XML 29 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.3
Pax High Yield Bond Fund
Pax High Yield Bond Fund (the "High Yield Bond Fund") Summary of Key Information
Investment Objectives

The High Yield Bond Fund's primary investment objective is to seek high current income.

As a secondary investment objective, the High Yield Bond Fund seeks capital appreciation.

Fees & Expenses

The tables below describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class, Investor Class or Class A shares of the High Yield Bond Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts for Class A shares if you and your spouse or minor children invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Class A shares of the High Yield Bond Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial intermediary, under "Shareholder Guide—Sales Charges" on page 143 of this Prospectus and under "Distribution and Shareholder Services—Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers" on page 113 in the Statement of Additional Information. Investors investing in the High Yield Bond Fund through an intermediary should consult Appendix A to this Prospectus, which includes information regarding financial intermediary specific sales charges and related discount policies that apply to purchases through certain specified intermediaries.

Shareholder Fees (Fees Paid Directly From Your Investment)
Shareholder Fees - Pax High Yield Bond Fund
Institutional Class
Investor Class
Class A
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a % of offering price) none none 4.50%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) imposed on redemptions (as a % of the lower of original purchase price or net asset value) none none 1.00% [1]
[1] This charge applies to investors who purchase $1 million or more of Class A shares without an initial sales charge and redeem them within 18 months of purchase, with certain exceptions. See "Shareholder Guide—Sales Charges."
 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment):
Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Pax High Yield Bond Fund
Institutional Class
Investor Class
Class A
Management Fee 0.50% 0.50% 0.50%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees none 0.25% 0.25%
Other Expenses 0.22% 0.22% 0.22%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.72% 0.97% 0.97%
Example of Expenses

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Institutional Class, Investor Class or Class A shares of the High Yield Bond Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The table assumes that an investor invests $10,000 in Institutional Class, Investor Class or Class A shares of the High Yield Bond Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeems all of his or her shares at the end of those periods. The table also assumes that the investment has a 5% return each year, that all dividends and distributions are reinvested and that the High Yield Bond Fund's operating expenses remain the same throughout those periods. Although an investor's actual expenses may be higher or lower than those shown in the table, based on these assumptions his or her expenses would be:

Expense Example - Pax High Yield Bond Fund - USD ($)
One Year
Three Years
Five Years
Ten Years
Institutional Class 74 230 401 894
Investor Class 99 309 536 1,190
Class A 545 745 962 1,586
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 shares are held in a taxable account. These transaction costs, which are not reflected in "Annual Fund Operating Expenses" or in the "Example of Expenses," affect the High Yield Bond Fund's performance. During the High Yield Bond Fund's most recent fiscal year, the High Yield Bond Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 57% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The High Yield Bond Fund follows a sustainable investing approach, combining rigorous financial analysis with equally rigorous environmental, social and governance (ESG) analysis in order to identify investments.

 

Under normal market conditions, the High Yield Bond Fund invests at least 80% of its assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in high-yield, fixed income securities (such as bonds, notes or debentures) that are rated below BBB- by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or below Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service, similarly rated by another major rating service, or unrated and determined by the High Yield Bond Fund's investment adviser to be of comparable quality. These fixed income securities are commonly referred to as "junk bonds." The Fund may invest in securities of any maturity. The High Yield Bond Fund may, on a short-term basis pending longer term investment, invest in exchange traded funds that invest primarily in high-yield securities. The High Yield Bond Fund treats these short-term investments as high-yield, fixed income securities for purposes of its 80% policy.

 

In determining which securities to buy for the High Yield Bond Fund, the portfolio managers seek to establish if each security's return is appropriate for its level of risk.

 

In making this determination, the portfolio managers generally perform fundamental credit analysis. The High Yield Bond Fund may invest up to 40% of its assets in securities of non-U.S. issuers, including investments in emerging markets.

 

The High Yield Bond Fund may utilize derivatives for hedging and for investment purposes, and may invest in credit default swaps on indices of high-yield securities on a short-term basis (generally less than 90 days) pending longer term investment.

 

It is possible that, due to its investment strategies, the portfolio turnover rate of the High Yield Bond Fund may be significant. Portfolio turnover is not a principal consideration in investment decisions for the Fund, and the Fund is not subject to any limit on the frequency with which portfolio securities may be purchased or sold.

Principal Risks
Market Risk Conditions in a broad or specialized market, a sector thereof or an individual industry may adversely affect security prices, thereby reducing the value of the Fund's investments.

 

Derivatives Risk Derivatives involve special risks and may result in losses. The values of derivatives can be very volatile, especially in unusual market conditions, and that volatility can be exacerbated by the use of leverage, which is common for derivative strategies. Derivatives may be illiquid, and may also be subject to the risk of nonperformance by a transaction counterparty. The Fund may not be able to enter into, or terminate, a derivatives position when desired. Derivatives also may be subject to mispricing and improper valuation, and may increase the amount of taxes payable by shareholders.

 

Non-U.S. Securities Risk Non-U.S. securities may have less liquidity and more volatile prices than domestic securities, which can make it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at desired times or prices. Non-U.S. markets may differ from U.S. markets in material and adverse ways. For example, securities transaction expenses generally are higher, transaction settlement may be slower, recourse in the event of default may be more limited and taxes and currency exchange controls may limit amounts available for distribution to shareholders. Non-U.S. investments are also subject to the effects of local political, social, diplomatic or economic events.

 

Interest Rate Risk The value of debt securities tends to decrease when nominal interest rates rise. Longer-duration securities tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes, and thus more volatile, than shorter-duration securities. A period of rising interest rates may negatively affect the Fund's performance. For example, if a debt security has a duration of four years, a 1% increase in interest rates could be expected to result in a 4% decrease in the value of the security.

