selection and construction processes as a result of COVID-19 and any additional changes it has made to in response to COVID-19.
Response: The Fund's current disclosure accurately describes its current investment selection and construction processes. As to J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.'s (the "Adviser's") selection and construction processes more generally, the Adviser's fixed income platform has broadly emphasized three themes in evaluating investments in response to COVID-19. First, the Adviser has considered the investments that central banks have made during this time and has emphasized similar investments, including government bonds in the U.S., Europe, Canada and Australia, investment grade credit in the U.S. and Europe, securitized issues in the U.S. and general obligations of the U.S. states and large municipalities. Second, the Adviser has emphasized leveraging its research capabilities to find the parts of the non-investment grade corporate market and the non-agency mortgage market that present opportunity. In the corporate credit space, the Adviser has emphazied strong balance sheets, access to capital and the ability to withstand a prolonged economic shut down and in the securitized credit space the Adviser has stressed issuers based on their underlying loan origination process, the integrity of the securitization structure and the strength of the credit enhancement. Third, the Adviser has emphasized being mindful of inflation expectations and the potential for issuers to have to use all of their economic efforts to service their debt, rather than to invest in growth.
4.Comment: Briefly explain to us why you believe the new index is the more appropriate comparator for performance purposes. In responding, please ensure you address the types of investments, industry and geographic exposures the index has and how they compare to the Fund. In this regard, it is unclear why comparing against an index that excludes the US is appropriate given 48% of the portfolio was exposed to the US as of a recent date. Please advise as appropriate.
Response: Following the change in the Fund's name and investment strategy, investments in securities issue by companies located in the United States will comprise less than 20% of the Fund's investments. As a result, the Fund believes that the new benchmark index, the Bloomberg Barclays Multiverse Index ex USA (USD Hedged), is the more appropriate index against which to measure the Fund's performance.
5.Comment: Please include disclosure stating how the adviser determines where an issuer is located.
Response: The SAI includes a discussion of how the adviser determines where an issuer is located:
For purposes of a Fund's investment policies and unless described otherwise in a Fund's prospectus, an issuer of a security will be deemed to be located in a particular country if: (i) the principal trading market for the security is in such country, (ii) the issuer is organized under the laws of such country or (iii) the