” liquid assets or otherwise cover transactions that may give rise to such risk. The Fund also may be exposed to leveraging risk by borrowing money for investment purposes. Leveraging may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements when it may not be advantageous to do so. Leveraging, including borrowing, may cause the Fund to be more volatile than if the Fund had not been leveraged. This is because leveraging tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities.

 

Management Risk

 

The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. PIMCO and each individual portfolio manager will apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results. Additionally, legislative, regulatory, or tax developments may affect the investment techniques available to PIMCO and each individual portfolio manager in connection with managing the Fund and may also adversely affect the ability of the Fund to achieve their investment objectives.

 

Short Sale Risk

 

Short sales are subject to special risks. A short sale involves the sale by the Fund of a security that it does not own with the hope of purchasing the same security at a later date at a lower price. The Fund may also enter into a short position through a forward commitment. If the price of the security has increased during this time, then the Fund will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time that the short sale was entered into plus any premiums and interest paid to the third party.

 

 

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Therefore, short sales involve the risk that losses may be exaggerated, potentially losing more money than the actual cost of the investment. Also, there is the risk that the third party to the short sale may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the Fund.

 

Convertible Securities Risk

 

Convertible securities are fixed income securities, preferred stocks or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for common stock of the issuer (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at either a stated price or a stated rate. The market values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates decline. A convertible security’s market value, however, tends to reflect the market price of the common stock of the issuing company when that stock price approaches or is greater than the convertible security’s “conversion price.” The conversion price is defined as the predetermined price at which the convertible security could be exchanged for the associated stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the yield of the convertible security. Thus, it may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities would be paid before the company’s common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company.

Consequently, the issuer’s convertible securities generally entail less risk than its common stock but more risk than its debt obligations.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

Please see “Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings” in the Statement of Additional Information for information about the availability of the complete schedule of the Fund’s holdings.

 

MANAGEMENT  OF THE FUND

 

Investment Manager

 

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

PIMCO is located at 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Organized in 1971, PIMCO provides investment management and advisory services to private accounts of institutional and individual clients and to mutual funds. As of [                ], PIMCO had approximately $[    ] trillion in assets under management.

 

Management Fees

 

The Fund pays PIMCO fees in return for providing investment advisory, supervisory and administrative services under an all-in fee structure. The Fund will pay monthly management fees to PIMCO at the annual rate (stated as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Fund) of [     ]%.

 

In addition to providing investment advisory services, PIMCO provides or procures supervisory and administrative services for shareholders and also bears the costs of various third-party services required by the Fund, including audit, custodial, portfolio accounting, legal, transfer agency and printing costs. The Fund bears other expenses which are not covered under the management fee which may vary and affect the total level of expenses paid by shareholders, such as taxes and governmental fees, brokerage fees, commissions and other transaction expenses, costs of borrowing money, including interest expenses, securities lending expenses, extraordinary expenses (such as litigation and indemnification expenses) and fees and expenses of the Trust’s Independent Trustees and their counsel. PIMCO generally earns a profit on the management fee paid by the Fund. Also, under the terms of the investment management agreement, PIMCO, and not Fund shareholders, would benefit from any price decreases in third-party services, including decreases resulting from an increase in net assets.

 

A discussion of the basis for the Board of Trustees’ approval of the Fund’s investment management agreement will be available in the Fund’s first annual or semi-annual report to shareholders.

 

[PIMCO has contractually agreed, through October 31, 2012, to waive its management fee, or reimburse the Fund, to the extent that organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees exceed 0.0049% of the Fund’s average net assets. Under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which renews annually for a full year unless terminated by PIMCO upon at least 30 days’ notice prior to the end of the contract term, PIMCO may recoup these waivers and reimbursements in future periods, not exceeding three years, provided organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees plus such recoupment, do not exceed the Expense Limit.]

 

 

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Individual Portfolio Manager

 

The following individual has primary responsibility for managing the Fund.

 

Portfolio Manager    Since    Recent Professional Experience
William H. Gross    *   

Managing Director, Co-Chief Investment Officer and a founding partner of PIMCO. Mr.Gross has been associated with PIMCO since 1971.

 

  *   Inception of the Fund

 

Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, the portfolio manager’s compensation and the portfolio manager’s ownership of shares of the Fund.

 

Distributor

 

The Trust’s Distributor is PIMCO Investments LLC (“Distributor”). The Distributor, located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105, is a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Distributor distributes Creation Units for the Fund and does not maintain a secondary market in shares of the Fund.

 

Distribution and Servicing Plan

 

The Trust has adopted a Distribution and Servicing Plan for shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”). The 12b-1 Plan permits compensation in connection with the distribution and marketing of Fund shares and/or the provision of certain shareholder services.

 

The 12b-1 Plan permits the Fund to pay compensation at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. However, the Board of Trustees has determined not to authorize payment of a 12b-1 Plan fee at this time. The 12b-1 fee may only be imposed or increased when the Board of Trustees determines that it is in the best interests of shareholders to do so. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, to the extent that a fee is authorized, over time they will increase the cost of an investment in the Fund. The 12b-1 Plan fee may cost an investor more than other types of sales charges.

 

BUYING AND SELLING SHARES

 

Buying and Selling Shares

 

Shares of the Fund will trade on a national securities exchange during the trading day. Shares can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like shares of other publicly traded companies. The Trust does not impose any minimum investment for shares of the Fund purchased on an exchange. Buying or selling the Fund’s

shares involves certain costs that apply to all securities transactions. When buying or selling shares of the Fund through a financial intermediary, you may incur a brokerage commission or other charges determined by your financial intermediary. In addition, you may also incur the cost of the spread (the difference between the bid price and the ask price). The commission is frequently a fixed amount and may be a significant cost for investors seeking to buy or sell small amounts of shares. The spread varies over time for shares of the Fund based on their trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally less if the Fund has more trading volume and market liquidity and more if the Fund has less trading volume and market liquidity.

 

Shares of the Fund may be acquired from the Distributor or redeemed directly from the Fund only in Creation Units or multiples thereof, as discussed in the “Creations and Redemptions” section of the Statement of Additional Information. Once created, shares of the Fund generally trade in the secondary market in amounts less than a Creation Unit.

 

The Trust’s Board of Trustees has not adopted a policy of monitoring for frequent purchases and redemptions of Fund shares (“frequent trading”) that appear to attempt to take advantage of potential arbitrage opportunities presented by a lag between a change in the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities after the close of the primary markets for the Fund’s portfolio securities and the reflection of that change in the Fund’s NAV (“market timing”). The Trust believes this is appropriate because an ETF, such as the Fund, is intended to be attractive to arbitrageurs, as trading activity is critical to ensuring that the market price of Fund shares remains at or close to NAV. Since the Fund issues and redeems Creation Units at NAV plus applicable transaction fees, and the Fund’s shares may be purchased and sold on NYSE Arca at prevailing market prices, the risks of frequent trading are limited.

 

 

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The Fund’s primary listing exchange is NYSE Arca. NYSE Arca is open for trading Monday through Friday

and is closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

A “Business Day” with respect to the Fund is each day NYSE Arca is open. Orders from Authorized Participants to create or redeem Creation Units will only be accepted on a Business Day. On days when NYSE Arca closes earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders to create or redeem Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. See the Statement of Additional Information for more information.

 

Section 12(d)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), restricts investments by registered investment companies and companies relying on Sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act in the securities of other investment companies. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to PIMCO and the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.

 

The Trust generally does not offer or sell its shares outside of the United States, except to certain investors in approved jurisdictions and in conformity with local legal requirements.

 

Book Entry

 

Shares of the Fund are held in book-entry form, which means that no stock certificates are issued. The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee is the record owner of all outstanding shares of the Fund and is recognized as the owner of all shares for all purposes.

 

Investors owning shares of the Fund are beneficial owners as shown on the records of DTC or its participants. DTC serves as the securities depository for shares of the Fund. DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other institutions that directly or indirectly maintain a custodial relationship with DTC. As a beneficial owner of shares, you are not entitled to receive physical delivery of stock certificates or to have shares registered in your name, and you are not considered a registered owner of shares. Therefore, to exercise any right as an owner of shares, you must rely upon the procedures of DTC and its participants. These procedures are the same as those that apply to any other securities that you hold in book-entry or “street name” form.

Share Prices

 

The trading prices of the Fund’s shares in the secondary market generally differ from the Fund’s daily NAV per share and are affected by market forces such as supply and demand, economic conditions and other factors. Information regarding the intra-day net asset value of the Fund is disseminated every 15 seconds throughout the trading day by the national securities exchange on which the Fund’s shares are primarily listed or by market data vendors or other information providers. The intra-day net asset value is based on the current market value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings that will form the basis for the Fund’s calculation of NAV at the end of the Business Day, as disclosed on the Fund’s website prior to that Business Day’s commencement of trading (the “intra-day net asset value basket”). The intra-day net asset value does not necessarily reflect the precise composition of the current portfolio of securities and instruments held by the Fund at a particular point in time or the best possible valuation of the current portfolio. Therefore, the intra-day net asset value should not be viewed as a “real-time” update of the NAV, which is computed only once a day. The intra-day net asset value is generally determined by using both current market quotations and/or price quotations obtained from broker-dealers that may trade in the portfolio securities and instruments included in the Fund’s intra-day net asset value basket. The Fund is not involved in, or responsible for, the calculation or dissemination of the intra-day net asset value and makes no representation or warranty as to its accuracy. An inaccuracy in the intra-day net asset value could result from various factors, including the difficulty of pricing Fixed Income Instruments on an intra-day basis.

 

Premiums and Discounts

 

There may be differences between the daily market price on secondary markets for shares of the Fund and the Fund’s NAV. NAV is the price per share at which the Fund issues and redeems shares. See “How Net Asset Value Is Determined” below. The price used to calculate market returns (“Market Price”) of the Fund generally is determined using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the national securities exchange on which shares of the Fund are primarily listed for trading, as of the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated. The Fund’s Market Price may be at, above or below its NAV. The NAV of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of its portfolio holdings. The Market Price of the Fund will fluctuate in accordance with changes in its NAV, as well as market supply and demand.

 

 

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Premiums or discounts are the differences (expressed as a percentage) between the NAV and the Market Price of the Fund on a given day, generally at the time the NAV is calculated. A premium is the amount that the Fund is trading above the reported NAV, expressed as a percentage of the NAV. A discount is the amount that the Fund is trading below the reported NAV, expressed as a percentage of the NAV. A discount or premium could be significant.

 

Request for Multiple Copies of Shareholder Documents

 

To reduce expenses, it is intended that only one copy of the Fund’s prospectus and each annual and semi- annual report, when available, will be mailed to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please contact the financial intermediary through which you hold your shares.

 

HOW NET ASSET VALUE IS DETERMINED

 

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

 

Fund shares are valued as of the close of regular trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) (the “NYSE Close”) on each Business Day. Information that becomes known to the Fund or its agents after the NAV has been calculated on a particular day will not generally be used to retroactively adjust the price of a security or the NAV determined earlier that day. The Fund reserves the right to change the time its NAV is calculated if the Fund closes earlier, or as permitted by the SEC.

 

For purposes of calculating NAV, portfolio securities and other assets for which market quotes are readily available are valued at market value. Market value is generally determined on the basis of last reported sales prices, or if no sales are reported, based on quotes obtained from a quotation reporting system, established market makers, or pricing services. Domestic and foreign fixed income securities are normally valued on the basis of quotes obtained from brokers and dealers or pricing services using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Prices obtained from independent pricing services use information provided by market makers or estimates of market values obtained from yield data relating to investments or securities with similar characteristics.

Certain fixed income securities purchased on a delayed-delivery basis are marked to market daily until settlement at the forward settlement date. Short-term investments having a maturity of 60 days or less are generally valued at amortized cost. With respect to any portion of the Fund’s assets that are invested in one or more open-end management investment companies, the Fund’s NAV will be calculated based upon the NAVs of such investments. The value of securities traded in markets outside the United States may be affected significantly on a day that the NYSE is closed and an Authorized Participant is not able to purchase or redeem shares.

 

If a foreign security’s value has materially changed after the close of the security’s primary exchange or principal market but before the NYSE Close, the security will be valued at fair value based on procedures established and approved by the Board of Trustees. Foreign securities that do not trade when the NYSE is open are also valued at fair value. The Fund may determine the fair value of investments based on information provided by pricing services and other third-party vendors, which may recommend fair value prices or adjustments with reference to other securities, indices or assets. In considering whether fair value pricing is required and in determining fair values, the Fund may, among other things, consider significant events (which may be considered to include changes in the value of U.S. securities or securities indices) that occur after the close of the relevant market and before the NYSE Close. The Fund may utilize modeling tools provided by third-party vendors to determine fair values of non-U.S. securities. Foreign exchanges may permit trading in foreign securities on days when the Trust is not open for business, which may result in the Fund’s portfolio investments being affected when you are unable to buy or sell shares.

 

Securities and other assets for which market quotes are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Trustees or persons acting at their direction. The Board of Trustees has adopted methods for valuing securities and other assets in circumstances where market quotes are not readily available, and has delegated to PIMCO the responsibility for applying the valuation methods. For instance, certain securities or investments for which daily market quotes are not readily available may be valued, pursuant to guidelines established by the Board of Trustees, with reference to other securities or indices. In the event that market quotes are not readily available, and the security or asset cannot be valued pursuant to one of the valuation methods, the value of the security

 

 

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or asset will be determined in good faith by the Valuation Committee of the Board of Trustees, generally based upon recommendations provided by PIMCO.

 

Market quotes are considered not readily available in circumstances where there is an absence of current or reliable market-based data (e.g., trade information, bid/asked information, broker quotes), including where events occur after the close of the relevant market, but prior to the NYSE Close, that materially affect the values of the Fund’s securities or assets. In addition, market quotes are considered not readily available when, due to extraordinary circumstances, the exchanges or markets on which the securities trade do not open for trading for the entire day and no other market prices are available. The Board has delegated to PIMCO the responsibility for monitoring significant events that may materially affect the values of the Fund’s securities or assets and for determining whether the value of the applicable securities or assets should be re-evaluated in light of such significant events.

 

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

 

FUND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

The Fund distributes substantially all of its net investment income to shareholders in the form of dividends. The Fund intends to declare and distribute income dividends monthly to shareholders of record. In addition, the Fund distributes any net capital gains it earns from the sale of portfolio securities to shareholders no less frequently than annually. Net short-term capital gains may be paid more frequently. Dividend payments are made through DTC participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners then of record with proceeds received from the Fund.

No dividend reinvestment service is provided by the Trust. Financial intermediaries may make available the DTC book-entry Dividend Reinvestment Service for use by beneficial owners of Fund shares for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Beneficial owners should contact their financial intermediary to determine the availability and costs of the service and the details of participation therein. Financial intermediaries may require beneficial owners to adhere to specific procedures and timetables. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and net capital gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole shares of the Fund purchased in the secondary market.

 

TAX CONSEQUENCES

 

  n   

Taxes on Fund distributions. If you are subject to U.S. federal income tax, you will be subject to tax on Fund taxable distributions. For federal income tax purposes, Fund taxable distributions will be taxable to you as either ordinary income or capital gains.

 

Fund taxable dividends (i.e., distributions of investment income) are generally taxable to you as ordinary income. Federal taxes on Fund distributions of gains are determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated the gains, rather than how long you have owned your shares. Distributions of gains from investments that the Fund owned for more than one year will generally be taxable to you as long-term capital gains. Distributions of gains from investments that the Fund owned for one year or less, including income from securities lending, will generally be taxable to you as ordinary income.

 

Fund distributions are taxable to you even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund prior to your investment and thus were included in the price you paid for your shares. For example, if you purchase shares on or just before the record date of the Fund distribution, you will pay full price for the shares and may receive a portion of your investment back as a taxable distribution.

 

  n   

Taxes when you sell your shares. Any gain resulting from the sale of Fund shares will generally be subject to federal income tax. Currently, any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund shares is generally treated as a long-term gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund shares held for one year or less is generally treated as short-term gain or loss, except that any capital loss on the sale of shares

 

 

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held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent that capital gain dividends were paid with respect to such shares.

 

  n   

Returns of capital. If the 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 will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in the 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.

 

  n   

Backup Withholding. The Fund may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on all taxable distributions payable to shareholders if they fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification number or to make required certifications, or if they have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against U.S. federal income tax liability.

 

Any foreign shareholders would generally be subject to U.S. tax withholding of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) on distributions by the Fund.

 

This “Tax Consequences” section relates only to federal income tax; the consequences under other tax laws may differ. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors as to the possible application of foreign, state and local income tax laws to Fund dividends and capital distributions. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information regarding the tax aspects of investing in the Fund.

 

CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT TECHNIQUES

 

This section provides additional information about some of the principal investments and related risks of the Fund described under “Fund Summary” and “Description of Principal Risks” above. It also describes characteristics and risks of additional securities and investment techniques that may be used by the Fund from time to time. Most of the securities and investment techniques described herein are discretionary, which means that PIMCO can decide whether to use them or not. This prospectus does not attempt to disclose all of the various types of securities and investment

techniques that may be used by the Fund. As with any fund, investors in the Fund rely on the professional investment judgment and skill of PIMCO and the individual portfolio manager. Please see “Investment Objectives and Policies” in the Statement of Additional Information for more detailed information about the securities and investment techniques described in this section and about other strategies and techniques that may be used by the Fund.

 

Securities Selection

 

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

 

PIMCO attempts to identify areas of the bond market that are undervalued relative to the rest of the market. PIMCO identifies these areas by grouping bonds into sectors such as: money markets, governments, corporates, mortgages, asset-backed and international. Sophisticated proprietary software then assists in evaluating sectors and pricing specific securities. Once investment opportunities are identified, PIMCO will shift assets among sectors depending upon changes in relative valuations and credit spreads. There is no guarantee that PIMCO’s security selection techniques will produce the desired results.

 

Fixed Income Instruments

 

“Fixed Income Instruments,” as used generally in this prospectus, includes:

 

  n    

securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or government-sponsored enterprises (“U.S. Government Securities”);

  n    

corporate debt securities of U.S. and non-U.S. issuers, including corporate commercial paper;

  n    

mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities;

  n    

inflation-indexed bonds issued both by governments and corporations;

  n    

trust preferred securities;

  n    

delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities;

  n    

bank certificates of deposit, fixed time deposits and bankers’ acceptances;

  n    

repurchase agreements on Fixed Income Instruments and reverse repurchase agreements on Fixed Income Instruments;

 

 

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  n    

debt securities issued by states or local governments and their agencies, authorities and other government-sponsored enterprises;

  n    

obligations of non-U.S. governments or their subdivisions, agencies and government-sponsored enterprises; and

  n    

obligations of international agencies or supranational entities.

 

Securities issued by U.S. Government agencies or government-sponsored enterprises may not be guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.

 

Duration

 

Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. Similarly, a fund with a longer average portfolio duration will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a fund with a shorter average portfolio duration. By way of example, the price of a bond fund with an average duration of five years would be expected to fall approximately 5% if interest rates rose by one percentage point. The maturity of a security, another commonly used measure of price sensitivity, measures only the time until final payment is due, whereas duration takes into account the pattern of all payments of interest and principal on a security over time, including how these payments are affected by prepayments and by changes in interest rates, as well as the time until an interest rate on a security is reset (in the case of variable-rate securities).

 

U.S. Government Securities

 

U.S. Government Securities are obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. Government, its agencies or government-sponsored enterprises. The U.S. Government does not guarantee the NAV of the Fund’s shares. U.S. Government Securities are subject to market and interest rate risk, and may be subject to varying degrees of credit risk. Some U.S. Government Securities are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States. Other types of U.S. Government Securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States (but not issued by the U.S. Treasury). These securities have the lowest credit risk. Still other types of U.S. Government Securities are: (1) supported by the ability of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; (2) supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality or government-sponsored corporation; or (3) supported by the United States in some other way. These securities may be subject to greater credit risk.

U.S. Government Securities include zero coupon securities, which tend to be subject to greater market risk than interest-paying securities of similar maturities.

 

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

 

Municipal Bonds

 

Municipal Bonds are generally issued by states and local governments and their agencies, authorities and other instrumentalities. Municipal Bonds are subject to interest rate, credit and market risk. The ability of an issuer to make payments could be affected by litigation, legislation or other political events or the bankruptcy of the issuer. Lower rated Municipal Bonds are subject to greater credit and market risk than higher quality Municipal Bonds. The types of Municipal Bonds in which the Fund may invest include municipal lease obligations, municipal general obligation bonds, municipal cash equivalents, and pre-refunded and escrowed to maturity Municipal Bonds. The Fund may also invest in industrial development bonds, which are Municipal Bonds issued by a government agency on behalf of a private sector company and, in most cases, are not backed by the credit of the issuing municipality and may therefore involve more risk. The Fund may also invest in securities issued by entities whose underlying assets are Municipal Bonds.

 

Pre-refunded Municipal Bonds are tax-exempt bonds that have been refunded to a call date on or before the final maturity of principal and remain outstanding in the municipal market. The payment of principal and interest of the pre-refunded Municipal Bonds held by the Fund is funded from securities in a designated

 

 

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escrow account that holds U.S. Treasury securities or other obligations of the U.S. Government (including its agencies and instrumentalities (“Agency Securities”)). While still tax-exempt, pre-refunded Municipal Bonds usually will bear a Aaa rating (if a re-rating has been requested and paid for) because they are backed by U.S. Treasury or Agency Securities. As the payment of principal and interest is generated from securities held in a designated escrow account, the pledge of the municipality has been fulfilled and the original pledge of revenue by the municipality is no longer in place. The escrow account securities pledged to pay the principal and interest of the pre-refunded Municipal Bond do not guarantee the price movement of the bond before maturity. Investment in pre-refunded Municipal Bonds held by the Fund may subject the Fund to interest rate risk and market risk. In addition, while a secondary market exists for pre-refunded Municipal Bonds, if the Fund sells pre-refunded Municipal Bonds prior to maturity, the price received may be more or less than the original cost, depending on market conditions at the time of sale.

 

High Yield Securities

 

Securities rated lower than Baa by Moody’s, or equivalently rated by S&P or Fitch, are sometimes referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds.” Investing in these securities involves special risks in addition to the risks associated with investments in higher-rated fixed income securities. While offering a greater potential opportunity for capital appreciation and higher yields, high yield securities typically entail greater potential price volatility and may be less liquid than higher-rated securities. High yield securities may be regarded as predominately speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. They may also be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than higher-rated securities. Issuers of securities in default may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the Fund may lose its entire investment.

 

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities

 

Mortgage-related securities include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, mortgage dollar rolls, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage-backed securities (“SMBSs”) and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property. A to-be-announced (“TBA”) transaction is a

method of trading mortgage-backed securities. In a TBA transaction, the buyer and seller agree upon general trade parameters such as agency, settlement date, par amount and price. The actual pools delivered generally are determined two days prior to the settlement date.

 

The value of some mortgage-or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. When interest rates rise, the value of a mortgage-related security generally will decline; however, when interest rates are declining, the value of mortgage-related securities with prepayment features may not increase as much as other fixed income securities. The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-related security, and may shorten or extend the effective maturity of the security beyond what was anticipated at the time of purchase. If unanticipated rates of prepayment on underlying mortgages increase the effective maturity of a mortgage-related security, the volatility of the security can be expected to increase. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

 

One type of SMBS has one class receiving all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only, or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only, or “PO” class). The yield to maturity on an IO class is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage assets, and a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s yield to maturity from these securities. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in any combination of mortgage-related or other asset-backed IO, PO or inverse floater securities.

 

The Fund may invest in collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), which include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities CBOs and CLOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust which is backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign

 

 

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senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. The Fund may invest in other asset-backed securities that have been offered to investors.

 

Loan Participations and Assignments

 

The Fund may invest in fixed- and floating-rate loans, which investments generally will be in the form of loan participations and assignments of portions of such loans. Participations and assignments involve special types of risk, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and the risks of being a lender. If a Fund purchases a participation, it may only be able to enforce its rights through the lender, and may assume the credit risk of the lender in addition to the borrower.

 

Corporate Debt Securities

 

Corporate debt securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s inability to meet principal and interest

payments on the obligation and may also be subject to price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity. When interest rates rise, the value of corporate debt securities can be expected to decline. Debt securities with longer maturities tend to be more sensitive to interest rate movements than those with shorter maturities.

 

Variable and Floating Rate Securities

 

Variable and floating rate securities are securities that pay interest at rates that adjust whenever a specified interest rate changes and/or that reset on predetermined dates (such as the last day of a month or calendar quarter). The Fund may invest in floating rate debt instruments (“floaters”) and engage in credit spread trades. Variable and floating rate securities generally are less sensitive to interest rate changes but may decline in value if their interest rates do not rise as much, or as quickly, as interest rates in general. Conversely, floating rate securities will not generally increase in value if interest rates decline. The Fund may also invest in inverse floating rate debt instruments (“inverse floaters”). An inverse floater may exhibit greater price volatility than a fixed rate obligation of similar credit quality. The Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in any combination of mortgage-related or other asset-backed IO, PO or inverse floater securities.

 

Inflation-Indexed Bonds

 

Inflation-indexed bonds (other than municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds, which are more fully described below) are fixed income securities whose principal value is periodically

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

 

Municipal inflation-indexed securities are municipal bonds that pay coupons based on a fixed rate plus the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI”). With regard to municipal inflation-indexed bonds and certain corporate inflation-indexed bonds, the inflation adjustment is reflected in the semi-annual coupon payment. As a result, the principal value of municipal inflation-indexed bonds and such corporate inflation-indexed bonds does not adjust according to the rate of inflation. At the same time, the value of municipal inflation-indexed securities and such corporate inflation-indexed securities generally will not increase if the rate of inflation decreases. Because municipal inflation-indexed securities and corporate inflation-indexed securities are a small component of the municipal bond and corporate bond markets, respectively, they may be less liquid than conventional municipal and corporate bonds.

 

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

 

 

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Convertible and Equity Securities

 

Common stock represents equity ownership in a company and typically provides the common stockholder the power to vote on certain corporate actions, including the election of the company’s directors. Common stockholders participate in company profits through dividends and, in the event of bankruptcy, distributions, on a pro-rata basis after other claims are satisfied. Many factors affect the value of common stock, including earnings, earnings forecasts, corporate events and factors impacting the issuer’s industry and the market generally. Common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential of all corporate securities.

 

The Fund may invest in convertible securities and equity securities. The Fund may not purchase common stock, but this limitation does not prevent the Fund from holding common stock obtained through the conversion of convertible securities or common stock that is received as part of a corporate reorganization or debt restructuring (for example, as may occur during bankruptcies or distressed situations). Convertible securities are generally preferred stocks and other securities, including fixed income securities and warrants, that are convertible into or exercisable for common stock at a stated price or rate. The price of a convertible security will normally vary in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying common stock because of this conversion or exercise feature. However, the value of a convertible security may not increase or decrease as rapidly as the underlying common stock. A convertible security will normally also provide income and is subject to interest rate risk. Convertible securities may be lower-rated securities subject to greater levels of credit risk. The Fund may be forced to convert a security before it would otherwise choose, which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

Preferred stock represents an equity interest in a company that generally entitles the holder to receive, in preference to the holders of other stocks such as common stocks, dividends and a fixed share of the proceeds resulting from a liquidation of the company. Preferred stocks may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred stock is subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred stock generally pays dividends only after the company makes required payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. For this reason, the value of preferred stock will usually react more strongly than bonds and other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects.

While some countries or companies may be regarded as favorable investments, pure fixed income opportunities may be unattractive or limited due to insufficient supply, or legal or technical restrictions. In such cases, the Fund may consider convertible securities or equity

securities to gain exposure to such investments.

 

At times, in connection with the restructuring of a preferred stock or fixed income instrument either outside of bankruptcy court or in the context of bankruptcy court proceedings, the Fund may determine or be required to accept equity securities, such as common stocks, in exchange for all or a portion of a preferred stock or fixed income instrument. Depending upon, among other things, PIMCO’s evaluation of the potential value of such securities in relation to the price that could be obtained by the Fund at any given time upon sale thereof, the Fund may determine to hold such securities in its portfolio.

 

Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed income securities. The market price of equity securities owned by the Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Equity securities may decline in value due to factors affecting equity securities markets generally or particular industries represented in those markets. The value of an equity security may also decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services.

 

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Securities

 

The Fund may invest in securities and instruments that are economically tied to foreign (non-U.S.) countries. PIMCO generally considers an instrument to be economically tied to a non-U.S. country if the issuer is a foreign government (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), or if the issuer is organized under the laws of a non-U.S. country. In the case of certain money market instruments, such instruments will be considered economically tied to a non-U.S. country if either the issuer or the guarantor of such money market instrument is organized under the laws of a non-U.S. country.

 

Investing in foreign securities involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities. Shareholders should consider carefully the substantial risks involved for the Fund that invests in securities issued by foreign companies and governments of foreign countries. These risks include: differences in accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards; generally higher commission rates

 

 

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on foreign portfolio transactions; the possibility of nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation; adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations; and political instability. Individual foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the U.S. economy in such respects as growth of gross domestic product, rates of inflation, capital reinvestment, resources, self-sufficiency and balance of payments position. The securities markets, values of securities, yields and risks associated with foreign securities markets may change independently of each other. Also, foreign securities and dividends and interest payable on those securities may be subject to foreign taxes, including taxes withheld from payments on those securities. Foreign securities often trade with less frequency and volume than domestic securities and therefore may exhibit greater price volatility. Investments in foreign securities may also involve higher custodial costs than domestic investments.

