XML 16 R2.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.3.a.u2
Total
Aegon Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Aegon Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Investment Objective

The Aegon Emerging Markets Debt Fund (the “Emerging Markets Debt Fund” or the “Fund”) seeks to maximize total return, consisting of income and capital appreciation.

Fund Fees and Expenses

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Aegon Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Institutional Shares
Investor Shares
Management Fees 0.65% 0.65%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none 0.25%
Other Expenses [1] 0.76% 0.76%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.41% 1.66%
Less Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements [2] (0.66%) (0.66%)
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements 0.75% 1.00%
[1] Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[2] Aegon USA Investment Management, LLC (the "Adviser") has contractually agreed to waive fees and/or to reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, 12b-1 Fees, acquired fund fees and expenses and non-routine expenses (collectively, "excluded expenses")) from exceeding 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's Institutional Shares and Investor Shares until January 31, 2021 (the "contractual expense limit"). In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the contractual expense limit to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee waivers or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the contractual expense limit (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the "Board") of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund III (the "Trust"), for any reason at any time; or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days' prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on January 31, 2021.
Example

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

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then 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 (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example - Aegon Emerging Markets Debt Fund - USD ($)
One Year
Three Years
Institutional Shares 77 381
Investor Shares 102 459
Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. For the fiscal period from June 14, 2019 (commencement of Fund operations) to September 30, 2019, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 24% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in emerging markets debt securities and other instruments, including derivatives and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), with economic characteristics similar to such securities. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

Debt securities in which the Fund primarily invests are bonds. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, however, debt securities include all varieties of fixed income securities, including bank loans and convertible securities. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in any currency, including local currencies or hard currencies (i.e., a currency that is not likely to depreciate suddenly or to fluctuate greatly in value), and may invest in securities of any maturity, duration or credit quality, including those that are rated below investment grade (“high yield” or “junk” bonds).

 

The Fund may also utilize derivatives, principally options, futures contracts, forward contracts and swap agreements, to gain or hedge (i.e., offset) exposure to securities, markets, currencies, or other instruments.

 

Emerging markets debt securities include (1) debt securities of governments, government agencies, government instrumentalities or political subdivisions and supranational organizations of emerging market countries; (2) debt securities of companies that are organized in, maintain their principal corporate offices in, conduct their principal operations in, or receive the majority of their revenues from emerging market countries; and (3) debt securities denominated in the currency of an emerging market country. Emerging market countries are countries that are included in the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index - Global Diversified, the JPMorgan Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index - Diversified, the JPMorgan Emerging Local Markets Index or the JPMorgan Government Bond Index - Emerging Markets Global Diversified, as well as those countries which are not defined as a High Income Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”) member country by the World Bank. From time to time, the Fund may focus its investments in a particular sector, or may focus its investments in a particular country or geographic region.

 

In managing the Fund’s assets, the Adviser uses a combination of global “top-down” analysis of the macroeconomic and interest rate environment and “bottom-up” research of corporate and sovereign debt and other credit instruments. The “top-down” analysis assists the Adviser in analyzing portfolio risk and allocating assets among sectors, industries, and credit quality categories. In its “bottom-up” research, the Adviser considers various fundamental and other factors, such as creditworthiness and capital structure. Additionally, the Adviser considers currency movements and monetary policies in connection with its top-down and bottom-up processes. The Adviser’s research analysts may integrate environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors within their analytical process alongside traditional credit analysis in an effort to determine and assess the potential economic impact of ESG issues on an issuer.

Principal Risks

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Active Management Risk — The Fund is subject to the risk that the Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the Fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect. If the investments selected and strategies employed by the Fund fail to produce the intended results, the Fund could underperform in comparison to other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

 

Fixed Income Market Risk — The prices of the Fund’s fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers, including governments and their agencies. Generally, the Fund’s fixed income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and vice versa. In a low interest rate environment, risks associated with rising rates are heightened. Declines in dealer market-making capacity as a result of structural or regulatory changes could decrease liquidity and/or increase volatility in the fixed income markets. In the case of foreign securities, price fluctuations will reflect international economic and political events, as well as changes in currency valuations relative to the U.S. dollar. In response to these events, the Fund’s value may fluctuate and/or the Fund may experience increased redemptions from shareholders, which may impact the Fund’s liquidity or force the Fund to sell securities into a declining or illiquid market.

 

Interest Rate Risk — The risk that a rise in interest rates will cause a fall in the value of fixed income securities in which the Fund invests. A low interest rate environment may present greater interest rate risk, because there may be a greater likelihood of rates increasing and rates may increase more rapidly.

 

Credit Risk — The risk that the issuer of a security or the counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation.

 

Foreign Currency Risk — As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign 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 hedged. In either event, the dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected. Due to the Fund’s active positions in currencies, it will be subject to the risk that currency exchange rates may fluctuate in response to, among other things, changes in interest rates, intervention (or failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities, or by the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the United States or abroad.

 

Prepayment/Re-investment Risk — The risk that, in a declining interest rate environment, fixed income securities with stated interest rates may have the principal paid earlier than expected, requiring the Fund to invest the proceeds at generally lower interest rates.

 

Duration Risk — A portfolio with a longer average portfolio duration is more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a portfolio with a shorter average portfolio duration.

