497K 1 c64463_497k.htm Untitled Document
TRANSAMERICA GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

Summary Prospectus

March 1, 2011

      

Class

CLASS A

CLASS B

CLASS C

CLASS I

 

& Ticker

ITSAX

ITCBX

ITSLX

TGPIX

 

This summary prospectus is designed to provide shareholders with key fund information in a clear and concise format. Before you invest, you may want to review the fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the fund and its risks. You can find the fund’s prospectus and other information about the fund, including the fund’s statement of additional information and most recent reports to shareholders, online at http://www.transamericafunds.com/prospectus. You can also get this information at no cost by calling 866-414-6349 or by sending an e-mail request to orders@mysummaryprospectus.com, or from your financial professional. The fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, dated March 1, 2011, as supplemented from time to time, and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report and financial statements in the fund’s annual report to shareholders, dated October 31, 2010, are incorporated by reference into this summary prospectus.

Effective on or about March 21, 2011, the fund's name will change to Transamerica Morgan Stanley Growth Opportunities.

Investment Objective: Seeks to maximize long-term growth.

Effective on or about March 21, 2011, the fund's investment objective will be as follows:

Investment Objective: Seeks capital appreciation.

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 qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Transamerica Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the “Waivers and/or Reductions of Charges” section on page 128 of the fund’s prospectus and in the fund’s statement of additional information (SAI) under the heading “Purchase of Shares.”

     

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

Class of Shares

 

A

B*

C

I

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases

(as a % of offering price)

5.50%

None

None

None

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)

None

5.00%

1.00%

None

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

 

Class of Shares

 

A

B*

C

I

Management fees

0.79%

0.79%

0.79%

0.79%

Distribution and service (12b-1) fees

0.35%

1.00%

1.00%

None

Other expenses

0.84%

0.62%

0.62%

0.69%

Total annual fund operating expenses

1.98%

2.41%

2.41%

1.48%

Expense reductiona

0.23%

0.01%

0.01%

0.08%

Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reduction

1.75%

2.40%

2.40%

1.40%

* Not available to new investors.

a Contractual arrangements have been made with the fund’s investment adviser, Transamerica Asset Management, Inc. (“TAM”), through March 1, 2012, to waive fees and/or reimburse fund expenses to the extent that the fund’s total operating expenses exceed 1.40%, excluding 12b-1 fees and extraordinary expenses. TAM is entitled to reimbursement by the fund of fees waived or expenses reduced during any of the previous 36 months if on any day the estimated annualized fund operating expenses are less than the cap, excluding 12b-1 fees and extraordinary expenses. The fund may not recapture any fees waived and/or reimbursed prior to March 1, 2008.

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. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

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If the shares are redeemed at the end of each period:

Share Class

1 year

3 years

5 years

10 years

A

$718

$1,116

$1,539

$2,712

B+

$743

$1,051

$1,385

$2,639

C

$343

$  751

$1,285

$2,746

I

$143

$  460

$  800

$1,762

If the shares are not redeemed:

Share Class

1 year

3 years

5 years

10 years

A

$718

$1,116

$1,539

$2,712

B+

$243

$  751

$1,285

$2,639

C

$243

$  751

$1,285

$2,746

I

$143

$  460

$  800

$1,762

+ Examples for Class B shares assume conversion into Class A shares eight years after purchase. Class B shares are not available to new investors.

The Example does not reflect sales charges (loads) on reinvested dividends (and other distributions). If these sales charges (loads) were included, your costs would be higher.

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 annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the portfolio turnover rate was 63% of the average value of the fund's portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies: Transamerica Investment Management, LLC (“TIM”), the fund's sub-adviser, under normal circumstances, invests at least 65% of the fund's assets in equity securities. A significant portion of the fund's assets may be invested in the securities of companies with small- and medium-sized market capitalization whose market capitalization or annual revenues are no more than $10 billion at the time of purchase. TIM uses a “bottom-up” approach to investing and builds the portfolio one company at a time by investing fund assets in equity securities such as common stocks, preferred stocks, rights, warrants and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks of small and medium capitalization companies. A “bottom-up” approach is looking at individual companies against the context of broader market factors.

TIM selects stocks that are issued by U.S. companies which, in its opinion, show strong potential for steady growth; high barriers to competition; and experienced management. TIM believes that companies with small- and medium-sized capitalization levels are less actively followed by security analysts, and, therefore, they may be undervalued, providing strong opportunities for a rise in value.