 

  n   

Emerging Market Securities. The Fund may invest in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries. PIMCO generally considers an instrument to be economically tied to an emerging market country if the issuer or guarantor is a government of an emerging market country (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), if the issuer or guarantor is organized under the laws of an emerging market country, or if the currency of settlement of the security is a currency of an emerging market country. PIMCO has broad discretion to identify countries that it considers to qualify as emerging markets. In making investments in emerging market securities, the Fund emphasizes those countries with relatively low gross national product per capita and with the potential for rapid economic growth. Emerging market countries are generally located in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe. PIMCO will select the country based on its evaluation of relative interest rates, inflation rates, exchange rates, monetary and fiscal policies, trade and current account balances, legal and political developments and any other specific factors it believes to be relevant.

 

Investing in emerging market securities imposes risks different from, or greater than, risks of investing in domestic securities or in foreign, developed countries. These risks include: smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; possible repatriation of investment income and capital. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales; future

economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization, or creation of government monopolies. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.

 

Additional risks of emerging markets securities may include: greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability; more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation; companies that are newly organized and small; differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; and less developed legal systems. In addition, emerging securities markets may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Settlement problems may cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, hold a portion of its assets in cash pending investment, or be delayed in disposing of a portfolio security. Such a delay could result in possible liability to a purchaser of the security.

 

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

 

Foreign (Non-U.S.) Currencies

 

The Fund invests in foreign currencies or in securities that trade in, or receive revenues in, foreign currencies and will be subject to currency risk. Foreign currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. They generally are determined by supply and demand in the foreign exchange markets and the relative merits of investments in different countries, actual or perceived changes in interest rates and other complex factors. Currency exchange rates also can be affected unpredictably by intervention (or the failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments or central banks, or by currency controls or political developments. Currencies in which the Fund’s assets are denominated may be devalued against the U.S. dollar, resulting in a loss to the Fund.

 

 

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Foreign Currency Transactions. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign (non-U.S.) currencies and engage in foreign currency transactions on a spot (cash) basis and enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts. A forward foreign currency exchange contract, which involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract, reduces the Fund’s exposure to changes in the value of the currency it will deliver and increases its exposure to changes in the value of the currency it will receive for the duration of the contract. Certain foreign currency transactions may also be settled in cash rather than the actual delivery of the relevant currency. The effect on the value of the Fund is similar to selling securities denominated in one currency and purchasing securities denominated in another currency. A contract to sell foreign currency would limit any potential gain which might be realized if the value of the hedged currency increases. The Fund may enter into these contracts to hedge against foreign exchange risk, to increase exposure to a foreign currency or to shift exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one currency to another. Suitable hedging transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will engage in such transactions at any given time or from time to time. Also, such transactions may not be successful and may eliminate any chance for the Fund to benefit from favorable fluctuations in relevant foreign currencies. The Fund may use one currency (or a basket of currencies) to hedge against adverse changes in the value of another currency (or a basket of currencies) when exchange rates between the two currencies are positively correlated. The Fund will segregate or “earmark” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with the procedures established by the Board of Trustees (or, as permitted by applicable law, enter into certain offsetting positions) to cover its obligations under forward foreign currency exchange contracts entered into for non-hedging purposes.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

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

their repurchase price. Repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days are considered illiquid securities and which may not be terminated within seven days at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the agreements.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements, Dollar Rolls and Other Borrowings

 

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls subject to the Fund’s limitations on borrowings. A reverse repurchase agreement involves the sale of a security by the Fund and its agreement to repurchase the instrument at a specified time and price. A dollar roll is similar except that the counterparty is not obligated to return the same securities as those originally sold by the Fund but only securities that are “substantially identical.” Reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls may be considered borrowing for some purposes. The Fund will segregate or “earmark” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO to cover its obligations under reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls. Reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls and other forms of borrowings may create leveraging risk for the Fund.

 

The Fund may borrow money to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act. This means that, in general, the Fund may borrow money from banks for any purpose in an amount up to 1/3 of the Fund’s total assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities. The Fund may also borrow money for temporary administrative purposes in an amount not to exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

Delayed Funding Loans and Revolving Credit Facilities

 

The Fund may also enter into, or acquire participations in, delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities, in which a lender agrees to make loans up to a maximum amount upon demand by the borrower during a specified term. These commitments may have the effect of requiring the Fund to increase its investments in a company at a time when it might not otherwise decide to do so (including at a time when the company’s financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid). To the extent that the Fund is committed to advance additional funds it will segregate or “earmark” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees in an amount sufficient to meet such commitments. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are subject to credit, interest rate and liquidity risk and the risks of being a lender.

 

 

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When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions

 

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

 

Investment in Other Funds

 

Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act restricts investments by registered investment companies and companies relying on Sections 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act in the securities of other investment companies. Registered investment companies are permitted to invest in the Fund beyond the limits set forth in Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in an SEC exemptive order issued to PIMCO and the Trust, including that such investment companies enter into an agreement with the Trust.

 

The Fund may invest in, to the extent permitted by Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, other affiliated and unaffiliated funds, such as open-end or closed-end management investment companies, including other exchange traded funds, provided that the Fund’s investment in units or shares of investment companies and other open-end collective investment vehicles will not exceed 10% of the Fund’s net assets. The Fund may invest securities lending collateral in one or more money market funds to the extent permitted by Rule 12d1-1 under the 1940 Act, including series of PIMCO Funds, an affiliated open-end management investment

company managed by PIMCO. As a shareholder of a fund, the Fund may indirectly bear investment advisory fees, supervisory and administrative fees, service fees and other fees which are in addition to the fees the Fund pays its service providers.

 

Subject to the restrictions and limitations of the 1940 Act, the Fund may elect to pursue its investment objective either by investing directly in securities or instruments, or by investing in one or more underlying investment vehicles or companies that have substantially similar investment objectives and policies as the Fund.

 

Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Companies

 

The Fund may invest in small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies. The Fund considers a small-cap company to be a company with a market capitalization of up to $1.5 billion and a mid-cap company to be a company with a market capitalization of between $1.5 billion and $10 billion. Investments in small-cap and mid-cap companies involve greater risk than investments in large-capitalization companies. Small and mid-cap companies may not have an

established financial history, which can present valuation challenges. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may be subject to increased market fluctuations, due to less liquid markets and more limited managerial and financial resources. The Fund’s investments in small- and mid-cap companies may increase the volatility of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Short Sales

 

The Fund may make short sales as part of its overall portfolio management strategies or to offset a potential decline in value of a security. A short sale involves the sale of a security that is borrowed from a broker or other institution to complete the sale. Short sales expose the Fund to the risk that it will be required to acquire, convert or exchange securities to replace the borrowed securities (also known as “covering” the short position) at a time when the securities sold short have appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss to the Fund. When making a short sale (other than a “short sale against the box”), the Fund must segregate or “earmark” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees or otherwise cover its position in a permissible manner. The Fund may engage in short selling to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and rules and interpretations thereunder and other federal securities laws. To the extent the Fund engages in short selling in foreign (non-U.S.) jurisdictions, the Fund will do so to the extent permitted by the laws and regulations of such jurisdiction.

 

 

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Illiquid Securities

 

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets (taken at the time of investment) in illiquid securities. Certain illiquid securities may require pricing at fair value as determined in good faith under the supervision of the Board of Trustees. The portfolio manager may be subject to significant delays in disposing of illiquid securities, and transactions in illiquid securities may entail registration expenses and other transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in liquid securities. The term “illiquid securities” for this purpose means securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which the Fund has valued the securities. Restricted securities, i.e., securities subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, may be illiquid. However, some restricted securities (such as securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and certain commercial paper) may be treated as liquid, although they may be less liquid than registered securities traded on established secondary markets.

 

Loans of Portfolio Securities

 

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

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The length of time the Fund has held a particular security is not generally a consideration in investment decisions. A change in the securities held by the Fund is known as “portfolio turnover.” When the portfolio manager deems it appropriate and particularly during periods of volatile market movements, the Fund may engage in frequent and active trading of portfolio securities to achieve its investment objective, particularly during periods of

volatile market movements. To the extent that Creation Unit purchases from and redemptions by the Fund are effected in cash, frequent purchases and redemptions may increase the rate of portfolio turnover. Higher portfolio turnover (e.g., greater than 100%) involves correspondingly greater expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in other securities. Such sales may also result in realization of taxable capital gains, including short-term capital gains (which are generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates). The trading costs and tax effects associated with portfolio turnover may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. In addition, large movements of cash into or out of the Fund may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective or maintain a consistent level of operating expenses.

 

Temporary Defensive Strategies

 

For temporary or defensive purposes, the Fund may invest without limit in U.S. debt securities, including taxable securities and short-term money market securities, when PIMCO deems it appropriate to do so. When the Fund engages in such strategies, it may not achieve its investment objective.

 

Changes in Investment Objectives and Policies

 

The investment objective of the Fund is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Unless otherwise stated, all investment policies of the Fund may be changed by the Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. In addition, the Trust may determine to cease operating the Fund as an “exchange-traded” fund and cause the Fund’s shares to stop trading on a securities exchange.

 

Percentage Investment Limitations

 

Unless otherwise stated, all percentage limitations on Fund investments listed in this prospectus will apply at the time of investment. The Fund would not violate these limitations unless an excess or deficiency occurs or exists immediately after and as a result of an investment.

 

Credit Ratings and Unrated Securities

 

Rating agencies are private services that provide ratings of the credit quality of fixed income securities. Appendix A to this prospectus describes the various ratings assigned to fixed income securities by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. Ratings assigned by a rating agency are not absolute standards of credit quality and do not evaluate market risks. Rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings and an issuer’s current

 

 

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financial condition may be better or worse than a rating indicates. The Fund will not necessarily sell a security when its rating is reduced below its rating at the time of purchase. PIMCO does not rely solely on credit ratings, and develops its own analysis of issuer credit quality.

 

The Fund may purchase unrated securities (which are not rated by a rating agency) if its portfolio manager determines that the security is of comparable quality to a rated security that the Fund may purchase. Unrated securities may be less liquid than comparable rated securities and involve the risk that the portfolio manager may not accurately evaluate the security’s comparative credit rating. To the extent that the Fund invests in unrated securities, the Fund’s success in achieving its investment objective may depend more heavily on the portfolio manager’s creditworthiness analysis than if the Fund invested exclusively in rated securities.

Other Investments and Techniques

 

The Fund may invest in other types of securities and use a variety of investment techniques and strategies which are not described in this prospectus. These securities and techniques may subject the Fund to additional risks. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for additional information about the securities and investment techniques described in this prospectus and about additional securities and techniques that may be used by the Fund.

 

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

Because the Fund has not operated for a full fiscal period as of the date of this prospectus, audited financial highlights are not available.

 

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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

 

Frequency of Discounts and Premiums: Market Price vs. NAV

 

Once operational, information regarding how often the Shares of the Fund traded on NYSE Arca at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Fund during the past calendar year can be found at www.pimcoetfs.com.

 

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APPENDIX A

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES RATINGS

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

 

Long-Term Obligation Ratings

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

 

Aaa: Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Short-Term Ratings

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

 

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

 

P-1: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP: Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Canadian issuers rated P-1 or P-2 have their short-term ratings enhanced by the senior-most long-term rating of the issuer, its guarantor or support-provider.

 

US Municipal Short-Term Debt and Demand Obligation Ratings

Short-Term Obligation Ratings

There are three rating categories for short-term municipal obligations that are considered investment

 

 

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

 

MIG 1: This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2: This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3: This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG: This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

Demand Obligation Ratings

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (VRDOs), a two-component rating is assigned; a long or short-term debt rating and a demand obligation rating. The first element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with scheduled principal and interest payments. The second element represents Moody’s evaluation of the degree of risk associated with the ability to receive purchase price upon demand (“demand feature”), using a variation of the MIG rating scale, the Variable Municipal Investment Grade or VMIG rating. When either the long- or short-term aspect of a VRDO is not rated, that piece is designated NR, e.g., Aaa/NR or NR/VMIG 1. VMIG rating expirations are a function of each issue’s specific structural or credit features.

 

VMIG 1: This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

VMIG 2: This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand

 

VMIG 3: This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity

provider and structural and legal protections that ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

SG: This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have an investment grade short-term rating or may lack the structural and/or legal protections necessary to ensure the timely payment of purchase price upon demand.

 

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services

 

 

Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on the following considerations:

 

  n    

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

  n    

Nature of and provisions of the obligation;

  n    

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

 

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

 

Investment Grade

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

 

AA: An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

 

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

 

 

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

 

Speculative Grade

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

CC: An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

 

C: A ‘C’ rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action which have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the ‘C’ rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

D: An obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation’s rating is lowered to ‘D’ upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

 

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

 

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

 

Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

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

 

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

 

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

 

B: A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. Ratings of ‘B-1’, ‘B-2’, and ‘B-3’ may be assigned to indicate finer distinctions within the ‘B’ category. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties which could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

 

 

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B-1: A short-term obligation rated ‘B-1’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, but the obligor has a relatively stronger capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

 

B-2: A short-term obligation rated ‘B-2’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has an average speculative-grade capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

 

B-3: A short-term obligation rated ‘B-3’ is regarded as having significant speculative characteristics, and the obligor has a relatively weaker capacity to meet its financial commitments over the short-term compared to other speculative-grade obligors.

 

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

 

D: A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in payment default. The ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless Standard & Poor’s believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized.

 

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

 

Active Qualifiers (currently applied and/or outstanding)

i: This subscript is used for issues in which the credit factors, terms, or both, that determine the likelihood of receipt of payment of interest are different from the credit factors, terms or both that determine the likelihood of receipt of principal on the obligation. The ‘i’ subscript indicates that the rating addresses the

interest portion of the obligation only. The ‘i’ subscript will always be used in conjunction with the ‘p’ subscript, which addresses likelihood of receipt of principal. For example, a rated obligation could be assigned ratings of “AAAp NRi” indicating that the principal portion is rated “AAA” and the interest portion of the obligation is not rated.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Preliminary: Preliminary ratings are assigned to issues, including financial programs, in the following circumstances.

 

  n    

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

 

 

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legal opinions. Assignment of a final rating is conditional on the receipt and approval by Standard & Poor’s of appropriate documentation. Changes in the information provided to Standard & Poor’s could result in the assignment of a different rating. In addition, Standard & Poor’s reserves the right not to issue a final rating.

  n    

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

  n    

Preliminary ratings may be assigned to obligations that will likely be issued upon reorganization or emergence from bankruptcy, based on late-stage reorganization plans, documentation and discussions with the obligor. These ratings consider the anticipated general credit quality of the reorganized or postbankruptcy issuer as well as attributes of the anticipated obligation(s). The final rating may differ from the preliminary rating as a result of changes in the reorganization plan or other developments. Standard & Poor’s reserves the right not to issue a final rating.

 

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

 

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

 

Inactive Qualifiers (no longer applied or outstanding)

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

 

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

 

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

 

r: The ‘r’ modifier was assigned to securities containing extraordinary risks, particularly market risks, that are

not covered in the credit rating. The absence of an ‘r’ modifier should not be taken as an indication that an obligation will not exhibit extraordinary non-credit related risks. Standard & Poor’s discontinued the use of the ‘r’ modifier for most obligations in June 2000 and for the balance of obligations (mainly structured finance transactions) in November 2002.

 

Local Currency and Foreign Currency Risks: Country risk considerations are a standard part of Standard & Poor’s analysis for credit ratings on any issuer or issue. Currency of repayment is a key factor in this analysis. An obligor’s capacity to repay foreign currency obligations may be lower than its capacity to repay obligations in its local currency due to the sovereign government’s own relatively lower capacity to repay external versus domestic debt. These sovereign risk considerations are incorporated in the debt ratings assigned to specific issues. Foreign currency issuer ratings are also distinguished from local currency issuer ratings to identify those instances where sovereign risks make them different for the same issuer.

 

Fitch, Inc.

 

 

Long-Term Credit Ratings Investment Grade

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

 

AA: Very high credit quality. “AA” ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A: High credit quality. “A” ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB: Good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

Speculative Grade

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

 

 

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time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B: Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC: Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC: Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C: Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ indicates exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

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

 

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

 

Recovery Ratings

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

actual recoveries for a given security may deviate materially from historical averages.

 

RR1: Outstanding recovery prospects given default. ‘RR1’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 91%-100% of current principal and related interest.

 

RR2: Superior recovery prospects given default. ‘RR2’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 71%-90% of current principal and related interest.

 

RR3: Good recovery prospects given default. ‘RR3’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 51%-70% of current principal and related interest.

 

RR4: Average recovery prospects given default. ‘RR4’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 31%-50% of current principal and related interest.

 

RR5: Below average recovery prospects given default. ‘RR5’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 11%-30% of current principal and related interest.

 

RR6: Poor recovery prospects given default. ‘RR6’ rated securities have characteristics consistent with securities historically recovering 0%-10% of current principal and related interest.

 

Short-Term Credit Ratings

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

 

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PIMCO ETF Trust

 

INVESTMENT MANAGER

 

PIMCO, 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660

 

DISTRIBUTOR

 

PIMCO Investments LLC, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105-4800

 

CUSTODIAN

 

State Street Bank & Trust Co., State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111

 

TRANSFER AGENT

 

State Street Bank & Trust Co., State Street Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 1100 Walnut Street, Suite 1300, Kansas City, MO 64106-2197

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Dechert LLP, 1775 I Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006-2401

 

 

Not part of the prospectus


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LOGO

PIMCO ETF Trust

840 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, CA 92660

 

The Trust’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Fund. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, which means it is part of this Prospectus for legal purposes. The Fund’s annual report, once it is available, will discuss the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year.

 

You may get free copies of any of these materials, request other information about the Fund, or make shareholder inquiries by calling the Trust at 1-888-400-4ETF (1-888-400-4383) or PIMCO Infolink Audio Response Network at 1-800-987-4626, by visiting www.pimcoetfs.com or by writing to:

 

PIMCO ETF Trust

840 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, CA 92660

You may review and copy information about the Trust, including its SAI, at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. You may call the Commission at 1-202-551-8090 for information about the operation of the public reference room. You may also access reports and other information about the Trust on the EDGAR Database on the Commission’s Web site at www.sec.gov. You may get copies of this information, with payment of a duplication fee, by writing the Public Reference Section of the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520, or by e-mailing your request to publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

You can also visit our Web site at www.pimcoetfs.com for additional information about the Fund, including the SAI, which is available for download free of charge.

 

Reference the Trust’s Investment Company Act file number in your correspondence.

 

 

Investment Company Act File No. 811-22250

 

[                    ]


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PIMCO ETF Trust

Statement of Additional Information

This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus, and should be read in conjunction with the prospectuses of PIMCO ETF Trust (the “Trust”), as described below and as supplemented from time to time. The Trust is an open-end management investment company currently consisting of 20 separate portfolios (each such portfolio discussed in this Statement of Additional Information is referred to herein as a “Fund” and collectively as the “Funds”), including:

 

Index Funds and Ticker Symbols

PIMCO 0-1 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund    —      PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund    LPTZ
PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund    TUZ    PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund    ZROZ
PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund    STPZ    PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index Fund    TIPZ
PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund    HYS    PIMCO Broad U.S. Treasury Index Fund    TRSY
PIMCO 3-7 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund    FIVZ    PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund    PHYD
PIMCO 7-15 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund    TENZ    PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund    CORP

Actively Managed Funds and Ticker Symbols

              
PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund    BABZ    PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund    MUNI
PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund    MINT    PIMCO Prime Limited Maturity Strategy Fund    PPRM
PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund    ILB    PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund    SMMU
PIMCO Government Limited Maturity Strategy Fund    GOVY    PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund   

TRXT

Shares of the PIMCO 0-1 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund, PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund, PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, PIMCO 3-7 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund, PIMCO 7-15 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund, PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund, PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund, PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund, PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index Fund, PIMCO Broad U.S. Treasury Index Fund, PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund and PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund are offered through a prospectus dated October 29, 2010 (as revised November 1, 2010), shares of the PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund, PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund, PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund, PIMCO Government Limited Maturity Strategy Fund, PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund, PIMCO Prime Limited Maturity Strategy Fund and PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund are offered through a prospectus dated October 29, 2010 (as revised February 14, 2011) and shares of the PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund are offered through a prospectus dated [ ], all as amended or supplemented from time to time (collectively, the “Prospectuses”). Copies of the Prospectuses may be obtained free of charge at the address and telephone number listed below.

Each Fund operates as an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). As identified and described in more detail within the Prospectuses and this Statement of Additional Information, certain Funds are ETFs that seek to replicate the performance of a specified index (collectively, the “Index Funds”). Other Funds are actively managed ETFs that do not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index (collectively, the “Active Funds”). Once a Fund commences operations, the shares described in the Prospectuses and in this Statement of Additional Information are listed and trade on NYSE Arca, Inc. (“NYSE Arca”), a national securities exchange (the “Listing Exchange”) and other secondary markets.

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO” or the “Manager”), 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660, is the investment manager of the Funds. Copies of the Prospectuses and annual or semi-annual reports, when available, may be obtained free of charge at the following address and telephone number:

 

PIMCO Investments LLC
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
Telephone: (800) 426-0107

October 29, 2010 (as revised [    ], 2011)


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

THE TRUST

     1   

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

     1   

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

     2   

U.S. Government Securities

     2   

Municipal Bonds

     2   

Mortgage-Related Securities and Asset-Backed Securities

     5   

Bank Obligations

     10   

Indebtedness, Loan Participations and Assignments

     11   

Trade Claims

     12   

Corporate Debt Securities

     12   

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

     12   

Creditor Liability and Participation on Creditors Committees

     13   

Variable and Floating Rate Securities

     13   

Inflation-Indexed Bonds

     14   

Foreign Securities

     15   

Foreign Currency Transactions

     18   

Borrowing

     19   

Derivative Instruments

     20   

Hybrid Instruments

     27   

Bank Capital Securities

     28   

Trust Preferred Securities

     28   

Delayed Funding Loans and Revolving Credit Facilities

     28   

When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions

     29   

144A Securities

     29   

Illiquid Securities

     29   

Loans of Portfolio Securities

     29   

Investment Companies

     30   

Government Intervention in Financial Markets

     30   

Temporary Investment

     30   

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

     30   

Fundamental Investment Restrictions

     30   

Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions

     31   

UNDERLYING INDEXES FOR INDEX FUNDS

     34   

The BofA Merrill Lynch 0-1 Year US Treasury Index

     34   

The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Treasury Index

     34   

The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year US High Yield Constrained Index

     34   

The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index

     35   

The BofA Merrill Lynch 3-7 Year US Treasury Index

     35   

The BofA Merrill Lynch 7-15 Year US Treasury Index

     35   

The BofA Merrill Lynch 15+ Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index

     36   

The BofA Merrill Lynch Liquid US Treasury Index

     36   

The BofA Merrill Lynch Long US Treasury Principal STRIPS Index

     36   

The BofA Merrill Lynch US Corporate Index

     37   

The BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Constrained Index

     37   

The BofA Merrill Lynch US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index

     37   

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

     38   

Trustees and Officers

     38   

Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight Function

     38   

Qualifications of the Trustees

     39   

Trustees

     39   

 

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Executive Officers

     41   

Securities Ownership

     42   

Trustee Ownership of the Investment Manager and Principal Underwriter, and Their Control Persons

     43   

Standing Committees

     44   

Compensation Table

     45   

Investment Manager

     46   

Investment Management Agreement

     47   

Management Fee Rates

     47   

Management Fee Payments

     48   

Management Fees Waived

     48   

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

     49   

OTHER PIMCO INFORMATION

     50   

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     50   

Other Accounts Managed

     50   

Conflicts of Interest

     51   

Portfolio Manager Compensation

     52   

Securities Ownership

     54   

CREATIONS AND REDEMPTIONS

     54   

Distributor

     55   

Continuous Offering

     55   

Fund Deposit

     56   

Procedures for Creating Creation Units

     57   

Placement of Creation Orders

     57   

Acceptance of Creation Orders

     58   

Creation Transaction Fee

     59   

Redemption of Creation Units

     60   

Redemption Transaction Fee

     60   

Placement of Redemption Orders

     61   

Distribution and Servicing (12b-1) Plan

     69   

Additional Information About the Shares

     70   

Request for Multiple Copies of Shareholder Documents

     70   

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS AND BROKERAGE

     70   

Investment Decisions and Portfolio Transactions

     70   

Brokerage and Research Services

     71   

Brokerage Commissions Paid

     73   

Holdings of Securities of the Trust’s Regular Brokers and Dealers

     73   

Portfolio Turnover

     73   

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

     73   

Large Trade Notifications

     75   

NET ASSET VALUE

     75   

TAXATION

     75   

Distributions

     76   

Sales of Shares

     77   

Potential Pass-Through of Tax Credits

     77   

Backup Withholding

     77   

Options, Futures and Forward Contracts, and Swap Agreements

     77   

Foreign Taxation

     78   

Original Issue Discount and Market Discount

     78   

Constructive Sales

     79   

IRAs and Other Retirement Plans

     79   

Non-U.S. Shareholders

     79   

Other Taxation

     80   

 

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OTHER INFORMATION

     80   

Capitalization

     80   

Voting Rights

     81   

Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities

     81   

Code of Ethics

     85   

Securities Depository for Shares of the Funds

     85   

Disclaimers

     86   

Custodian and Transfer Agent

     87   

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     87   

Counsel

     87   

Registration Statement

     87   

Financial Statements

     88   

 

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THE TRUST

Each Fund operates as an ETF and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The offering of the Trust’s shares is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

Each Fund offers and issues shares at their net asset value per share (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (“Creation Units”), generally in exchange for a basket of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) together with a deposit of a specified cash payment (the “Cash Component”). Alternatively, each Fund may issue and redeem Creation Units in exchange for a specified all-cash payment (“Cash Deposit”). Shares are redeemable by the applicable Fund only in Creation Units, and, generally, in exchange for securities and/or cash. Shares trade in the secondary market and elsewhere at market prices that may be at, above or below NAV. Creation Units typically are a specified number of shares, generally 70,000, 80,000, 90,000 or 100,000 and multiples thereof.

The Trust may issue and redeem shares in-kind and/or for cash. A Fund may charge creation/redemption transaction fees for each creation and redemption. In all cases, transaction fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities. See the “Creations and Redemptions” section below.

The investment objective of each Index Fund is to provide total return that closely corresponds, before fees and expenses, to the total return of the Fund’s underlying index (each an “Underlying Index” and collectively the “Underlying Indexes”) representing a segment of the U.S. fixed income securities market as described in more detail below. The Index Funds issue and redeem shares in-kind and/or for cash. Unlike conventional ETFs, the Active ETFs are not index funds. The Active Funds are actively managed ETFs that do not seek to replicate the performance of a specified index. The Active Funds issue and redeem shares for cash and/or in-kind.

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

Shares of each Fund are listed for trading and trade throughout the day on the Listing Exchange and other secondary markets. Shares of a Fund may also be listed on certain foreign (non-U.S.) exchanges. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Listing Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of shares of the Funds will continue to be met. The Listing Exchange may, but is not required to, remove the shares of a Fund from listing if (i) following the initial 12-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of Fund shares, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of shares of the Fund for 30 or more consecutive trading days, (ii) the value of the Underlying Index on which an Index Fund is based is no longer calculated or available, (iii) the intra-day net asset value (“iNAV”) of the Fund is no longer calculated or available or (iv) any other event shall occur or condition shall exist that, in the opinion of the Listing Exchange, makes further dealings on the Listing Exchange inadvisable. The Listing Exchange will remove the shares of a Fund from listing and trading upon termination of the Fund. In the event a Fund ceases to be listed on an exchange, the Fund may cease operating as an “exchange-traded” fund and operate as a mutual fund, provided that shareholders are given advance notice.

As in the case of other publicly-traded securities, when you buy or sell shares through a financial intermediary you will incur a brokerage commission determined by that financial intermediary.

In order to provide additional information regarding the intra-day value of shares of each Fund, the Listing Exchange or a market data vendor disseminates every 15 seconds through the facilities of the Consolidated Tape Association or other widely disseminated means an updated iNAV for each Fund as calculated by an information provider or market data vendor. The Trust is not involved in or responsible for any aspect of the calculation or dissemination of the iNAV and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the iNAV.

With regard to the Index Funds, an iNAV is based on a securities component and a cash component (or an all cash amount) which comprises that day’s Fund Deposit (as defined below), as disseminated prior to that Business Day’s commencement of trading (the “Index Funds iNAV Basket”). With regard to the Active Funds, an iNAV is based on the current market value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings that will form the basis for the Fund’s calculation of NAV at the end of the Business Day (as defined below), as disclosed on the Fund’s website prior to that Business Day’s commencement of trading (the “Active Funds iNAV Basket”). An inaccuracy in the iNAV could result from various factors, including, but not limited to, the difficulty of pricing instruments on an intraday basis. Therefore, a Fund’s iNAV disseminated during the Listing Exchange trading hours should not be viewed as a real time update of the Fund’s NAV, which is calculated only once a day.

 

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The Trust reserves the right to adjust the share prices of a Fund in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of the Fund.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

The investment objectives and general investment policies of each Fund are described in the Prospectuses. Consistent with each Fund’s investment policies, each Fund may invest in “Fixed Income Instruments,” which are defined in the Prospectuses. Additional information concerning the characteristics of the Funds’ investments is set forth below.