 

Corporate Fixed Income Securities Risk — Corporate fixed income securities respond to economic developments, especially changes in interest rates, as well as perceptions of the creditworthiness and business prospects of individual issuers.

 

Below Investment Grade Securities (Junk Bonds) Risk — Fixed income securities rated below investment grade (junk bonds) involve greater risks of default or downgrade and are generally more volatile than investment grade securities because the prospect for repayment of principal and interest of many of these securities is speculative. Because these securities typically offer a higher rate of return to compensate investors for these risks, they are sometimes referred to as “high yield bonds,” but there is no guarantee that an investment in these securities will result in a high rate of return.

 

Foreign Investment/Emerging Markets Risk — The risk that non-U.S. securities may be subject to additional risks due to, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad, currency movements, and different legal, regulatory and tax environments. These additional risks may be heightened with respect to emerging market countries because political turmoil and rapid changes in economic conditions are more likely to occur in these countries.

 

Foreign Sovereign Debt Securities Risk — The risks that (i) the governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be willing or able to repay the principal and/or interest when it becomes due because of factors such as debt service burden, political constraints, cash flow problems and other national economic factors; (ii) governments may default on their debt securities, which may require holders of such securities to participate in debt rescheduling or additional lending to defaulting governments; and (iii) there is no bankruptcy proceeding by which defaulted sovereign debt may be collected in whole or in part.

 

Foreign Government Agencies Risk — Bonds issued by government agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities of foreign governments are generally backed only by the general creditworthiness and reputation of the entity issuing the bonds and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the foreign government. Moreover, a foreign government that explicitly provides its full faith and credit to a particular entity may be, due to changed circumstances, unable or unwilling to provide that support. A foreign government agency’s operations and financial condition are influenced by the foreign government’s economic and other policies.

 

Supranational Entities Risk — Government members, or “stockholders,” usually make initial capital contributions to a supranational entity and in many cases are committed to make additional capital contributions if the supranational entity is unable to repay its borrowings. There is no guarantee, however, that one or more stockholders of the supranational entity will continue to make any necessary additional capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities, and the Fund may lose money on such investments.

 

Convertible Securities Risk — The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates (with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline) and the credit standing of the issuer. The price of a convertible security will also normally vary in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying common stock because of the conversion or exercise feature.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk — The risks of owning shares of an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities the ETF is designed to track, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio securities. When the Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing the expenses associated with its own operations, it will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses.

 

Derivatives Risk — The Fund’s use of futures contracts, forward contracts, options and swaps is subject to market risk, leverage risk, correlation risk and liquidity risk. Leverage risk and liquidity risk are described elsewhere in this section. Many over-the-counter derivative instruments will not have liquidity beyond the counterparty to the instrument. Market risk is the risk that the market value of an investment may move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Correlation risk is the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. The Fund’s use of forward contracts and swap agreements is also subject to credit risk and valuation risk. Valuation risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult to value and/or valued incorrectly. Credit risk is described elsewhere in this section. Each of the above risks could cause the Fund to lose more than the principal amount invested in a derivative instrument. Some derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the Fund’s initial investment. The other parties to certain derivative contracts present the same types of credit risk as issuers of fixed income securities. The Fund’s use of derivatives may also increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders. Both U.S. and non-U.S. regulators are in the process of adopting and implementing regulations governing derivatives markets, the ultimate impact of which remains unclear.

 

Leverage Risk — The Fund’s use of derivatives may result in the Fund’s total investment exposure substantially exceeding the value of its portfolio securities and the Fund’s investment returns depending substantially on the performance of securities that the Fund may not directly own. The use of leverage can amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price and may also cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations. The Fund’s use of leverage may result in a heightened risk of investment loss.

 

Liquidity Risk — The risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like. The Fund may have to lower the price of the security, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance.

 

Bank Loans Risk — With respect to bank loans, the Fund will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. The Fund may also have difficulty disposing of bank loans because, in certain cases, the market for such instruments is not highly liquid.

 

Sector Emphasis Risk — The securities of companies in the same business sector, if comprising a significant portion of the Fund’s portfolio, may in some circumstances react negatively to market conditions, interest rates and economic, regulatory or financial developments and adversely affect the value of the portfolio to a greater extent than if such securities comprised a lesser portion of the Fund’s portfolio or the Fund’s portfolio was diversified across a greater number of industry sectors.

 

Geographic Focus Risk — To the extent that it focuses its investments in a particular country or geographic region, the Fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within that country or geographic region. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.

 

Environmental, Social and Governance Risk — The Adviser may consider certain ESG factors as part of its decision to buy and sell securities. Applying ESG factors to the investment analysis may impact the investment decision for securities of certain issuers and therefore the Fund may forgo some market opportunities available to funds that do not use ESG factors. Securities of companies with ESG practices may shift into and out of favor depending on market and economic conditions, and the Fund’s performance may at times be better or worse than the performance of funds that do not use ESG factors.

 

New Fund Risk — Because the Fund is new, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.

Performance Information

The Fund commenced operations on June 14, 2019 and therefore does not have performance history for a full calendar year. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s returns and comparing the Fund’s performance to a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

Current performance information is available by calling 1-833-GO-AEGON (833-462-3466) or on the Internet at www.aegoninvestments.com.