The fund may invest in debt securities in pursuit of its investment objective.

The fund may invest in cash, cash equivalent securities or short-term debt securities, repurchase agreements and money market instruments. Under adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the fund may take temporary defensive positions in cash and short-term debt securities without limit.

Effective on or about March 21, 2011, the fund's principal investment strategies will be as follows:

Principal Investment Strategies: The fund's sub-adviser, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Inc. (“MSIM”), under normal circumstances, invests at least 80% of the fund's assets in common stocks of mid cap companies. MSIM seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in established and emerging companies with capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Russell Midcap® Growth Index, which as of December 31, 2010 was between $752 million and $22.1 billion.

MSIM seeks to invest in high quality companies it believes have sustainable competitive advantages and the ability to redeploy capital at high rates of return. MSIM typically favors companies with rising returns on invested capital, above average business visibility, strong free cash flow generation and attractive risk/reward profile. MSIM generally considers selling an investment when it determines the company no longer satisfies its investment criteria.

The fund may also invest in common stocks and other equity securities of small- and large-sized companies, as well as preferred stocks, rights and warrants, and debt securities. The fund may purchase and sell certain derivative instruments, such as options, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, for various portfolio management purposes, including to earn income, facilitate portfolio management and mitigate risks. Derivative instruments used by the fund will be counted toward the 80% policy discussed above to the extent they have economic characteristics similar to the securities included within that policy.

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MSIM may invest up to 25% of the fund's assets in securities of foreign companies, including emerging market securities. MSIM considers an issuer to be from a particular country if (i) its principal securities trading market is in that country; (ii) alone or on a consolidated basis it derives 50% or more of its annual revenue from goods produced, sales made or services performed in that country; or (iii) it is organized under the laws of, or has a principal office in, that country. By applying these tests, it is possible that a particular company could be deemed to be from more than one country. The securities in which the fund may invest may be denominated in U.S. dollars or in currencies other than U.S. dollars. The fund may invest in privately placed securities and initial public offerings.

The fund may also invest up to 10% of its assets in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).

The fund may invest its assets in cash, cash equivalent securities or short-term debt securities, repurchase agreements and money market instruments. Under adverse or unstable market, economic or political conditions, the fund may take temporary defensive positions in cash and short-term debt securities without limit.

Principal Risks: Many factors affect the fund's performance. There is no assurance the fund will meet its investment objective. The value of your investment in the fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly from day to day and over time. You may lose part or all of your investment in the fund or your investment may not perform as well as other similar investments. The following is a summary of certain risks (in alphabetical order) of investing in the fund. You may lose money if you invest in this fund.

· Cash Management and Defensive Investing – Money market instruments or short-term debt securities held by the fund for cash management or defensive investing purposes can fluctuate in value. Like other fixed income securities, they are subject to risk, including market, interest rate and credit risk. If the fund holds cash uninvested, the fund will not earn income on the cash and the fund's yield will go down. If a significant amount of the fund's assets are used for cash management or defensive investing purposes, it will be more difficult for the fund to achieve its objective.

· Convertible Securities – The market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase. Convertible securities generally offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality. The fund could lose money if the issuer of a convertible security is unable to meet its financial obligations or goes bankrupt.

· Currency – When the fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies, the fund may incur currency conversion costs and may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in the rates of exchange between those currencies and the U.S. dollar. Currency exchange rates can be volatile and are affected by, among other factors, the general economics of a country, the actions of the U.S. and foreign governments or control banks, the imposition of currency controls, and speculation.

· Derivatives – Using derivatives can increase fund losses and reduce opportunities for gains when market prices, interest rates or the derivative instruments themselves behave in a way not anticipated by the fund. Using derivatives also can have a leveraging effect and increase fund volatility. Derivatives may be difficult to sell, unwind or value, and the counterparty may default on its obligations to the fund. The fund's investments in derivative instruments may involve a small investment relative to the amount of investment exposure assumed and may result in losses exceeding the amounts invested in those instruments. Recent legislation calls for new regulation of the derivatives markets. The extent and impact of the regulation are not yet fully known and may not be for some time. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, may limit their availability, or may otherwise adversely affect their value or performance.