U.S. Government Securities

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

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

Municipal Bonds

Certain Funds may invest in securities issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. It is a policy of each of the PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund and PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund (each a “Municipal Fund,” and collectively, the “Municipal Funds”) to have at least 80% of its net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes invested in investments, the income of which is exempt from federal income tax (“Municipal Bonds”). The ability of a Municipal Fund to invest in securities other than Municipal Bonds is limited by a requirement of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), that at least 50% of the applicable Municipal Fund’s total assets be invested in Municipal Bonds at the end of each calendar quarter.

Municipal Bonds share the attributes of debt/fixed income securities in general, but are generally issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies or authorities. The Municipal Bonds which the Funds may purchase include general obligation bonds and limited obligation bonds (or revenue bonds), including industrial development bonds issued pursuant to former federal tax law. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing power and are payable from such issuer’s general revenues and not from any particular source. Limited obligation bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the proceeds of a special excise or other specific revenue source. Tax-exempt private activity bonds and industrial development bonds generally are also revenue bonds and thus are not payable from the issuer’s general revenues. The credit and quality of private activity bonds and industrial development bonds are usually related to the credit of the corporate user of the facilities. Payment of interest on and repayment of principal of such bonds is the responsibility of the corporate user (and/or any guarantor).

Each Fund that may invest in Municipal Bonds, and in particular the Municipal Funds, may invest 25% or more of its total assets in Municipal Bonds that finance similar projects, such as those relating to education, health care, housing, transportation, and utilities, and 25% or more of its total assets in industrial development bonds. A Fund may be more

 

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sensitive to adverse economic, business or political developments if it invests a substantial portion of its assets in the bonds of similar projects or industrial development bonds.

Each Fund that may invest in Municipal Bonds may invest in pre-refunded Municipal Bonds. Pre-refunded Municipal Bonds are tax-exempt bonds that have been refunded to a call date prior to the final maturity of principal, or, in the case of pre-refunded Municipal Bonds commonly referred to as “escrowed-to-maturity bonds,” to the final maturity of principal, and remain outstanding in the municipal market. The payment of principal and interest of the pre-refunded Municipal Bonds held by a Fund is funded from securities in a designated escrow account that holds U.S. Treasury securities or other obligations of the U.S. Government (including its agencies and instrumentalities (“Agency Securities”)). While still tax-exempt, pre-refunded Municipal Bonds usually will bear a Aaa rating (if a re-rating has been requested and paid for) because they are backed by U.S. Treasury or Agency securities. As the payment of principal and interest is generated from securities held in an escrow account established by the municipality and an independent escrow agent, the pledge of the municipality has been fulfilled and the original pledge of revenue by the municipality is no longer in place. The escrow account securities pledged to pay the principal and interest of the pre-refunded Municipal Bond do not guarantee the price movement of the bond before maturity. Issuers of Municipal Bonds refund in advance of maturity the outstanding higher cost debt and issue new, lower cost debt, placing the proceeds of the lower cost issuance into an escrow account to pre-refund the older, higher cost debt. Investments in pre-refunded Municipal Bonds held by a Fund may subject the Fund to interest rate risk and market risk. In addition, while a secondary market exists for pre-refunded Municipal Bonds, if a Fund sells pre-refunded Municipal Bonds prior to maturity, the price received may be more or less than the original cost, depending on market conditions at the time of sale. To the extent permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service, a Fund’s investment in pre-refunded Municipal Bonds backed by U.S. Treasury and Agency securities in the manner described above, will, for purposes of diversification tests applicable to certain Funds, be considered an investment in the respective U.S. Treasury and Agency securities.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, certain limited obligation bonds are considered “private activity bonds” and interest paid on such bonds is treated as an item of tax preference for purposes of calculating federal alternative minimum tax liability. The Municipal Funds do not intend to invest in securities whose interest is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

Certain Funds, in particular the PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund, may invest in Build America Bonds. Build America Bonds are tax credit bonds created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which authorizes state and local governments to issue Build America Bonds as taxable bonds in 2009 and 2010, without volume limitations, to finance any capital expenditures for which such issuers could otherwise issue traditional tax-exempt bonds. State and local governments may receive a direct federal subsidy payment for a portion of their borrowing costs on Build America Bonds equal to 35% of the total coupon interest paid to investors. The state or local government issuer can elect to either take the federal subsidy or pass the 35% tax credit along to bondholders. A Fund’s investments in Build America Bonds will result in taxable income and the Fund may elect to pass through to shareholders the corresponding tax credits. The tax credits can generally be used to offset federal income taxes and the alternative minimum tax, but such credits are generally not refundable. Build America Bonds involve similar risks as Municipal Bonds, including credit and market risk. They are intended to assist state and local governments in financing capital projects at lower borrowing costs and are likely to attract a broader group of investors than tax-exempt Municipal Bonds. For example, taxable funds, including Funds other than the Municipal Funds, may choose to invest in Build America Bonds. Although Build America Bonds are currently only authorized for 2009 and 2010, the program may result in reduced issuance of tax-exempt Municipal Bonds. As a result, Funds that invest in tax-exempt Municipal Bonds, such as the Municipal Funds, may increase their holdings of Build America Bonds and other investments permitted by the Funds’ respective investment objectives and policies. The Build America Bond program expired on December 31, 2010, at which point no further issuance was permitted, unless the program is renewed by Congress at a future date. As of April 19, 2011, there is no indication that Congress will renew the program.

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

The Funds may seek to enhance their yield through the purchase of private placements. These securities are sold through private negotiations, usually to institutions or mutual funds, and may have resale restrictions. Their yields are

 

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usually higher than comparable public securities to compensate the investor for their limited marketability. A Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including unmarketable private placements. Although the PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund has no present intention of purchasing illiquid securities, it reserves the right to invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.

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

The Funds that may invest in Municipal Bonds may invest in municipal warrants, which are essentially call options on Municipal Bonds. In exchange for a premium, municipal warrants give the purchaser the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a Municipal Bond in the future. A Fund may purchase a warrant to lock in forward supply in an environment where the current issuance of bonds is sharply reduced. Like options, warrants may expire worthless and they may have reduced liquidity. A Fund will not invest more than 5% of its net assets in municipal warrants.

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

The Funds that may invest in Municipal Bonds also may invest in participation interests. Participation interests are various types of securities created by converting fixed rate bonds into short-term, variable rate certificates. These securities have been developed in the secondary market to meet the demand for short-term, tax-exempt securities. The Funds will invest only in such securities deemed tax-exempt by a nationally recognized bond counsel, but there is no guarantee the interest will be exempt because the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has not issued a definitive ruling on the matter.

Municipal Bonds are subject to credit and market risk. Generally, prices of higher quality issues tend to fluctuate less with changes in market interest rates than prices of lower quality issues and prices of longer maturity issues tend to fluctuate more than prices of shorter maturity issues.

The Funds may purchase and sell portfolio investments to take advantage of changes or anticipated changes in yield relationships, markets or economic conditions. The Funds also may sell Municipal Bonds due to changes in PIMCO’s evaluation of the issuer or cash needs resulting from redemption requests for Fund shares. The secondary market for Municipal Bonds typically has been less liquid than that for taxable debt/fixed income securities, and this may affect the Fund’s ability to sell particular Municipal Bonds at then-current market prices, especially in periods when other investors are attempting to sell the same securities. Additionally, Municipal Bonds rated below investment grade (i.e., high yield Municipal Bonds) may not be as liquid as higher-rated Municipal Bonds. Reduced liquidity in the secondary market may have an adverse impact on the market price of a Municipal Bond and on a Fund’s ability to sell a Municipal Bond in response to changes or anticipated changes in economic conditions or to meet the Fund’s cash needs. Reduced liquidity may also make it more difficult to obtain market quotations based on actual trades for purposes of valuing a Fund’s portfolio. For more information on high yield securities please see “High Yield Securities (“Junk Bonds”) and Securities of Distressed Companies” below.

 

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

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

Obligations of issuers of Municipal Bonds are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors. Congress or state legislatures may seek to extend the time for payment of principal or interest, or both, or to impose other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations. There is also the possibility that as a result of litigation or other conditions, the power or ability of issuers to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and principal on their Municipal Bonds may be materially affected or their obligations may be found to be invalid or unenforceable. Such litigation or conditions may from time to time have the effect of introducing uncertainties in the market for Municipal Bonds or certain segments thereof, or of materially affecting the credit risk with respect to particular bonds. Adverse economic, business, legal or political developments might affect all or a substantial portion of a Fund’s Municipal Bonds in the same manner.

Mortgage-Related Securities and Asset-Backed Securities

Mortgage-related securities are interests in pools of residential or commercial mortgage loans, including mortgage loans made by savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, commercial banks and others. Pools of mortgage loans are assembled as securities for sale to investors by various governmental, government-related and private organizations. See “Mortgage Pass-Through Securities.” Certain Funds also may invest in debt securities which are secured with collateral consisting of mortgage-related securities (see “Collateralized Mortgage Obligations”).

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

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

 

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The principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities is GNMA. GNMA is a wholly owned U.S. Government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by GNMA (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers) and backed by pools of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (the “FHA”), or guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (the “VA”).

Government-related guarantors (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation the common stock of which is owned entirely by private stockholders. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA, but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PCs”), which are pass-through securities, each representing an undivided interest in a pool of residential mortgages. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.

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

In connection with the conservatorship, the U.S. Treasury entered into a Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with each of FNMA and FHLMC pursuant to which the U.S. Treasury will purchase up to an aggregate of $100 billion of each of FNMA and FHLMC to maintain a positive net worth in each enterprise. This agreement contains various covenants that severely limit each enterprise’s operations. In exchange for entering into these agreements, the U.S. Treasury received $1 billion of each enterprise’s senior preferred stock and warrants to purchase 79.9% of each enterprise’s common stock. On February 18, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was doubling the size of its commitment to each enterprise under the Senior Preferred Stock Program to $200 billion. The U.S. Treasury’s obligations under the Senior Preferred Stock Program are for an indefinite period of time for a maximum amount of $200 billion per enterprise.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such non-governmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit, which may be issued by governmental entities or private insurers. Such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof will be considered in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets the Trust’s investment quality standards. There can be no assurance that the private insurers or guarantors can meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements. The Funds may buy mortgage-related securities without insurance or guarantees if, through an examination of the loan experience and practices of the originators/servicers and poolers, PIMCO determines that the securities meet the Trust’s quality standards. Securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable. A Fund will not purchase mortgage-related securities or any other assets which in PIMCO’s opinion are illiquid if, as a result, more than 15% of the value of the Fund’s net assets will be illiquid.

Mortgage-backed securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, are not subject to the Funds’ industry concentration restrictions, set forth below under “Investment Restrictions,” by virtue of the exclusion from that test available to all U.S. Government securities. In the case of privately issued mortgage-related securities, the Funds take the position that mortgage-related securities do not represent interests in any particular “industry” or group of industries. The assets underlying such securities may be represented by a portfolio of first lien residential mortgages (including both whole mortgage loans and mortgage participation interests) or portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities issued or guaranteed by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC. Mortgage loans underlying a mortgage-related security may in turn be insured or guaranteed by the FHA or the VA. In the case of private issue mortgage-related securities whose underlying assets are neither U.S. Government securities nor U.S. Government-insured mortgages, to the extent that real properties securing such assets may be located in the same geographical region, the security may be subject to a greater risk of default than other comparable securities in the event of adverse economic, political or business developments that may affect such region and, ultimately, the ability of residential homeowners to make payments of principal and interest on the underlying mortgages.

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

CMOs are structured into multiple classes, often referred to as “tranches,” with each class bearing a different stated maturity and entitled to a different schedule for payments of principal and interest, including pre-payments. Actual maturity and average life will depend upon the pre-payment experience of the collateral. In the case of certain CMOs (known as “sequential pay” CMOs), payments of principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including pre-payments, are

 

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applied to the classes of CMOs in the order of their respective final distribution dates. Thus, no payment of principal will be made to any class of sequential pay CMOs until all other classes having an earlier final distribution date have been paid in full.

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

As CMOs have evolved, some classes of CMO bonds have become more common. For example, the Funds may invest in parallel-pay and planned amortization class (“PAC”) CMOs and multi-class pass through certificates. Parallel-pay CMOs and multi-class pass-through certificates are structured to provide payments of principal on each payment date to more than one class. These simultaneous payments are taken into account in calculating the stated maturity date or final distribution date of each class, which, as with other CMO and multi-class pass-through structures, must be retired by its stated maturity date or final distribution date but may be retired earlier. PACs generally require payments of a specified amount of principal on each payment date. PACs are parallel-pay CMOs with the required principal amount on such securities having the highest priority after interest has been paid to all classes. Any CMO or multi-class pass through structure that includes PAC securities must also have support tranches—known as support bonds, companion bonds or non-PAC bonds—which lend or absorb principal cash flows to allow the PAC securities to maintain their stated maturities and final distribution dates within a range of actual prepayment experience. These support tranches are subject to a higher level of maturity risk compared to other mortgage-backed securities, and usually provide a higher yield to compensate investors. If principal cash flows are received in amounts outside a pre-determined range such that the support bonds cannot lend or absorb sufficient cash flows to the PAC securities as intended, the PAC securities are subject to heightened maturity risk. Consistent with a Fund’s investment objectives and policies, PIMCO may invest in various tranches of CMO bonds, including support bonds.

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

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

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

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

 

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interest rate adjustments are based. As described below with respect to stripped mortgage-backed securities, in certain circumstances a Fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual.

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

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

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

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

Collateralized Debt Obligations. Certain Funds may invest in collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), which include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other similarly structured securities. CBOs and CLOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust which is backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. CDOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses.

For both CBOs and CLOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the bonds or loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is partially protected from defaults, a senior tranche from a CBO trust or CLO trust typically have higher ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO or CLO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CBO or CLO securities as a class.

The risks of an investment in a CDO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the CDO in which a Fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered

 

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under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CDOs may be characterized by the Funds as illiquid securities, however an active dealer market may exist for CDOs allowing a CDO to qualify for Rule 144A transactions. In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed income securities discussed elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information and the Funds’ Prospectuses (e.g., interest rate risk and default risk), CDOs carry additional risks including, but are not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the Funds may invest in CDOs that are subordinate to other classes; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results.

Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities (“ABS”) are bonds backed by pools of loans or other receivables. ABS are created from many types of assets, including auto loans, credit card receivables, home equity loans, and student loans. ABS are issued through special purpose vehicles that are bankruptcy remote from the issuer of the collateral. The credit quality of an ABS transaction depends on the performance of the underlying assets. To protect ABS investors from the possibility that some borrowers could miss payments or even default on their loans, ABS include various forms of credit enhancement.

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

Consistent with a Fund’s investment objectives and policies, PIMCO also may invest in other types of asset-backed securities.

Bank Obligations

Bank obligations in which the Funds may invest include certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, and fixed time deposits. Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank for a definite period of time and earning a specified return. Bankers’ acceptances are negotiable drafts or bills of exchange, normally drawn by an importer or exporter to pay for specific merchandise, which are “accepted” by a bank, meaning, in effect, that the bank unconditionally agrees to pay the face value of the instrument on maturity. Fixed time deposits are bank obligations payable at a stated maturity date and bearing interest at a fixed rate. Fixed time deposits may be withdrawn on demand by the investor, but may be subject to early withdrawal penalties which vary depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. There are no contractual restrictions on the right to transfer a beneficial interest in a fixed time deposit to a third party, although there is no market for such deposits. A Fund will not invest in fixed time deposits which (1) are not subject to prepayment or (2) provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits) if, in the aggregate, more than 15% of its net assets would be invested in such deposits, repurchase agreements with remaining maturities of more than seven days and other illiquid assets. Subject to the Trust’s limitation on concentration as described in the “Investment Restrictions” section below, there is no limitation on the amount of a Fund’s assets which may be invested in obligations of foreign banks which meet the conditions set forth herein.

Obligations of foreign banks involve somewhat different investment risks than those affecting obligations of U.S. banks, including the possibilities that their liquidity could be impaired because of future political and economic developments, that their obligations may be less marketable than comparable obligations of U.S. banks, that a foreign jurisdiction might impose withholding taxes on interest income payable on those obligations, that foreign deposits may be seized or nationalized, that foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls may be adopted which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on those obligations and that the selection of those obligations may be more difficult because there may be less publicly available information concerning foreign banks or the accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements applicable to foreign banks may differ from those applicable to United States banks. Foreign banks are not generally subject to examination by any United States Government agency or instrumentality.

Indebtedness, Loan Participations and Assignments

Certain Funds may purchase indebtedness and participations in commercial loans. Such investments may be secured or unsecured. Indebtedness is different from traditional debt securities in that debt securities are part of a large issue

 

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of securities to the public and indebtedness may not be a security, but may represent a specific commercial loan to a borrower. Loan participations typically represent direct participation, together with other parties, in a loan to a corporate borrower, and generally are offered by banks or other financial institutions or lending syndicates. The Funds may participate in such syndications, or can buy part of a loan, becoming a part lender. When purchasing indebtedness and loan participations, a Fund assumes the credit risk associated with the corporate borrower and may assume the credit risk associated with an interposed bank or other financial intermediary. The indebtedness and loan participations in which a Fund intends to invest may not be rated by any nationally recognized rating service.

Certain Funds may invest in debtor-in-possession financings (commonly known as “DIP financings”). DIP financings are arranged when an entity seeks the protections of the bankruptcy court under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. These financings allow the entity to continue its business operations while reorganizing under Chapter 11. Such financings constitute senior liens on unencumbered security (i.e., security not subject to other creditors’ claims). There is a risk that the entity will not emerge from Chapter 11 and be forced to liquidate its assets under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In the event of liquidation, a Fund’s only recourse will be against the property securing the DIP financing.

A loan is often administered by an agent bank acting as agent for all holders. The agent bank administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. In addition, the agent bank is normally responsible for the collection of principal and interest payments from the corporate borrower and the apportionment of these payments to the credit of all institutions which are parties to the loan agreement. Unless, under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness, a Fund has direct recourse against the corporate borrower, the Fund may have to rely on the agent bank or other financial intermediary to apply appropriate credit remedies against a corporate borrower.

A financial institution’s employment as agent bank might be terminated in the event that it fails to observe a requisite standard of care or becomes insolvent. A successor agent bank would generally be appointed to replace the terminated agent bank, and assets held by the agent bank under the loan agreement should remain available to holders of such indebtedness. However, if assets held by the agent bank for the benefit of a Fund were determined to be subject to the claims of the agent bank’s general creditors, the Fund might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on a loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal and/or interest. In situations involving other interposed financial institutions (e.g., an insurance company or governmental agency) similar risks may arise.

Purchasers of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the corporate borrower for payment of principal and interest. If a Fund does not receive scheduled interest or principal payments on such indebtedness, the Fund’s share price and yield could be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured offer a Fund more protection than an unsecured loan in the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the corporate borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated.

The Funds may invest in loan participations with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Indebtedness of companies whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks, and may be highly speculative. Some companies may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Consequently, when investing in indebtedness of companies with poor credit, a Fund bears a substantial risk of losing the entire amount invested. The Funds may make investments in indebtedness and loan participations to achieve capital appreciation, rather than to seek income.

Certain Funds that are diversified limit the amount of their total assets that they will invest in any one issuer and all Funds limit the amount of their total assets that they will invest in issuers within the same industry (see “Investment Restrictions”). For purposes of these limits, a Fund generally will treat the corporate borrower as the “issuer” of indebtedness held by the Fund. In the case of loan participations where a bank or other lending institution serves as a financial intermediary between a Fund and the corporate borrower, if the participation does not shift to the Fund the direct debtor-creditor relationship with the corporate borrower, SEC interpretations require the Fund to treat both the lending bank or other lending institution and the corporate borrower as “issuers”. Treating a financial intermediary as an issuer of indebtedness may restrict a Funds’ ability to invest in indebtedness related to a single financial intermediary, or a group of intermediaries engaged in the same industry, even if the underlying borrowers represent many different companies and industries.

Loans and other types of direct indebtedness may not be readily marketable and may be subject to restrictions on resale. In some cases, negotiations involved in disposing of indebtedness may require weeks to complete. Consequently, some indebtedness may be difficult or impossible to dispose of readily at what PIMCO believes to be a fair price. In addition, valuation of illiquid indebtedness involves a greater degree of judgment in determining a Fund’s net asset value

 

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than if that value were based on available market quotations, and could result in significant variations in the Fund’s daily share price. At the same time, some loan interests are traded among certain financial institutions and accordingly may be deemed liquid. As the market for different types of indebtedness develops, the liquidity of these instruments is expected to improve. In addition, the Funds currently intend to treat indebtedness for which there is no readily available market as illiquid for purposes of the Funds’ limitation on illiquid investments. Investments in loan participations are considered to be debt obligations for purposes of the Trust’s investment restriction relating to the lending of funds or assets by a Fund.

Investments in loans through a direct assignment of the financial institution’s interests with respect to the loan may involve additional risks to the Funds. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, a Fund could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, a Fund could be held liable as co-lender. It is unclear whether loans and other forms of direct indebtedness offer securities law protections against fraud and misrepresentation. In the absence of definitive regulatory guidance, the Funds rely on PIMCO’s research in an attempt to avoid situations where fraud or misrepresentation could adversely affect the Funds.

Trade Claims

The Funds may purchase trade claims and similar obligations or claims against companies in bankruptcy proceedings. Trade claims are non-securitized rights of payment arising from obligations that typically arise when vendors and suppliers extend credit to a company by offering payment terms for products and services. If the company files for bankruptcy, payments on these trade claims stop and the claims are subject to compromise along with the other debts of the company. Trade claims may be purchased directly from the creditor or through brokers. There is no guarantee that a debtor will ever be able to satisfy its trade claim obligations. Trade claims are subject to the risks associated with low-quality obligations.

Corporate Debt Securities

A Fund’s investments in corporate debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers are limited to corporate debt securities (corporate bonds, debentures, notes and other similar corporate debt instruments), which meet the minimum ratings criteria set forth for the Fund, or, if unrated, are in PIMCO’s opinion comparable in quality to corporate debt securities in which the Fund may invest.

The rate of interest on a corporate debt security may be fixed, floating or variable, and may vary inversely with respect to a reference rate. The rate of return or return of principal on some debt obligations may be linked or indexed to the level of exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and a foreign currency or currencies. Debt securities may be acquired with warrants attached.

Securities rated Baa and BBB are the lowest which are considered “investment grade” obligations. Moody’s describes securities rated Baa as “subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.” S&P describes securities rated BBB as “regarded as having adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.” For securities rated BBB, Fitch states that “…expectations of default risk are currently low…capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.” For a discussion of securities rated below investment grade, see “High Yield Securities (“Junk Bonds”) and Securities of Distressed Companies” below.

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

Investments in securities rated below investment grade that are eligible for purchase by certain Funds are described as “speculative” by Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. Investment in lower rated corporate debt securities (“high yield securities” or “junk bonds”) and securities of distressed companies generally provides greater income and increased opportunity for capital appreciation than investments in higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and principal and income risk. Securities of distressed companies include both debt and equity securities. High yield securities and debt securities of distressed companies are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. Issuers of high yield and distressed company securities may be involved in restructurings or bankruptcy proceedings that may not be successful. Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of debt securities that are high yield or debt securities of distressed companies may be more complex than for issuers of higher quality debt securities.

 

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High yield securities and debt securities of distressed companies may be more susceptible to real or perceived adverse economic and competitive industry conditions than investment grade securities. The prices of these securities have been found to be less sensitive to interest-rate changes than higher-rated investments, but more sensitive to adverse economic downturns or individual corporate developments. A projection of an economic downturn or of a period of rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in prices of high yield securities and debt securities of distressed companies because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of a highly leveraged company to make principal and interest payments on its debt securities. If an issuer of securities defaults, in addition to risking payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, the Funds by investing in such securities may incur additional expenses to seek recovery of their respective investments. In the case of securities structured as zero-coupon or pay-in-kind securities, their market prices are affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes, and therefore tend to be more volatile than securities which pay interest periodically and in cash. PIMCO seeks to reduce these risks through diversification, credit analysis and attention to current developments and trends in both the economy and financial markets.

The secondary market on which high yield and distressed company securities are traded may be less liquid than the market for higher grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary trading market could adversely affect the price at which the Funds could sell a high yield or distressed company security, and could adversely affect the daily net asset value of the shares. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield or distressed company securities, especially in a thinly-traded market. When secondary markets for high yield and distressed company securities are less liquid than the market for higher grade securities, it may be more difficult to value the securities because such valuation may require more research, and elements of judgment may play a greater role in the valuation because there is less reliable, objective data available. PIMCO seeks to minimize the risks of investing in all securities through diversification, in-depth analysis and attention to current market developments.

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

Creditor Liability and Participation on Creditors Committees

Generally, when a Fund holds bonds or other similar fixed income securities of an issuer, the Fund becomes a creditor of the issuer. If a Fund is a creditor of an issuer it may be subject to challenges related to the securities that it holds, either in connection with the bankruptcy of the issuer or in connection with another action brought by other creditors of the issuer, shareholders of the issuer or the issuer itself. A Fund may from time to time participate on committees formed by creditors to negotiate with the management of financially troubled issuers of securities held by the Fund. Such participation may subject a Fund to expenses such as legal fees and may make a Fund an “insider” of the issuer for purposes of the federal securities laws, and therefore may restrict such Fund’s ability to trade in or acquire additional positions in a particular security when it might otherwise desire to do so. Participation by a Fund on such committees also may expose the Fund to potential liabilities under the federal bankruptcy laws or other laws governing the rights of creditors and debtors. A Fund will participate on such committees only when PIMCO believes that such participation is necessary or desirable to enforce the Fund’s rights as a creditor or to protect the value of securities held by the Fund. Further, PIMCO has the authority to represent the Trust, or any Fund(s) thereof, on creditors committees or similar committees and generally with respect to challenges related to the securities held by the Funds relating to the bankruptcy of an issuer or in connection with another action brought by other creditors of the issuer, shareholders of the issuer or the issuer itself.

Variable and Floating Rate Securities

Variable and floating rate securities provide for a periodic adjustment in the interest rate paid on the obligations. The terms of such obligations must provide that interest rates are adjusted periodically based upon an interest rate adjustment index as provided in the respective obligations. The adjustment intervals may be regular, and range from daily up to annually, or may be event based, such as based on a change in the prime rate. The PIMCO Prime Limited Maturity Strategy Fund may invest in a variable rate security having a stated maturity in excess of 18 months if the interest rate will be adjusted, and such Fund may demand payment of principal from the issuer within that period.

Certain Funds may invest in floating rate debt instruments (“floaters”) and engage in credit spread trades. The interest rate on a floater is a variable rate which is tied to another interest rate, such as a money-market index or Treasury bill rate. The interest rate on a floater resets periodically, typically every six months. While, because of the interest rate reset

 

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feature, floaters provide a Fund with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates, a Fund will participate in any declines in interest rates as well. A credit spread trade is an investment position relating to a difference in the prices or interest rates of two securities or currencies, where the value of the investment position is determined by movements in the difference between the prices or interest rates, as the case may be, of the respective securities or currencies.

Certain Funds also may invest in inverse floating rate debt instruments (“inverse floaters”). The interest rate on an inverse floater resets in the opposite direction from the market rate of interest to which the inverse floater is indexed. An inverse floating rate security may exhibit greater price volatility than a fixed rate obligation of similar credit quality. Certain Funds may invest up to 5% of its total assets in any combination of mortgage-related and or other asset-backed IO, PO, or inverse floater securities. See “Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities” for a discussion of IOs and POs.

Inflation-Indexed Bonds

Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. Two structures are common. The U.S. Treasury and some other issuers use a structure that accrues inflation into the principal value of the bond. Most other issuers pay out the CPI accruals as part of a semiannual coupon.

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. The U.S. Treasury securities pay interest on a semi-annual basis, equal to a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. For example, if 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 years’ 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 Funds also may invest in other inflation related bonds which may or may not provide a similar guarantee. If a guarantee of principal is not provided, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

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 All 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. Inflation-indexed bonds issued by a foreign government are generally adjusted to reflect a comparable inflation index, calculated by that government. There can be no assurance that the CPI-U or any foreign inflation index will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the rate of inflation in a foreign country will be correlated to the rate of inflation in the United States.

Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-indexed bond will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though investors do not receive their principal until maturity.

 

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Foreign Securities

Certain Funds may invest in corporate debt securities of foreign issuers, certain foreign bank obligations (see “Bank Obligations”) and obligations of foreign governments or their subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, international agencies and supranational entities.

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

A Fund that invests in instruments economically tied to non-U.S. countries may invest in a range of countries and, as such, the value of the Fund’s assets may be affected by uncertainties such as international political developments, changes in government policies, changes in taxation, restrictions on foreign investment and currency repatriation, currency fluctuations and other developments in the laws and regulations of countries in which investment may be made.

PIMCO generally considers an instrument to be economically tied to an emerging market country if the issuer or guarantor is a government of an emerging market country (or any political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such government), if the issuer or guarantor is organized under the laws of an emerging market country, or if the currency of settlement of the security is a currency of an emerging market country. With respect to derivative instruments, PIMCO generally considers such instruments to be economically tied to emerging market countries if the underlying assets are currencies of emerging market countries (or baskets or indexes of such currencies), or instruments or securities that are issued or guaranteed by governments of emerging market countries or by entities organized under the laws of emerging market countries. PIMCO has broad discretion to identify countries that it considers to qualify as emerging markets. In exercising such discretion, PIMCO identifies countries as emerging markets consistent with the strategic objectives of the particular Fund. For example, a Fund may consider a country to be an emerging market country based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, if the country is classified as an emerging or developing economy by any supranational organization such as the World Bank or the United Nations, or related entities, or if the country is considered an emerging market country for purposes of constructing emerging markets indices.

The PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund, PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund and PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund may invest, without limit, in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries. The PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries. The PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund may invest up to 5% of its total assets in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries.

Investment risk may be particularly high to the extent that a Fund invests in instruments economically tied to emerging market countries. These securities may present market, credit, liquidity, legal, political and other risks different from, or greater than, the risks of investing in developed countries. Certain Funds may invest in emerging markets that may be in the process of opening to trans-national investment, which may increase these risks. Risks particular to emerging market countries include, but are not limited to, the following risks.

General Emerging Market Risk. The securities markets of countries in which certain Funds may invest may be relatively small, with a limited number of companies representing a small number of industries. Additionally, issuers in countries in which the Funds may invest may not be subject to a high degree of regulation and the financial institutions with which the Funds may trade may not possess the same degree of financial sophistication, creditworthiness or resources as those in developed markets. Furthermore, the legal infrastructure and accounting, auditing and reporting standards in certain countries in which the Funds may invest may not provide the same degree of investor protection or information to investors as would generally apply in major securities markets.

Nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, political changes or diplomatic developments could adversely affect the Funds’ investments in a foreign country. In the event of nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation, the Funds could lose their entire investment in that country. Adverse conditions in a

 

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certain region can adversely affect securities of other countries whose economies appear to be unrelated. To the extent that the Funds invest a portion of their assets in a concentrated geographic area, the Funds will generally have more exposure to regional economic risks associated with that geographic area.

Restrictions on Foreign Investment. A number of emerging securities markets restrict foreign investment to varying degrees. Furthermore, repatriation of investment income, capital and the proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require governmental registration and/or approval in some countries. While the Funds that may invest in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries will only invest in markets where these restrictions are considered acceptable, new or additional repatriation or other restrictions might be imposed subsequent to the Funds’ investment. If such restrictions were to be imposed subsequent to the Funds’ investment in the securities markets of a particular country, the Funds’ response might include, among other things, applying to the appropriate authorities for a waiver of the restrictions or engaging in transactions in other markets designed to offset the risks of decline in that country. Such restrictions will be considered in relation to the Funds’ liquidity needs and all other acceptable positive and negative factors. Some emerging markets limit foreign investment, which may decrease returns relative to domestic investors. The Funds may seek exceptions to those restrictions. If those restrictions are present and cannot by avoided by the Funds, the Funds’ returns may be lower.

Settlement Risks. Settlement systems in emerging markets may be less well organized than in developed markets. Supervisory authorities may also be unable to apply standards which are comparable with those in developed markets. Thus there may be risks that settlement may be delayed and that cash or securities belonging to the Funds may be in jeopardy because of failures of or defects in the systems. In particular, market practice may require that payment shall be made prior to receipt of the security which is being purchased or that delivery of a security must be made before payment is received. In such cases, default by a broker or bank (the “Counterparty”) through whom the relevant transaction is effected might result in a loss being suffered by the Funds. The Funds will seek, where possible, to use Counterparties whose financial status is such that this risk is reduced. However, there can be no certainty that the Funds will be successful in eliminating or reducing this risk, particularly as Counterparties operating in developing countries frequently lack the substance, capitalization and/or financial resources of those in developed countries.

There may also be a danger that, because of uncertainties in the operation of settlement systems in individual markets, competing claims may arise in respect of securities held by or to be transferred to the Funds. Furthermore, compensation schemes may be non-existent, limited or inadequate to meet the Funds’ claims in any of these events.

Counterparty Risk. Trading in the securities of developing markets presents additional credit and financial risks. The Funds may have limited access to, or there may be a limited number of, potential Counterparties that trade in the securities of emerging market issuers. Governmental regulations may restrict potential Counterparties to certain financial institutions located or operating in the particular emerging market. Potential Counterparties may not possess, adopt or implement creditworthiness standards, financial reporting standards or legal and contractual protections similar to those in developed markets. The Funds may not be able to reduce or mitigate risks related to trading with emerging market Counterparties. The Funds will seek, where possible, to use Counterparties whose financial status is such that the risk of default is reduced, but the risk of losses resulting from default is still possible.

Government in the Private Sector. Government involvement in the private sector varies in degree among the emerging markets in which the Funds invest. Such involvement may, in some cases, include government ownership of companies in certain sectors, wage and price controls or imposition of trade barriers and other protectionist measures. With respect to any developing country, there is no guarantee that some future economic or political crisis will not lead to price controls, forced mergers of companies, expropriation, or creation of government monopolies, to the possible detriment of the Funds’ investment in that country.

Litigation. The Funds may encounter substantial difficulties in obtaining and enforcing judgments against individuals and companies located in certain developing countries. It may be difficult or impossible to obtain or enforce legislation or remedies against governments, their agencies and sponsored entities.

Fraudulent Securities. It is possible, particularly in markets in developing countries, that purported securities in which the Funds invest may subsequently be found to be fraudulent and as a consequence the Funds could suffer losses.

Taxation. The local taxation of income and capital gains accruing to non-residents varies among developing countries and, in some cases, is comparatively high. In addition, developing countries typically have less well-defined tax laws and procedures and such laws may permit retroactive taxation so that the Funds could in the future become subject to local tax liabilities that had not been anticipated in conducting its investment activities or valuing its assets. The Funds will

 

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seek to reduce these risks by careful management of their assets. However, there can be no assurance that these efforts will be successful.

Political Risks/Risks of Conflicts. Recently, various countries have seen significant internal conflicts and in some cases, civil wars may have had an adverse impact on the securities markets of the countries concerned. In addition, the occurrence of new disturbances due to acts of war or other political developments cannot be excluded. Apparently stable systems may experience periods of disruption or improbable reversals of policy. Nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, political changes, government regulation, political, regulatory or social instability or uncertainty or diplomatic developments could adversely affect the Funds’ investments. The transformation from a centrally planned, socialist economy to a more market oriented economy has also resulted in many economic and social disruptions and distortions. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the economic, regulatory and political initiatives necessary to achieve and sustain such a transformation will continue or, if such initiatives continue and are sustained, that they will be successful or that such initiatives will continue to benefit foreign (or non-national) investors. Certain instruments, such as inflation index instruments, may depend upon measures compiled by governments (or entities under their influence) which are also the obligors.

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

Brady Bonds may be collateralized or uncollateralized, are issued in various currencies (primarily the U.S. dollar) and are actively traded in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) secondary market. Brady Bonds are not considered to be U.S. Government securities. U.S. dollar-denominated, collateralized Brady Bonds, which may be fixed rate par bonds or floating rate discount bonds, are generally collateralized in full as to principal by U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds having the same maturity as the Brady Bonds. Interest payments on these Brady Bonds generally are collateralized on a one-year or longer rolling-forward basis by cash or securities in an amount that, in the case of fixed rate bonds, is equal to at least one year of interest payments or, in the case of floating rate bonds, initially is equal to at least one year’s interest payments based on the applicable interest rate at that time and is adjusted at regular intervals thereafter. Certain Brady Bonds are entitled to “value recovery payments” in certain circumstances, which in effect constitute supplemental interest payments but generally are not collateralized. Brady Bonds are often viewed as having three or four valuation components: (i) the collateralized repayment of principal at final maturity; (ii) the collateralized interest payments; (iii) the uncollateralized interest payments; and (iv) any uncollateralized repayment of principal at maturity (these uncollateralized amounts constitute the “residual risk”).

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

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

Investment in sovereign debt can involve a high degree of risk. The governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of the debt. A governmental entity’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the governmental entity’s policy toward the International Monetary Fund, and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Governmental entities also may depend on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a governmental entity’s implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations.

 

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Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to service its debts in a timely manner. Consequently, governmental entities may default on their sovereign debt. Holders of sovereign debt (including the Funds) 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.

Foreign Currency Transactions

The PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions either on a spot (cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market at the time or through forward currency contracts (“forwards”). The Fund may engage in these transactions in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign exchange rates in the purchase and sale of securities.

A forward involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts may be bought or sold to protect the Fund against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar or to increase exposure to a particular foreign currency. Open positions in forwards used for non-hedging purposes will be covered by the segregation or “earmarking” of assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, and are marked to market daily. Although forwards 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. Forwards will be used primarily to adjust the foreign exchange exposure of the Fund with a view to protecting the outlook, and the Fund might be expected to enter into such contracts under the following circumstances:

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

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

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

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

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

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

The forecasting of currency market movement is extremely difficult, and whether any hedging strategy will be successful is highly uncertain. Moreover, it is impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of a foreign currency forward contract. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to buy or sell additional currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such transaction) if PIMCO’s predictions regarding the movement of

 

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foreign currency or securities markets prove inaccurate. In addition, the use of cross-hedging transactions may involve special risks, and may leave the Fund in a less advantageous position than if such a hedge had not been established. Because foreign currency forward contracts are privately negotiated transactions, there can be no assurance that a Fund will have flexibility to roll-over a foreign currency forward contract upon its expiration if it desires to do so. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the other party to the contract will perform its services thereunder.

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

Tax Consequences of Currency Hedging. Under applicable tax law, the Fund may be required to limit its gains from hedging in foreign currency forwards. Although the Fund is expected to comply with such limits, the extent to which these limits apply is subject to tax regulations as yet unissued. Hedging also may result in the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Those provisions could result in an increase (or decrease) in the amount of taxable dividends paid by the Fund and could affect whether dividends paid by the Fund are classified as capital gains or ordinary income.

Borrowing

Except as described below, each Fund may borrow money to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted, modified or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. This means that, in general, a Fund may borrow money from banks for any purpose in an amount up to 1/3 of the Fund’s total assets. A Fund also may borrow money for temporary administrative purposes in an amount not to exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets.

Specifically, provisions of the 1940 Act require a Fund to maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed, with an exception for borrowings not in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets made for temporary administrative purposes. Any borrowings for temporary administrative purposes in excess of 5% of the Fund’s total assets must maintain continuous asset coverage. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or other reasons, a Fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to sell securities at that time.

As noted below, a Fund also may enter into certain transactions, including reverse repurchase agreements, mortgage dollar rolls and sale-buybacks, that can be viewed as constituting a form of borrowing or financing transaction by the Fund. To the extent a Fund covers its commitment under a reverse repurchase agreement (or economically similar transaction) by the segregation or “earmarking” of assets determined in accordance with procedures adopted by the Trustees, equal in value to the amount of the Fund’s commitment to repurchase, such an agreement will not be considered a “senior security” by the Fund and therefore will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Funds. Borrowing will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of a Fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs which may or may not be recovered by appreciation of the securities purchased. A Fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with such borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.

A Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, mortgage dollar rolls and economically similar transactions. A reverse repurchase agreement involves the sale of a portfolio-eligible security by a Fund to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, coupled with its agreement to repurchase the instrument at a specified time and price. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund continues to receive any principal and interest payments on the underlying security during the term of the agreement. The Fund typically will segregate or “earmark” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), equal (on a daily mark-to-market basis) to its obligations under reverse repurchase agreements. However, reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of securities retained by the Fund may decline below the repurchase price of the securities sold by the Fund which it is obligated to repurchase. With respect to reverse repurchase agreements in which banks are counterparties, the Fund may treat such transactions as bank borrowings, which would be subject to the Fund’s limitations on borrowings. Such treatment would, among other things, restrict the aggregate of such transactions (plus any other borrowings) to one-third of a Fund’s total assets.

 

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A “mortgage dollar roll” is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement in certain respects. In a “dollar roll” transaction a Fund sells a mortgage-related security, such as a security issued by GNMA, to a dealer and simultaneously agrees to repurchase a similar security (but not the same security) in the future at a pre-determined price. A “dollar roll” can be viewed, like a reverse repurchase agreement, as a collateralized borrowing in which a Fund pledges a mortgage-related security to a dealer to obtain cash. Unlike in the case of reverse repurchase agreements, the dealer with which a Fund enters into a dollar roll transaction is not obligated to return the same securities as those originally sold by the Fund, but only securities which are “substantially identical.” To be considered “substantially identical,” the securities returned to a Fund generally must: (1) be collateralized by the same types of underlying mortgages; (2) be issued by the same agency and be part of the same program; (3) have a similar original stated maturity; (4) have identical net coupon rates; (5) have similar market yields (and therefore price); and (6) satisfy “good delivery” requirements, meaning that the aggregate principal amounts of the securities delivered and received back must be within 0.01% of the initial amount delivered.

A Fund’s obligations under a dollar roll agreement must be covered by segregated or “earmarked” liquid assets equal in value to the securities subject to repurchase by the Fund. As with reverse repurchase agreements, to the extent that positions in dollar roll agreements are not covered by segregated or “earmarked” liquid assets at least equal to the amount of any forward purchase commitment, such transactions would be subject to the Funds’ restrictions on borrowings. Furthermore, because dollar roll transactions may be for terms ranging between one and six months, dollar roll transactions may be deemed “illiquid” and subject to a Fund’s overall limitations on investments in illiquid securities.

A Fund also may effect simultaneous purchase and sale transactions that are known as “sale-buybacks.” A sale-buyback is similar to a reverse repurchase agreement, except that in a sale-buyback, the counterparty who purchases the security is entitled to receive any principal or interest payments made on the underlying security pending settlement of the Fund’s repurchase of the underlying security. A Fund’s obligations under a sale-buyback typically would be offset by liquid assets equal in value to the amount of the Fund’s forward commitment to repurchase the subject security.

Derivative Instruments

In pursuing their individual objectives, the Index Funds may, to the extent permitted by their investment objectives and policies, purchase and sell (write) both put options and call options on securities, swap agreements, securities indexes, and enter into interest rate and index futures contracts and purchase and sell options on such futures contracts (“futures options”) for hedging purposes, to seek to replicate the composition and performance of a particular index, or as part of their overall investment strategies, except that the Funds may not enter into transactions involving currency futures or options. The Index Funds also may enter into swap agreements with respect to interest rates and indexes of securities. The Index Funds may invest in structured notes. If other types of financial instruments, including other types of options, futures contracts, or futures options are traded in the future, an Index Fund also may use those instruments, provided that the Board of Trustees determines that their use is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective.

The PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund will not invest in options contracts, futures contracts or swap agreements, in accordance with the Trust’s current SEC exemptive relief. Should the SEC modify the Trust’s current exemptive relief or otherwise issue guidance or relief such that the Fund may utilize one or more of these derivative instruments in reliance thereon, the PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund intends to revise this policy accordingly.

The value of some derivative instruments in which the Index Funds invest may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and, like the other investments of the Funds, the ability of a Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of PIMCO to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. If PIMCO incorrectly forecasts such factors and has taken positions in derivative instruments contrary to prevailing market trends, the Index Funds could be exposed to the risk of loss.

The Index Funds might not employ any of the strategies described below, and no assurance can be given that any strategy used will succeed. If PIMCO incorrectly forecasts interest rates, market values or other economic factors in using a derivatives strategy for a Fund, the Fund might have been in a better position if it had not entered into the transaction at all. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances. The use of these strategies involves certain special risks, including a possible imperfect correlation, or even no correlation, between price movements of derivative instruments and price movements of related investments. While some strategies involving derivative instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in related investments or otherwise, due to the possible inability of a Fund to purchase or sell a portfolio security at a time that otherwise would be favorable or the possible need to sell a portfolio security at a disadvantageous time because the Fund is required to maintain asset coverage or offsetting positions in connection with transactions in derivative instruments, and the possible inability of a Fund to close out or to liquidate its derivatives positions. In addition, a Fund’s use of such instruments may cause the Fund to realize higher amounts of short-term capital gains (generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates) than if it had not used such instruments. If the Index Funds gain exposure to an asset class using derivative instruments backed by a collateral portfolio of Fixed Income Instruments, changes in the value of the Fixed Income Instruments may result in greater or lesser exposure to that asset class than would have resulted from a direct investment in securities comprising that asset class.

 

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Options on Securities and Indexes. An Index Fund may, to the extent specified herein or in its Prospectus, purchase and sell both put and call options on fixed income or other securities or indexes in standardized contracts traded on foreign or domestic securities exchanges, boards of trade, or similar entities, or quoted on NASDAQ or on an OTC market, and agreements, sometimes called cash puts, which may accompany the purchase of a new issue of bonds from a dealer.

An option on a security (or index) is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the security underlying the option (or the cash value of the index) at a specified exercise price at any time during the term of the option. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security. Upon exercise, the writer of an option on an index is obligated to pay the difference between the cash value of the index and the exercise price multiplied by the specified multiplier for the index option. (An index is designed to reflect features of a particular financial or securities market, a specific group of financial instruments or securities, or certain economic indicators.)

If an Index Fund writes a call option on a security or an index, it may “cover” its obligation under the call option by owning the security underlying the call option, by having an absolute and immediate right to acquire that security without additional cash consideration (or, if additional cash consideration is required, cash or other assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, in such amount are segregated or “earmarked”) upon conversion or exchange of other securities held by the Fund, or by maintaining with its custodian assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, in an amount equal to the market value of the security or index underlying the option. A call option written by an Index Fund is also covered if the Fund holds a call on the same security or index as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is (i) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (ii) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated or “earmarked” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees. A put option on a security or an index written by an Index Fund is “covered” if the Fund segregates or “earmarks” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees equal to the exercise price. A put option written by an Index Fund is also covered if the Fund holds a put on the same security or index as the put written where the exercise price of the put held is (i) equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written, or (ii) less than the exercise price of the put written, provided the difference is maintained by the Fund in segregated or “earmarked” assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees.

If an option written by an Index Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital gain equal to the premium received at the time the option was written. If an option purchased by an Index Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital loss equal to the premium paid. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, exchange, underlying security or index, exercise price, and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund desires.

An Index Fund may sell put or call options it has previously purchased, which could result in a net gain or loss depending on whether the amount realized on the sale is more or less than the premium and other transaction costs paid on the put or call option which is sold. Prior to exercise or expiration, an option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series. An Index Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if it is more, the Fund will realize a capital loss. If the premium received from a closing sale transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, the Index Fund will realize a capital gain or, if it is less, the Fund will realize a capital loss. The principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the underlying security or index in relation to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying security or index, and the time remaining until the expiration date.

The premium paid for a put or call option purchased by an Index Fund is an asset of the Fund. The premium received for an option written by an Index Fund is recorded as a deferred credit. The value of an option purchased or written is marked to market daily and is valued at the closing price on the exchange on which it is traded or, if not traded on an exchange or no closing price is available, at the mean between the last bid and asked prices.

The Index Funds may write covered straddles consisting of a combination of a call and a put written on the same underlying security. A straddle will be covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet the Index Funds’ immediate obligations. The Index Funds may use the same liquid assets to cover both the call and put options where the exercise price of

 

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the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Index Funds will also segregate or “earmark” liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is “in the money.”

Risks Associated with Options on Securities and Indexes. There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities and on indexes. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events.

The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation as a writer of the option. Once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it cannot effect a closing purchase transaction in order to terminate its obligation under the option and must deliver the underlying security at the exercise price. If a put or call option purchased by the Index Fund is not sold when it has remaining value, and if the market price of the underlying security remains equal to or greater than the exercise price (in the case of a put), or remains less than or equal to the exercise price (in the case of a call), the Fund will lose its entire investment in the option. Also, where a put or call option on a particular security is purchased to hedge against price movements in a related security, the price of the put or call option may move more or less than the price of the related security.

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist when an Index Fund seeks to close out an option position. If an Index Fund were unable to close out an option that it had purchased on a security, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless.

If trading were suspended in an option purchased by an Index Fund, the Fund would not be able to close out the option. If restrictions on exercise were imposed, the Index Fund might be unable to exercise an option it has purchased. Except to the extent that a call option on an index written by the Index Fund is covered by an option on the same index purchased by the Fund, movements in the index may result in a loss to the Fund; however, such losses may be mitigated by changes in the value of the Fund’s securities during the period the option was outstanding.

To the extent that an Index Fund writes a call option on a security it holds in its portfolio and intends to use such security as the sole means of “covering” its obligation under the call option, the Fund has, in return for the premium on the option, given up the opportunity to profit from a price increase in the underlying security above the exercise price during the option period, but, as long as its obligation under such call option continues, has retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. If an Index Fund were unable to close out such a call option, the Fund would not be able to sell the underlying security unless the option expired without exercise.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a security for a set price on a future date. These contracts are traded on exchanges, so that, in most cases, either party can close out its position on the exchange for cash, without delivering the security. An option on a futures contract gives the holder of the option the right to buy or sell a position in a futures contract to the writer of the option, at a specified price and on or before a specified expiration date.

Each Index Fund may invest in futures contracts and options thereon (“futures options”) with respect to, but not limited to, interest rates and security indexes.

An interest rate or index futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified quantity of a financial instrument or the cash value of an index at a specified price and time. A futures contract on an index is an agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the index contract was originally written. Although the value of an index might be a function of the value of certain specified securities, no physical delivery of these securities is made. A public market exists in futures contracts covering a number of indexes as well as financial instruments and foreign currencies, including: the S&P 500; the S&P Midcap 400; the Nikkei 225; the NYSE Composite; U.S. Treasury bonds; U.S. Treasury notes; GNMA Certificates; three-month U.S. Treasury bills; 90-day commercial paper; bank certificates of deposit; Eurodollar certificates of deposit; the Australian dollar; the Canadian dollar; the British pound; the Japanese yen; the Swiss franc; the Mexican peso; and certain multinational currencies, such as the euro. It is expected that other futures contracts will be developed and traded in the future.

An Index Fund may purchase and write call and put futures options, as specified for that Fund in its Prospectus. Futures options possess many of the same characteristics as options on securities and indexes (discussed above). A futures option gives the holder the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a long position (call) or short position (put) in a

 

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futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of a call option, the holder acquires a long position in the futures contract and the writer is assigned the opposite short position. In the case of a put option, the opposite is true. A call option is “in the money” if the value of the futures contract that is the subject of the option exceeds the exercise price. A put option is “in the money” if the exercise price exceeds the value of the futures contract that is the subject of the option.

Pursuant to a claim for exclusion filed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) on behalf of the Funds, neither the Trust nor any of the individual Funds is deemed to be a “commodity pool” or “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and they are not subject to registration or regulation as such under the CEA. PIMCO is not deemed to be a “commodity pool operator” or “commodity trading adviser” with respect to its service as investment manager to the Funds.

Limitations on Use of Futures and Futures Options. An Index Fund that may use futures and futures options will only enter into futures contracts and futures options which are standardized and traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade, or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system.

When a purchase or sale of a futures contract is made by such Index Fund, the Fund is required to deposit with its custodian (or broker, if legally permitted) a specified amount of assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees (“initial margin”). The margin required for a futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded and may be modified during the term of the contract. Margin requirements on foreign exchanges may be different than U.S. exchanges. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract which is returned to the Index Fund upon termination of the contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. Each Index Fund expects to earn interest income on its initial margin deposits. A futures contract held by an Index Fund is valued daily at the official settlement price of the exchange on which it is traded. Each day an Index Fund pays or receives cash, called “variation margin,” equal to the daily change in value of the futures contract. This process is known as “marking to market.” Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by an Index Fund but is instead a settlement between the Fund and the broker of the amount one would owe the other if the futures contract expired. In computing daily net asset value, each Index Fund will mark to market its open futures positions.

An Index Fund is also required to deposit and maintain margin with respect to put and call options on futures contracts written by it. Such margin deposits will vary depending on the nature of the underlying futures contract (and the related initial margin requirements), the current market value of the option, and other futures positions held by the Index Fund.

Although some futures contracts call for making or taking delivery of the underlying securities or commodities, generally these obligations are closed out prior to delivery by offsetting purchases or sales of matching futures contracts (same exchange, underlying security or index, and delivery month). Closing out a futures contract sale is effected by purchasing a futures contract for the same aggregate amount of the specific type of financial instrument with the same delivery date. If an offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, an Index Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is more, a Fund realizes a capital loss. Conversely, if an offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Index Fund realizes a capital gain, or if it is less, the Fund realizes a capital loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations.

The Index Funds may write covered straddles consisting of a call and a put written on the same underlying futures contract. A straddle will be covered when sufficient assets are deposited to meet the Index Funds’ immediate obligations. An Index Fund may use the same liquid assets to cover both the call and put options where the exercise price of the call and put are the same, or the exercise price of the call is higher than that of the put. In such cases, the Index Funds will also segregate or “earmark” liquid assets equivalent to the amount, if any, by which the put is “in the money.”

When purchasing a futures contract, an Index Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, are equal to the market value of the futures contract. Alternatively, an Index Fund may “cover” its position by purchasing a put option on the same futures contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held by the Fund.

When selling a futures contract, the Index Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, that are equal to the market value of the futures contract. Alternatively, the Index Fund may “cover” its position by owning the instruments underlying the futures contract (or, in the case of an index futures contract, a portfolio with a volatility

 

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substantially similar to that of the index on which the futures contract is based), or by holding a call option permitting the Index Fund to purchase the same futures contract at a price no higher than the price of the contract written by the Fund (or at a higher price if the difference is maintained in liquid assets with the Trust’s custodian).

With respect to futures contracts that are not legally required to “cash settle,” an Index Fund may cover the open position by setting aside or “earmarking” liquid assets in an amount equal to the market value of the futures contract. With respect to futures that are required to “cash settle,” however, an Index Fund is permitted to set aside or “earmark” liquid assets in an amount equal to the Fund’s daily marked to market (net) obligation, if any, (in other words, the Fund’s daily net liability, if any) rather than the market value of the futures contract. By setting aside or “earmarking” assets equal to only its net obligation under cash-settled futures, an Index Fund will have the ability to utilize these contracts to a greater extent than if the Fund were required to segregate or “earmark” assets equal to the full market value of the futures contract.

When selling a call option on a futures contract, an Index Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, that, when added to the amounts deposited with a futures commission merchant as margin, equal the total market value of the futures contract underlying the call option. Alternatively, the Index Fund may cover its position by entering into a long position in the same futures contract at a price no higher than the strike price of the call option, by owning the instruments underlying the futures contract, or by holding a separate call option permitting the Fund to purchase the same futures contract at a price not higher than the strike price of the call option sold by the Fund.

When selling a put option on a futures contract, an Index Fund will maintain with its custodian (and mark-to-market on a daily basis) assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, that equal the purchase price of the futures contract, less any margin on deposit. Alternatively, the Index Fund may cover the position either by entering into a short position in the same futures contract, or by owning a separate put option permitting it to sell the same futures contract so long as the strike price of the purchased put option is the same or higher than the strike price of the put option sold by the Fund.

To the extent that securities with maturities greater than one year are used to segregate or “earmark” assets to cover an Index Fund’s obligations under futures contracts and related options, such use will not eliminate the risk of a form of leverage, which may tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of a Fund’s portfolio, and may require liquidation of portfolio positions when it is not advantageous to do so. However, any potential risk of leverage resulting from the use of securities with maturities greater than one year may be mitigated by the overall duration limit on a Fund’s portfolio securities. Thus, the use of a longer-term security may require a Fund to hold offsetting short-term securities to balance the Fund’s portfolio such that the Fund’s duration does not exceed the maximum permitted for the Fund in the Prospectuses.

The requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company also may limit the extent to which an Index Fund may enter into futures, futures options and forward contracts. See “Taxation.”

Risks Associated with Futures and Futures Options. There are several risks associated with the use of futures contracts and futures options as hedging techniques. A purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the futures contract. There can be no guarantee that there will be a correlation between price movements in the hedging vehicle and in the Index Fund securities being hedged. In addition, there are significant differences between the securities and futures markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between the markets, causing a given hedge not to achieve its objectives. The degree of imperfection of correlation depends on circumstances such as variations in speculative market demand for futures and futures options on securities, including technical influences in futures trading and futures options, and differences between the financial instruments being hedged and the instruments underlying the standard contracts available for trading in such respects as interest rate levels, maturities, and creditworthiness of issuers. A decision as to whether, when and how to hedge involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected interest rate trends.

Futures contracts on U.S. Government securities historically have reacted to an increase or decrease in interest rates in a manner similar to that in which the underlying U.S. Government securities reacted. To the extent, however, that an Index Fund enters into such futures contracts, the value of such futures will not vary in direct proportion to the value of such Fund’s holdings of U.S. Government securities. Thus, the anticipated spread between the price of the futures contract and the hedged security may be distorted due to differences in the nature of the markets. The spread also may be distorted by differences in initial and variation margin requirements, the liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

 

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Futures exchanges may limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in certain futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of the current trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a futures contract subject to the limit, no more trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses because the limit may work to prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. For example, futures prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of positions and subjecting some holders of futures contracts to substantial losses.

There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when an Index Fund seeks to close out a futures or a futures option position, and that Fund would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. In addition, many of the contracts discussed above are relatively new instruments without a significant trading history. As a result, there can be no assurance that an active secondary market will develop or continue to exist.

Additional Risks of Options on Securities, Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. Options on securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States; may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Trust’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States, and (v) lesser trading volume.

Swap Agreements and Options on Swap Agreements. Each Index Fund may engage in swap transactions, including, but not limited to, swap agreements on interest rates or security indexes and specific securities. An Index Fund also may enter into options on swap agreements (“swap options”).