 

Liquidity Risk Liquidity risk is the risk associated with a lack of marketability of investments, which may make it difficult to sell an investment at a desirable time or price. A lack of liquidity may cause the value of an investment to decline. Liquidity risk also may refer to the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares of the Fund without significant dilution of remaining investors' interests in the Fund. The Fund may have to lower the selling price, sell other investments, or forego another, more appealing investment opportunity. Changing regulatory and market conditions, including a decline in the number or capacity of financial institutions to make markets in the Fund's investments, as well as increases in interest rates or credit spreads, may adversely affect the liquidity of the Fund's investments. Illiquid investments may also be more difficult to value, and judgment plays a larger role in valuing these investments as compared to valuing more liquid investments.

 

Credit Risk Changing economic conditions may adversely affect an obligated entity's actual or perceived ability to pay interest or principal on a fixed income security when due, which in turn can adversely affect the price of or income derived from the security.

 

Reinvestment Risk Income from the Fund's investments may decline if the Fund is forced to invest the proceeds from matured, called or otherwise disposed of debt securities or convertible securities at interest rates that are below the Fund's earnings rate at that time.

 

Small- and Medium-Sized Capitalization Company Risk Securities of small- and medium-sized companies may have less liquidity and more volatile prices than securities of larger companies, which can make it difficult for the Fund to sell such securities at desired times or prices.

 

High Yield Securities Risk High-yield securities ("junk bonds") are considered predominately speculative with respect to the issuer's continuing ability to make principal and interest payments when due. Investments in such securities tend to increase the Fund's exposure to interest rate risk, credit risk and liquidity risk.

 

Emerging Markets Risk Investments in emerging markets are likely to have greater exposure to the risks associated with investments in non-U.S. securities generally. Additionally, emerging market countries generally have less mature economies and less developed securities markets with more limited trading activity, are more heavily dependent on international trade and support, have a higher risk of currency devaluation, and may have more volatile inflation rates or longer periods of high inflation than more developed countries.

 

Turnover Risk Frequent changes in the securities held by a Fund increases the Fund's transaction costs and may result in adverse tax consequences, which together may adversely affect the Fund's performance.

 

As with all mutual funds, investors may lose money by investing in the High Yield Bond Fund.

 

The foregoing descriptions are only summaries. Please see "About the Funds—Principal Risks" on page 116 for more detailed descriptions of the foregoing risks.

Performance Information

The bar chart below presents the calendar year total returns for Investor Class shares of the High Yield Bond Fund before taxes. The bar chart is intended to provide some indication of the risk of investing in the High Yield Bond Fund by showing changes in the High Yield Bond Fund's performance from year to year. As with all mutual funds, past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of future performance.

Investor Class
Bar Chart
For the periods shown in the bar chart: Best quarter: 2nd quarter 2009, 11.79%
  Worst quarter: 3rd quarter 2011, -5.36%

Average Annual Total Returns The performance table below presents the average annual total returns for Investor Class, Class A and Institutional Class shares of the High Yield Bond Fund. The performance table is intended to provide some indication of the risks of investment in the High Yield Bond Fund by showing how the High Yield Bond Fund's average annual total returns compare with the returns of a broad-based securities market index and a performance average of other similar mutual funds, each over a one-year, five-year and ten-year period. After-tax performance is presented only for Investor Class shares for the Fund. After-tax returns for Class A and Institutional Class shares may vary. After-tax returns are estimated using the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the effect of local, state or foreign taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on a shareholder's own tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns may not be relevant to shareholders who hold their shares through tax-advantaged arrangements (such as 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts). As with all mutual funds, past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of future performance.

Average Annual Total Returns - Pax High Yield Bond Fund
1 Year
5 Years
10 Years
Institutional Class [1] (2.70%) 2.02% 7.78%
Investor Class [1] (3.07%) 1.75% 7.51%
Investor Class | After Taxes on Distributions [1] (5.03%) (0.65%) 4.71%
Investor Class | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales [1] (1.79%) 0.26% 4.81%
Class A [1],[2] (7.42%) 0.84% 7.03%
ICE BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield BB-B (Constrained 2%) Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) [3],[4] (2.04%) 3.87% 9.98%
Lipper High Yield Bond Funds Index [4],[5] (2.98%) 3.05% 9.82%
[1] The Fund's investment adviser assumed certain expenses during the 10-year period; total returns would have been lower had these expenses not been assumed. For more recent month-end performance data, please visit www.paxworld.com or call 800.767.1729.
[2] Inception of Class A shares is May 1, 2013. The performance information shown for Class A shares includes the performance of Investor Class shares, adjusted to reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares, for the period prior to Class A inception.
[3] The ICE BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield—Cash Pay—BB-B (Constrained 2%) Index tracks the performance of BB- and B-rated fixed income securities publicly issued in the major domestic or eurobond markets, with total index allocation to an individual issuer limited to 2%.
[4] Unlike the High Yield Bond Fund, the ICE BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield—Cash Pay—BB-B (Constrained 2%) Index and the Lipper High Yield Bond Funds Index are not investments, are not professionally managed and have no policy of sustainable investing. One cannot invest directly in any index.
[5] The Lipper High Yield Bond Funds Index tracks the results of the 30 largest mutual funds in the Lipper High Yield Bond Funds Average. The Lipper High Yield Bond Funds Average is a total return performance average of mutual funds tracked by Lipper, Inc. that aim at high (relative) current yield from fixed income securities, have no quality or maturity restrictions and tend to invest in lower grade debt issues. The Lipper High Yield Bond Funds Index is not what is typically considered an "index" because it tracks the performance of other mutual funds rather than changes in the value of a group of securities, a securities index or some other traditional economic indicator. The Lipper High Yield Bond Funds Index reflects deductions for fees and expenses of the constituent funds.