· Fixed-Income Securities – The market prices of fixed-income securities may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably due to general market conditions, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions, inflation, changes in interest rates, lack of liquidity in the bond markets or adverse investor sentiment. When market prices fall, the value of your investment will go down. A rise in rates tends to have a greater impact on the prices of longer term or duration securities.

If interest rates rise, repayments of fixed-income securities may occur more slowly than anticipated by the market. This may drive the prices of these securities down because their interest rates are lower than the current interest rate and they remain outstanding longer. This is sometimes referred to as extension risk.

Many issuers have a right to prepay their securities. If interest rates fall, an issuer may exercise this right. If this happens, the fund will be forced to reinvest prepayment proceeds at a time when yields on securities available in the market are lower than the yield on the prepaid security. This is sometimes referred to as prepayment or call risk.

· Foreign Securities – Foreign securities are subject to a number of additional risks, including nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency controls or restrictions, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and other adverse economic or political developments. Lack of information and less market regulation also may affect the value of these securities.

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· Growth Stocks – Returns on growth stocks may not move in tandem with returns on other categories of stocks or the market as a whole. Growth stocks may be particularly susceptible to rapid price swings or to adverse developments. Growth stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market for a long period of time, for example, while the market favors “value” stocks.

· Increase in Expenses – Your actual costs of investing in the fund may be higher than the expenses shown in “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” for a variety of reasons. For example, expense ratios may be higher than those shown if average net assets decrease. Net assets are more likely to decrease and fund expense ratios are more likely to increase when markets are volatile.

· Market – The market prices of the fund's securities may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to general market conditions, such as real or perceived adverse economic or political conditions, inflation, changes in interest rates or currency rates, lack of liquidity in the markets or adverse investor sentiment. Market prices of securities also may go down due to events or conditions that affect particular sectors or issuers. When market prices fall, the value of your investment will go down. The fund may experience a substantial or complete loss on any individual security. The recent financial crisis has caused a significant decline in the value and liquidity of many securities. In response to the financial crisis, the U.S. and other governments and the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have taken steps to support financial markets. The withdrawal of this support could negatively affect the value and liquidity of certain securities. In addition, legislation recently enacted in the U.S. calls for changes in many aspects of financial regulation. The impact of the legislation on the markets, and the practical implications for market participants, may not be fully known for some time.

· Portfolio Selection – The sub-adviser’s judgment about a particular security or issuer, or about the economy or a particular sector, region or market segment, or about an investment strategy, may prove to be incorrect.

· Preferred Stock – Preferred stock’s right to dividends and liquidation proceeds is junior to the rights of a company’s debt securities. The value of preferred stock may be subject to factors that affect fixed income and equity securities, including changes in interest rates and in a company’s creditworthiness. Shareholders of preferred stock may suffer a loss of value if dividends are not paid and have limited voting rights.

· Small- or Medium-Sized Companies – Small- or medium-sized companies may be more at risk than larger companies because, among other things, they may have limited product lines, operating history, market or financial resources, or because they may depend on a limited management group.

· Stocks – Stocks may be volatile – their prices may go up and down dramatically over the shorter term. These price movements may result from factors affecting individual companies, industries, the securities market as a whole or the over-all economy.

· Value Investing – The prices of securities the sub-adviser believes are undervalued may not appreciate as anticipated or may go down. Value stocks as a group may be out of favor and underperform the overall equity market for a long period of time, for example, while the market favors “growth” stocks.

· Warrants and Rights – Warrants and rights may be considered more speculative than certain other types of investments because they do not entitle a holder to the dividends or voting rights for the securities that may be purchased. They do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuing company, and cease to have value if not exercised prior to the expiration date.

Effective on or about March 21, 2011, the fund will be subject to the following additional principal risks:

· Emerging Markets – Investing in the securities of issuers located in or principally doing business in emerging markets are subject to foreign securities risks. These risks are greater for investments in emerging markets. Emerging market countries tend to have economic, political and legal systems that are less fully developed and are less stable than those of more advanced countries. Low trading volumes may result in a lack of liquidity and in extreme price volatility.

· Investing Aggressively – The value of developing company stocks may be volatile, and can drop significantly in a short period of time. Rights, options and futures contracts may not be exercised and may expire worthless. Warrants and rights may be less liquid than stocks. Use of futures and other derivatives may make the fund more volatile.

· IPOs – Initial public offerings (“IPOs”) are subject to specific risks which include, among others:

· high volatility;

· no track record for consideration;

· securities may be illiquid; and

· earnings are less predictable.