An Index Fund may enter into swap transactions for any legal purpose consistent with its investment objectives and policies, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of securities a Fund anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in the most economical way possible.

Swap agreements are two party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index. A “quanto” or “differential” swap combines both an interest rate and a currency transaction. Other forms of swap agreements include interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels.

An Index Fund also may enter into swap options. A swap option is a contract that gives a counterparty the right (but not the obligation) in return for payment of a premium, to enter into a new swap agreement or to shorten, extend, cancel or otherwise modify an existing swap agreement, at some designated future time on specified terms. Each Index Fund may write (sell) and purchase put and call swap options.

Depending on the terms of the particular option agreement, an Index Fund will generally incur a greater degree of risk when it writes a swap option than it will incur when it purchases a swap option. When an Index Fund purchases a swap option, it risks losing only the amount of the premium it has paid should it decide to let the option expire unexercised. However, when an Index Fund writes a swap option, upon exercise of the option the Fund will become obligated according to the terms of the underlying agreement.

Most other types of swap agreements entered into by the Index Funds would calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently, an Index Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will

 

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generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). An Index Fund’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Fund) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the segregation or “earmarking” of assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, to avoid any potential leveraging of a Fund’s portfolio. Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Index Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities.

Whether an Index Fund’s use of swap agreements or swap options will be successful in furthering its investment objective will depend on PIMCO’s ability to predict correctly whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Moreover, an Index Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The Index Funds will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness. Certain restrictions imposed on the Funds by the Internal Revenue Code may limit the Index Funds’ ability to use swap agreements. The swaps market is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect an Index Fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques, risk analyses, and tax planning different from those associated with traditional investments. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions. Because they are two party contracts that may be subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and termination and because they may have remaining terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid and subject to an Index Fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities. However, the Trust has adopted procedures pursuant to which PIMCO may determine swaps (including swap options) to be liquid under certain circumstances. To the extent that a swap is not liquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

Like most other investments, swap agreements are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to an Index Fund’s interest. An Index Fund bears the risk that PIMCO will not accurately forecast future market trends or the values of assets, reference rates, indexes, or other economic factors in establishing swap positions for the Fund. If PIMCO attempts to use a swap as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the Index Fund will be exposed to the risk that the swap will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the Index Fund. While hedging strategies involving swap instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other Index Fund investments. Many swaps are complex and often valued subjectively.

Certain swap agreements are exempt from most provisions of the CEA and, therefore, are not regulated as futures or commodity option transactions under the CEA, pursuant to regulations approved by the CFTC. To qualify for this exemption, a swap agreement must be entered into by “eligible participants,” which includes the following, provided the participants’ total assets exceed established levels: a bank or trust company, savings association or credit union, insurance company, investment company subject to regulation under the 1940 Act, commodity pool, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, organization, trust or other entity, employee benefit plan, governmental entity, broker-dealer, futures commission merchant, natural person, or regulated foreign person. To be eligible, natural persons and most other entities must have total assets exceeding $10 million; commodity pools and employee benefit plans must have assets exceeding $5 million. In addition, an eligible swap transaction must meet three conditions. First, the swap agreement may not be part of a fungible class of agreements that are standardized as to their material economic terms. Second, the creditworthiness of parties with actual or potential obligations under the swap agreement must be a material consideration in entering into or determining the terms of the swap agreement, including pricing, cost or credit enhancement terms. Third, swap agreements may not be entered into and traded on or through a multilateral transaction execution facility.

This exemption is not exclusive, and participants may continue to rely on existing exclusions for swaps, such as the Policy Statement issued in July 1989 which recognized a safe harbor for swap transactions from regulation as futures or commodity option transactions under the CEA or its regulations. The Policy Statement applies to swap transactions settled in cash that (1) have individually tailored terms, (2) lack exchange-style offset and the use of a clearing organization or margin system, (3) are undertaken in conjunction with a line of business, and (4) are not marketed to the public.

Correlation Risk for Certain Index Funds. In certain cases, the value of derivatives may not correlate perfectly, or at all, with the value of the assets, reference rates or indexes they are designed to closely track. There are a number of factors

 

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which may prevent a fund, or derivatives or other strategies used by a fund, from achieving desired correlation with an index. These may include, but are not limited to: (i) the impact of fund fee, expenses and transaction costs, including borrowing and brokerage costs/bid-ask spreads, which are not reflected in index returns; (ii) differences in the timing of daily calculations of the value of an index and the timing of the valuation of derivatives, securities and other assets held by a fund and the determination of the net asset value of fund shares; (iii) disruptions or illiquidity in the markets for derivative instruments or securities in which a fund invests; (iv) a fund having exposure to or holding less than all of the securities in the underlying index and/or having exposure to or holding securities not included in the underlying index; (v) large or unexpected movements of assets into and out of a fund (due to share purchases or redemptions, for example), potentially resulting in the fund being over- or under-exposed to the index; (vi) the impact of accounting standards or changes thereto; (vii) changes to the applicable index that are not disseminated in advance; and (viii) a possible need to conform a fund’s portfolio holdings to comply with investment restrictions or policies or regulatory or tax law requirements.

Risk of Potential Government Regulation of Derivatives. It is possible that government regulation of various types of derivative instruments, including futures and swap agreements, may limit or prevent an Index Fund from using such instruments as a part of its investment strategy, and could ultimately prevent an Index Fund from being able to achieve its investment objective. While no current regulatory or legislative activity is anticipated to have a direct, immediate effect upon the Index Funds, it is not possible to predict the indirect, future effects of legislation and regulation in this area. It is possible that certain recent legislative and regulatory activity could potentially limit or restrict the ability of an Index Fund to use certain instruments as a part of its investment strategy. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the Index Funds engage in derivative transactions could also prevent the Funds from using certain instruments.

Hybrid Instruments

A hybrid instrument is a type of potentially high-risk derivative that combines a traditional bond with an option or forward contract. Generally, the principal amount, amount payable upon maturity or redemption, or interest rate of a hybrid is tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some currency or securities index or another interest rate or some other economic factor (each a “benchmark”). The interest rate or (unlike most fixed income securities) the principal amount payable at maturity of a hybrid security may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark.

Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of pursuing a variety of investment goals, including currency hedging, duration management, and increased total return. Hybrids may not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as commodity shortages and currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. Thus, an investment in a hybrid may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional, U.S. dollar-denominated bond that has a fixed principal amount and pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest. The purchase of hybrids also exposes a Fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the hybrids. These risks may cause significant fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund. Each Fund will not invest more than 5% of its total assets in hybrid instruments.

Certain issuers of structured products such as hybrid instruments may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, the Funds’ investments in these products may be subject to limits applicable to investments in investment companies and may be subject to restrictions contained in the 1940 Act.

Structured Notes and Indexed Securities. Structured notes are derivative debt instruments, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator (for example, a currency, security, or index thereof). The terms of the instrument may be “structured” by the purchaser and the borrower issuing the note. Indexed securities may include structured notes as well as securities other than debt securities, the interest rate or principal of which is determined by an unrelated indicator. Indexed securities may include a multiplier that multiplies the indexed element by a specified factor and, therefore, the value of such securities may be very volatile. The terms of structured notes and indexed securities may provide that in certain circumstances no principal is due at maturity, which may result in a loss of invested capital. Structured notes and indexed securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the unrelated indicator may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or the value of the structured note or indexed security at maturity may be calculated as a specified multiple of the change in the value of the unrelated indicator. Therefore, the value of such notes and securities may be very volatile. Structured notes and indexed securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the investor bears the risk of the unrelated indicator. Structured notes or indexed securities also may be more volatile, less liquid, and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities and instruments or more traditional debt securities. To the extent a Fund invests in these notes and securities, however, PIMCO analyzes these

 

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notes and securities in its overall assessment of the effective duration of the Fund’s holdings in an effort to monitor the Fund’s interest rate risk.

Bank Capital Securities

The Funds may invest in bank capital securities. Bank capital securities are issued by banks to help fulfill their regulatory capital requirements. There are three common types of bank capital: Lower Tier II, Upper Tier II and Tier I. Bank capital is generally, but not always, of investment grade quality. Upper Tier II securities are commonly thought of as hybrids of debt and preferred stock. Upper Tier II securities are often perpetual (with no maturity date), callable and have a cumulative interest deferral feature. This means that under certain conditions, the issuer bank can withhold payment of interest until a later date. However, such deferred interest payments generally earn interest.  Tier I securities often take the form of trust preferred securities.

Trust Preferred Securities

The Funds may invest in trust preferred securities. Trust preferred securities have the characteristics of both subordinated debt and preferred stock. Generally, trust preferred securities are issued by a trust that is wholly-owned by a financial institution or other corporate entity, typically a bank holding company. The financial institution creates the trust and owns the trust’s common securities. The trust uses the sale proceeds of its common securities to purchase subordinated debt issued by the financial institution. The financial institution uses the proceeds from the subordinated debt sale to increase its capital while the trust receives periodic interest payments from the financial institution for holding the subordinated debt. The trust uses the funds received to make dividend payments to the holders of the trust preferred securities. The primary advantage of this structure is that the trust preferred securities are treated by the financial institution as debt securities for tax purposes and as equity for the calculation of capital requirements.

Trust preferred securities typically bear a market rate coupon comparable to interest rates available on debt of a similarly rated issuer. Typical characteristics include long-term maturities, early redemption by the issuer, periodic fixed or variable interest payments, and maturities at face value. Holders of trust preferred securities have limited voting rights to control the activities of the trust and no voting rights with respect to the financial institution. The market value of trust preferred securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities. Trust preferred securities may be issued in reliance on Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and subject to restrictions on resale. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of trust preferred securities and the ability of holders, such as a Fund, to sell their holdings. In identifying the risks of the trust preferred securities, PIMCO will look to the condition of the financial institution as the trust typically has no business operations other than to issue the trust preferred securities. If the financial institution defaults on interest payments to the trust, the trust will not be able to make dividend payments to holders of its securities, such as a Fund.

Delayed Funding Loans and Revolving Credit Facilities

Certain Active Funds may enter into, or acquire participations in, delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are borrowing arrangements in which the lender agrees to make loans up to a maximum amount upon demand by the borrower during a specified term. A revolving credit facility differs from a delayed funding loan in that as the borrower repays the loan, an amount equal to the repayment may be borrowed again during the term of the revolving credit facility. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities usually provide for floating or variable rates of interest. These commitments may have the effect of requiring a Fund to increase its investment in a company at a time when it might not otherwise decide to do so (including at a time when the company’s financial condition makes it unlikely that such amounts will be repaid). To the extent that a Fund is committed to advance additional funds, it will at all times segregate or “earmark” assets, determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees, in an amount sufficient to meet such commitments.

Certain Active Funds may invest in delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities with credit quality comparable to that of issuers of its securities investments. Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities may be subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to resell such instruments. As a result, a Fund may be unable to sell such investments at an opportune time or may have to resell them at less than fair market value. The Funds currently intend to treat delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities for which there is no readily available market as illiquid for purposes of the Funds’ limitation on illiquid investments. For a further discussion of the risks involved in investing in loan participations and other forms of direct indebtedness see “Indebtedness, Loan Participations and Assignments.” Participation interests in revolving credit facilities will be subject to the limitations discussed in “Indebtedness, Loan Participations and Assignments.” Delayed funding loans and revolving credit facilities are considered to be debt obligations for purposes of the Trust’s investment restriction relating to the lending of funds or assets by a Fund.

 

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When-Issued, Delayed Delivery and Forward Commitment Transactions

Each of the Funds may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery, or forward commitment basis. When such purchases or sales are outstanding, the Fund will segregate or “earmark” until the settlement date assets determined to be liquid by PIMCO in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Trustees or otherwise cover its position in an amount sufficient to meet the Fund’s obligation. Typically, no income accrues on securities a Fund has committed to purchase prior to the time delivery of the securities is made, although a Fund may earn income on securities it has segregated or “earmarked.”

When purchasing a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery, or forward commitment basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations, and takes such fluctuations into account when determining its net asset value. Because the Fund is not required to pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with the Fund’s other investments. If the other party to a transaction fails to deliver the securities, the Fund could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity. If the Fund remains substantially fully invested at a time when when-issued, delayed delivery, or forward commitment purchases are outstanding, the purchases may result in a form of leverage.

When a Fund has sold a security on a when-issued, delayed delivery, or forward commitment basis, the Fund does not participate in future gains or losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a transaction fails to pay for the securities, the Fund could suffer a loss.

A Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a transaction after it is entered into, and may purchase or sell when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment securities before the settlement date, which may result in a gain or loss. There is no percentage limitation on the extent to which the Funds may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery, or forward commitment basis.

144A Securities

In addition to a Fund’s investments in privately placed and unregistered securities, a Fund may also invest in securities sold pursuant to Rule 144A of the 1933 Act. Such securities are commonly known as “144A securities” and may only be resold under certain circumstances to other institutional buyers. 144A securities frequently trade in an active secondary market and are treated as liquid under procedures established by the Board of Trustees. As a result of the resale restrictions on 144A securities, there is a greater risk that they will become illiquid than securities registered with the SEC.

Illiquid Securities

The Funds may invest up to 15% of their net assets in illiquid securities. Although the PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund has no present intention of purchasing illiquid securities, it reserves the right to invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. The term “illiquid securities” for this purpose means securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the amount at which a Fund has valued the securities. Illiquid securities are considered to include, among other things, written OTC options, securities or other liquid assets being used as cover for such options, repurchase agreements with remaining maturities in excess of seven days, certain loan participation interests, fixed time deposits which are not subject to prepayment or provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), and other securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws (other than securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and certain other securities and instruments that PIMCO has determined to be liquid under procedures established by the Board of Trustees).

Illiquid securities may include privately placed securities, which are sold directly to a small number of investors, usually institutions. Unlike public offerings, such securities are not registered under the federal securities laws. Although certain of these securities may be readily sold, others may be illiquid, and their sale may involve substantial delays and additional costs.

Loans of Portfolio Securities

For the purpose of achieving income, each Fund may lend its portfolio securities to brokers, dealers, and other financial institutions, provided: (i) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities, cash or cash equivalents (negotiable certificates of deposits, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to 102% of the market value (plus accrued interest) of the securities loaned or 105% of the market value (plus accrued interest) of the securities loaned if the borrowed securities are principally cleared and settled outside of the U.S.; (ii) the Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of the securities loaned; (iii) the Fund will receive any interest or dividends paid on the loaned securities; and (iv) the aggregate market value of securities

 

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loaned will not at any time exceed 33 1/3% of the total assets of the Fund. Each Fund’s performance will continue to reflect the receipt of either interest through investment of cash collateral by the Fund in permissible investments, or a fee, if the collateral is U.S. Government securities. Securities lending involves the risk of loss of rights in the collateral or delay in recovery of the collateral should the borrower fail to return the securities loaned or become insolvent. The Funds may pay lending fees to the party arranging the loan. Cash collateral received by a Fund in securities lending transactions may be invested in short-term liquid Fixed Income Instruments or in money market or short-term mutual funds, or similar investment vehicles, including affiliated money market or short-term mutual funds. A Fund bears the risk of such investments.

Investment Companies

The Funds may invest in the securities of other investment companies (including money market funds) to the extent allowed by law. Under Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act, each Fund’s investment in other investment companies is limited to, subject to certain exceptions, (i) 3% of the total outstanding voting stock of any one investment company, (ii) 5% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to any one investment company, and (iii) 10% of the Fund’s total assets with respect to investment companies in the aggregate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Fund’s investment in units or shares of investment companies and other open-ended collective investment vehicles will be limited to 10% of the Fund’s net assets. To the extent allowed by law or regulation, each Fund may invest its assets in securities of investment companies that are money market funds, including those advised by PIMCO or otherwise affiliated with PIMCO, in excess of the limits discussed above. Other investment companies in which a Fund invests can be expected to incur fees and expenses for operations, such as advisory fees and supervisory and administrative fees, that would be in addition to those fees and expenses incurred by the Fund.

As certain affiliated funds of funds may invest in a Fund beyond the limits discussed above, the Funds may not acquire securities of other registered open-end investment companies in reliance on Section 12(d)(1)(F) or Section 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act.

Government Intervention in Financial Markets

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

Governments or their agencies may also acquire distressed assets from financial institutions and acquire ownership interests in those institutions. The implications of government ownership and disposition of these assets are unclear, and such a program may have positive or negative effects on the liquidity, valuation and performance of the Funds’ portfolio holdings and/or on the market price at which the Funds’ shares trade. Furthermore, volatile financial markets can expose the Funds to greater market and liquidity risk and potential difficulty in valuing portfolio instruments held by the Funds. The Funds have established procedures to assess the liquidity of portfolio holdings and to value instruments for which market prices may not be readily available. PIMCO will monitor developments and seek to manage the Funds in a manner consistent with achieving each Fund’s investment objective, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so.

Temporary Investment

If PIMCO believes that economic or market conditions are unfavorable to investors, PIMCO may temporarily invest up to 100% of an Active Fund’s assets in certain defensive strategies, including holding a substantial portion of the Active Fund’s assets in cash, cash equivalents or other highly rated short-term securities, including securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. As discussed in this Statement of Additional Information, each Fund may also invest in affiliated money market and/or short-term bond funds for temporary cash management purposes.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

Fundamental Investment Restrictions

The investment restrictions set forth below are fundamental policies of each Fund and may not be changed with respect to a Fund without shareholder approval by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of that Fund.

 

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(1) A Fund may not concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that term is used in the 1940 Act, and as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction from time to time, except that an Index Fund will concentrate to approximately the same extent that its Underlying Index concentrates in the securities of such particular industry or group of industries.

 

(2) A Fund may not, with respect to 75% of the Fund’s total assets, purchase the securities of any issuer, except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, if, as a result (i) more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of that issuer, or (ii) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of that issuer. This investment restriction is not applicable to the PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund, PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund, PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund and PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund. For the purpose of this restriction, each state and each separate political subdivision, agency, authority or instrumentality of such state, each multi-state agency or authority, and each guarantor, if any, are treated as separate issuers of Municipal Bonds.

 

(3) A Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase securities secured by real estate or interests therein, or securities issued by companies which invest in real estate, or interests therein.

 

(4) A Fund may not purchase or sell commodities or commodities contracts or oil, gas or mineral programs. This restriction shall not prohibit a Fund, subject to restrictions described in the Prospectuses and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information, from purchasing, selling or entering into futures contracts, options on futures contracts, foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency options, hybrid instruments, or any interest rate or securities-related or foreign currency-related hedging instrument, including swap agreements and other derivative instruments, subject to compliance with any applicable provisions of the federal securities or commodities laws.

 

(5) A Fund may borrow money or issue any senior security, only as permitted under the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

(6) A Fund may make loans, only as permitted under the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted, modified, or otherwise permitted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

(7) A Fund may not act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers, except to the extent that in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities, it may be deemed to be an underwriter under the federal securities laws.

 

(8) Notwithstanding any other fundamental investment policy or limitation, it is a fundamental policy of each Fund that it may pursue its investment objective by investing in one or more underlying investment companies or vehicles that have substantially similar investment objectives, policies and limitations as the Fund.

 

(9) The PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy and PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Funds will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of their assets in investments the income of which is exempt from federal income tax.

Non-Fundamental Investment Restrictions

Each Fund’s investment objective, as set forth in the Prospectuses under the heading “Principal Investments and Strategies,” is non-fundamental and may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval. Each Fund is also subject to the following non-fundamental restrictions and policies (which may be changed by the Trust’s Board of Trustees without shareholder approval) relating to the investment of its assets and activities.

 

(A) A Fund may not invest more than 15% of its net assets taken at market value at the time of the investment in “illiquid securities,” which are defined to include securities subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (which may include private placements), repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, certain loan participation interests, fixed time deposits which are not subject to prepayment or provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), certain options traded OTC that a Fund has purchased, securities or other liquid assets being used to cover such options a Fund has written, securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or other securities which legally or in PIMCO’s opinion may be deemed illiquid (other than securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, as amended, and certain other securities and instruments PIMCO has determined to be liquid under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees).

 

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(B) A Fund may not purchase securities on margin, except for use of short-term credit necessary for clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities, but it may make margin deposits in connection with covered transactions in options, futures, options on futures and short positions. For purposes of this restriction, the posting of margin deposits or other forms of collateral in connection with swap agreements is not considered purchasing securities on margin.

 

(C) A Fund may not maintain a short position, or purchase, write or sell puts, calls, straddles, spreads or combinations thereof, except on such conditions as may be set forth in the Prospectuses and in this Statement of Additional Information.

 

(D) In addition, the Trust has adopted the following non-fundamental investment policies that may be changed provided shareholders are given advance notice:

(1) Each Index Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its total assets (exclusive of collateral held from securities lending) in the component securities of that Fund’s Underlying Index.

(2) The PIMCO Government Limited Maturity Strategy Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets in U.S. government securities.

(3) The PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets in taxable municipal debt securities.

(4) The PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund will invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its assets in inflation-linked bonds.

For purposes of Non-Fundamental Investment Restriction (D)(2)-(4), the term “assets,” as defined in Rule 35d-1 under the 1940 Act, means net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes. In addition, for purposes of Non-Fundamental Investment Restriction (D)(2)-(4), investments may be represented by forwards. Further, for purposes of Non-Fundamental Investment Restriction (D)(2)-(4), a Fund may “look through” a repurchase agreement to the collateral underlying the agreement (typically, government securities), and apply the repurchase agreement toward the 80% investment requirement based on the type of securities comprising its collateral.

Under the 1940 Act, a “senior security” does not include any promissory note or evidence of indebtedness where such loan is for temporary purposes only and in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of the total assets of the issuer at the time the loan is made. A loan is presumed to be for temporary purposes if it is repaid within sixty days and is not extended or renewed. To the extent that borrowings for temporary administrative purposes exceed 5% of the total assets of a Fund, such excess shall be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement.

To the extent a Fund covers its commitment under a reverse repurchase agreement (or economically similar transaction) by the segregating or “earmarking” of assets determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, equal in value to the amount of the Fund’s commitment to repurchase, such an agreement will not be considered a “senior security” by the Fund and therefore will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the Fund.

The staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased OTC options and the assets used as cover for written OTC options are illiquid securities. Therefore, the Index Funds have adopted an investment policy pursuant to which a Fund will not purchase or sell OTC options if, as a result of such transactions, the sum of: 1) the market value of purchased OTC options currently outstanding which are held by the Fund and 2) the market value of the underlying securities (including any collateral posted by the Fund) covering OTC options currently outstanding which were sold by the Fund, exceeds 15% of the net assets of the Fund, taken at market value, together with all other assets of the Fund which are illiquid or are otherwise not readily marketable. However, if an OTC option is sold by the Index Fund to a primary U.S. Government securities dealer recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and if the Fund has the unconditional contractual right to repurchase such OTC option from the dealer at a predetermined price, then the Fund will treat as illiquid such amount of the underlying securities equal to the repurchase price less the amount by which the option is “in-the-money” (i.e., current market value of the underlying securities minus the option’s strike price). The repurchase price with the primary dealers is typically a formula price which is generally based on a multiple of the premium received for the option, plus the amount by which the option is “in-the-money.” This policy is not a fundamental policy of the Index Funds and may be amended by the Board of Trustees without the approval of shareholders. However, the Index Funds will not change or modify this policy prior to the change or modification by the SEC staff of its position.

 

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For purposes of applying the Funds’ investment policies and restrictions (as stated in the Prospectuses and this Statement of Additional Information) swap agreements are generally valued by the Index Funds at market value. The manner in which certain securities or other instruments are valued by the Funds for purposes of applying investment policies and restrictions may differ from the manner in which those investments are valued by other types of investors.

The Funds interpret their policy with respect to concentration in a particular industry under Fundamental Investment Restriction 1, above, to apply to direct investments in the securities of issuers in a particular industry, as defined by the Trust. For purposes of this restriction, a foreign government is considered to be an industry. Currency positions are not considered to be an investment in a foreign government for industry concentration purposes. Mortgage-backed securities that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities are not subject to the Funds’ industry concentration restrictions, by virtue of the exclusion from that test available to all U.S. Government securities. Similarly, Municipal Bonds issued by states, municipalities and other political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and instrumentalities of states and multi-state agencies and authorities are not subject to the Funds’ industry concentration restrictions. In the case of privately issued mortgage-related securities, or any asset-backed securities, the Trust takes the position that such securities do not represent interests in any particular “industry” or group of industries.

An Index Fund may invest in certain derivative instruments which, while representing a relatively small amount of the Fund’s net assets, provide a greater amount of economic exposure to a particular industry. To the extent that an Index Fund obtains economic exposure to a particular industry in this manner, it may be subject to similar risks of concentration in that industry as if it had invested in the securities of issuers in that industry directly.

The Funds interpret their policies with respect to borrowing and lending to permit such activities as may be lawful for the Funds, to the full extent permitted by the 1940 Act or by exemption from the provisions therefrom pursuant to exemptive order of the SEC. Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC on November 19, 2001, the Funds may invest daily cash balances of the Funds in shares of affiliated money market and/or short-term bond funds, and such affiliated money market and/or short-term bond funds may use daily excess cash balances of the money market and/or short-term bond funds in inter-fund lending transactions with the Funds and certain other affiliated funds for temporary cash management purposes. The interest paid by a Fund in such an arrangement will be less than that otherwise payable for an overnight loan, and will be in excess of the overnight rate the money market and/or short-term bond funds could otherwise earn as lender in such a transaction.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to Fund investments (as stated above and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information or in the Prospectuses) apply only at the time a transaction is entered into. Any subsequent change in a rating assigned by any rating service to a security (or, if unrated, deemed to be of comparable quality), or change in the percentage of Fund assets invested in certain securities or other instruments, or change in the average duration of a Fund’s investment portfolio, resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in a Fund’s total assets will not require a Fund to dispose of an investment. For all Funds except the PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund and PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, in the event that ratings services assign different ratings to the same security, PIMCO will use the highest rating as the credit rating for that security. For the PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund and PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, PIMCO will use the lowest rating as the credit rating for that security.

From time to time, a Fund may voluntarily participate in actions (for example, rights offerings, conversion privileges, exchange offers, credit event settlements, etc.) where the issuer or counterparty offers securities or instruments to holders or counterparties, such as a Fund, and the acquisition is determined to be beneficial to Fund shareholders (“Voluntary Action”). Notwithstanding any percentage investment limitation listed under this “Investment Restrictions” section or any percentage investment limitation of the 1940 Act or rules thereunder, if a Fund has the opportunity to acquire a permitted security or instrument through a Voluntary Action, and the Fund will exceed a percentage investment limitation following the acquisition, it will not constitute a violation if, prior to the receipt of the securities or instruments and after announcement of the offering, the Fund sells an offsetting amount of assets that are subject to the investment limitation in question at least equal to the value of the securities or instruments to be acquired.

Unless otherwise indicated, all percentage limitations on Fund investments (as stated throughout this Statement of Additional Information or in the Prospectuses) that are not (i) specifically included in this “Investment Restrictions” section or (ii) imposed by the 1940 Act, rules thereunder, the Internal Revenue Code or related regulations (the “Elective Investment Restrictions”), will apply only at the time a transaction is entered into unless the transaction is a Voluntary Action. The percentage limitations and absolute prohibitions with respect to Elective Investment Restrictions are not applicable to a Fund’s acquisition of securities or instruments through a Voluntary Action.

 

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The Funds have investment policies, limitations, or practices that are applicable “normally” or under “normal circumstances” or “normal market conditions” (as stated above and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information or in the Prospectuses). Pursuant to the discretion of PIMCO, these investment policies, limitations, or practices may not apply during periods of abnormal purchase or redemption activity or during periods of unusual or adverse market, economic, political or other conditions. Such market, economic or political conditions may include periods of abnormal or heightened market volatility, strained credit and/or liquidity conditions, or increased governmental intervention in the markets or industries. During such periods, a Fund may not invest according to its principal investment strategies or in the manner in which its name may suggest, and may be subject to different and/or heightened risks. It is possible that such unusual or adverse conditions may continue for extended periods of time.

UNDERLYING INDEXES FOR INDEX FUNDS

Each Index Fund tracks a particular bond market index compiled by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“BofA Merrill Lynch”), which is not affiliated with the Trust, PIMCO, PIMCO Investments LLC, or their affiliates. PIMCO has entered into a license agreement with BofA Merrill Lynch to use the Underlying Indexes. The license agreement allows the Trust to use the Underlying Indexes at no charge to the Trust. See the Prospectuses for additional disclaimers relating to the Underlying Indexes.

The BofA Merrill Lynch 0-1 Year US Treasury Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch 0-1 Year US Treasury Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated sovereign debt securities publicly issued by the U.S. Treasury in its domestic market. Qualifying securities must have at least one month and less than one year remaining term to final maturity, a fixed coupon schedule and a minimum amount outstanding of $1 billion. Bills, inflation-linked debt and strips are excluded from the Index; however, original issue zero coupon bonds are included in the Index and the amounts outstanding of qualifying coupon securities are not reduced by any portions that have been stripped.

Index constituents are capitalization-weighted based on their current amount outstanding. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Treasury Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Treasury Index is a subset of The BofA Merrill Lynch US Treasury Index including all securities with a remaining term to final maturity greater than or equal to 1 year and less than 3 years. The BofA Merrill Lynch US Treasury Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated sovereign debt securities publicly issued by the U.S. Treasury in its domestic market. Qualifying securities must have at least one year remaining term to final maturity, a fixed coupon schedule and a minimum amount outstanding of $1 billion. Bills, inflation-linked debt and strips are excluded from the Index; however, original issue zero coupon bonds are included in the Index and the amounts outstanding of qualifying coupon securities are not reduced by any portions that have been stripped.

Index constituents are capitalization-weighted based on their current amount outstanding. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year US High Yield Constrained Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year US High Yield Constrained Index is comprised of short-term U.S. dollar denominated below investment grade corporate debt securities publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. Qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch) and an investment grade rated country of risk (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch foreign currency long term sovereign debt ratings). In addition, qualifying securities must have at least one year and less than five years remaining term to final maturity, a fixed coupon schedule and a minimum amount outstanding of $100 million. Original issue zero coupon bonds,

 

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“global” securities (debt issued simultaneously in the eurobond and U.S. domestic bond markets), 144a securities and pay-in-kind securities, including toggle notes, qualify for inclusion in the Index. Callable perpetual securities qualify provided they are at least one year from the first call date. Fixed-to-floating rate securities also qualify provided they are callable within the fixed rate period and are at least one year from the last call prior to the date the bond transitions from a fixed to a floating rate security. Taxable and tax-exempt U.S. municipal, DRD-eligible and defaulted securities are excluded from the Index.

Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, based on their current amount outstanding, provided the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%. Issuers that exceed the limit are reduced to 2% and the face value of each of their bonds is adjusted on a pro-rata basis. Similarly, the face values of bonds of all other issuers that fall below the 2% cap are increased on a pro-rata basis. In the event there are fewer than 50 issuers in the Index, each is equally weighted and the face values of their respective bonds are increased or decreased on a pro-rata basis.

Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the Index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index is a subset of The BofA Merrill Lynch US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index including all securities with a remaining term to final maturity less than five years. The BofA Merrill Lynch US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated inflation-linked sovereign debt publicly issued by the U.S. Treasury in its domestic market. Qualifying securities must have at least one year remaining term to final maturity, interest and principal payments tied to inflation and a minimum amount outstanding of $1 billion. Strips are excluded from the Index; however, original issue zero coupon bonds are included in the Index and the amounts outstanding of qualifying coupon securities are not reduced by any portions that have been stripped.

Index constituents are capitalization-weighted based on their current amount outstanding. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

The BofA Merrill Lynch 3-7 Year US Treasury Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch 3-7 Year US Treasury Index is a subset of The BofA Merrill Lynch US Treasury Index including all securities with a remaining term to final maturity greater than or equal to 3 years and less than 7 years. The BofA Merrill Lynch US Treasury Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated sovereign debt securities publicly issued by the U.S. Treasury in its domestic market. Qualifying securities must have at least one year remaining term to final maturity, a fixed coupon schedule and a minimum amount outstanding of $1 billion. Bills, inflation-linked debt and strips are excluded from the Index; however, original issue zero coupon bonds are included in the Index and the amounts outstanding of qualifying coupon securities are not reduced by any portions that have been stripped.

Index constituents are capitalization-weighted based on their current amount outstanding. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

The BofA Merrill Lynch 7-15 Year US Treasury Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch 7-15 Year US Treasury Index is a subset of The BofA Merrill Lynch US Treasury Index including all securities with a remaining term to final maturity greater than or equal to 7 years and less than 15 years. The

 

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BofA Merrill Lynch US Treasury Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated sovereign debt securities publicly issued by the U.S. Treasury in its domestic market. Qualifying securities must have at least one year remaining term to final maturity, a fixed coupon schedule and a minimum amount outstanding of $1 billion. Bills, inflation-linked debt and strips are excluded from the Index; however, original issue zero coupon bonds are included in the Index and the amounts outstanding of qualifying coupon securities are not reduced by any portions that have been stripped.

Index constituents are capitalization-weighted based on their current amount outstanding. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

The BofA Merrill Lynch 15+ Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch 15+ Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index is a subset of The BofA Merrill Lynch US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index including all securities with a remaining term to final maturity greater than or equal to 15 years. The BofA Merrill Lynch US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated inflation-linked sovereign debt publicly issued by the U.S. Treasury in its domestic market. Qualifying securities must have at least one year remaining term to final maturity, interest and principal payments tied to inflation and a minimum amount outstanding of $1 billion. Strips are excluded from the Index; however, original issue zero coupon bonds are included in the Index and the amounts outstanding of qualifying coupon securities are not reduced by any portions that have been stripped.

Index constituents are capitalization-weighted based on their current amount outstanding. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

The BofA Merrill Lynch Liquid US Treasury Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch Liquid US Treasury Index tracks the performance of the three most recently issued 2-year, 3-year, 5-year, 7-year, 10-year and 30-year U.S. Treasury notes and bonds. The index is rebalanced monthly on the last calendar day of each month. In order to qualify for selection, a security must have at least $1 billion in outstanding face value, must have been issued on or before the third business day before the last business day of the month, and must settle on or before the last calendar day of the month.

Index constituent weights are based on the face value of the position held in the index times the security’s price plus accrued interest. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index.

The BofA Merrill Lynch Long US Treasury Principal STRIPS Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch Long US Treasury Principal STRIPS Index tracks the performance of long maturity Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (“STRIPS”) representing the final principal payment of U.S. Treasury bonds. Qualifying principal STRIPS must have at least 25 years remaining term to final maturity and must be stripped from U.S. Treasury bonds having at least $1 billion in outstanding face value.

Index constituents are capitalization-weighted based on the security prices times an assumed face value of $1 billion per constituent security. The Index is rebalanced quarterly, on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the rebalancing month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following quarter. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the quarter remain in the Index until the next rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

 

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The BofA Merrill Lynch US Corporate Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch US Corporate Index is comprised of U.S. dollar-denominated investment grade corporate debt securities publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. Qualifying securities must have an investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch) and an investment grade rated country of risk (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch foreign currency long term sovereign debt ratings). In addition, qualifying securities must have at least one year remaining term to final maturity, a fixed coupon schedule and a minimum amount outstanding of $250 million. Original issue zero coupon bonds, “global” securities (debt issued simultaneously in the eurobond and U.S. domestic bond markets), 144a securities and pay-in-kind securities, including toggle notes, qualify for inclusion in the Index. Callable perpetual securities qualify provided they are at least one year from the first call date. Fixed-to-floating rate securities also qualify provided they are callable within the fixed rate period and are at least one year from the last call prior to the date the bond transitions from a fixed to a floating rate security. Taxable and tax-exempt municipal, DRD-eligible and defaulted securities are excluded from the Index.

Index constituents are capitalization-weighted based on their current amount outstanding. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

The BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Constrained Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Constrained Index contains all securities in The BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Index but caps issuer exposure at 2%. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, based on their current amount outstanding, provided the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%. Issuers that exceed the limit are reduced to 2% and the face value of each of their bonds is adjusted on a pro-rata basis. Similarly, the face values of bonds of all other issuers that fall below the 2% cap are increased on a pro-rata basis. In the event there are fewer than 50 issuers in the Index, each is equally weighted and the face values of their respective bonds are increased or decreased on a pro-rata basis.

The BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Index is comprised of U.S. dollar-denominated below investment grade corporate debt securities publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. Qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch) and an investment grade rated country of risk (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch foreign currency long term sovereign debt ratings). In addition, qualifying securities must have at least one year remaining term to final maturity, a fixed coupon schedule and a minimum amount outstanding of $100 million. Original issue zero coupon bonds, “global” securities (debt issued simultaneously in the eurobond and U.S. domestic bond markets), 144a securities and pay-in-kind securities, including toggle notes, qualify for inclusion in the Index. Callable perpetual securities qualify provided they are at least one year from the first call date. Fixed-to-floating rate securities also qualify provided they are callable within the fixed rate period and are at least one year from the last call prior to the date the bond transitions from a fixed to a floating rate security. Taxable and tax-exempt U.S. municipal, DRD-eligible and defaulted securities are excluded from the Index.

Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

The BofA Merrill Lynch US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index

The BofA Merrill Lynch US Inflation-Linked Treasury Index is comprised of U.S. dollar denominated inflation-linked sovereign debt publicly issued by the U.S. Treasury in its domestic market. Qualifying securities must have at least one year remaining term to final maturity, interest and principal payments tied to inflation and a minimum amount outstanding of $1 billion. Strips are excluded from the Index; however, original issue zero coupon bonds are included in the Index and the amounts outstanding of qualifying coupon securities are not reduced by any portions that have been stripped.

 

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Index constituents are capitalization-weighted based on their current amount outstanding. Accrued interest is calculated assuming next-day settlement. Cash flows from bond payments that are received during the month are retained in the index until the end of the month and then are removed as part of the rebalancing. Cash does not earn any reinvestment income while it is held in the Index. The Index is rebalanced on the last calendar day of the month, based on information available up to and including the third business day before the last business day of the month. Issues that meet the qualifying criteria are included in the Index for the following month. Issues that no longer meet the criteria during the course of the month remain in the Index until the next month-end rebalancing at which point they are removed from the Index.

“BofA Merrill Lynch” and “The BofA Merrill Lynch 0-1 Year US Treasury IndexSM,” “The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year US Treasury IndexSM,” “The BofA Merrill Lynch 3-7 Year US Treasury IndexSM,” “The BofA Merrill Lynch 7-15 Year US Treasury IndexSM,” “The BofA Merrill Lynch Liquid US Treasury IndexSM,” “The BofA Merrill Lynch Long US Treasury Principal STRIPS IndexSM,” “The BofA Merrill Lynch US Inflation-Linked Treasury IndexSM,” “The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury IndexSM,” “The BofA Merrill Lynch 15+ Year US Inflation-Linked Treasury IndexSM” “The BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year US High Yield Constrained IndexSM,” “The BofA Merrill Lynch US High Yield Constrained IndexSM” and “The BofA Merrill Lynch US Corporate IndexSM” (collectively, the “BofA Merrill Lynch Indexes”) are reprinted with permission. © Copyright 2010 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“BofA Merrill Lynch”). All rights reserved. “BofA Merrill Lynch” and the BofA Merrill Lynch Indexes are service marks of BofA Merrill Lynch and/or its affiliates and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by PIMCO on behalf of the Funds that are based on the BofA Merrill Lynch Indexes, and are not issued, sponsored, endorsed or promoted by BofA Merrill Lynch and/or BofA Merrill Lynch’s affiliates nor is BofA Merrill Lynch and/or BofA Merrill Lynch’s affiliates an adviser to the Funds. BofA Merrill Lynch and BofA Merrill Lynch’s affiliates make no representation, express or implied, regarding the advisability of investing in the Funds or the BofA Merrill Lynch Indexes and do not guarantee the quality, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of the BofA Merrill Lynch Indexes, index values or any index related data included herein, provided herewith or derived therefrom and assume no liability in connection with their use. As the index provider, BofA Merrill Lynch is licensing certain trademarks, the BofA Merrill Lynch Indexes and trade names which are composed by BofA Merrill Lynch without regard to PIMCO, the Funds or any investor. BofA Merrill Lynch and BofA Merrill Lynch’s affiliates do not provide investment advice to PIMCO or the Funds and are not responsible for the performance of the Funds. BofA Merrill Lynch compiles and publishes the BofA Merrill Lynch Indexes. PIMCO has entered into a license agreement with BofA Merrill Lynch to use each Underlying Index.

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST

Trustees and Officers

The business of the Trust is managed under the direction of the Trust’s Board of Trustees. Subject to the provisions of the Trust Instrument, its By-Laws and Delaware law, the Board of Trustees has all powers necessary and convenient to carry out this responsibility, including the election and removal of the Trust’s officers.

Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight Function

The Board is currently composed of seven Trustees, five of whom are not “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined by Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) (“Independent Trustees”). The Trustees meet periodically throughout the year to discuss and consider matters concerning the Trust and to oversee the Trust’s activities, including its investment performance, compliance program and risks associated with its activities.

Brent R. Harris, a Managing Director and member of the Executive Committee of PIMCO, and therefore an “interested person” of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. The Board has established three standing committees to facilitate the Trustees’ oversight of the management of the Trust: an Audit Committee, a Valuation Committee and a Governance Committee. The scope of each Committee’s responsibilities is discussed in greater detail below. The Board does not have a lead Independent Trustee; however, the Chairs of the Audit Committee and Governance Committee, each of whom is an Independent Trustee, act as liaisons between the Independent Trustees and the Trust’s management between Board Meetings and, with management, are involved in the preparation of agendas for Board and Committee meetings. The Board believes that, as Chairman, Mr. Harris provides skilled executive leadership to the Trust and performs an essential liaison function between the Trust and PIMCO, its investment adviser. The Board believes that its governance structure allows all of the Independent Trustees to participate in the full range of the Board’s oversight responsibilities. The Board reviews its structure regularly as part of its annual self-evaluation. The Board has determined that its leadership structure is appropriate in light of the characteristics and circumstances of the Trust because it allocates areas of responsibility among the Committees and the Board in a manner than enhances effective oversight. The Board considered, among other things, the role of PIMCO in the day-to-day management of the Trust’s affairs; the extent to which the work of the Board is conducted

 

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through the Committees; the number of portfolios that comprise the Trust and other trusts in the fund complex overseen by members of the Board; the variety of asset classes those portfolios include; the net assets of each Fund, the Trust and the fund complex; and the management, distribution and other service arrangements of each Fund, the Trust and the fund complex.

In its oversight role, the Board has adopted, and periodically reviews, policies and procedures designed to address risks associated with the Trust’s activities. In addition, PIMCO and the Trust’s other service providers have adopted policies, processes and procedures to identify, assess and manage risks associated with the Trust’s activities. The Trust’s senior officers, including, but not limited to, the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) and Treasurer, PIMCO portfolio management personnel and other senior personnel of PIMCO, the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm (the “independent auditors”) and personnel from the Trust’s third-party service providers make periodic reports to the Board and its Committees with respect to a variety of matters, including matters relating to risk management.

Qualifications of the Trustees

The charts below identify the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all persons below is 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

Trustees

 

Name, Year of Birth

and Position Held with

Trust*

   Term of Office
and Length of
Time
Served /+/
  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

   Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex
Overseen by
Trustee*
  

Other Public Company and

Investment Company

Directorships

Held by Trustee During the

Past 5 Years

Interested Trustees1            

Brent R. Harris (1959)

 

Chairman of the Board and Trustee

   02/2009 to present    Managing Director and member of Executive Committee, PIMCO.    141    Chairman and Trustee, PIMCO Funds; Chairman and Trustee, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust; Chairman and Trustee, PIMCO Equity Series; Chairman and Trustee, PIMCO Equity Series VIT; Director, StocksPLUS® Management, Inc; and member of Board of Governors and Executive Committee, Investment Company Institute. Board Member and Owner, Harris Holdings, LLC (1992-present); Formerly, Chairman and Director, PCM Fund, Inc.

Douglas M. Hodge (1957)

 

Trustee

   02/2010 to present    Managing Director; Chief Operating Officer (since 7/09); Member of Executive Committee and Head of PIMCO’s Asia Pacific region. Member Global Executive Committee, Allianz Global Investors.    139    Trustee, PIMCO Funds; and Trustee, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust.
Independent Trustees            

E. Philip Cannon (1940)

 

Trustee

   02/2009 to present    Proprietor, Cannon & Company (an investment firm). Formerly, President,    141    Trustee, PIMCO Funds; Trustee, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust; Trustee,

 

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Name, Year of Birth

and Position Held with

Trust*

   Term of Office
and Length of
Time
Served /+/
    

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years

    

Number of

Funds in Fund

Complex

Overseen by

Trustee*

    

Other Public Company and

Investment Company

Directorships

Held by Trustee During the

Past 5 Years

        Houston Zoo.           PIMCO Equity Series; and Trustee, PIMCO Equity Series VIT. Formerly, Trustee, Allianz Funds (formerly, PIMCO Funds: Multi-Manager Series); Formerly, Director, PCM Fund, Inc.

Vern O. Curtis (1934)

 

Trustee

   02/2009 to present      Private Investor.      141      Trustee, PIMCO Funds; Trustee, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust; Trustee, PIMCO Equity Series; and Trustee, PIMCO Equity Series VIT; Formerly, Director, PCM Fund, Inc.

J. Michael Hagan (1939)

 

Trustee

   02/2009 to present      Private Investor and Business Advisor (primarily to manufacturing companies). Formerly, Director, Remedy Temp (staffing).      139      Trustee, PIMCO Funds; Trustee, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust; Director, Ameron International (manufacturing); and Director, Fleetwood Enterprises (manufacturer of housing and recreational vehicles). Formerly, Director, PCM Fund, Inc.

Ronald C. Parker (1951)

 

Trustee

   07/2009 to present      Adjunct Professor, Linfield College; Chairman of the Board, The Ford Family Foundation. Formerly President, Chief Executive Officer, Hampton Affiliates (forestry products).      139      Trustee, PIMCO Funds; and Trustee, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust.

William J. Popejoy (1938)

 

Trustee

   02/2009 to present      Private Investor.      139      Trustee, PIMCO Funds; and Trustee, PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust. Formerly, Director, New Century Financial Corporation (mortgage banking); Formerly, Director, PCM Fund, Inc.

 

* The information for the individuals listed is as of December 31, 2009.
/+/ Trustees serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
1 Mr. Harris and Mr. Hodge are “interested persons” of the Trust (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) because of their affiliations with PIMCO.

The Board has determined that each of the Trustees is qualified to serve as a Trustee of the Trust, based on a review of the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills of each Trustee, including those listed in the table above. With the exception of Messrs. Hodge and Parker, each Trustee has significant experience as a Trustee of the Trust and has served for

 

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several years as a Trustee for other funds in the same fund complex as the Trust. The Board has taken into account each Trustee’s commitment to the Board and participation in Board and committee meetings throughout his tenure on the Board. The following is a summary of qualifications, experiences and skills of each Trustee (in addition to the principal occupation(s) during the past five years noted in the table above) that support the conclusion that each individual is qualified to serve as a Trustee:

Mr. Harris’s position as a Managing Director of PIMCO and a Member of its Executive Committee give him valuable experience with the day-to-day management of the operation of the Trust as well as other funds within the fund complex, enabling him to provide essential management input to the Board.

Mr. Hodge’s position as Chief Operating Officer and a Managing Director of PIMCO, as well as a Member of the Global Executive Committee of Allianz Global Investors give him valuable financial and operational experience with the day-to-day management of the Trust and PIMCO, its adviser, which enable him to provide essential management input to the Board.

Mr. Cannon has experience as the proprietor of a private equity investment firm and as president of a nonprofit entity. His qualifications also include past participation on the board of PIMCO Funds Multi-Manager Series (now known as Allianz Funds). Mr. Cannon also has prior experience as a board member of a public company.

Mr. Curtis has experience in the areas of financial reporting and accounting, including prior experience as President and Chief Executive Officer of a New York Stock Exchange listed company and as a board member and audit committee chair of several REITs. He also served as Dean of the School of Economics and Business at Chapman University.

Mr. Hagan has experience in the areas of financial reporting and accounting, including past experience as Chairman and CEO of a New York Stock Exchange listed company. He also has experience as a board member and audit committee chairman of a public company.

Mr. Parker has prior financial, operations and management experience as the President and Chief Executive Officer of a privately held company. He also has investment experience as the Chairman of a family foundation.

Mr. Popejoy has prior management experience as the director of a government agency and as the Chief Executive Officer of Orange County, California. He also has experience as a board member of public companies.

Executive Officers

 

Name, Year of Birth and Position Held

with Trust*

  

Term of Office and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5

Years

Brent R. Harris (1959)

President

   03/2009 to present    Managing Director and member of Executive Committee, PIMCO.

David C. Flattum (1964)

Chief Legal Officer

   02/2009 to present    Managing Director and General Counsel, PIMCO. Formerly, Executive Vice President, PIMCO, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Allianz Global Investors of America L.P. and Partner at Latham & Watkins LLP.

Jennifer E. Durham (1970)

Chief Compliance Officer

   02/2009 to present    Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, PIMCO. Formerly; Senior Vice President, PIMCO. Formerly, Vice President and Legal/Compliance Manager, PIMCO.

William H. Gross (1944)

Senior Vice President

   02/2009 to present    Managing Director and Co-Chief Investment Officer, PIMCO.

 

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Name, Year of Birth and Position Held

with Trust*

  

Term of Office and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5

Years

Mohamed El-Erian (1958)

Senior Vice President

   02/2009 to present    Managing Director, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer, PIMCO. Formerly, President and CEO of Harvard Management Company. Formerly, Managing Director, PIMCO.

J. Stephen King, Jr. (1962)

Vice President—Senior Counsel, Secretary

   11/2008 to present    Senior Vice President and Attorney, PIMCO. Formerly Vice President, PIMCO and Associate, Dechert LLP.

Peter G. Strelow (1970)

Vice President

   02/2009 to present    Executive Vice President, PIMCO. Formerly, Senior Vice President and Vice President, PIMCO.

Henrik P. Larsen (1970)

Vice President

   02/2009 to present    Senior Vice President, PIMCO. Formerly, Vice President, PIMCO.

Donald W. Suskind (1973)

Vice President

   05/2009 to present    Vice President, PIMCO.

John P. Hardaway (1957)

Treasurer

   11/2008 to present    Executive Vice President, PIMCO. Formerly, Senior Vice President, PIMCO.

Audrey L. Cheng (1975)

Assistant Secretary

   11/2010 to present    Vice President and Attorney, PIMCO. Formerly, Associate, Morrison & Foerster LLP.

Stacie D. Anctil (1969)

Assistant Treasurer

   02/2009 to present    Senior Vice President, PIMCO. Formerly, Vice President, PIMCO. Formerly, Specialist, PIMCO.

Erik C. Brown (1967)

Assistant Treasurer

   02/2009 to present    Senior Vice President, PIMCO. Formerly, Vice President, PIMCO.

Trent W. Walker (1974)

Assistant Treasurer

   02/2009 to present    Senior Vice President, PIMCO. Formerly, Vice President, PIMCO. Formerly, Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 

* The information for the individuals listed is as of December 31, 2009.

Securities Ownership

Listed below for each Trustee is a dollar range of securities beneficially owned in the Funds together with the aggregate dollar range of equity securities in all registered investment companies overseen by each Trustee that are in the same family of investment companies as the Trust, as of December 31, 2010.

 

Name of Trustee

 

Dollar Range of Equity

Securities in

the Trust

  

Name of Fund

  

Aggregate Dollar Range

of Equity

Securities in All Funds

Overseen by

Trustee in Family of

Investment Companies

Interested Trustees

       

Brent R. Harris

  None    N/A    Over $100,000

Douglas M. Hodge*

  None    N/A    Over $100,000

Independent Trustees

       

E. Philip Cannon

  None    N/A    Over $100,000

Vern O. Curtis

  None    N/A    Over $100,000

J. Michael Hagan

  None    N/A    Over $100,000

 

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Ronald C. Parker

   None    N/A    Over $100,000

William J. Popejoy

   None    N/A    Over $100,000

 

* Mr. Hodge joined the Board of Trustees on February 22, 2010.

To the best of the Trust’s knowledge, as of October 15, 2010, the Trustees and Officers of the Trust, as a group, owned less than 1% of the shares of each Fund of the Trust.

Trustee Ownership of the Investment Manager and Principal Underwriter, and Their Control Persons

No independent Trustee (or his immediate family members) had any direct or indirect interest, the value of which exceeds $120,000, in the investment adviser, the principal underwriter of the Trust, or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser or the principal underwriter of the Trust (not including registered investment companies). Set forth in the table below is information regarding each independent Trustee’s (and his immediate family members’) share ownership in securities of the investment adviser of the Trust, the principal underwriter of the Trust, and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Trust (not including registered investment companies), as of December 31, 2010.

 

$000,000,000,000 $000,000,000,000 $000,000,000,000 $000,000,000,000 $000,000,000,000

Name of Independent Trustee

   Name of Owners and
Relationships to
Trustee
   Company    Title of Class    Value of
Securities
   Percent of
Class

E. Philip Cannon

   None    None    None    None    None

Vern O. Curtis

   None    None    None    None    None

J. Michael Hagan

   None    None    None    None    None

Ronald C. Parker

   None    None    None    None    None

William J. Popejoy

   None    None    None    None    None

No independent Trustee or immediate family member has during the two most recently completed calendar years had: (i) any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction or series of similar transactions, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000; (ii) any securities interest in the principal underwriter of the Trust or the investment adviser or their affiliates (other than the Trust); or (iii) any direct or indirect relationship of any nature, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000, with:

 

 

the Funds;

 

 

an officer of the Funds;

 

 

an investment company, or person that would be an investment company but for the exclusions provided by Sections 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act, having the same investment adviser or principal underwriter as the Funds or having an investment adviser or principal underwriter that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds;

 

 

an officer or an investment company, or a person that would be an investment company but for the exclusions provided by Sections 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act, having the same investment adviser or principal underwriter as the Funds or having an investment adviser or principal underwriter that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds;

 

 

the investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds;

 

 

an officer of the investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds;

 

 

a person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds; or

 

 

an officer of a person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds.

 

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Standing Committees

The Trust has a standing Audit Committee that consists of all of the Independent Trustees (Messrs. Cannon, Curtis, Hagan (Chair), Parker and Popejoy). The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, (i) assisting the Board’s oversight of the integrity of the Trust’s financial statements, the Trust’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications and independence of the Trust’s independent auditors, and the performance of such firm; (ii) overseeing the Trust’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, its internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; (iii) overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Trust’s financial statements and the independent audit thereof; and (iv) acting a liaison between the Trust’s independent auditors and the full Board. The Audit Committee also reviews both the audit and non-audit work of the Trust’s independent auditors, submits a recommendation to the Board of Trustees as to the selection of an independent auditor, and reviews generally the maintenance of the Trust’s records and the safekeeping arrangement of the Trust’s custodian. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, there were four meetings of the Audit Committee.

The Board of Trustees has formed a Valuation Committee whose function is to monitor the valuation of portfolio securities and other investments and, as required by the Trust’s valuation policies, when the Board of Trustees is not in session it shall determine the fair value of portfolio holdings after consideration of all relevant factors, which determinations shall be reported to the full Board of Trustees. The Valuation Committee currently consists of Messrs. Harris, Hodge, Hardaway and Brown and Ms. Anctil. However, the members of this committee may be changed by the Board of Trustees from time to time. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, there were twelve meetings of the Valuation Committee.

The Trust also has a Governance Committee, which is composed of all of the Trustees and which is responsible for the selection and nomination of candidates to serve as Trustees of the Trust. Only members of the Committee that are Independent Trustees (Messrs. Cannon, Curtis, Hagan, Parker and Popejoy (Chair)) vote on the nomination of Independent Trustee candidates.

The Governance Committee has a policy in place for considering nominees recommended by shareholders.

The Governance Committee will consider potential trustee nominees recommended by shareholders provided that the proposed nominees: (i) satisfy any minimum qualifications of the Trust for its Trustees and (ii) are not “interested persons” of the Trust or the investment adviser within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

In addition, potential trustee nominees recommended by shareholders must fulfill the following requirements:

(a) The nominee may not be the nominating shareholder, a member of the nominating shareholder group, or a member of the immediate family of the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group;

(b) Neither the nominee nor any member of the nominee’s immediate family may be currently employed or employed within the last year by any nominating shareholder entity or entity in a nominating shareholder group;

(c) Neither the nominee nor any immediate family member of the nominee is permitted to have accepted directly or indirectly, during the year of the election for which the nominee’s name was submitted, during the immediately preceding calendar year, or during the year when the nominee’s name was submitted, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the nominating shareholder or any member of a nominating shareholder group;

(d) The nominee may not be an executive officer or director (or person performing similar functions) of the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group, or of an affiliate of the nominating shareholder or any such member of the nominating shareholder group; and

(e) The nominee may not control (as “control” is defined in the 1940 Act) the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group (or in the case of a shareholder or member that is a fund, an interested person of such shareholder or member as defined by Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act).

The nominating shareholder or shareholder group must meet the following requirements:

(a) Any shareholder or shareholder group submitting a proposed nominee must beneficially own, either individually or in the aggregate, more than 5% of a series of the Trust’s securities that are eligible to vote at the time of submission of the nominee and at the time of the annual meeting where the nominee may be elected. Each of the securities used for purposes of calculating this ownership must have been held continuously for at least two years as of the date of the nomination. In addition, such securities must continue to be held through the date of the meeting. The nominating shareholder or shareholder group must also bear the economic risk of the investment and the securities used for purposes of calculating the ownership cannot be held “short”; and

 

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(b) The nominating shareholder or shareholder group must also submit a certification which provides the number of shares which the person or group has (i) sole power to vote or direct the vote; (ii) shared power to vote or direct the vote; (iii) sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of such shares; and (iv) shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of such shares. In addition, the certification shall provide that the shares have been held continuously for at least two years.

A nominating shareholder or shareholder group may not submit more proposed nominees than the number of Board positions open each year. All shareholder recommended nominee submissions must be received by the Trust by the deadline for submission of any shareholder proposals which would be included in the Trust’s proxy statement, if any.

Shareholders recommending potential trustee nominees must substantiate compliance with these requirements at the time of submitting their proposed trustee nominee to the attention of the Trust’s Secretary. Notice to the Trust’s Secretary should be provided in accordance with the deadline specified above and include, (i) the shareholder’s contact information; (ii) the trustee nominee’s contact information and the number of shares owned by the proposed nominee; (iii) all information regarding the proposed nominee that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for elections of trustees required by Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”); and (iv) a notarized letter executed by the proposed nominee, stating his or her intention to serve as a nominee and be named in the Trust’s proxy statement, if nominated by the Board of Trustees, to be named as a trustee if so elected.