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· REITs – When the fund invests in Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”), it is subject to risks generally associated with investing in real estate. A REIT’s performance depends on the types and locations of the properties it owns and how well it manages those properties or loan financings. REITs are subject to a highly technical tax structure; and the failure to qualify as a REIT could result in corporate-level taxation, significantly reducing the return on an investment to the fund.

· Rule 144A and Privately Placed Securities – Rule 144A permits certain qualified institutional buyers, such as the fund, to trade in privately placed securities that have not been registered for sale to the public. Rule 144A and other privately placed securities may be deemed illiquid, and the fund might be unable to dispose of such securities promptly or at reasonable prices.

Performance: The bar chart and the table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing you how the fund’s performance has varied from year to year, and how the fund’s average annual total returns for different periods compare to the returns of a broad measure of market performance. The bar chart does not reflect the impact of sales charges, which, if reflected, would lower the returns. The table, which shows average annual total returns for each class of shares of the fund, includes deduction of applicable sales charges. Absent any limitation of the fund's expenses, total returns would be lower. As with all mutual funds, past performance (before and after taxes) is not a prediction of future results. Updated performance information is available on our website at www.transamericafunds.com or by calling 1-888-233-4339.

Annual Total Returns (calendar years ended December 31) – Class A

   
 

Quarter Ended

Return

Best Quarter:

12/31/2001

23.35%

Worst Quarter:

3/31/2001

-34.23%

Average Annual Total Returns (periods ended December 31, 2010)1

    
 

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years or Inception*

Class A (commenced operations on March 1, 2000)

Return before taxes

27.42%

5.11%

4.66%

Return after taxes on distributions2

27.42%

5.11%

4.66%

Return after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares2

17.82%

4.40%

4.07%

Class B (Return before taxes only) (commenced operations on March 1, 2000)

28.90%

5.44%

4.61%

Class C (Return before taxes only) (commenced operations on November 11, 2002)

32.89%

5.63%

10.42%

Class I (Return before taxes only) (commenced operations on November 30, 2009)

35.29%

N/A

40.47%

Russell Midcap® Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

26.38%

4.88%

3.12%

1 Actual returns may depend on the investor’s individual tax situation. After-tax returns may not be relevant if the investment is made through a tax-exempt or tax-deferred account, such as a 401(k) plan. After-tax returns are presented for only one class and returns for other classes will vary.

2  The after-tax returns are calculated using the historic highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

* Fund returns are for past 10 years or since inception, whichever is less. Index returns are for 10 years or since inception of oldest share class, whichever is less.

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Management:

Investment Adviser: Sub-Adviser:

Transamerica Asset Management, Inc.  Transamerica Investment Management, LLC

Portfolio Managers:

Edward S. Han, Portfolio Manager (Lead) since 2005

John J. Huber, CFA, Portfolio Manager (Lead) since 2005

Effective on or about March 21, 2011, the fund's sub-adviser and portfolio managers will be as follows:

Sub-Adviser:

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.

Portfolio Managers:

Dennis P. Lynch, Lead Portfolio Manager since 2011

David S. Cohen, Portfolio Manager since 2011

Sam G. Chainani, Portfolio Manager since 2011

Alexander T. Norton, Portfolio Manager since 2011

Jason C. Yeung, Portfolio Manager since 2011

Armistead B. Nash, Portfolio Manager since 2011

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares: You may purchase, exchange or redeem shares of the fund on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business, online or through our website at www.transamericafunds.com, by mail to Transamerica Fund Services, Inc., P.O. Box 219945, Kansas City, MO 64121-9945, by telephone at 1-888-233-4339, or overnight mail to Transamerica Fund Services, Inc., 330 W. 9th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. Shares may also be purchased through a financial intermediary. The minimum initial purchase for Class A and C shares is $1,000; the minimum subsequent investment is $50. The minimum initial purchase for payroll deduction and automatic investment plan is $500; the minimum subsequent investment is $50 per monthly fund account investment. The minimum investment for Class I shares is $1,000,000. Class B shares are not available for purchase, including to existing Class B shareholders, except in the limited circumstances described in this prospectus under the section entitled “Shareholder Information – Buying Shares”.

Tax Information: Fund distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries: If you purchase the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, the fund and/or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

MSPA0311GO 

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