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, there were three meetings of the Governance Committee.

Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding compensation received by the Trustees for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 and the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund Complex for the one-year period ended June 30, 2010:

 

Name and Position

   Aggregate Compensation
from Trust1, 2
     Total Compensation from Trust and
Fund Complex Paid to Trustees
 

E. Philip Cannon, Trustee

   $ 25,000.00       $ 244,444.55   

Vern O. Curtis, Trustee

   $ 25,250.00       $ 244,444.55   

J. Michael Hagan, Trustee

   $ 28,500.00       $ 244,500.00   

Ronald C. Parker, Trustee

   $ 24,500.00       $ 217,750.00   

William J. Popejoy, Trustee

   $ 25,875.00       $ 223,625.00   

 

1 

During the Trust’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, each Trustee, other than those affiliated with PIMCO or its affiliates, received an annual retainer of $10,000, plus $1,000 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended in person, $250 for each committee meeting attended and $500 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended telephonically, plus reimbursement of related expenses. In addition, the audit committee chair received an additional annual retainer of $1,000 and each other committee chair received an additional annual retainer of $500. Effective January 1, 2010, for their services to the Trust, each Trustee, other than those affiliated with PIMCO or its affiliates, will receive an annual retainer of $20,000, plus $3,000 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended in person, $250 ($750 in the case of the audit committee chair with respect to audit committee meetings) for each committee meeting attended and $750 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended telephonically, plus reimbursement of related expenses. In addition, the audit committee chair will receive an additional annual retainer of $4,000 and each other committee chair will receive an additional annual retainer of $500.

2 

During the one-year period ending June 30, 2010, each Trustee also served as a Trustee of PIMCO Funds, a registered open-end management investment company, and as a Trustee of PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, a registered open-end management investment company.

For their services to PIMCO Funds, each Trustee, other than those affiliated with PIMCO or its affiliates, received an annual retainer of $100,000, plus $9,500 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended in person, $750 ($1,000 in the case of the audit committee chair with respect to audit committee meetings) for each committee meeting attended and $1,500 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended telephonically, plus reimbursement of related expenses. In addition, the audit committee chair received an additional annual retainer of $15,000 and each other committee chair received an additional annual retainer of $1,500. Effective January 1, 2010, for their services to the Trust, each Trustee, other than those affiliated with PIMCO or its affiliates, will receive an annual retainer of $120,000, plus $9,500 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended in person, $750 ($1,500 in the case of the audit committee chair with respect to audit committee meetings) for each committee meeting attended and $1,500 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended telephonically, plus reimbursement of

 

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related expenses. In addition, the audit committee chair will receive an additional annual retainer of $15,000 and each other committee chair will receive an additional annual retainer of $1,500.

For their services to PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust, each Trustee, other than those affiliated with PIMCO or its affiliates, receives an annual retainer of $15,000, plus $2,375 for each Board meeting attended in person, $500 for each committee meeting attended and $750 for each Board meeting attended telephonically, plus reimbursement of related expenses. In addition, the Audit Committee Chair receives an additional annual retainer of $2,000 and each other committee chair receives an additional annual retainer of $500. These expenses are allocated on a pro-rata basis to the various portfolios of the Trust according to their respective net assets. The Trust pays no compensation directly to any Trustee or any other officer who is affiliated with PIMCO, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the Trust from PIMCO or its affiliates. Effective January 1, 2010, for their services to the Trust, each Trustee, other than those affiliated with PIMCO or its affiliates, will receive an annual retainer of $20,000, plus $3,000 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended in person, $500 ($750 in the case of the audit committee chair with respect to audit committee meetings) for each committee meeting attended and $750 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended telephonically, plus reimbursement of related expenses. In addition, the audit committee chair will receive an additional annual retainer of $4,000 and each other committee chair will receive an additional annual retainer of $500.

During the one-year period ending June 30, 2010, Messrs. Cannon and Curtis also served as Trustees of PIMCO Equity Series, a registered open-end management investment company, and as Trustees of PIMCO Equity Series VIT, a registered open-end management investment company.

For their services to PIMCO Equity Series, Messrs. Cannon and Curtis will each receive an annual retainer of $60,000 (pro-rated), plus $4,750 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended in person, $375 ($750 in the case of the audit committee chair with respect to audit committee meetings) for each committee meeting attended and $750 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended telephonically, plus reimbursement of related expenses. In addition, the audit committee chair will receive an additional annual retainer of $7,500 (pro-rated) and each other committee chair received an additional annual retainer of $750 (pro-rated). Trustee compensation for the Trust’s first fiscal year, ending June 30, 2010, will be pro-rated to March 30, 2010, the date the Trustees accepted their appointment to the Board.

For their services to PIMCO Equity Series, VIT, Messrs. Cannon and Curtis will each receive an annual retainer of $10,000 (pro-rated), plus $1,500 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended in person, $250 ($375 in the case of the audit committee chair with respect to audit committee meetings) for each committee meeting attended and $375 for each Board of Trustees meeting attended telephonically, plus reimbursement of related expenses. In addition, the audit committee chair will receive an additional annual retainer of $2,000 (pro-rated) and each other committee chair received an additional annual retainer of $250 (pro-rated). Trustee compensation for the Trust’s first fiscal year, ending December 31, 2010, will be pro-rated to March 30, 2010, the date the Trustees accepted their appointment to the Board.

Investment Manager

PIMCO, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as investment manager to the Funds pursuant to an investment management agreement (“Investment Management Agreement”) between PIMCO and the Trust. PIMCO is located at 840 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660. PIMCO had approximately $1,236.1 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2010.

PIMCO is a majority owned subsidiary of Allianz Global Investors of America L.P. (“Allianz Global Investors”) with a minority interest held by PIMCO Partners, LLC, a California limited liability company. PIMCO Partners, LLC is owned by the current managing directors and executive management of PIMCO. Through various holding company structures, Allianz Global Investors is majority owned by Allianz SE.

Allianz SE is a European based, multinational insurance and financial services holding company and a publicly traded German company. As of December 31, 2009, the Allianz Group (including PIMCO) had third-party assets under management of over €926 billion.

The general partner of Allianz Global Investors has substantially delegated its management and control of Allianz Global Investors to a Management Board. The Management Board of Allianz Global Investors is comprised of John C. Maney.

There are currently no significant institutional shareholders of Allianz SE. Allianz SE owns approximately 10% of Commerzbank AG. Certain broker-dealers that might be controlled by, or affiliated with, Commerzbank AG may be

 

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considered to be affiliated persons of PIMCO and/or the Distributor. (Broker-dealer affiliates of such significant institutional shareholders, if any, are sometimes referred to herein as “Affiliated Brokers.”) Absent an SEC exemption or other regulatory relief, the Funds generally are precluded from effecting principal transactions with the Affiliated Brokers, and the Funds’ ability to purchase securities being underwritten by an Affiliated Broker or a syndicate including an Affiliated Broker is subject to restrictions. Similarly, the Funds’ ability to utilize the Affiliated Brokers for agency transactions is subject to the restrictions of Rule 17e-1 under the 1940 Act. PIMCO does not believe that the restrictions on transactions with the Affiliated Brokers described above will materially adversely affect its ability to provide services to the Funds, the Funds’ ability to take advantage of market opportunities, or the Funds’ overall performance.

Investment Management Agreement

Each Fund pays for the advisory, supervisory and administrative services it requires under an all-in fee structure.

PIMCO is responsible for making investment decisions and placing orders for the purchase and sale of the Trust’s investments directly with the issuers or with brokers or dealers selected by it in its discretion. See “Portfolio Transactions and Brokerage,” below. PIMCO also furnishes to the Board of Trustees, which has overall responsibility for the business and affairs of the Trust, periodic reports on the investment performance of each Fund.

Under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, PIMCO is obligated to manage the Funds in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The investment advisory services of PIMCO to the Trust are not exclusive under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement. PIMCO is free to, and does, render investment advisory services to others.

Following the expiration of the two year period commencing with the effectiveness of the Investment Management Agreement, it will continue in effect on a yearly basis provided such continuance is approved annually (i) by the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or by the Board of Trustees and (ii) by a majority of the independent Trustees. The Investment Management Agreement may be terminated without penalty by vote of the Trustees or the shareholders of the Trust, or by PIMCO, on 60 days’ written notice by either party to the contract and will terminate automatically if assigned.

Pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement, PIMCO also provides the Funds with certain supervisory, administrative and shareholder services necessary for Fund operations and is responsible for the supervision of other Fund service providers (“Supervisory and Administrative Services”). PIMCO may in turn use the facilities or assistance of its affiliates to provide certain Supervisory and Administrative Services on terms agreed between PIMCO and such affiliates. The Supervisory and Administrative Services provided by PIMCO include but are not limited to: (1) shareholder servicing functions, including preparation of shareholder reports and communications, (2) regulatory compliance, such as reports and filings with the SEC and state securities commissions, and (3) general supervision of the operations of the Funds, including coordination of the services performed by the Funds’ transfer agent, custodian, legal counsel, independent registered public accounting firm, and others. PIMCO (or an affiliate of PIMCO) also furnishes the Funds with office space facilities required for conducting the business of the Funds, and pays the compensation of those officers, employees and Trustees of the Trust affiliated with PIMCO. In addition, PIMCO, at its own expense, arranges for the provision of legal, audit, custody, transfer agency and other services for the Funds, and is responsible for the costs of registration of the Trust’s shares, the printing of the Prospectuses and shareholder reports for current shareholders, the Listing Exchange fees and the Underlying Index licensing fees.

Management Fee Rates

PIMCO has contractually agreed to provide the foregoing services, and to bear these expenses, at the following rates (each expressed as a percentage of the Fund’s average daily net assets on an annual basis):

 

Fund

   Management
Fee Rate
 

Index Funds

  

PIMCO 0-1 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     0.15

PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     0.15

PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund

     0.55

PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

     0.20

PIMCO 3-7 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     0.15

PIMCO 7-15 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     0.15

PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

     0.20

 

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Fund

   Management
Fee Rate
 

PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     0.15

PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index Fund

     0.20

PIMCO Broad U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     0.15

PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund

     0.55

PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund

     0.20

Active Funds

  

PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund

     0.45

PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund

     0.35

PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund

     0.60

PIMCO Government Limited Maturity Strategy Fund

     0.25

PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

     0.35

PIMCO Prime Limited Maturity Strategy Fund

     0.25

PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

     0.35

PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund

     [     ]% 

Except for the expenses paid by PIMCO, the Trust bears all costs of its operations. The Funds are responsible for: (i) salaries and other compensation of any of the Trust’s executive officers and employees who are not officers, directors, stockholders, or employees of PIMCO or its subsidiaries or affiliates; (ii) taxes and governmental fees; (iii) brokerage fees and commissions and other portfolio transaction expenses; (iv) costs of borrowing money, including interest expenses; (v) securities lending fees and expenses; (vi) fees and expenses of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of PIMCO or the Trust, and any counsel retained exclusively for their benefit; (vii) extraordinary expenses, including costs of litigation and indemnification expenses; and (viii) expenses, such as organizational expenses, which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The Investment Management Agreement may be terminated by the Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust or, with respect to a Fund, a Fund, at any time on 60 days’ written notice. Following the expiration of the two-year period commencing with the effectiveness of the Investment Management Agreement, it may be terminated by PIMCO, also on 60 days’ written notice.

Management Fee Payments

The management fees paid by the Funds that were operational during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

 

Fund

   Year Ended
6/30/10
     Year Ended
6/30/09
 

PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

   $ 165,294       $ 4,129   

PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

     412,769         N/A   

PIMCO 3-7 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     36,799         N/A   

PIMCO 7-15 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     14,259         N/A   

PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

     26,473         N/A   

PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     16,425         N/A   

PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index Fund

     32,443         N/A   

PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund

     502,730         N/A   

PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

     52,132         N/A   

PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

     16,181         N/A   

Management Fees Waived

PIMCO has contractually agreed to reduce total annual fund operating expenses for the Funds by waiving a portion of its management fee, or reimbursing the Funds, to the extent that organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees exceed 0.0049% (the “Expense Limit”) of such Fund’s average net assets. Under the Expense Limitation Agreement, which renews annually for a full year unless terminated by PIMCO upon at least 30 days’ notice prior to the end of the contract term,

 

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PIMCO may recoup these waivers and reimbursements in future periods, not exceeding three years, provided organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees plus such recoupment, do not exceed the Expense Limit.

In addition, with respect to the PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund, PIMCO has contractually agreed, until October 31, 2011, to waive a portion of its management fee equal to 0.06% of average daily net assets. Under the Fee Waiver Agreement, PIMCO is entitled to reimbursement by the PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund of any portion of the management fees waived, reduced or reimbursed pursuant to the Fee Waiver Agreement (the “Reimbursement Amount”) during the previous three years, provided that such amount paid to PIMCO will not: 1) together with any recoupment of organizational expenses and pro rata Trustees’ fees pursuant to the Expense Limitation Agreement, exceed the Expense Limit for the PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund; 2) exceed the total Reimbursement Amount; or 3) include any amounts previously reimbursed to PIMCO. The Fee Waiver Agreement will automatically renew for one-year terms unless PIMCO provides written notice to the Trust at least 30 days prior to the end of the then current term.

Management fees waived during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

 

Fund

   Year Ended
6/30/10
     Year Ended
6/30/09
 

PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

   $  66,118       $  1,652   

PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

     N/A         N/A   

PIMCO 3-7 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     N/A         N/A   

PIMCO 7-15 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     N/A         N/A   

PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

     N/A         N/A   

PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     N/A         N/A   

PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index Fund

     N/A         N/A   

PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund

     N/A         N/A   

PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

     N/A         N/A   

PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

     N/A         N/A   

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

PIMCO has adopted written proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Policy”) as required by Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act. The Proxy Policy has been adopted by the Trust as the policies and procedures that PIMCO will use when voting proxies on behalf of the Funds. In addition to covering the voting of equity securities, the Proxy Policy also applies generally to voting and/or consent rights of PIMCO, on behalf of the Funds, with respect to debt securities, including but not limited to, plans of reorganization, and waivers and consents under applicable indentures. The Proxy Policy does not apply, however, to consent rights that primarily entail decisions to buy or sell investments, such as tender or exchange offers, conversions, put options, redemption and Dutch auctions. The Proxy Policy is designed and implemented in a manner reasonably expected to ensure that voting and consent rights are exercised in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders.

With respect to the voting of proxies relating to equity securities, PIMCO has selected an unaffiliated third-party proxy research and voting service (“Proxy Voting Service”), to assist it in researching and voting proxies. With respect to each proxy received, the Proxy Voting Service researches the financial implications of the proposals and provides a recommendation to PIMCO as to how to vote on each proposal based on the Proxy Voting Service’s research of the individual facts and circumstances and the Proxy Voting Service’s application of its research findings to a set of guidelines that have been approved by PIMCO. Upon the recommendation of the applicable Fund’s portfolio managers, PIMCO may determine to override any recommendation made by the Proxy Voting Service. In the event that the Proxy Voting Service does not provide a recommendation with respect to a proposal, PIMCO may determine to vote on the proposals directly.

PIMCO exercises voting and consent rights directly with respect to debt securities held by a Fund. PIMCO considers each proposal regarding a debt security on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration any relevant contractual obligations as well as other relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote. In general, PIMCO reviews and considers corporate governance issues related to proxy matters and generally supports proposals that foster good corporate governance practices. PIMCO may vote proxies as recommended by management on routine matters related to the operation of the issuer and on matters not expected to have a significant economic impact on the issuer and/or its shareholders.

 

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PIMCO may determine not to vote a proxy for a debt or equity security if: (1) the effect on the applicable Fund’s economic interests or the value of the portfolio holding is insignificant in relation to the Fund’s portfolio; (2) the cost of voting the proxy outweighs the possible benefit to the applicable Fund, including, without limitation, situations where a jurisdiction imposes share blocking restrictions which may affect the ability of the portfolio managers to effect trades in the related security; or (3) PIMCO otherwise has determined that it is consistent with its fiduciary obligations not to vote the proxy.

In the event that the Proxy Voting Service does not provide a recommendation or the portfolio managers of a Fund propose to override a recommendation by the Proxy Voting Service, and for all debt security proxies, PIMCO will review the proxy to determine whether there is a material conflict between PIMCO and the applicable Fund or between the Fund and another Fund or PIMCO-advised account. If no material conflict exists, the proxy will be voted according to the portfolio managers’ recommendation. If a material conflict does exist, PIMCO will seek to resolve the conflict in good faith and in the best interests of the applicable Fund, as provided by the Proxy Policy. The Proxy Policy permits PIMCO to seek to resolve material conflicts of interest by pursuing any one of several courses of action. With respect to material conflicts of interest between PIMCO and a Fund, the Proxy Policy permits PIMCO to either: (i) convene a committee to assess and resolve the conflict (the “Proxy Conflicts Committee”); or (ii) vote in accordance with protocols previously established by the Proxy Conflicts Committee with respect to specific types of conflicts. With respect to material conflicts of interest between a Fund and one or more other Funds or PIMCO-advised accounts, the Proxy Policy permits PIMCO to: (i) designate a PIMCO portfolio manager who is not subject to the conflict to determine how to vote the proxy if the conflict exists between two Funds or accounts with at least one portfolio manager in common; or (ii) permit the respective portfolio managers to vote the proxies in accordance with each Fund’s or account’s best interests if the conflict exists between Funds or accounts managed by different portfolio managers.

PIMCO will supervise and periodically review its proxy voting activities and the implementation of the Proxy Policy. Information about how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the most recent twelve month period ended June 30th is available no later than the following August 31st without charge, upon request, by calling the Trust at 1-888-400-4ETF (1-888-400-4383), on the Trust’s website at www.pimcoetfs.com and on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Copies of the written Proxy Policy and the factors that PIMCO may consider in determining how to vote proxies for the Funds are available by calling the Trust at 1-888-400-4ETF (1-888-400-4383) and on the Trust’s website at www.pimcoetfs.com.

OTHER PIMCO INFORMATION

PIMCO has created the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Index (the “Index”). The PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund utilizes the Index as a secondary benchmark. PIMCO owns the intellectual property rights to the Index, and PIMCO has filed a patent application with respect to certain features of the Index. PIMCO has retained an unaffiliated leading financial information services company and global index provider to independently administer and calculate the Index (the “Calculation Agent”). The Calculation Agent, using a publicly available rules-based methodology, calculates, maintains and disseminates the Index.

PIMCO may from time to time develop methodologies for compiling and calculating a benchmark index. PIMCO may license or sell its intellectual property rights in such methodologies to third parties who may use such methodologies to develop a benchmark index. Such third parties may pay to PIMCO a portion of the subscription or licensing fees the third party receives in connection with such indices. PIMCO may pay out of its own resources a fee to such third parties for certain data related to such indices. A Fund may use such an index as the Fund’s primary or secondary benchmark index but would not bear any fees for such use.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

Other Accounts Managed

The portfolio managers who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds also manage other registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles and other accounts, as indicated below. The following table identifies, as of June 30, 2010: (i) the Fund(s) managed by the specified portfolio manager; (ii) the number of other registered investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager; and (iii) the total assets of such companies, vehicles and accounts, and the number and total assets of such companies, vehicles and accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based on performance. Effective March 1, 2011, Mr.

 

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Cummings manages the PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund. Information pertaining to accounts managed by Mr. Cummings is as of January 31, 2011. Information pertaining to accounts managed by Mr. Gross is as of [ ].

 

      Total Number of
Accounts
  Total Assets of
All Accounts
(in $millions)
    Number of
Accounts Paying
a  Performance
Fee
    Total Assets of
Accounts  Paying
a Performance
Fee (in $millions)
 
Bhansali1         

Registered Investment Companies

   13   $ 2,949        0        N/A   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   5   $ 390        0        N/A   

Other Accounts

   6   $ 4,773        1      $ 2.7   
Cummings2         

Registered Investment Companies

   22   $ 5,421        0        N/A   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   1   $ 448        0        N/A   

Other Accounts

   63   $ 4,795        1      $ 696   
Gross3         

Registered Investment Companies

   [    ]     [         [    ]        [    

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   [    ]     [         [    ]        [    

Other Accounts

   [    ]     [         [    ]        [    
Schneider4         

Registered Investment Companies

   3   $ 41,428        0        N/A   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   2   $ 3,181        0        N/A   

Other Accounts

   12   $ 4,878        0        N/A   
Worah5         

Registered Investment Companies

   21   $ 63,319        0        N/A   

Other Pooled Investment Vehicles

   16   $ 9,961        0        N/A   

Other Accounts

   60   $ 23,305        10      $ 4,060   

 

1 

Dr. Bhansali manages the PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund, which has $86.4 million in total assets under management, PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund, which has $539.7 million in total assets under management, PIMCO 3-7 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund, which has $51.9 million in total assets under management, PIMCO 7-15 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund, which has $14.8 million in total assets under management, PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund, which has $22.8 million in total assets under management, PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund, which has $21.6 million in total assets under management and PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index Fund, which has $28.1 million in total assets under management. Dr. Bhansali also manages the PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund, which commenced operations on September 20, 2010. Dr. Bhansali also manages the PIMCO 0-1 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund, PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, PIMCO Broad U.S. Treasury Index Fund and PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, which have not commenced operations as of October 29, 2010.

2 

Mr. Cummings manages the PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund, which has $43.5 million in total assets under management, and the PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund, which has $18 million in total assets under management. Effective March 1, 2011, Mr. Cummings manages the PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund, which commenced operations on September 20, 2010.

3 

Mr. Gross manages the PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund, which has not commenced operations as of [    ].

4 

Mr. Schneider manages the PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund, which has $649.2 million in total assets under management. Mr. Schneider also manages the PIMCO Government Limited Maturity Strategy Fund and the PIMCO Prime Limited Maturity Strategy Fund, which have not commenced operations as of October 29, 2010.

5 

Mr. Worah manages the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund, which has not commenced operations as of February 14, 2011.

Conflicts of Interest

From time to time, potential and actual conflicts of interest may arise between a portfolio manager’s management of the investments of a Fund, on the one hand, and the management of other accounts, on the other. Potential and actual conflicts of interest may also arise as a result of PIMCO’s other business activities and PIMCO’s possession of material non-public information about an issuer. Other accounts managed by a portfolio manager might have similar investment objectives or strategies as the Funds, track the same index a Fund tracks or otherwise hold, purchase, or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased or sold by the Funds. The other accounts might also have different investment objectives or strategies than the Funds.

 

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Knowledge and Timing of Fund Trades. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s day-to-day management of a Fund. Because of their positions with the Funds, the portfolio managers know the size, timing and possible market impact of a Fund’s trades. It is theoretically possible that the portfolio managers could use this information to the advantage of other accounts they manage and to the possible detriment of a Fund.

Investment Opportunities. A potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the portfolio manager’s management of a number of accounts with varying investment guidelines. Often, an investment opportunity may be suitable for both a Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, but may not be available in sufficient quantities for both the Fund and the other accounts to participate fully. Similarly, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by a Fund and another account. PIMCO has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities on a fair and equitable basis over time.

Under PIMCO’s allocation procedures, investment opportunities are allocated among various investment strategies based on individual account investment guidelines and PIMCO’s investment outlook. PIMCO has also adopted additional procedures to complement the general trade allocation policy that are designed to address potential conflicts of interest due to the side-by-side management of the Funds and certain pooled investment vehicles, including investment opportunity allocation issues.

Conflicts potentially limiting a Fund’s investment opportunities may also arise when the Fund and other PIMCO clients invest in different parts of an issuer’s capital structure, such as when the Fund owns senior debt obligations of an issuer and other clients own junior tranches of the same issuer. In such circumstances, decisions over whether to trigger an event of default, over the terms of any workout, or how to exit an investment may result in conflicts of interest. In order to minimize such conflicts, a portfolio manager may avoid certain investment opportunities that would potentially give rise to conflicts with other PIMCO clients or PIMCO may enact internal procedures designed to minimize such conflicts, which could have the effect of limiting a Fund’s investment opportunities. Additionally, if PIMCO acquires material non-public confidential information in connection with its business activities for other clients, a portfolio manager may be restricted from purchasing securities or selling securities for a Fund. When making investment decisions where a conflict of interest may arise, PIMCO will endeavor to act in a fair and equitable manner as between a Fund and other clients; however, in certain instances the resolution of the conflict may result in PIMCO acting on behalf of another client in a manner that may not be in the best interest, or may be opposed to the best interest, of a Fund.

Performance Fees. A portfolio manager may advise certain accounts with respect to which the advisory fee is based entirely or partially on performance. Performance fee arrangements may create a conflict of interest for the portfolio manager in that the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate the investment opportunities that he or she believes might be the most profitable to such other accounts instead of allocating them to a Fund. PIMCO has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to allocate investment opportunities between the Funds and such other accounts on a fair and equitable basis over time.

Portfolio Manager Compensation

PIMCO has adopted a Total Compensation Plan for its professional level employees, including its portfolio managers, that is designed to pay competitive compensation and reward performance, integrity and teamwork consistent with the firm’s mission statement. The Total Compensation Plan includes an incentive component that rewards high performance standards, work ethic and consistent individual and team contributions to the firm. The compensation of portfolio managers consists of a base salary, discretionary performance bonus, and may include an equity or long term incentive component.

Certain employees of PIMCO, including portfolio managers, may elect to defer compensation through PIMCO’s deferred compensation plan. PIMCO also offers its employees a non-contributory defined contribution plan through which PIMCO makes a contribution based on the employee’s compensation. PIMCO’s contribution rate increases at a specified compensation level, which is a level that would include portfolio managers.

The Total Compensation Plan consists of three components:

 

   

Base Salary - Base salary is determined based on core job responsibilities, market factors and business considerations. Salary levels are reviewed annually or when there is a significant change in job responsibilities or the market.

 

   

Performance Bonus – Performance bonuses are designed to reward high performance standards, work ethic and consistent individual and team contributions to the firm. Each professional and his or her supervisor will agree upon performance objectives to serve as the basis for performance evaluation during the year. The objectives will outline

 

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individual goals according to pre-established measures of group or department success. Achievement against these goals is measured by the employee and supervisor will be an important, but not exclusive, element of the bonus decision process.

 

   

Equity or Long Term Incentive Compensation – Equity allows certain professionals to participate in the long-term growth of the firm. The M unit program provides for annual option grants which vest over a number of years and may convert into PIMCO equity that shares in the profit distributions of the firm. M Units are non-voting common equity of PIMCO and provide a mechanism for individuals to build a significant equity stake in PIMCO over time. Option awards may represent a significant portion of individual’s total compensation.

In certain countries with significant tax implications for employees to participate in the M Unit Option Plan, PIMCO continues to use the Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) in place of the M Unit Option Plan. The LTIP provides cash awards that appreciate or depreciate based upon the performance of PIMCO’s parent company, Allianz Global Investors, and PIMCO over a three-year period. The aggregate amount available for distribution to participants is based upon Allianz Global Investors’ profit growth and PIMCO’s profit growth.

Participation in the M Unit Option Plan and LTIP is contingent upon continued employment at PIMCO.

In addition, the following non-exclusive list of qualitative criteria may be considered when specifically determining the total compensation for portfolio managers:

 

   

3-year, 2-year and 1-year dollar-weighted and account-weighted, pre-tax investment performance as judged against the applicable benchmarks for each account managed by a portfolio manager (including the Funds) and relative to applicable industry peer groups;

 

   

Appropriate risk positioning that is consistent with PIMCO’s investment philosophy and the Investment Committee/CIO approach to the generation of alpha;

 

   

Amount and nature of assets managed by the portfolio manager;

 

   

Consistency of investment performance across portfolios of similar mandate and guidelines (reward low dispersion);

 

   

Generation and contribution of investment ideas in the context of PIMCO’s secular and cyclical forums, portfolio strategy meetings, Investment Committee meetings, and on a day-to-day basis;

 

   

Absence of defaults and price defaults for issues in the portfolios managed by the portfolio manager;

 

   

Contributions to asset retention, gathering and client satisfaction;

 

   

Contributions to mentoring, coaching and/or supervising; and

 

   

Personal growth and skills added.

A portfolio manager’s compensation is not based directly on the performance of any Fund or any other account managed by that portfolio manager.

Profit Sharing Plan. Instead of a bonus, portfolio managers who are Managing Directors of PIMCO receive compensation from a non-qualified profit sharing plan consisting of a portion of PIMCO’s net profits. Portfolio managers who are Managing Directors receive an amount determined by the Partner Compensation Committee, based upon an individual’s overall contribution to the firm.

Securities Ownership

To the best of the Trust’s knowledge, the table below shows the dollar range of shares of the Funds beneficially owned as of June 30, 2010, by each portfolio manager of the Funds.

 

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Portfolio

Manager

   Funds Managed by Portfolio Manager   

Dollar Range of Shares

Owned

Bhansali1

   PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund    None
   PIMCO 3-7 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund    None
   PIMCO 7-15 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund    None
   PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund    $100,001-$500,000
   PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund    $500,001-$1,000,000
   PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund    None
   PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index Fund    None

Cummings2

   PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund    None
   PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund    None
   PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund    None

Gross3

   PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund    N/A

Schneider4

   PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund    None

Worah5

   PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund    N/A

 

1 

Dr. Bhansali also manages the PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund, which commenced operations on September 20, 2010. Dr. Bhansali also manages the PIMCO 0-1 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund, PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, PIMCO Broad U.S. Treasury Index Fund and PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, which have not commenced operations as of October 29, 2010.

2 

Effective March 1, 2011, Mr. Cummings manages the PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund. As of January 31, 2011, to the best of the Trust’s knowledge, Mr. Cummings did not own any shares of the PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund.

3 

Mr. Gross manages the PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund, which has not commenced operations as of [ ].

4 

Mr. Schneider also manages the PIMCO Government Limited Maturity Strategy Fund and the PIMCO Prime Limited Maturity Strategy Fund, which have not commenced operations as of October 29, 2010.

5 

Mr. Worah manages the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund, which has not commenced operations as of February 14, 2011.

CREATIONS AND REDEMPTIONS

The Trust issues and sells shares of the Funds only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor (as defined below), without a sales load, at the NAV next determined after receipt of an order in proper form as described in the Participant Agreement (as defined below), on any Business Day (as defined below). The following table sets forth the number of shares of a Fund that constitute a Creation Unit for such Fund and the approximate value of such Creation Unit as of the date the Fund commenced operations:

 

Fund    Creation Unit Size  

PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund

PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index Fund

PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund

PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund

PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund

PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund

PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

     100,000   

PIMCO 0-1 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 3-7 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 7-15 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO Broad U.S. Treasury Index Fund

     80,000   

PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund

     70,000   

 

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Fund    Creation Unit Size  

PIMCO Government Limited Maturity Strategy Fund

PIMCO Prime Limited Maturity Strategy Fund

     90,000   

PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund

     [    

A “Business Day” with respect to the Funds is each day the Listing Exchange is open, which excludes weekends and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Orders from Authorized Participants to create or redeem Creation Units will only be accepted on a Business Day.

Distributor

PIMCO Investments LLC (the “Distributor”) serves as the principal underwriter of the Trust’s shares pursuant to a distribution contract (“Distribution Contract”) with the Trust which is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. The Distributor is an indirect subsidiary of Allianz Global Investors. The Distributor, located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105, is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC. The Distribution Contract is terminable with respect to a Fund without penalty, at any time, by such Fund by not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the Distributor, or by the Distributor upon not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written notice to the Trust. The Distributor distributes Creation Units for the Funds and does not maintain a secondary market in shares of the Funds. The Distributor is not obligated to sell any specific amount of Trust shares.

Following the expiration of the two-year period commencing with the effectiveness of the Distribution Contract, the Distribution Contract will continue in effect with respect to each Fund for successive one-year periods, provided that each such continuance is specifically approved (i) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust (as defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Contract, the Investment Management Agreement or the Distribution and/or Servicing Plans (if any) described below; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the entire Board of Trustees cast in person at a meeting called for that purpose. If the Distribution Contract is terminated (or not renewed) with respect to one or more Funds, it may continue in effect with respect to any Fund as to which it has not been terminated (or has been renewed).

Continuous Offering

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

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

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

 

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Fund Deposit

The consideration for purchase of Creation Units may consist of (i) Deposit Securities and the Cash Component, which may constitute an optimized representation of the securities of an Index Fund’s Underlying Index or the securities and instruments permitted by an Active Fund’s investment objective and strategies, and will generally correspond pro rata, to the extent practicable, to the Fund securities, or, alternatively, (ii) the Cash Deposit. Together, the Deposit Securities and Cash Component or, alternatively, the Cash Deposit, constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of a Fund.

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

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

PIMCO, through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”), makes available on each Business Day, prior to the opening of business (subject to amendments) on the Listing Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the identity and the required number of each Deposit Security and the amount of the Cash Component (or Cash Deposit) to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous Business Day).

The Deposit Securities and Cash Component (or Cash Deposit) are subject to any adjustments, as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of that Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities and Cash Component (or Cash Deposit) is made available.

The identity and amount of the Deposit Securities and Cash Component (or Cash Deposit) changes pursuant to the changes in the composition of that Fund’s portfolio and as rebalancing adjustments are reflected from time to time by PIMCO with a view to the investment objective of that Fund. With respect to the Index Funds, the composition of the Deposit Securities and the amount of the Cash Component (or Cash Deposit) may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of an Index Fund’s Underlying Index.

If an Index Fund requires Deposit Securities for purchases of a Creation Unit, the Index Fund may (in the circumstances set forth below) require substitution of securities in different proportions than securities constituting the Deposit Securities. The Trust may also require the substitution of an amount of cash (a “cash-in-lieu” amount) to replace any Deposit Security of that Fund that is a non-deliverable instrument. The amount of cash contributed will be equivalent to the price of the instrument listed as a Deposit Security. The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a “cash in-lieu” amount to be added to replace any Deposit Security that is a to-be-announced (“TBA”) transaction, that may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery or that may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC or the Clearing Process (as discussed below), or the Federal Reserve System for U.S. Treasury securities. The Trust also reserves the right to permit or require a “cash-in-lieu” amount where the delivery of Deposit Securities by the Authorized Participant (as described below) would be restricted under the securities laws or where the delivery of Deposit Securities from an investor to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of Deposit Securities by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws, and in certain other situations. The Trust may permit a “cash-in-lieu” amount for any reason at the Trust’s sole discretion but is not required to do so. With respect to Index Funds, the adjustments to the proportions of Deposit Securities described above will reflect changes known to PIMCO, on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of the Fund Deposit, in the composition of the Underlying Index.

Procedures for Creating Creation Units

To be eligible to place orders with the Transfer Agent (defined below) and to create a Creation Unit of a Fund, an entity must be: (i) a “Participating Party,” i.e. a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC, or (ii) a DTC Participant and must have executed an agreement with the Distributor and Transfer Agent, with respect to

 

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creations and redemptions of Creation Units (“Participant Agreement”) (discussed below). A Participating Party or DTC Participant who has executed a Participant Agreement is referred to as an “Authorized Participant.” Investors should contact the Distributor for the names of Authorized Participants. All shares of the Funds, however created, will be entered on the records of DTC in the name of its nominee for the account of a DTC Participant.

Except as described below, and in all cases subject to the terms of the applicable Participant Agreement, all orders to create Creation Units of a Fund must be received by the Transfer Agent no later than the closing time of the regular trading session of the Listing Exchange (“Closing Time”) (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time) in each case on the date such order is placed for creation of Creation Units to be effected based on the NAV of shares of such Fund as next determined after receipt of an order in proper form. Orders requesting substitution of a “cash-in-lieu” amount or a Cash Deposit (collectively, “Non-Standard Orders”), must be received by the Transfer Agent no later than 3:00 p.m., Eastern time. On days when the Listing Exchange closes earlier than normal (such as the day before a holiday), the Fund requires standard orders to create Creation Units to be placed by the earlier closing time and Non-Standard Orders to create Creation Units must be received no later than one hour prior to the earlier closing time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may, but is not required to, permit Non-Standard Orders until 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, or until the market close (in the event the Listing Exchange closes early). The date on which an order to create Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units, as discussed below) is placed is referred to as the “Transmittal Date.” Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Transfer Agent pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Transfer Agent or an Authorized Participant.

All investor orders to create Creation Units shall be placed with an Authorized Participant in the form required by such Authorized Participant. In addition, an Authorized Participant may request that an investor make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to an order (to provide for payments of cash). Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and, therefore, orders to create Creation Units of a Fund will have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant. In such cases, there may be additional charges to such investor. A limited number of broker-dealers are expected to execute a Participant Agreement and only a small number of such Authorized Participants are expected to have international capabilities.

Placement of Creation Orders for the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund. When a purchase order is placed with the Fund’s Distributor, the Distributor will inform PIMCO and the Fund’s custodian. The Fund’s custodian will then inform the appropriate sub-custodian(s). The Authorized Participant will deliver to the appropriate sub-custodian(s), on behalf of itself or the beneficial owner on whose behalf it is acting, the applicable Deposit Securities (or the cash value of all or a part of such securities, in the case of a permitted or required cash purchase or “cash in lieu” amount), with any appropriate adjustments as determined by the Trust. Deposit Securities must be delivered to the accounts maintained at the applicable sub-custodian(s). If applicable, the sub-custodian(s) will confirm to the Fund’s custodian that the required Deposit Securities and/or Cash Component have been delivered and the custodian will notify PIMCO and the Distributor. The Distributor will then furnish the Authorized Participant with a confirmation and a Prospectus.

Placement of Creation Orders

The “Settlement Date” for the Index Funds (except the PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund and PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund) is generally the next Business Day after the Transmittal Date for all creations and redemptions, whether securities or cash. The “Settlement Date” for the PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund, PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund and PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund is generally the third Business Day after the Transmittal Date for securities creations and securities redemptions and the next Business Day after the Transmittal Date for cash creations and cash redemptions. The “Settlement Date” for the Active Funds is generally the third Business Day after the Transmittal Date for securities creations, securities redemptions and cash redemptions and the next Business Day after the Transmittal Date for cash creations. With respect to the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund, foreign (non-U.S.) fixed income securities will settle in accordance with the normal rules of settlement of such securities in the applicable foreign (non-U.S.) market. Accordingly, the Settlement Date for the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund may be up to twelve days after the Transmittal Date for redemptions.

Fund Deposits must be delivered through the Federal Reserve System (for cash and government securities) and through DTC (for corporate and municipal securities) by an Authorized Participant. The Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the DTC Participant in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities through DTC to the account of the applicable Fund by no later than 1:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Settlement Date. All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities to be delivered, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of

 

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receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. For Fund Deposits consisting of cash, the amount of cash must be transferred directly to the Custodian (defined below) through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the Settlement Date. If the Deposit Securities, Cash Component and/or Cash Deposit, as applicable, are not received by the applicable cut-off time set forth above, the creation order may be canceled. Upon written notice to the Transfer Agent, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following Business Day using a Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current NAV of the applicable Fund. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the third Business Day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Transfer Agent.

Creation Units may be created in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the shares on the date the order is placed in proper form since, in addition to available Deposit Securities, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) at least 115%, of the market value of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”).

The order shall be deemed to be received on the Business Day on which the order is placed provided that the order is placed in proper form prior to the applicable cut-off time and the federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited with the Custodian by 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the Settlement Date. If the order is not placed in proper form as required, or federal funds in the appropriate amount are not received by 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the Settlement Date, then the order may be deemed to be rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the applicable Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. An additional amount of cash shall be required to be deposited with the Trust, pending delivery of the missing Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an amount at least equal to 115%, of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. In the event of a failure to deliver the missing Deposit Securities the Trust may buy securities according to industry standards and procedures. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust for the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the market value of such Deposit Securities, on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Transfer Agent plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Custodian or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a transaction fee, as listed below, may be charged. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the Settlement Date.

The securities and the number of the Deposit Securities required for the Fund Deposit for the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund will change as the instruments in the Fund’s portfolio change and are rebalanced from time to time by PIMCO in light of the Fund’s investment objective. The Trust reserves the right to permit an Authorized Participant to substitute an amount of cash to replace any prescribed Deposit Security. For example, substitution may be permitted because one or more Deposit Securities: (1) may be unavailable or may not be available in the quantity needed to make a Fund Deposit; (2) may not be eligible for transfer through the NSCC Process; or (3) may not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant or the investor on whose behalf the Authorized Participant is acting. Brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred by the Fund to acquire a Deposit Security not part of the Fund Deposit are expected to be immaterial, and in any event, PIMCO may adjust the Transaction Fee to ensure that the Fund collects the extra expenses from the Authorized Participant.

Acceptance of Creation Orders

The Trust and the Distributor reserve the absolute right to reject or revoke acceptance of a creation order transmitted to it in respect to a Fund, for example if: (i) the order is not in proper form; (ii) the investor(s), upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of such Fund; (iii) the Fund Deposit delivered is not as disseminated through the facilities of the NSCC for that date by PIMCO, as described above; (iv) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would have certain adverse tax consequences to such Fund; (v) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (vi) acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, in the discretion of the Trust or PIMCO, have an adverse effect on the Trust or the rights of beneficial owners of such Fund; (vii) the value of Creation Units to be created exceeds a purchase authorization limit afforded to the Authorized Participant by the Trust and the Authorized Participant has not deposited an amount in excess of such purchase authorization with the Custodian prior to 3:00 p.m. Eastern time, on the Transmittal Date; or (viii) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor or PIMCO make it for all practical purposes impossible to process creation orders. Examples of such circumstances include acts of God; public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, facsimile and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving

 

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computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, PIMCO, the Distributor, DTC, NSCC’s Continuous Net Settlement System, Federal Reserve, the Transfer Agent or any other participant in the creation process, and other extraordinary events. The Transfer Agent shall notify the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of the creator of a Creation Unit of its rejection of the order of such person. The Trust, Transfer Agent, and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.

All questions as to the number of shares of Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility, and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered and the amount and form of the Cash Component or Cash Deposit, as applicable, shall be determined by the Trust, and the Trust’s determination shall be final and binding.

Creation Transaction Fee

A purchase transaction fee may be imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance of Creation Units of shares. Where the Trust permits or specifies cash creations, an Authorized Participant submitting a cash creation order may be assessed a variable charge on the cash portion of its order up to a maximum amount as indicated in the table below. Authorized Participants will bear the costs of transferring Fund Deposits to the Trust. Investors who use the services of an Authorized Participant, broker or other such intermediary may be charged fees for such services. The following tables set forth the standard and variable creation transaction fees for the Funds:

 

Fund

   Standard Creation
Transaction Fee*
     Maximum Variable Charge for
Cash Creations**
 

PIMCO 0-1 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 3-7 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 7-15 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO Broad U.S. Treasury Index Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO Government Limited Maturity Strategy Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund

PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO Prime Limited Maturity Strategy Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund

PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund

PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund

PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund

     [    ]         [    ]   

 

* Applicable to in-kind purchases only.
** As a percentage of the cash amount invested.

The standard creation transaction fee applies to any Creation Unit purchase that includes in-kind securities and is fixed at $500. The variable creation transaction fee may apply to the cash amount invested only, to the extent cash purchases are available or specified, and, if imposed, may be imposed up to the maximum amount indicated in the table above. To the extent a purchase transaction consists of both in-kind securities and cash, the standard fee applies and the variable fee may also be imposed with regard to the cash amount invested. Each Fund reserves the right to not impose a variable creation transaction fee or to vary the amount of the variable creation transaction fee imposed, up to the maximum amount listed

 

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above, depending on the materiality of the Fund’s actual transaction costs incurred in purchasing securities with the cash received or where PIMCO believes that not imposing or varying the variable creation transaction fee would be in a Fund’s best interests. Actual transaction costs may vary depending on the time of day a purchase order is received or the nature of the securities to be purchased.

Redemption of Creation Units

Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form on a Business Day. The Funds will not redeem shares in amounts less than Creation Units. Beneficial owners must accumulate enough shares in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Authorized Participants should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit. All redemptions are subject to the procedures contained in the applicable Participant Agreement.

With respect to a Fund, PIMCO, through the NSCC, makes available immediately prior to the opening of business on the Listing Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time) on each Business Day, the identity of each Fund’s securities and/or an amount of cash that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as described below) on that day. A Fund’s securities received on redemption will generally correspond pro rata, to the extent practicable, to such Fund’s securities. A Fund’s securities received on redemption (“Fund Securities”) may include, with respect to an Index Fund, securities in different proportions than securities of the Underlying Index or may include securities not currently represented in the Underlying Index. Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities that are applicable to creations of Creation Units.

Unless cash only redemptions are available or specified for a Fund, the redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit may consist of Fund Securities – as announced on the Business Day of the request for a redemption order received in proper form – plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of the Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less a redemption transaction fee, if applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust will substitute a “cash-in-lieu” amount to replace any Fund Security that is a non-deliverable instrument. The Trust may permit a “cash-in-lieu” amount for any reason at the Trust’s sole discretion but is not required to do so. The amount of cash paid out in such cases will be equivalent to the value of the instrument listed as a Fund Security. In the event that the Fund Securities have a value greater than the NAV of the shares, a compensating cash payment equal to the difference is required to be made by an Authorized Participant. To the extent redemption proceeds consist of Fund Securities, the Trust may deliver securities in different proportions than securities constituting the Fund Securities.

Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws, and each Fund reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant, or a beneficial owner of shares for which it is acting, subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. This would specifically prohibit delivery of Fund Securities that are not registered in reliance upon Rule 144A under the 1933 Act to a redeeming beneficial owner of shares that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming beneficial owner of the shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment.

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to a Fund (i) for any period during which the Listing Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (ii) for any period during which trading on the Listing Exchange is suspended or restricted; (iii) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the shares of such Fund or determination of such Fund’s NAV is not reasonably practicable; or (iv) in such other circumstances as permitted by the SEC.

Redemption Transaction Fee

A redemption transaction fee may be imposed to offset transfer and other transaction costs. Where the Trust permits or specifies cash redemptions, an Authorized Participant submitting a cash redemption order may be assessed a variable charge on the cash portion of its order up to a maximum amount as indicated in the table below. Authorized Participants will bear the costs of transferring Fund Securities or cash from the Trust to their account or on their order. Investors who use the services of an Authorized Participant, broker or other such intermediary may be charged fees for such services. A DTC Participant may be required to pay a higher transaction fee than would have been charged had the redemption been effected

 

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through the NSCC Clearing Process. The following tables set forth the standard and variable redemption transaction fees for the Funds:

 

Fund

   Standard Redemption
Transaction Fee*
     Maximum Variable Charge for
Cash Redemptions**
 

PIMCO 0-1 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 3-7 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 7-15 Year U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund

PIMCO Broad U.S. Treasury Index Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO 1-5 Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

PIMCO 15+ Year U.S. TIPS Index Fund

PIMCO Broad U.S. TIPS Index Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO Government Limited Maturity Strategy Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO Build America Bond Strategy Fund

PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Strategy Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO Prime Limited Maturity Strategy Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO 1-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund

PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Strategy Fund

PIMCO High Yield Corporate Bond Index Fund

PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund

   $ 500         3.00

PIMCO Total Return Exchange-Traded Fund

     [    ]         [    ]   

 

* Applicable to in-kind redemptions only.
** As a percentage of the cash amount received.

The standard redemption transaction fee applies to any Creation Unit redemption that includes in-kind securities and is fixed at $500. The variable redemption transaction fee may apply to the cash amount received only, to the extent cash redemptions are available or specified, and, if imposed, may be imposed up to the maximum amount indicated in the table above. To the extent a redemption transaction consists of both in-kind securities and cash, the standard fee applies and the variable fee may also be imposed with regard to the cash amount received. Each Fund reserves the right to not impose a variable redemption transaction fee or to vary the amount of the variable redemption transaction fee imposed, up to the maximum amount listed above, depending on the materiality of the Fund’s actual transaction costs incurred in selling securities to raise the cash amount redeemed or where PIMCO believes that not imposing or varying the variable redemption transaction fee would be in a Fund’s best interests. Actual transaction costs may vary depending on the time of day a redemption order is received or the nature of the securities to be sold.

Placement of Redemption Orders

To be eligible to place redemption orders for Creation Units of a Fund an entity must be a DTC Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement and have the ability to transact through the Federal Reserve System. An order to redeem Creation Units is deemed received by the Trust on the Transmittal Date if (i) such order is received no later than 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, on such Transmittal Date, except as described below; (ii) such order is accompanied or followed by the requisite number of shares of the Fund specified in such order, which delivery must be made through DTC to the Transfer Agent no later than 1:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Settlement Date; and (iii) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. Orders requesting substitution of a “cash-in-lieu” amount or an all-cash payment must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern time. On days when the Listing Exchange closes earlier than normal (such as the day before a holiday), the Fund requires orders to redeem Creation Units to be placed by the earlier closing time and cash redemption orders must be received by the Transfer Agent no later than one hour prior to the earlier closing time.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may, but is not required to, permit “cash-in-lieu” or all-cash payments until 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, or until the market close (in the event the Listing Exchange closes early). After the Trust has deemed an order for redemption received, the Trust will initiate procedures to transfer the requisite Fund Securities, Cash Redemption Amount and/or all-cash payment to the Authorized Participant by the Settlement Date, although the Settlement Date may vary depending on the time of day the redemption order is received and/or the nature of the Fund Securities. Although the Settlement Date is generally no more than the third Business Day after the Transmittal Date, the Settlement Date for redemptions may be up to seven days after the Transmittal Date for most Funds and up to twelve days after the Transmittal Date for the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund.

To the extent contemplated by the Participant Agreement, in the event the Authorized Participant has submitted a redemption request in proper form but is unable to transfer all or part of the Creation Unit to be redeemed to the Transfer Agent, on behalf of a Fund, the Transfer Agent will nonetheless accept the redemption request in reliance on the undertaking by the Authorized Participant to deliver the missing shares as soon as possible, which undertaking shall be secured by the Authorized Participant’s delivery and maintenance of collateral having a value (marked to market daily) at least equal to 115% of the value of the missing shares. The current procedures for collateralization of missing shares require, among other things, that any collateral shall be in the form of U.S. dollars in immediately-available funds and shall be held by the Transfer Agent and marked to market daily, and that the fees of the Transfer Agent in respect of the delivery, maintenance and redelivery of the collateral shall be payable by the Authorized Participant. The Authorized Participant’s Participant Agreement will permit the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, to purchase the missing shares or acquire the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component underlying such shares at any time and will subject the Authorized Participant to liability for any shortfall between the cost to the Trust of purchasing such shares, Deposit Securities or Cash Component and the value of the collateral.

The calculation of the value of the Fund Securities and/or Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered upon redemption will be made by the Transfer Agent according to the NAV calculation set forth under “Net Asset Value” below, computed on the Business Day on which a redemption order is deemed received by the Trust. Therefore, if a redemption order in proper form is submitted to the Transfer Agent by a DTC Participant by the specified time on the Transmittal Date, and the requisite number of shares of the applicable Fund are delivered to the Transfer Agent prior to 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Settlement Date, then the value of the Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount to be delivered will be determined by the Transfer Agent on such Transmittal Date. A redemption order must be submitted in proper form. If the requisite number of shares of the applicable Fund are not delivered by 1:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Settlement Date, such Fund will not release the underlying securities for delivery unless collateral is posted in the amount of 115% of the missing shares (marked-to-market daily).

The Trust may exercise its discretion to redeem shares wholly or partly in cash, such as when doing so is in the best interests of the Fund and the Fund’s investors or when it is not possible to effect deliveries of Fund Securities, and the redeeming beneficial owner of shares will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an Authorized Participant may request a redemption in cash that a Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the Authorized Participant will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its shares based on the NAV of shares of such Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus any applicable redemption transaction fee). An Index Fund may also, in its sole discretion, upon request of an Authorized Participant, provide such redeemer securities in different proportions than the exact composition of the Fund Securities but does not differ in NAV.

Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and the Funds reserve the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent a cash redemption is in the best interests of the Fund and the Fund’s investors, the Trust could not lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant, or an investor for which it is acting, subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of a Creation Unit may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming beneficial owner of the shares to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment.

Placement of Redemption Orders for the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund. Redemption orders for Creation Units of the Fund will not be made through the DTC system.

Regular Foreign Holidays. The PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund generally intends to effect deliveries of Creation Units and portfolio securities on a basis of “T” plus three Business Days (i.e., days on which the national securities exchange is open) (“T+3”). The PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund may effect deliveries of Creation Units and portfolio securities on a basis other than T + 3 in order to accommodate local holiday

 

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schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates or under certain other circumstances. The ability of the Trust to effect in-kind creations and redemptions within three Business Days of receipt of an order in good form is subject, among other things, to the condition that, within the time period from the date of the order to the date of delivery of the securities, there are no days that are holidays in the applicable foreign market. For every occurrence of one or more intervening holidays in the applicable foreign market that are not holidays observed in the U.S. equity market, the redemption settlement cycle will be extended by the number of such intervening holidays. In addition to holidays, other unforeseeable closings in a foreign market due to emergencies may also prevent the Trust from delivering securities within normal settlement periods. The securities delivery cycles currently practicable for transferring portfolio securities to redeeming Authorized Participants, coupled with foreign market holiday schedules, will require a delivery process longer than seven calendar days for the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund, in certain circumstances. The holidays applicable to the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund during such periods are listed below, as are instances where more than seven days will be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. Although certain holidays may occur on different dates in subsequent years, the number of days required to deliver redemption proceeds in any given year is not expected to exceed the maximum number of days listed below. The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays” (e.g., days on which no or limited securities transactions occur, as a result of substantially shortened trading hours), the elimination of existing holidays or changes in local securities delivery practices could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future. Because the portfolio securities of the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation-Linked Bond Strategy Fund may trade on days that the Fund’s Listing Exchange is closed or on days that are not Business Days for the Fund, Authorized Participants may not be able to redeem their shares of the Fund, or to purchase and sell shares of the Fund on the Listing Exchange, on days when the NAV of the Fund could be significantly affected by events in the relevant non-U.S. markets.

Calendar Year 2011

 

Argentina

April 21

   August 15      

April 22

   October 10      

May 25

   December 8      

June 20

   December 30      

Australia

January 3

   April 25    June 13    November 1

January 26

   April 26    August 1    December 26

March 7

   May 2    August 17    December 27

March 14

   May 16    September 26   

April 22

   June 6    October 3   

Austria

January 3

   April 25    June 13    November 1

January 26

   April 26    August 1    December 26

March 7

   May 2    August 17    December 27

March 14

   May 16    September 26   

April 22

   June 6    October 3   

Belgium

April 22

   June 13    November 11   

April 25

   July 21    December 26   

June 2

   August 15      

June 3

   November 1      

Brazil

January 20

   April 21    October 12   

January 25

   April 22    November 2   

March 7

   June 23    November 15   

March 8

   September 7    December 30   

 

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Canada

January 3

   May 23    September 5    December 27

January 4

   June 24    October 10   

February 21

   July 1    November 11   

April 22

   August 1    December 26   

Chilé

April 22

   September 19      

June 20

   October 10      

June 27

   November 1      

August 15

   December 8      

China

January 3    February 7    May 5    October 5
January 17    February 8    May 6    October 6
January 31    February 9    May 30    October 7
February 1    February 21    July 4    October 10
February 2    May 2    September 5    November 11
February 3    May 3    October 3    November 24
February 4    May 4    October 4    December 26

Denmark

April 21    June 2      
April 22    June 13      
April 25    December 26      
May 20         

Egypt

February 15    August 31    November 7   
April 24    September 1      
April 25    October 6      
May 1    November 6      

Finland

January 6    June 24      
April 22    December 6      
April 25    December 26      
June 2         

France

April 22    August 15      
April 25    November 1      
June 2    November 11      
July 14    December 26      

Germany

January 6    June 2    October 3   
March 7    June 13    November 1   
April 22    June 23    December 26   
April 25    August 15      

 

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Greece

January 6    April 25    December 26   
March 7    June 13      
March 25    August 15      
April 22    October 28      

Hong Kong

February 2    April 22    June 6    December 26
February 3    April 25    July 1    December 27
February 4    May 2    September 13   
April 5    May 10    October 5   

India

January 26    April 14    August 15    October 6
February 16    April 16    August 19    October 26
March 2    April 22    August 23    October 28
April 1    May 17    August 31    November 7
April 4    June 30    September 1    November 10
April 12    July 1    September 30    December 6

Ireland

January 3    May 2    December 26   
March 17    June 6    December 27   
April 22    August 1    December 28   
April 25    October 31      

Italy

January 6    June 29    December 26   
April 22    August 15      
April 25    November 1      
June 2    December 8      

Japan

January 3    April 29    July 18    November 3
January 10    May 3    September 19    November 23
February 11    May 4    September 23    December 23
March 21    May 5    October 10   

Luxembourg

April 22    June 13    November 1   
April 25    June 23    December 26   
June 2    August 15      

Malaysia

January 1    February 15    June 4    October 26
February 1    May 2    August 29    November 7
February 2    May 17    August 30    November 28
February 3    May 30    August 31    December 26
February 4    May 31    September 1   

 

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Mexico

February 7    September 16      
March 21    November 2      
April 21    November 21      
April 22    December 12      

New Zealand

January 3    April 22    December 26   
January 4    April 25    December 27   
January 24    June 6      
January 31    October 24      

Norway

April 21    June 2      
April 22    June 13      
April 25    December 26      
May 17         

Peru

April 21    July 29      
April 22    August 30      
June 29    November 1      
July 28    December 8      

Portugal

March 8    June 13    November 1   
April 22    June 23    December 1   
April 25    August 15    December 8   
June 10    October 5    December 26   

Singapore

January 1    May 2    October 26   
February 3    May 17    November 7   
February 4    August 9    December 26   
April 22    August 30      

South Africa

March 21    May 2    December 26   
April 22    June 16      
April 25    August 9      
April 27    December 16      

South Korea

February 2    April 5    August 15    December 30
February 3    May 5    September 12   
February 4    May 10    September 13   
March 1    June 6    October 3   

Spain

 

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January 6

   May 2    September 9    December 6

April 21

   May 3    October 12    December 8

April 22

   July 25    November 1    December 26

April 25

   August 15    November 9   

Sweden

January 6

   June 6      

April 22

   June 24      

April 25

   December 26      

June 2

        

Switzerland

January 6

   June 13    August 15    December 26

April 22

   June 23    September 8   

April 25

   June 29    November 1   

June 2

   August 1    December 8   

Taiwan

January 31

   February 4    May 2   

February 1

   February 7    June 6   

February 2

   February 28    September 12   

February 3

   April 5    October 10   

The Czech Republic

April 25

   October 28      

July 5

   November 17      

July 6

   December 26